Brisbane Property Spotlight
North Lakes property and home loan guide
North Lakes is a master-planned suburb about 34 km north of the Brisbane CBD, in the City of Moreton Bay. It had 23,030 people in the 2021 Census and a median age of 35. Most homes are newer houses (84.9%) and 60.0% have four or more bedrooms. Townhouses make up another 12.0%. More than a third of homes (37.3%) were rented. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with North Lakes buyers by phone and video. Builder contracts, estate rules and investor demand tend to matter most here.
Information last updated 3 November 2026
Market snapshot
| Houses | Units | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of homes | 84.9% separate houses, 12.0% terraces and townhouses | 3.1% flats and apartments | ABS Census 2021 (North Lakes) |
In the 2021 Census, 59.1% of North Lakes homes were owned outright or with a mortgage and 37.3% were rented. The median weekly rent across all homes was $420 (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 Lakes
The land was used to breed and train police horses from 1891 and later for dairying, pineapples and pine plantations. Lend Lease announced a master-planned community in the Mango Hill area in 1995. A joint venture began work on a 1,000-hectare site in 1999 and signed an agreement with CSIRO on 15 September 1999 to build to sustainable standards.
Stockland took over the development after it bought Lensworth in December 2004. North Lakes was gazetted as a separate suburb in February 2006, taking its name from the estate. The project went on to win several UDIA Queensland and Property Council awards.
Transport
- Local buses run to and from North Lakes Bus Station.
- Mango Hill and Mango Hill East stations on the Redcliffe Peninsula line are close by. The line opened in October 2016.
- The Bruce Highway runs along the western edge of the suburb. The Plantation Road Bridge, opened in December 2014, links North Lakes with Dakabin.
- Plan trips on the Translink journey planner.
Schools
North Lakes has Bounty Boulevard State School (Prep to Year 6) and North Lakes State College (Prep to Year 12), which opened in 2002. The Lakes College is a private Prep to Year 12 school that opened in 2005.
Catchments change, so check the Queensland Government school catchment maps for any address before you buy.
Shopping and dining
Westfield North Lakes opened its first stage on 7 August 2003. After its 2016 expansion it had 274 stores, including department stores, supermarkets and a cinema. IKEA opened its second Queensland store at North Lakes in November 2016.
Parks and recreation
- Lake Eden sits within the suburb.
- Parks and playgrounds are spread through the estate's neighbourhoods.
- Moreton Bay's beaches at Redcliffe are a short drive east.
Lifestyle
North Lakes suits young families and first home buyers who want a newer house with shops, schools and the highway close by. Family households made up 82.1% of homes in 2021. Expect modern houses on smaller blocks, a busy town centre and a lot of renters alongside owners.
North Lakes
Did you know?
Police horses first
In 1891 the Kinsella brothers secured the land to breed and train horses for the police. It later became the Allesnik Dairy Farm, with a pineapple plantation into the 1960s.
A deal with CSIRO
On 15 September 1999 the developers signed an agreement with CSIRO for sustainable building over 20 years. The plan was about 8,500 homes for 25,000 people.
A suburb since 2006
North Lakes was gazetted as a separate suburb in February 2006. The name came from the estate.
Shops before the suburb
Westfield North Lakes opened on 7 August 2003, nearly three years before North Lakes became an official suburb. Stage 1 cost $67 million and had about 80 stores.
Source: Wikipedia: Westfield North Lakes
Property types
North Lakes is a newer house market with a solid share of townhouses.
- Houses make up 84.9% of homes, mostly built since 2000.
- Townhouses and semis are 12.0% and flats or apartments 3.1%.
- Size: 60.0% of homes have four or more bedrooms.
Check the Moreton Bay planning scheme for zoning and overlays and Council's FloodCheck tool for flood information on any address.
What lenders look at in North Lakes
North Lakes is a master-planned suburb of newer homes. Here's what tends to come up with lenders.
House and land or building
Construction loans pay out in stages and need a fixed-price building contract and approved plans. Lenders value the finished home, so check the contract inclusions. Talk to us before you sign with a builder.
Townhouses and body corporate
Townhouses make up 12.0% of homes. Lenders count body corporate levies as an expense. One LMI provider's public guidelines also need units to have at least 30 m2 of living area, excluding balconies and car space.
Estate covenants
Some estates have building covenants on design, fencing or timing. These don't usually stop a loan but they can affect what you build and when. Read them before you sign.
Investment demand
With 37.3% of homes rented in 2021, North Lakes has a lot of investors. Lenders may treat streets or complexes with many rentals with more care at valuation.
Postcode 4509
North Lakes shares postcode 4509 with Mango Hill. It isn't on one LMI provider's lists of excluded or single-industry 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 Lakes
In North Lakes the build quality, estate rules and the type of title shape most purchases. Townhouses come with body corporate levies and by-laws. Newer houses may still be under a builder's warranty. Getting the contract and any body corporate records checked before you make an offer saves time.
First home buyers
North Lakes is popular with first home buyers because of its newer houses and townhouses. A townhouse can be a lower-cost way in, but check the body corporate levies. A family guarantee may help some buyers with a smaller deposit.
Getting pre-approval before you look tells you your range. For government schemes, price caps and grants, see our first home buyer page for current details.
Upgraders
Many North Lakes buyers move from a townhouse to a bigger house in the same area. If you're buying before you sell, ask about bridging finance early. If you're building, a construction loan pays out in stages, so allow for the timing.
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
- 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 Lakes
In 2021, 37.3% of North Lakes homes were rented and the median rent was $420 a week. Families drawn by schools, shops and the rail line bring rental demand. Lenders count body corporate and insurance costs when they assess investment loans too. See our investing in property page for how investment loans work.
Lender considerations
North Lakes purchases often involve newer homes, townhouses with body corporates and investors. Lenders look at your income, the property type and any builder or body corporate costs. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with North Lakes buyers by phone and video, so these points can be checked before you sign.
Thinking about buying in North Lakes?
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
Is North Lakes mostly houses?
Yes. In the 2021 Census 84.9% of homes were separate houses, 12.0% were townhouses or semis and 3.1% were flats or apartments.
Is there a train station in North Lakes?
Not in the suburb itself. Mango Hill and Mango Hill East stations on the Redcliffe Peninsula line are close by and buses run from North Lakes Bus Station.
Can I build a new home in North Lakes?
Yes, where land is available. A construction loan pays out in stages and needs a fixed-price contract and approved plans. Check any estate covenants too.
Can a Brisbane mortgage broker help me buy in North Lakes?
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 Lakes purchase. Stamp duty and grants follow Queensland rules.
Can I buy a townhouse in North Lakes with a small deposit?
Possibly, depending on your income, the price, the body corporate levies and the lender. Some buyers use a family guarantee. Lenders mortgage insurance usually applies if you borrow more than 80% of the value.
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 a townhouse, add a body corporate search. The calculators on our site give you a starting figure.
Nearby suburbs
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.