Move over Gold Coast! This powerhouse region has become southeast Queensland’s number one destination for domestic migration outside of Brisbane.
The Moreton Bay region offers many of the same attributes as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, without the heft price tag. Picture: Luke Marsden.
Exclusive research from Place Advisory has revealed that Moreton Bay has overtaken every other regional and coastal market in the southeast corner, recording a population growth
of more than 19,000 domestic migrants in just three years, including almost 10,000 people relocating directly from Brisbane.
Petrie, in the Moreton Bya region, is home to the University of the Sunshine Coast campus.
Place CEO Damian Hackett said the difference between Moreton Bay and other growth corridors is now stark.
“Unlike other growth corridors, Moreton Bay combines coastal lifestyle, established communities and major infrastructure with price points still accessible to families priced out of Brisbane,” Mr Hackett said.
Place CEO Damian Hackett
It comes after a shock forecast by economists and valuers warned that Brisbane house prices will rise 20 per cent by the end of next year, defying affordability constraints.
The KPMG report predicted that house prices wukk jump 10.9 per cent in 2026, dwarfing Sydney’s predicted 5.8 per cent forecast.
Units in Brisbane are tipped to rise 7.8 per cent.
A further 9 per cent growth is forecast across Brisbane in 2027, and follows a 14.6 per cent increase across the region last year.
Soaring home prices are forcing Brisbane residents to look elsewhere. iStock
And that price pressure is forcing buyers to look elsewhere, with the Place research looking at the major regions across the southeast for buyers moving out of Brisbane.
It found that in markets such as Ipswich and Logan, affordability continues to attract
strong interest, particularly from buyers prioritising value and new housing supply.
Redland remains popular for its proximity to the city and bayside lifestyle, though tighter supply has limited the volume of family homes available.
The Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast continue to appeal to lifestyle-driven buyers, with price points reflecting strong demand from both local and interstate markets.
But Moreton Bay has increasingly stood out by offering a balance across all three – affordability, access and housing choice.
“With median house prices around $825,000, compared with $1 million-plus in Brisbane, buyers are still securing family-sized homes within 30-45 minutes of the CBD, supported by established communities and major infrastructure,” the report said.
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16 Kingdom Circuit, North Lakes, is listed for offers over $899,000
The research found that the Moreton Bay region was now attracting more people relocating from elsewhere in Queensland than any other coastal or regional local government area, reinforcing its role as one of the state’s most important growth regions.
While price growth has accelerated across southeast Queensland, Moreton Bay has delivered house price growth of up to 95 per cent over five years, outperforming Brisbane and Redland, while remaining competitive with Ipswich and Logan, the research noted.
“Importantly, annual growth has now moderated, distinguishing the region from markets that have experienced sharper price spikes or volatility,” the report said, adding that demand remained strongest for three and four-bedroom family homes, reflecting owner-occupier driven growth rather than short-term investor cycles.
As a result, Place has aquired Harcourts Connections offices across the region.
The move brings together established Place business owners Drew Davies
and Patrick McKinnon with Harcourts offices across Kedron, North Lakes, Burpengary, Caboolture, Ningi and the Glasshouse Mountains under one group.
35 Grace Crescent, Narangba, is listed for offers over $900,000
Mr Davies said the region now plays a critical role in the wider Brisbane market.
“Moreton Bay is absorbing demand that simply can’t be met closer to the city due to affordability and lifestyle factors,” he said.
“The region is shaping the future of housing in southeast Queensland.”
And the top spots to watch in 2026 are North Lakes, Narangba, Burpengary, Caboolture, Redcliffe, Margate and Newport, the researchers revealed.
73 Shields Street, Redcliffe, is under offer after being listed for offers over $1.279m
But buying a house has become more difficult, with very few now being listed with a price tag or guide.
The latest REA Market Trends report for January shows that of the Moreton Bay regions 62 house suburbs, 26 are now $1 million-plus.
21 Buccaneer Street, Newport, is listed for offers over $1.27m
The region’s most expensive suburb is Highvale with a median house price of $1,862,500.
Brendale is the cheapest house suburb, with a median value of $597,000, up 5.2 per cent in 12 months and 118.9 per cent in five years.
For units, the most expensive suburb is Newport ($1.45m), while the cheapest is Beachmere ($426,500).
Meanwhile, the latest PropTrack Home Price Index report, which revealed Brisbane home prices rose 0.5 per cent in December to $1.013 million, the second highest in the nation behind Sydney ($1.24m).
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