{"id":188637,"date":"2025-04-30T17:30:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T07:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertyupdate.com.au\/?p=188637"},"modified":"2025-04-23T09:21:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T23:21:19","slug":"the-queensland-suburbs-where-you-can-still-buy-at-2015-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertyupdate.com.au\/the-queensland-suburbs-where-you-can-still-buy-at-2015-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"The Queensland Suburbs Where You Can Still Buy at 2015 Prices"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine stepping into a time machine and heading back to 2015.<\/p>\n

Petrol was just $1.20 a litre, a decent coffee cost $4, and you could fill a trolley at the supermarket without flinching.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to today and, while inflation has taken a noticeable bite out of our daily budgets, there are still some<\/em> parts of Queensland\u2019s property market that look like they\u2019ve missed the last decade entirely.<\/p>\n

New data from PropTrack<\/a> reveals a surprising twist: in 16 Queensland suburbs, property prices are now cheaper<\/em> than they were in 2015.<\/p>\n

And in another 125 suburbs, they\u2019ve risen by $150,000 or less, a modest increase in the context of the significant price growth we\u2019ve seen in other parts of Australia over the past ten years.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s not pretend this is the norm.<\/p>\n

In much of Brisbane and across the state, property values have risen sharply since 2015, driven by population growth, infrastructure upgrades, and lifestyle migration.<\/p>\n

But these outliers are worth examining, not necessarily as hot investment spots, but as a lesson in market dynamics and the long-term importance of supply and demand fundamentals.<\/p>\n

\"Brisbane<\/p>\n

Brisbane\u2019s affordable pockets: a decade of little change<\/span><\/h2>\n

In Greater Brisbane, the suburb of Brassall<\/strong> in Ipswich stands out as the only one where property prices have actually dropped over the past decade.<\/p>\n

Units here now have a median price of $160,654.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s cheaper than a new dual-cab ute and far below the city\u2019s average.<\/p>\n

And even in some of the more inner-city suburbs, Bowen Hills, Milton, and Fortitude Valley, <\/strong>median unit prices have crept up by less than $50,000 in ten years. \r\n\r\n

<\/div><\/p>\n

These are areas that were once flooded with investor-targeted apartments, and while that oversupply kept prices flat for a while, that\u2019s unlikely to be the story moving forward.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Because, as PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty<\/a> rightly points out, the economics of apartment development have fundamentally changed.<\/p>\n

Construction costs are soaring, and developers aren\u2019t rushing to build affordable units anymore.<\/p>\n

Most new builds are targeting the premium end of the market, often priced north of $1 million.<\/p>\n

So, the surplus we saw a decade ago is now turning into a scarcity, particularly for affordable apartment stock.<\/p>\n

House prices holding steady in Logan\u2019s Park Ridge<\/span><\/h2>\n

Interestingly, one of the only suburbs in Greater Brisbane where house prices have remained relatively stable is Park Ridge<\/strong>, in Logan.<\/p>\n

Ten years ago, this was predominantly an acreage suburb.<\/p>\n

Today, it\u2019s transformed into a hub of new housing estates on smaller lots.<\/p>\n

The median house price in Park Ridge is now $753,500\u2014up only $133,500 from 2015.<\/p>\n

That's moderate growth compared to the broader Brisbane market.<\/p>\n

Why the stability?<\/p>\n

It's partly due to the change in housing types.<\/p>\n

Developers have subdivided the larger blocks into smaller parcels, introducing more affordable housing options and diversifying the demographic base.<\/p>\n

In other words, supply met demand, and in doing so, kept a lid on runaway price growth.<\/p>\n

Beyond Brisbane: where prices have actually fallen<\/span><\/h2>\n

And it\u2019s not just Brisbane.<\/p>\n

Across regional Queensland, there are suburbs where prices have gone backwards:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    East Mackay<\/strong> units: down $155,000<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    South Townsville<\/strong> units: down $125,000<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Gladstone Central<\/strong> units: down $125,000<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Sunset (Mt Isa)<\/strong> houses: down $102,000<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Happy Valley<\/strong> and Townview<\/strong>: also showing declines<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    These areas tell a different story.<\/p>\n

    One of oversupply, economic volatility, and limited demand drivers.<\/p>\n

    They serve as a reminder that not all markets rise equally or sustainably.<\/p>\n

    Many of these regions are heavily reliant on single industries (like mining), and without diversification, their property markets remain vulnerable to downturns.<\/p>\n

    \"Herston<\/p>\n

    The bigger picture: what this means for investors<\/span><\/h2>\n

    So what should investors take from this?<\/p>\n

    Well, first, don\u2019t assume past performance equals future potential.<\/p>\n

    Some of these areas may look<\/em> cheap, but they could stay that way for a long time unless significant demand-side factors shift.<\/p>\n

    Second, these examples underscore the importance of supply-side constraints<\/strong> in driving long-term capital growth.<\/p>\n

    When you flood a market with uniform dwellings\u2014like we saw in inner Brisbane\u2019s apartment belt or Gladstone during the mining boom\u2014the lack of scarcity hampers price growth.<\/p>\n

    Third, with affordability becoming a growing issue in our major capital cities, these \"forgotten\" suburbs might see renewed interest in the years ahead, particularly if infrastructure improves or migration patterns shift again.<\/p>\n

    But any potential upside would depend on more than just price.<\/p>\n

    Investors should look closely at employment drivers, demographic trends, and infrastructure pipelines before jumping in.<\/p>\n

    Final thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n

    While it's interesting to see that you can still buy property in some Queensland suburbs at near-2015 prices, that doesn\u2019t automatically make them a good investment.<\/p>\n

    As I always say, these markets are often cheap for a reason.<\/p>\n

    That said, in a country facing a chronic housing shortage, and with construction economics now favouring high-end development, the pendulum is likely to swing back toward undersupplied, more affordable stock.<\/p>\n

    And the best opportunities will go to those who understand where demand is heading<\/strong>, not just where prices have been.<\/p>\n

    \r\n\r\n\r\n

    <\/div>\r\n
    <\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Imagine stepping into a time machine and heading back to 2015. Petrol was just $1.20 a litre, a decent coffee cost $4, and you could fill a trolley at the supermarket without flinching. Fast-forward to today and, while inflation has taken a noticeable bite out of our daily budgets, there are still some parts of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":148713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,1118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-188637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-property-updates","category-news-and-features"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Queensland Suburbs Where You Can Still Buy at 2015 Prices<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Imagine stepping into a time machine and heading back to 2015. 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