14 May
Lately, I’ve been having some truly thought-provoking conversations on Behind the Numbers – Property Wrap, this month I spoke with Ray White economist Atom Go Tian, and he talks about the Golden Arc which is a stretch of Southeast Queensland – spanning the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast—that’s rapidly emerging as a new powerhouse in the Australian housing market.
This isn’t media hype. It’s a structural shift in how – and where – Australians want to live.
For years, Sydney and Melbourne have dominated the market narrative. But according to Atom, Melbourne is starting to lose ground, and the data is backing that up. Whether it’s internal migration, infrastructure investment, or changing lifestyle preferences, the gravitational pull is shifting north.
Atom also highlighted another key trend: Australia’s market is no longer a single story.
“We’re seeing the emergence of very distinct price bands,” Atom explained. “You can’t talk about one housing market anymore – it’s a mosaic of micro-markets, shaped by geography, affordability, and lifestyle.”
One statistic that really stopped me in my tracks? Just five years ago, only two regional markets had median house prices over $1 million. Today, there are twenty. That’s not a fluctuation – it’s a transformation.
And it’s not just about price. It’s about values.
Remote work, the quest for space, and a shift away from high-density urban living are driving buyer behaviour. Australians are rethinking what “home” means – and what kind of community they want to belong to.
We also spoke with buyer’s advocate Cate Bakos, who provided a clear-eyed view from the coalface. According to Cate, the post-election market has been full of contradictions – April was interrupted by long weekends, holidays, and hesitancy, but listings are now rebounding.
“We’re seeing a delayed seasonal surge,” Cate said, “and I wouldn’t be surprised if this extends our selling period well into late May.”
Cate noted that while buyers are active, many are also cautious – watching interest rate movements closely and navigating affordability pressures.
“Buyers are definitely out there,” she told us. “But they’re doing their due diligence more than ever. There’s no room for fluff.”
She also touched on the psychological impact of potential rate cuts – how even a 0.25% drop could restore buyer confidence and create renewed competition.
But perhaps the most striking insight from Atom was the growing polarisation of Australia’s housing landscape.
“We’ve got $45 million streets in Point Piper,” he said, “and $100,000 streets in Darwin. The gap is staggering.”
Most of the most expensive streets are still in Sydney, a reminder of how entrenched prestige and capital are in certain postcodes. Meanwhile, Darwin is becoming the face of affordability. These disparities say more than just where money flows – they reveal our national story of inequality, aspiration, and opportunity.
And if we look across the Tasman, New Zealand’s market is beginning to stabilise. As Atom pointed out, it could be a moment worth watching for investors and buyers open to looking a little further afield.
At Behind the Numbers – Property Wrap, we don’t just track trends – we unpack them and right now we are seeing regional booms, prestige enclaves, lifestyle led migration and the steady rise of the golden arc. Click on the link below to listen to the full episode.
Until next time,
Stay connected.
Sadhana Smiles
CEO, Real Estate Industry Partners
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Want to chat before AREC? Give me a call or shoot me a message, I’d love to hear what’s working (or not!) for your business.
📞 +61 435 720 313
📧 Adam.Hinds@reipnexus.com.au
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