The Tweed Coast — stretching from Kingscliff through Cabarita Beach, Pottsville, and down to Tweed Heads — has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. What was once a sleepy holiday destination has become one of Australia's most in-demand lifestyle markets, drawing buyers from Brisbane, Sydney, and beyond. If you're planning to buy here in 2025, here's what you need to understand about the market.
Where prices are now
After the extraordinary surge of 2020–2022 and the correction that followed, the Tweed Coast market has stabilised at elevated levels. Median house prices across the region sit roughly in the $900,000–$1.3 million range depending on suburb and proximity to the beach. Kingscliff and Cabarita command premiums; Pottsville, Chinderah, and Murwillumbah offer more accessible entry points. Units and townhouses — particularly new builds — have held value well given the rental demand underpinning the region.
What's driving demand
The lifestyle appeal hasn't faded — if anything, it's intensified. The combination of beaches, hinterland access, improving infrastructure (the new Tweed Valley Hospital is transformative for the region), and relative affordability compared to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay continues to attract buyers. We're also seeing strong interest from retirees and downsizers from southeast Queensland. Remote work has remained more persistent than many predicted, keeping the sea-change buyer pool active.
What it means for finance
In a market at these price points, getting your finance right before you start looking is critical. Pre-approval isn't optional — vendors and agents take pre-approved buyers seriously, and in a competitive situation, being able to move quickly can be the difference. I'm also seeing more buyers needing to think creatively about their deposit and borrowing structure: gifts from family, equity from an existing property, and government schemes are all more relevant at these price levels.
The borrowing capacity question
Borrowing capacity has been squeezed by the rate rises of 2022–2023, even as rates have started to ease. Lenders assess serviceability at 3% above the actual rate (the 'stress test'), which means a loan at 6% is assessed at 9%. At $900,000 purchase price with a 10% deposit, you're borrowing $810,000 — and servicing that requires roughly $120,000–$140,000 of qualifying household income depending on your expenses. Understanding exactly where you sit before you start looking prevents a lot of heartbreak.
My view for 2025
I expect continued steady demand for the Tweed Coast, with any rate reductions through 2025 likely to stimulate activity further. If you're planning to buy this year, the time to prepare your finance is now — not after you've fallen in love with a property. Book a free call and I'll give you a clear picture of what you can achieve in this market.