The Sunshine Coast real estate market is continuing to evolve in early 2025, with stronger sales activity, modest inventory growth, and signs of a balanced market emerging. While home prices remain in an overall upward trend, some segments—particularly townhomes and apartments—are seeing notable shifts. Rising buyer confidence, combined with stable interest rates and increased inventory, is creating more opportunities in the market. With the sales-to-active ratio reaching 0.128, the Sunshine Coast is now officially moving into balanced market territory, a shift from the more buyer-favored conditions seen over the past year.
Home Prices: Holding Strong for Detached Homes, Shifts in Attached Market
The benchmark price for all property types on the Sunshine Coast reached $844,600 in February, up 2.95% from last year but down slightly from $856,000 in January. Despite this dip, overall pricing trends remain upward over the past three years, reflecting steady long-term growth.
Detached Homes: Continued Growth & Strong Demand
Detached homes remain the strongest-performing segment. The benchmark price hit $927,000, up 5.7% from last year and slightly higher than January’s $924,000. Buyer demand in this segment remains healthy, particularly for well-priced homes in desirable locations.
- Total inventory: 299 active listings, up 6.8% from last year, holding steady from January.
- Sales: 39 homes sold, up 25.8% from last year and a notable jump from 29 in January.
- Sales-to-active ratio: 0.13, confirming a balanced market.
Townhomes: A Steep Decline in Pricing
The townhome market saw a significant drop, with the benchmark price falling to $629,200, down 14.6% from last year and a steep decline from $738,700 in January. This indicates increasing price sensitivity among buyers, likely due to affordability challenges in the mid-tier price range.
- Total inventory: 24 active listings, up 33.3% from last year, slightly lower than January’s 27.
- Sales: 4 townhomes sold, keeping pace with recent months.
- Sales-to-active ratio: 0.167, now within a balanced market range after previously favoring buyers.
Apartments: A Market Still in Decline
Apartments continue to struggle on the Sunshine Coast, with prices dropping to $447,000, down 18.4% from last year and down from $488,600 in January. The trend for apartments has been downward since 2022, as affordability concerns and shifting buyer preferences continue to weigh on demand.
- Total inventory: 38 active listings.
- Sales: Just 3 units sold, down 25% from last year.
- Sales-to-active ratio: 0.079, keeping the apartment market firmly in buyer’s territory.
Inventory: Modest Growth, but Below Long-Term Peaks
One of the key market drivers right now is inventory. While more homes are available compared to early 2024, overall supply remains below last summer’s peak levels, meaning buyers still face competition in certain price ranges.
- Total active listings: 367, up 14.7% from last year but holding steady from January’s 369.
- Detached homes: 299 active listings, up 6.8% from last year, on par with January.
- Townhomes: 24 active listings, showing significant year-over-year growth but slightly down from last month.
- Apartments: 38 active listings, contributing to the ongoing buyer’s market in this segment.
While inventory remains below historic highs, balanced market conditions mean that both buyers and sellers have negotiating power—a shift from the more buyer-dominated market of 2023.
Sales Activity: A Strong Rebound for Detached Homes
February saw 47 total sales, a 23.7% increase from last year and a significant jump from 34 in January. This signals that buyers are becoming more confident, particularly in the detached segment.
- Detached home sales: 39 sales, up 25.8% year-over-year, showing robust demand for single-family homes.
- Townhomes: 4 sales, maintaining similar activity levels.
- Apartments: 3 sales, reflecting ongoing buyer caution in this segment.
Overall, buyer demand is picking up, especially in detached homes, while attached markets continue to adjust.
Market Outlook: Balanced Conditions Taking Hold
With sales rising and inventory growing at a controlled pace, the Sunshine Coast market is entering a more balanced phase. The sales-to-active ratio of 0.128 confirms this shift, giving both buyers and sellers opportunities to negotiate.
For buyers, now is a good time to act, particularly for townhomes and apartments, where prices have softened. For sellers, strategic pricing and preparation are key, as longer days on market suggest that buyers are still taking their time to make decisions.
As we move further into 2025, external factors like interest rates, proposed U.S. tariffs, and inflation concerns will continue to shape market dynamics. If you’re considering buying or selling, now is the time to reassess your strategy.