Sunshine Coast Property Outlook for 2026

What buyers really need to know

If you’ve been wondering whether the Sunshine Coast market is finally going to slow down, the honest answer is this: it hasn’t cooled, it’s just settled.

After a few years of fast, sometimes frantic growth, the market is moving into a more measured phase. Prices are still rising, competition is still there, and good homes are still being tightly held. It’s just happening with a little more breathing room.

The bigger picture

The fundamentals that have driven the Sunshine Coast market are still very much in place. Population growth continues. Interstate buyers are still choosing lifestyle over postcode prestige. Infrastructure investment is ongoing across health, transport and employment hubs.

These aren’t short-term drivers. They’re long-term foundations, and they’re why the Coast continues to perform even when other markets hesitate.

What’s happening with prices

Price growth is expected to continue through 2026, but it won’t be uniform.

Well-located, liveable homes are still attracting strong interest, particularly established houses and family-friendly properties close to schools, beaches and employment. Coastal pockets and lifestyle suburbs remain highly sought after.

Where buyers may see less movement is in compromised properties or locations that don’t offer everyday liveability. The gap between good property and average property is widening, and buyers need to be more selective than ever.

Supply is still the challenge

Despite more listings coming to market, supply remains tight where it matters.

Construction costs are high, planning timelines are slow, and meaningful new stock isn’t arriving quickly enough to meet demand. That means when a quality property does come up, it’s still likely to attract competition.

This isn’t a market where waiting automatically creates opportunity. The opportunity comes from being prepared and acting decisively.

Interest rates and confidence

There’s cautious optimism around interest rates easing later in the year, which may bring some buyers back into the market. What’s important is that confidence has never really left.

People aren’t buying on the Sunshine Coast to flip. They’re buying for lifestyle, family, long-term security and future flexibility. That mindset is what keeps this market resilient.

What this means if you’re buying

2026 isn’t about timing the market. It’s about buying well.

The buyers who will do best are those who are clear on what matters, understand the micro-markets, and are ready to move when the right property appears. Strategy matters more than speed, and local insight matters more than headlines.

The bottom line

The Sunshine Coast remains a strong, competitive and resilient market.

The difference this year won’t be whether property grows. It will be who buys the right home, in the right location, for the right reasons.

If you’re thinking about buying in 2026 and want clarity around where the real opportunities are, that’s exactly where we help.