Owner occupiers are holding their ground, which matters for anyone weighing up a sale. KPMG analysis puts the share of owner occupier households at 65.9% nationally in 2025, with Queensland lifting to 64.9% and first home buyer loans rising to 120,500 in the year to March. KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley says “The dream of owning a home is far from dead. Australians are adapting, relocating and working hard to get into the market, and the combination of more housing supply and targeted support is creating a pathway to home ownership for more households.” For South East Queensland owners, that is a deep and motivated buyer pool.

For landlords, conditions remain firmly in their favour. SQM Research figures show the national vacancy rate edged from 1.2% in May to 1.3% in June, an increase of just 1,385 rental properties across the country. Brisbane sits at 0.9%, with just 3,065 vacancies. SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher says the rental market remains exceptionally tight by historical standards. Compare the Market analysis adds that Brisbane owners pay about 75% more each week than renters, a gap that keeps demand for well presented rentals deep.

Values are also holding up better than the national headlines suggest. PropTrack data shows prices rose over the past 12 months in 85% of house markets and 90% of unit markets, with most of the suburbs that did slip falling by 3% or less. Units in Hillcrest and Beenleigh in the Logan council area both climbed 42% for the year, among the strongest results in the country and a useful benchmark for local owners weighing up where their own property sits.

Johnson Real Estate covers sales and rentals across South East Queensland. Call 1800 SELL SMARTRE, or email sellsmartre@johnsonre.com.au.