New data reveals where to find ‘unicorn’ properties on Sunshine Coast

Homes for under $800,000 on the Sunshine Coast may seem as rare as a mythical creature, but new data has revealed where these rarities are most often found. Check out the list of suburbs.

Keyline Realty sales agent Mark Dunlop said Nambour was the “gateway” to Sunshine Coast’s affordable property market. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Although the property market on the coast has seen prices soar in recent years, new data has revealed the best spots to find a bargain.

With house prices rising by over 70 per cent in some suburbs, affordable properties can be hard to come by.

But there are still plenty of opportunities to snag a spot for under $800,000.

With a median house price of $685,000 and a median unit price of $458,000, despite price rises in the last 12 months of over 20 per cent, Nambour has topped the list as of one of the most economical place to buy.

Other notable suburbs include Burnside, Coes Creek and Baringa, with median house prices sitting between $728,000 and $770,000.

Keyline Realty Nambour agent Mark Dunlop said the Nambour property market had been fairly resilient.

“In the first half of the year (2022) prices were still quite high and then in the second half of the year, with the interest rate price corrections, demand for property was still strong,” he said.

Mr Dunlop said Nambour was a great place to buy, particularly for first home buyers.

“It is a more affordable suburb. That’s been a lot of our traffic, especially in the second half of the year,” he said.

“It is a gateway to the Sunshine Coast in terms of housing affordability.”

10 Berringar Court in Coes Creek sold for $680,000 in October 2022.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland Sunshine Coast chairman Matt Diesel said Nambour offered fantastic value for money but that his top tips for property buyers on the coast would be Rosemount and Kuluin.

“Rosemount offers great sized parcels of land, geographically it sits between Nambour and the new Maroochydore city centre,” he said.

“Kuluin on the other hand geographically sits on the border of the new Maroochydore city centre, is at the foothill of Buderim and is literally minutes to anything you need on the Sunshine Coast.

“The land value here is still very good and will be a great investment moving forward.”

The median house price for Kuluin was comparatively stable over the past 12 months at $840,000, with an increase of 15.5 per cent. However, Rosemount saw an increase of 56.7 per cent at a median price of $1,375,000.

Mr Diesel said the price point shouldn’t be the only thing on buyers’ minds.

13 Bega Street in Burnside sold for $560,000 in September 2022.

“I always like buyers to do a list of negotiable and non-negotiables to help them narrow their focus on the areas they need to be in and to look at properties that have a layout suitable for their needs,” he said.

“The position is crucial, the biggest mistake most buyers make is not looking at the property as an investment but instead just buying based on their perceived current needs.”

Mr Diesel said the market had returned to normal on the Sunshine Coast and that it would stay steady for the next couple of years.

“Before things really take off again in the lead up to the Olympic Games,” he said.