According to the latest data from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), statewide median house prices rose 3.66 per cent to $850,000 in the June 2025 quarter, while unit prices increased 3.41 per cent to $698,000.
Brisbane, preparing for the upcoming Olympics, saw house prices jump 4.10 per cent to $1.27 million.
However, Ipswich topped the quarterly growth charts with a 4.19 per cent increase to $771,000.
Regional areas demonstrated remarkable annual growth, with Rockhampton leading at 24.25 per cent, followed closely by Townsville (24.18 per cent), Gladstone (24.14 per cent), and Mackay (23.47 per cent).
These figures significantly outpaced the annual growth for Greater Brisbane (8.98 per cent) and Queensland overall (10.96 per cent).
In the unit market, Toowoomba stood out with an 11 per cent quarterly surge to $540,000, while Townsville led annual unit growth at 26.04 per cent.
REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella put the strong performance down to Queensland’s attractiveness as a place to live and invest.
“Queensland continues to be an attractive, ‘picture perfect’ place to live, work, play and invest – we have the Olympics on the horizon and a robust economy underpinned by primary industries and a diverse range of other sectors,” Ms Mercorella said.
She acknowledged the challenges facing first-home buyers as property prices continue to climb, but pointed to various government initiatives designed to help.
“While it’s important to remember these are median prices, that may offer little comfort for first home buyers who feel the first rung of the property ladder is slipping out of reach,” Ms Mercorella said.
Recent support measures include raised stamp duty concession thresholds, the abolition of stamp duty for first-home buyers of new builds, and the extension of the $30,000 First Home Owner’s Grant for new builds.
The state’s shared-equity home ownership program, Boost to Buy, was quickly oversubscribed with expressions of interest from Queenslanders seeking help with deposits.
At the federal level, the expanded Home Guarantee scheme will commence on October 1, with property price caps in Queensland increased to $1 million for Brisbane and regional centers, and $700,000 elsewhere.
Despite rising prices, lending data shows first-home buyer loan commitments in Queensland have increased by 5.7 per cent over the 12 months to June 2025, with 22,817 new loans recorded.
This represents a 4.1 per cent increase in the last quarter alone.
Supply remains a critical issue.
The Australian Government’s National Housing Accord targets 49,300 new homes per year in Queensland, but total dwelling completions reached only around 33,700 over the 12 months to March 2025 – 32 per cent below the target.
Ms Mercorella said that while efforts are being made to increase housing supply, including the state’s $2 billion Residential Activation Fund and planning scheme improvements, these measures have yet to significantly impact dwelling completions.
“Levers are being pulled but we’re still waiting to see this reflected in dwelling completions data,” she said.
“Despite property prices climbing and the first step onto the property ladder getting harder, lending data indicates that first home buyer loan commitments in Queensland over the past year are actually increasing and is now sitting just above historical averages.”
