Brisbane Property Spotlight
North Brisbane property and home loan guide
North Brisbane covers the suburbs between the inner north and the Pine River, from Everton Park and Chermside out to Sandgate and Bald Hills. The ABS Brisbane - North region was home to 224,598 people in the 2021 Census. Separate houses made up 69.2% of homes, with 13.7% townhouses and 16.6% flats or apartments. Just over a third (34.8%) were rented. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with buyers across the north by phone and video. Creek flooding, character overlays and the rise of townhouses shape most loans here.
Information last updated 3 November 2026
Market snapshot
| Houses | Units | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of homes | 69.2% separate houses, 13.7% terraces and townhouses | 16.6% flats and apartments | ABS Census 2021 (Brisbane - North (SA4)) |
In the 2021 Census, 61.8% of North Brisbane homes were owned outright or with a mortgage and 34.8% were rented. The median weekly rent across all homes was $395 (ABS). Rents by bedroom aren't shown for this area. Sale prices will be added once licensed figures are available.
Figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Living in North Brisbane
Land at Sandgate went on sale in November 1853. Sandgate was proclaimed a borough on 29 April 1880 and the railway reached it in 1882, cutting the trip to Brisbane to under half an hour. The district once called Downfall Creek was renamed Chermside in 1904, after Governor Sir Herbert Chermside.
Sandgate joined the City of Brisbane in October 1925. Suburbs filled in after the Second World War and the Chermside Drive-in Shopping Centre opened in 1957. Today Chermside is the main centre of the north, with the Prince Charles Hospital and a growing number of apartments around it.
Transport
- The Shorncliffe line serves Nundah, Northgate, Boondall, Sandgate and Shorncliffe. The Redcliffe Peninsula and Caboolture lines run through Bald Hills.
- The Northern Busway runs from the city to Kedron and a dedicated bus lane on Gympie Road to Chermside was added in 2024.
- In the 2021 Census 3.5% of working residents took the train to work and 7.9% used public transport overall.
- Plan trips on the Translink journey planner.
Schools
North Brisbane has many state primary schools and state high schools including Aspley, Craigslea, Everton Park, Wavell, Bracken Ridge and Sandgate District. There are also several Catholic and other non-government schools.
Catchments change and some schools run enrolment management plans, so check the Queensland Government school catchment maps for any address before you buy.
Shopping and dining
Westfield Chermside is the main shopping centre for the north. Smaller centres and strips include Aspley, Stafford, Nundah Village and Brighton Road at Sandgate.
Parks and recreation
- The Boondall Wetlands and the Sandgate foreshore are popular for walks and rides.
- Shorncliffe Pier is the starting point of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race each Easter.
- Kedron Brook and Cabbage Tree Creek have long bikeways and parkland along their banks.
Lifestyle
North Brisbane suits families and commuters who want a house within reach of the city, the airport and the coast. Families made up 68.9% of households in 2021 and the median age was 37. Expect older post-war homes, character houses near the railway, new townhouses and apartment blocks around Chermside.
North Brisbane
Did you know?
From Downfall Creek to Chermside
The district was known as Downfall Creek until 1904, when it was renamed after the Governor of Queensland, Sir Herbert Chermside.
Source: Wikipedia: Chermside, Queensland
A drive-in shopping centre
Westfield Chermside opened on 30 May 1957 as the Chermside Drive-in Shopping Centre. It's described as Australia's first drive-in shopping centre.
Source: Wikipedia: Chermside, Queensland
Half an hour to town
The railway reached Sandgate in 1882 and cut the trip to Brisbane to less than half an hour.
Source: Wikipedia: Sandgate, Queensland
A town of its own
Sandgate ran its own council from 1880 until October 1925, when it joined the City of Brisbane. The Sandgate Town Hall opened in 1911 after fire destroyed the old chambers in 1910.
Source: Wikipedia: Sandgate, Queensland
Property types
Housing in the north is changing.
- Houses make up 69.2% of homes, from early Queenslanders to post-war brick and timber homes.
- Townhouses and semis make up 13.7%, many built on subdivided blocks.
- Flats and apartments make up 16.6%, concentrated around Chermside, Nundah and the railway stations.
- Size: 33.9% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 4.8% have one.
Check the Brisbane City Plan for character and heritage overlays and Council's Flood Awareness Map for flood levels, street by street.
What lenders look at in North Brisbane
North Brisbane is a mix of houses, townhouses and new apartments. Here's what tends to come up with lenders.
