State Showdown: Qld vs NSW — Who’s Winning Australia’s 2025 Property Game?
Q: Why compare Queensland and NSW in property right now?
A: As the State of Origin heats up on the rugby field, property experts say there’s also a fierce contest between Queensland and NSW — but this time it’s all about house prices, investment returns, and future growth.
Q: How is Queensland performing in 2025?
A: Queensland is on a property hot streak, thanks to:
- Lower prices, short-term growth, and available land.
- Since 2020, house prices are up 61% to $790,000, and units are up 66% to $640,000.
- In Brisbane, the median house price is now $1.17 million, with units jumping 18.5% year-on-year.
- Regional Qld hubs like Toowoomba, Gladstone, and Mackay are booming, helped by lifestyle demand and big infrastructure spending.
Q: Why are investors and buyers flocking to Queensland?
A: Experts say buyers are drawn by:
- More affordable house-and-land packages than in NSW.
- A choice between vibrant city life in Brisbane and relaxed coastal living on the Gold Coast.
- Faster development approvals and cheaper land costs. As property expert Darragh Heard puts it:
“Queensland’s model is simpler — developers just have to ‘adhere’, which speeds up projects.”
Q: How does NSW compare?
A: NSW, especially Sydney, is playing the long game:
- Growth is slower and steadier, backed by strong fundamentals like global demand, infrastructure, and stability.
- Sydney’s median dwelling price is $1.182 million, with forecasts to hit $1.83 million by FY26.
- Regional spots like Orange, Inverell, and Point Clare mix lifestyle appeal with affordability.
Q: Where does NSW have the edge?
A: According to mortgage broker Brett Sutton, NSW offers:
- Stamp duty relief, higher land tax thresholds, and lower property management fees.
- This makes it a strategic choice for long-term investors.
- Micro-cities around Sydney are growing thanks to new roads, public transport, and hospitals.
But Heard warns NSW faces slower approvals, saying:
“In NSW, developers have to ‘seek permission’. The unions and bureaucracy slow everything down.”
Q: So who’s winning the property battle — Queensland or NSW?
A: Experts say it depends on your goals:
- Queensland is dominating short-term growth, with more land and faster builds — like “kicking 40/20s and getting repeat sets,” Heard says.
- NSW is ahead on long-term supply depth, with more opportunities in apartments and infill sites.
In summary:
Short-term leader: Queensland, with rapid growth and greenfield land.
Long-term champion: NSW, quietly building a solid property dynasty.
Short-term leader: Queensland, with rapid growth and greenfield land.
Long-term champion: NSW, quietly building a solid property dynasty.
As Sutton puts it:
“Queensland may be scoring the flashy tries in 2025, but NSW is building the dynasty. And in property, that’s the game that counts.”
Note: This is general information. Always get tailored financial advice before making property decisions.