According to Domain, the disconnect between buyer budgets and property prices is even more dramatic in premium suburbs, where the shortfall reaches $800,000 in Brisbane Inner areas.
The study, which compared current buyer search data with actual property listings, shows a clear shift in buyer behaviour driven by affordability pressures and changing lifestyle preferences.
In highly sought-after areas like Brisbane Inner, the gap between buyer budgets and asking prices for houses has reached $800,000.
Other premium middle-ring suburbs including Sherwood-Indooroopilly, Carindale and Mt Gravatt show significant gaps between $350,000 and $500,000.
The research reveals an interesting change in affordability beyond 30km from the CBD, where buyer budgets actually exceed listing prices by up to $30,000, suggesting either under-priced supply or unmet demand for family homes in these areas.
Domain’s Chief of Research and Economics, Dr Nicola Powell, said the findings highlight the difficult choices facing Brisbane homebuyers.
“Brisbane’s rapid property price growth is forcing many buyers to make tough trade-offs, either compromising on location or adjusting their expectations around property type,” Dr Powell said.
The data shows a clear preference shift toward medium and high-density housing options.
Buyer budgets consistently exceed listing prices by up to $100,000 for townhouses and up to $301,000 for units in outer suburbs, highlighting a Brisbane-wide shortage of larger, high-quality or family-friendly homes in these categories.
Since 2020, buyer searches beyond 20km of Brisbane CBD have surged by 37.5 per cent, while interest within 20km has dropped by 13.4 per cent.
This change points to growing decentralisation driven by affordability pressures, remote work flexibility, and rapid population growth.
The research also identified several suburbs where the mismatch between buyer expectations and market reality is most pronounced.
In Brisbane Inner North, buyers face a $700,000 gap (58.3 per cent above search budgets), while Brisbane Inner West shows a $600,000 difference (46.2 per cent).
On the opposite end, areas like Beaudesert, Ipswich Hinterland, and Cleveland-Stradbroke show listing prices slightly below what buyers are searching for, making them potentially more accessible markets.
Dr Powell said that these trends highlight the need for more diverse housing options across Brisbane.
“We’re seeing sustained demand for well-located, medium and high density housing like townhouses, apartments, and mixed-use developments within 20 kilometres of the CBD, as well as increased interest in outer suburban areas and growth corridors,” she said.
“These trends highlight a pressing need for more diverse, affordable housing options.”
“For developers and urban planners, understanding these shifting buyer preferences is essential to delivering liveable, future-ready communities that align with where and how people want to live.”
