Brisbane buyers get more choice as listings rise 43.5%, SQM says
Buyers have far more choice: Brisbane had 21,153 homes for sale in September, up 43.5% in a year, while asking prices eased 2.1% in a month, SQM Research data shows.
Image: GC Prestige (illustrative)
Buyers have far more choice: Brisbane had 21,153 homes for sale in September, up 43.5% in a year, while asking prices eased 2.1% in a month, SQM Research data shows.
- Brisbane total listings reached 21,153 in September, up 3.8% in a month and 43.5% in a year
- Older Brisbane listings rose 16.0% over the month
- Brisbane asking prices fell 2.1% in a month, the largest drop of any capital
- Queensland distressed listings rose 47.5% year on year to 1,655
- National listings hit 276,839, up 21.6% on a year earlier
What's happening
Buyers across South East Queensland now have much more to choose from. SQM Research's September 2026 listings report shows Brisbane had 21,153 properties on the market, up 3.8% on August and 43.5% on a year earlier, the steepest annual rise of any capital city.
SQM says the growth is not mainly driven by more sellers coming to market. Managing director Louis Christopher said most of the national increase is stock that has been listed for one to six months without selling, describing it as "a demand problem, not a supply surge".
The key details
The report also tracks asking prices using SQM's weekly index for the week ending 29 September, and distressed listings, which Christopher called "the key indicator we are watching".
- Brisbane total listings: 21,153, up 3.8% month on month and 43.5% year on year
- Brisbane new listings: up 4.5% month on month
- Brisbane older listings: up 16.0% month on month and 26.8% year on year
- Brisbane asking prices (houses and units combined): down 2.1% month on month, up 2.6% year on year
- Queensland distressed listings: 1,655, up 10.6% month on month and 47.5% year on year
- National total listings: 276,839, up 21.6% year on year
Christopher said buyers in Brisbane and Adelaide now have much more choice and greater negotiating power. He noted that distressed stock nationally remains relatively small in absolute terms, but that the trend is clearly upward. SQM's report does not break out separate Gold Coast figures.
Timeline and next steps
SQM publishes its listings data monthly, so the October figures will show whether the build-up continues. Christopher said the way vendors respond through the rest of spring will be an important signal for the market heading into 2027. Interest rate settings will also shape buyer sentiment, following the Reserve Bank's September rate rise.
What it means for Gold Coast property owners and developers
Although the report focuses on Brisbane, the Gold Coast tends to move with the broader South East Queensland market. Rising stock levels and falling asking prices point to a shift in negotiating power toward buyers, especially for properties that have already been on the market for several weeks.
Sellers may need to price closer to recent comparable sales and allow for longer campaigns. Buyers have more room to negotiate, while developers launching new projects may face more competition from established resale stock. A rise in distressed listings is worth monitoring, but SQM stresses the numbers remain contained.
Frequently asked questions
How many homes are for sale in Brisbane?
SQM Research counted 21,153 Brisbane listings in September 2026, up 43.5% on September 2025.
Are Brisbane asking prices falling?
Yes. SQM's combined house and unit asking price index for Brisbane fell 2.1% over the month to 29 September, though it was still 2.6% higher than a year earlier.
What are distressed listings?
They are listings SQM classifies as distressed sales, typically where the seller is under financial pressure. Queensland had 1,655 in September, up 47.5% on a year earlier.
Source: SQM Research: Total Property Listings, September 2026, published 2 October 2026. This article is an independent summary and commentary by GC Prestige based on the original report — read the source for full details.
SQM Research: Total Property Listings, September 2026
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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