Buying Property in Coolum Beach: What Buyers Need to Know Right Now

If Coolum Beach is on your shortlist, here’s what the data, paired with local buyer insight, shows right now.

Coolum Beach is a well-established coastal suburb on the Sunshine Coast, positioned between Peregian Beach and Marcoola. Known for its surf beach, relaxed lifestyle, and village centre, Coolum Beach attracts buyers seeking a balance between coastal living and everyday convenience.

For buyers relocating to the Sunshine Coast or purchasing from interstate, understanding the size and diversity of Coolum Beach is essential. This is not a one-street suburb, and buying well depends on knowing which pockets align with your lifestyle and long-term goals.

Check out this video for a quick insight on Coolum Beach:

Coolum Beach at a Glance

Coolum Beach covers approximately 27.3 square kilometres, making it one of the larger coastal suburbs on the Sunshine Coast. The suburb has a population of around 9,200 residents, with population growth of approximately 7.7 percent over the past five years.

This level of growth highlights ongoing demand for the area and reflects Coolum Beach’s appeal as a lifestyle suburb that continues to attract owner-occupiers rather than short-term turnover.

Around 70 percent of residents are owner-occupiers, with renters accounting for the remaining 30 percent. This owner-occupier majority is consistent with established coastal suburbs and supports long-term stability and community connection.

Current Property Prices in Coolum Beach

At the time of writing in late 2025, the median house value in Coolum Beach sits at approximately $1,477,000, while median unit values are closer to $1,049,000.

Pricing within Coolum Beach varies widely depending on location, elevation, proximity to the beach or village centre, and surrounding land use. Given the size of the suburb, values can differ significantly between pockets, even when properties appear similar on paper.

This is where local buyer-side insight becomes particularly important, especially for interstate buyers who may not yet understand how different parts of Coolum Beach perform over time.

Stock Levels and Buyer Competition

Stock levels in Coolum Beach show steady activity rather than extreme scarcity. Over the past year, approximately 150 house listings and 74 unit listings have come to market.

While this provides more choice than smaller coastal suburbs, competition remains strong for quality properties in well-located pockets. Homes that are priced appropriately and positioned well continue to attract solid buyer interest.

For buyers, this means preparation matters. The right opportunities do not linger for long, particularly when they align with lifestyle demand and long-term appeal.

Who Is Buying in Coolum Beach?

Coolum Beach is particularly popular with childless couples and professionals, along with buyers seeking a laid-back coastal lifestyle without the intensity of more tightly held villages.

The predominant age group in the suburb is between 50 and 59, reflecting a buyer demographic focused on lifestyle, walkability, and long-term liveability.

More than 56 percent of Coolum Beach is made up of parks and open space, which contributes strongly to its appeal. This access to green space, combined with the coastline and village amenities, underpins the suburb’s long-term desirability.

What Buyers Need to Get Right in Coolum Beach

Buying well in Coolum Beach comes down to understanding the suburb’s size and diversity, identifying the right pockets, and acting decisively when quality properties become available.

Not all areas of Coolum Beach offer the same lifestyle, outlook, or long-term performance. Some pockets suit permanent living, while others align better with lock-and-leave buyers or future rental demand.

Buyers who secure the right property here typically have clarity around what they value most and are prepared to move quickly, particularly when buying from interstate and relying on local guidance.

A Smarter Way to Buy in Coolum Beach

At Ocean Buyers Agency, we help buyers navigate suburbs like Coolum Beach with clarity and confidence. We serve the buyer, not the seller, and our role is to help you understand where genuine value sits, not just what is being marketed.

If Coolum Beach is on your shortlist and you would like guidance on whether it suits your lifestyle or how to buy well within a large and diverse suburb, a quiet conversation can often save months of frustration.

I’m Keeta from Ocean Buyers Agency, and we serve the buyer, not the seller.

Data Sources

Property market data referenced in this article is based on publicly available suburb statistics and industry data available at the time of writing, including Cotality and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census).