Brisbane sellers lead the nation as 99.8% of resales turn a profit
Cotality's June-quarter Pain & Gain report shows 99.8% of Brisbane resales made a nominal profit with a $525,000 median gain, even as national profitability eased to 95.4%.
Image: GC Prestige (illustrative)
Cotality's June-quarter Pain & Gain report shows 99.8% of Brisbane resales made a nominal profit with a $525,000 median gain, even as national profitability eased to 95.4%.
- Brisbane: 99.8% of resales profitable, with a $525,000 median gain
- National profitable resales eased to 95.4% from a 21-year high of 96.1%
- National median gain slipped to $371,000 from $378,000
- Regional Australia: 97.5% profitable vs 94.1% across the capitals
- Units remain weaker than houses: 90.5% of unit resales profitable vs 97.8% of houses
What's happening
Brisbane remains the most profitable capital city market for sellers, according to Cotality's Pain & Gain report for the June 2026 quarter. Almost every resale in the city, 99.8%, made a nominal profit, with a median gain of $525,000.
Nationally, profitability came off its peak as the housing market cooled. The share of profitable resales eased to 95.4%, from a 21-year high of 96.1% in the March quarter, and the median gain slipped to $371,000. Cotality analysed more than 94,000 resales.
The key details
Cotality head of research Gerard Burg said profitability remains "exceptionally high by historical standards", but warned that further value falls would put downward pressure on resale results.
- Adelaide: 98.9% profitable, $480,400 median gain
- Perth: 98.8% profitable, $470,000 median gain
- Melbourne: 89.0% profitable, the lowest of the capitals, $278,000 median gain
- Houses: 97.8% profitable, $435,500 median gain; units: 90.5%, $251,000
- National median loss: $45,000, up from $44,000
Timeline and next steps
The report covers sales in the June 2026 quarter, before the most recent run of softer monthly values in Brisbane and South East Queensland. Results for the September quarter will show whether rising listings and higher rates have started to erode seller gains.
Profitable resales were held for a median of 9.1 years, compared with 8.1 years for loss-making sales, reinforcing the value of a longer holding period.
Among local government areas, Noosa on the Sunshine Coast ranked sixth nationally for median resale gains at $711,000, underlining the strength of South East Queensland coastal markets. Cotality expects the coming quarters to show whether the cooling in values flows through to more loss-making sales.
What it means for Gold Coast property owners and developers
The report does not publish a separate Gold Coast figure, but South East Queensland's strong growth over recent years means most long-term Gold Coast owners are sitting on substantial equity. That gives sellers flexibility on price and timing, even as buyers gain more choice and negotiating power in a softer market.
The national trend is a reminder that recent buyers, short holding periods and investor-grade units carry the most risk if values keep easing. Owners considering a sale should base decisions on local evidence and a current appraisal. This is general information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What share of Brisbane resales made a profit?
Cotality says 99.8% of Brisbane resales in the June 2026 quarter made a nominal profit, the highest of the capital cities.
What was the median gain for Brisbane sellers?
The median gain on Brisbane resales was $525,000.
Is resale profitability falling nationally?
Yes, slightly. Profitable resales eased to 95.4% from 96.1%, and the median gain fell to $371,000 from $378,000.
Source: Cotality, published 16 September 2026. This article is an independent summary and commentary by GC Prestige based on the original report — read the source for full details.
Cotality
Read the original article →This is an independent summary written by GC Prestige for general information. All facts are attributed to the original publisher above — please refer to the source for full details. Not financial or planning advice.
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