Creek and coastal flooding
Streets near Kedron Brook, Downfall Creek, Cabbage Tree Creek and the low-lying land around Sandgate can be flood affected. Lenders and insurers look at flood risk. Check the address on Council's Flood Awareness Map before you sign.
Townhouses and body corporate
Many new townhouse complexes have been built on subdivided blocks. Lenders look at the strata plan, the sinking fund and any building defects. Read the body corporate records before you commit.
New apartments
Apartments around Chermside and Nundah are often bought off the plan. One LMI provider's public guidelines need units to have at least 30 m2 of living area, not counting balconies and car space. Lenders may value on completion, not on the contract price.
Character homes
Many older homes sit in the Brisbane City Plan's pre-1911 or traditional building character overlays. Overlays can limit what you can change. Valuers look closely at the condition of older timber homes.
Postcode 4032
Chermside's postcode 4032 isn't on one LMI provider's lists of excluded or single-industry postcodes. Neither are the other North Brisbane postcodes.
Lender and LMI policies differ between lenders and change often. This is a general guide based on public lender and LMI information checked 3 November 2026. We can check current policy for the property you're looking at before you apply.
Buying in North Brisbane
In North Brisbane the creek map and the building type shape most purchases. A townhouse in a new complex, an old Queenslander and a house near Kedron Brook raise different questions with lenders. Getting those checked before you make an offer saves time.
First home buyers
Townhouses and units make up almost a third of homes in the north, which gives first home buyers more choice than in many Brisbane areas. Check the body corporate records and the unit size before you sign. A family guarantee may help some buyers.
Getting pre-approval first tells you your range. For government schemes, price caps and grants, see our first home buyer page for current details.
Upgraders
Many upgraders move from a townhouse to a family home in the same part of the north to stay near schools. If you're buying before you sell, ask about bridging finance early. Older homes often need work, so budget for a building and pest inspection and any renovation.
Deposit and costs
On top of your deposit, allow for:
- stamp duty (transfer duty) under Queensland rules, with concessions for some first home buyers (see the Queensland Revenue Office)
- conveyancing and legal fees
- building and pest inspections
- strata or body corporate searches for units and townhouses
- lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) if you borrow more than 80% of the property's value
Our calculators give you a starting figure. Stamp duty rules differ between states, so check the Queensland rules for your purchase.
Investing in North Brisbane
In 2021, 34.8% of homes in the Brisbane - North region were rented and the median rent was $395 a week. Hospitals, the airport and the busway bring steady rental demand. See our investing in property page for how investment loans work.
Lender considerations
North Brisbane purchases often involve townhouses, older homes and flood checks near creeks. Lenders look at your income, the property type and its flood and insurance position. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with buyers in the north by phone and video, so those points can be checked before you sign.
Thinking about buying in North Brisbane?
Talk it through with a Brisbane broker before you sign a contract. We can check the property you're looking at against lender policy.
Frequently asked questions
Which suburbs are in North Brisbane?
There's no official boundary. This guide uses the ABS Brisbane - North region, which runs from Everton Park and Nundah out to Bald Hills and Sandgate and takes in Chermside, Aspley and Boondall.
Is North Brisbane mostly houses?
Mostly. In the 2021 Census 69.2% of homes were separate houses, 13.7% were townhouses or semis and 16.6% were flats or apartments.
Does North Brisbane flood?
Some streets do, mainly near creeks and low-lying land around Sandgate. Check any address on Council's Flood Awareness Map and get an insurance quote before you sign.
Can a Brisbane mortgage broker help me buy in North Brisbane?
Yes. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with clients across Australia by phone and video. Lender policy is national, so it's the same for a North Brisbane purchase. Stamp duty and grants follow Queensland rules.
Can I buy a townhouse with a small deposit?
Possibly, depending on your income, the price and the lender. Lenders mortgage insurance usually applies if you borrow more than 80% of the value. Some buyers use a family guarantee.
What costs should I budget for besides the deposit?
Transfer duty, conveyancing, building and pest inspections and lenders mortgage insurance if you borrow more than 80% of the value. For townhouses and units, also budget for body corporate levies. The calculators on our site give you a starting figure.
General information only. This page provides general information and doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it's appropriate for you and seek advice before making a decision. Market figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Time Home Loans Pty Ltd ACN 161 695 012, Credit Representative 529395 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 384324.