Northern Rivers property market: Shocking new data reveals significant decline in sales in 2025

One of Australia’s once-hot property market has endured a brutal six months, with sale volumes down nearly 20 per cent and the value down 58 per cent. Experts reveal why. FIND OUT MORE

The Northern Rivers property market has endured a brutal six months, with sale volumes down nearly 20 per cent.

Data compiled by Colliers reveals the Tweed and Byron markets are struggling, with the value of residential sales down nearly 60 per cent.

The figures only deal with residential property, with industrial and commercial excluded.

It’s a brutal decline from the Covid era when both regions became hot markets for investors and those fleeing Sydney and Melbourne.

Colliers Gold Coast’s Kye Ward said the numbers were dire but insisted there were some signs of life.

Kye Ward from Colliers

“Despite a quieter start to the year, the fundamentals in the Northern Rivers remain exceptionally strong,” he said.

“This is a tightly held, high-demand market, and with economic conditions beginning to shift, we’re already seeing renewed momentum from both local and interstate buyers.

“It’s been a softer opening to 2025, but confidence is coming back.”

“We’re fielding markedly more calls and inspections from out-of-area buyers who want to secure assets ahead of expected price growth.”

Byron Bay.

Mr Ward said buyer demand still existed, pointing to a $4.26m sale of a Byron Bay parcel of land and a $2.4m sale in Bangalow in recent months.

The demand was also seen in late 2024 when the first 38 lots of Leda Group’s Kings Forest estate sold out in just 12 hours.

The estate, which straddles the Queensland/NSW border, will have 4500 lots covering 869ha and, once completed, will become home to more than 11,000 people.

King's Forest development in northern NSW which is owned by Leda Group

Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers were among the big winners from the Covid property boom, with house prices skyrocketing to an average of $2.24m.

Among the ultra wealthy who call the region home is actor Chris Hemsworth.

However the post-pandemic era has also seen some sellers lose out, with one buyer hit by a $1.25m loss on a $2.6m sale.

Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee

Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee and the issues affecting the Northern Rivers market were the same as those being felt nationwide.

“Tweed Heads (property values) have grown 140 per cent in the past 10 years, 80 per cent of which came since Covid and it now has a median price of around $1.2m,” she said.

“The lack of transaction volumes is likely due to the similar trends we are seeing everywhere, with a shortage of listings and people not selling.

“People are holding out for more interest rate cuts and they are mindful of the price growth but they are also holding on because they feel they made a good purchase.” 

Originally published as Northern Rivers property market: Shocking new data reveals significant decline in sales in 2025