First Home Buyers Gold Coast: Properties Under $700k

First-home buyer activity on the Gold Coast has lifted noticeably in the past quarter, with affordable entry points finally emerging across secondary suburbs as the market digests recent rate holds and a softer growth outlook.

Data from local agents and mortgage brokers suggests entry-level buyers—typically aged 25 to 40—are re-engaging after sitting on the sidelines through 2024 and early 2025, when median prices pushed close to $850,000 statewide. The shift is particularly evident in suburbs south of Broadbeach, where properties under $650,000 are attracting multiple offers within days.

"We're seeing young couples return to areas like Ashmore, Arundel, and Mudgeeraba," says the sentiment from conversations with local real estate agencies. Ashmore, situated between the M1 and the hinterland, has become especially popular for buyers seeking affordability without sacrificing proximity to employment, schools, and the beach within a 20-minute drive. Three-bedroom homes in established pockets near Ashmore Central are now listing in the $580,000 to $650,000 range—a 15 per cent pullback from peaks seen last year.

Arundel, with its family-friendly character and village feel centred around the shopping precinct, is similarly positioned. First-home buyers are discovering the suburb's appeal to young families, with median values hovering near $620,000 for modest houses with room to renovate or expand.

The psychological shift appears linked to the RBA's pause on further rate rises. While the Reserve Bank has signalled caution—suggesting rates may hold or edge lower by late 2026—first-time buyers have regained confidence that financing costs won't spiral further. For those with 10 to 15 per cent deposits saved, the monthly repayment outlook on a $550,000 loan now feels more manageable than it did twelve months ago.

Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach remain out of reach for most first-home buyers, with median values holding above $1.2 million and $1.1 million respectively. Those suburbs continue to attract downsizers and investors riding the lifestyle premium and tourism recovery. However, buyers willing to venture slightly inland—towards the leafy streets of Mudgeeraba or the emerging precincts around Robina Town Centre—are finding realistic pathways to ownership.

Mortgage brokers report that serviceability assessments are tightening, with lenders factoring in potential rate rises to 4.5 per cent even in a softening environment. This means young buyers still need genuine savings discipline and stable employment. Yet for those meeting the criteria, the Gold Coast's entry-level market is finally rewarding patience.

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