Gold Coast first homebuyers told to look to Logan

First-time home buyers looking for new homes are now being forced to look at Logan or Scenic Rim council areas, according to Herron Todd White Gold Coast director Sam Gray.

In the valuation company’s latest property market update, Mr Gray said the Gold Coast’s entry-level property market was running hot in 2025, with real estate agents reporting a surge first homebuyer activity.

He said a combination of ongoing affordability challenges, record-low rental vacancy rates and unprecedented government support had sparked another wave of urgency in the market.

“Agents are reporting that a sense of panic buying has returned in the lower price brackets as buyers scramble to secure something, anything that ticks enough boxes, before it’s out of reach,’’ said Mr Gray.

“But tight stock levels are compounding the pressure, especially with detached housing across central Gold Coast suburbs now sitting well beyond the grasp of most first-time buyers.”

Mr Gray said buyers who really wanted a brand-new, freestanding home, the best chances were in the developing estates in the growth corridors within Logan Shire and Scenic Rim council areas.

“If you’re looking for the absolute lowest entry point into the market, then suburbs like Beenleigh and Eagleby are where you’ll need to focus,’’ he said.

“These areas sit on the northern edges of the Gold Coast and tend to have the most budget-friendly housing available.”

Townhouses, villas and duplexes especially those offering three bedrooms and reasonable outdoor space, in the outer suburbs have now become favourite purchases for first-home byers,

Recent changes to the Home Guarantee Scheme, which now allows first-time buyers of properties of up to $1 million to receive a grant of up to $30,000, has led to significant price rises in the lower market.

Mr Gray said that with Home Guarantee Scheme previously capped at $700,000, the lower threshold had created a pricing bottleneck, with many buyers reluctant to exceed the grant-eligible limit.

“Now that the cap has been lifted, that barrier has effectively been removed and unsurprisingly, prices in this segment are starting to climb,’’ he said.

“As a result, three-bedroom townhouses right across the Coast are proving to be extremely popular.”

Mr Gray said buying your first home on the Gold Coast was not easy at the moment, but first homebuyers were finding ways to make it work.

He said more people than ever were e turning to the Bank of Mum and Dad to help cover deposits or act as guarantors.

He said the hotspots where first homebuyer activity was strongest appeared to be Coomera, Upper Coomera, Pimpama and Ormeau.

“Buyers can find plenty of new or nearly new homes in these suburbs for under $1 million,’’ he said.

“Townhouses in Pimpama still offer good value and often fall within eligibility thresholds for first homebuyer grants.

“Coomera is attractive because it’s well connected and has significant infrastructure development underway, while Ormeau and Ormeau Hills provide a more spacious, suburban feel that’s still reasonably accessible to both the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

“That said, it’s getting harder to find properties under $700,000 in the Coomera to Ormeau area.”

“Just 18 months ago, these same units were going for the mid $600,000s.

“In fact, we’ve seen about eight townhouses in the same Pimpama complex recently sell for between $780,000 and $800,000, up significantly from their original developer prices of around the mid $600,000s just a year or two ago.”