A reported drop in investor activity on the Gold Coast is giving some first home buyers and downsizers more opportunities to compete for units and townhouses priced below $1 million, according to local sales agent Cameron Cullen.
Cullen, director of Image Property Gold Coast, said investors had previously been a major source of competition for properties priced between about $700,000 and $1 million.
He said the share of offers coming from investors had fallen sharply since the federal Budget, based on his agency’s recent experience.
“Since the budget, though, investors have gone from 50 per cent of offers to just 10 per cent in that entry-level price bracket,” Cullen said.
The change means owner-occupiers are now making up a larger share of buyers competing for properties, although Cullen said demand remained strong for entry-level two-bedroom units and villas.
“We are still receiving multiple offers for entry-level properties, but it is owner-occupiers competing against each other, and not investors, now,” he said.
Cullen said the shift was creating opportunities for local buyers who may previously have struggled to compete with investors.
The suburbs he identified as popular with first home buyers and downsizers include Currumbin Waters, Currumbin, Palm Beach, Elanora, Burleigh and Tugun.
While investor activity has reportedly eased, Cullen said prices for entry-level properties on the Gold Coast had continued to hold up.
“Prices might be falling elsewhere, but they’re not here,” he said.
The comments reflect the experience of one local real estate agency and do not represent a broader market-wide measure of investor activity or prices. Conditions can vary between suburbs, property types and price brackets.
Cullen said the current level of owner-occupier demand was helping maintain competition for lower-priced properties despite the reduction in investor participation.
“The Gold Coast has always been such an active area for investors, but now that they have slowed down, it is great that so many young locals can now afford their first home as well as downsizers making their move to smaller dwellings,” he said.
He also said sellers and buyers were continuing to transact with confidence, pointing to ongoing demand for properties at the lower end of the market.
For first home buyers and downsizers, the reduced presence of investors may make some properties easier to secure, although buyers still face competition from other owner-occupiers and must account for borrowing costs, prices and individual financial circumstances.
The Gold Coast property market remains varied, with conditions differing across locations and property categories. The latest observations from Cullen suggest that the entry-level unit and townhouse segment is continuing to attract buyers even as investor participation has declined.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
