The Gold Coast has been tipped as the next place to buy, with purchasers likely to benefit from steady gains as the region’s economic growth surpasses the rest of the nation.

The Gold Coast has become the nation’s fastest-growing economy, with multiple premium suburbs set to deliver strong gains amid record migration and housing shortages.

The Gold Coast Property Report 2026, by COAST Buyer’s Agency and Hotspotting, showed the region’s gross regional product has reached $49.4 billion, $775 million above forecast.

Additionally, the economy is forecast to grow by 10.07 per cent over the next four years, well ahead of the national rate of 7.91 per cent.

COAST principal Joe Pullos said the data showed that the prestige market was the nation’s most thriving growth sector, with price gains continuing to be fuelled by record migration, a $91 billion infrastructure pipeline and a jobs boom.

“The big winners from this wave of economic activity will be prestige homebuyers, with particular suburbs set to outperform the wider market,” Pullos said.

Here are the standout prestige suburbs:

Mermaid Beach

Mermaid Beach recorded the strongest house price growth of any market in the report, rising 32 per cent to a median of $3.35 million in 12 months, with a five-year average annual growth of 16 per cent.

Pullos said the area was where serious buyers went, and a lack of new beachfront land meant the supply of homes in the region would remain fixed.

“When you have buyers competing for a finite pool of trophy homes in a market growing this fast, the only way is up,” he said.

“A blue-chip address like this tends to hold and grow value through every cycle.”

Broadbeach Waters

An enclave known for its wide, north-facing canal frontages, Broadbeach Waters’ median house price has risen 15 per cent to $2.575 million in the past year, joined by a 46 per cent surge in quarterly sales transactions.

According to the report, rising transaction volumes typically preceded price growth, making it one of the clearest leading indicators of a market about to accelerate.

According to Pullos, the 46 per cent jump in transactions in Broadbeach Waters showed that buyers were moving with real conviction.

“For a prestige canal-front home that’s walking distance to the beach, the dining precinct and the light rail – with that kind of momentum behind it, the window to buy well is narrowing fast.”

Currumbin

On the southern end of the Gold Coast, Currumbin has a beachside village atmosphere that has drawn in interstate lifestyle buyers.

The market’s median house price has risen 28 per cent annually to $1.8 million, placing it at the entry point of the prestige tier.

Pullos said Currumbin had a laid-back feel that was hard to find, giving buyers a reasonable price point for a genuine prestige beachside market.

“For buyers who want the lifestyle without the Mermaid Beach price tag, the upside here is substantial.”

Palm Beach

According to Pullos, Palm Beach has undergone a dramatic transformation into a highly desirable suburb, driven by architecturally eye-catching beachfront apartment projects from leading lifestyle developers.

With a median of $1.93 million and 14 per cent average annual growth over five years, Pullos said Palm Beach had matured into a true prestige market, but hadn’t fully repriced the way Burleigh or Mermaid Beach had.

“It remains eminently affordable by comparison, which is exactly why it’s got so much growth potential as the market accelerates. For my money, it’s the one to watch,” he said.

According to the report, the Gold Coast’s economic base has fundamentally shifted over the years, with construction and healthcare overtaking tourism as the biggest drivers.

Pullos said residents in Sydney and Melbourne were migrating to the area in droves to build business and enjoy the lifestyle, whereas Queenslanders used to flock southwards.

He said the shift was underpinned by relentless population growth, with more than 420 new residents arriving on the Gold Coast every week, the largest share from higher-priced NSW coastal markets.

As a result, the region’s population is forecast to reach one million by 2040, six years earlier than previously projected, culminating in a severe housing shortage.

While the Gold Coast requires around 9,250 new homes a year to keep pace, approvals sat at just 4,091 in the 2025 financial year, while rental vacancies have fallen to 1.3 per cent.

Pullos also said the appeal of premium owner-occupier homes had been boosted by federal tax reforms, with investors seeking to deploy capital into high-quality homes in tightly held suburbs.

“We’re already seeing strong interest in certain areas from buyers with around $2 million-plus to spend on a home, and our analysis indicates there is far more growth to come,” Pullos concluded.

This article was first published on Smart Property Investment, a sister-brand of Property Buzz.