The Queensland property market has dealt with extremes in the last couple of years. The damage caused by multiple bouts of flooding has been offset somewhat by the economic benefits of various major mining projects currently planned and underway in the state. Many of the regional areas are benefiting from the resources boom. Although Brisbane is yet to forge ahead as strongly as Perth, the current lower prices are providing investors with opportunity to buy low and ride the impending growth wave.

Brisbane                 

RP Data figures show that Brisbane property values have fallen by around 12% since they peaked in the initial stages of 2010. However, rents have increased in this time, which make some of the inner city suburbs an excellent candidate for cash-flow neutral or even positive investments while offering tremendous potential for growth.

Such value has seen Queensland represented the second most number of times in the top 100, after New South Wales. South Brisbane secured the number one suburb ranking for 2012, due to its affordable new units, 6% plus rental yields and desirability. South Brisbane was alone at the top as far as metropolitan suburbs go.

However, 12 suburbs within the 10km radius were very well represented in the top 100 list.

Regional QLD

While a handful of analysts have taken Gladstone from their picks due to its rapidly growing prices, the vast majority of our experts, including us, believe there is still plenty of value to be found in this mining powerhouse.

Coming in third overall and leading the regional suburbs expecting resource-based growth, Gladstone has a long way to go before it peaks.

The sheer strength of the town’s fundamentals having a diverse economy to attract a broad range of residence and its relatively low supply ensure prices and rents will grow strongly over the near and medium term.

Other regional centres making the ranking include Toowoomba, Chinchilla and Emerald thanks to their strong local economies, relatively affordable housing and their exposure to the mining boom in the Surat and Bowen Basin.