Brisbane tops Australian property resale profits despite national market slowdown

Cotality’s latest quarterly analysis confirms Brisbane as Australia’s most lucrative market for property resale, with sellers pocketing a median profit of $525,000 in the June quarter—$154,000 higher than the national median. The city achieved profit rates of 99.7% for houses and 99.1% for units, the highest among the nation’s capitals for two consecutive years. Research head Gerard Burg noted that, although overall profitability stays historically strong, weaker housing conditions are beginning to affect resale outcomes, particularly for owners who bought recently.

In contrast, Melbourne and Sydney saw profit rates of 89% and 92.7% respectively, with median gains of $278,000 and $404,000. A separate study by Frank Knight highlighted Brisbane’s growing luxury segment, citing a permissive planning regime and the upcoming Olympics as drivers, while luxury apartment prices remain far lower than in Sydney and Melbourne.