Queensland Property Spotlight
Sunshine Coast property and home loan guide
The Sunshine Coast runs from Caloundra in the south to the edge of Noosa, with hinterland towns like Nambour and Maleny behind it. The Sunshine Coast Council area was home to 342,541 people in the 2021 Census. Separate houses made up 73.1% of homes and 39.6% had four or more bedrooms. A third of homes (33.9%) were owned outright. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with Sunshine Coast buyers by phone and video. Here the big questions tend to be new estates, beach units and acreage.
Information last updated 3 November 2026
Market snapshot
| Houses | Units | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of homes | 73.1% separate houses, 13.0% terraces and townhouses | 12.8% flats and apartments | ABS Census 2021 (Sunshine Coast (LGA)) |
In the 2021 Census, 68.4% of Sunshine Coast homes were owned outright or with a mortgage and 27.3% were rented. The median weekly rent across all homes was $440 (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 Sunshine Coast
Andrew Petrie named Maroochydore in 1842, from a Yuggera word referring to the black swan. That same year Governor Gipps declared much of the hinterland a Bunya Bunya Reserve, which was scrapped in 1860. The 1867 Gympie gold rush pushed new roads over the ranges. Sugar cane was a mainstay until the Moreton sugar mill closed in 2003. It was officially named the Sunshine Coast in 1967.
The Shire of Noosa, the Shire of Maroochy and the City of Caloundra merged in 2008 to form the Sunshine Coast Region. After a 2013 vote Noosa left again and the present Sunshine Coast Council area began in 2014. Maroochydore is the main centre, with a new city centre built on the old Horton Park golf course land.
Transport
- The Bruce Highway links the Sunshine Coast with Brisbane, about 100 km to the south.
- The North Coast railway line runs through hinterland towns such as Beerwah, Landsborough and Nambour. The coastal centres rely on buses.
- Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola, about 10 km north of Maroochydore, opened a new runway on 14 June 2020.
- In the 2021 Census only 1.3% of working residents used public transport to get to work.
- Plan trips on the Translink journey planner.
Schools
The region has many state primary and high schools, plus Catholic and other non-government schools. The University of the Sunshine Coast has its main campus at Sippy Downs.
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
Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore is the largest centre and the main bus interchange. Kawana, Caloundra and Nambour have their own centres, while Mooloolaba and Coolum add beachside cafes and shops.
Parks and recreation
- Beaches run almost the length of the coast, from Caloundra's Kings Beach to Coolum and Peregian.
- The Glass House Mountains, sighted by James Cook in 1770, rise behind Beerwah.
- The Blackall Range around Maleny and Montville has walks, waterfalls and views back to the coast.
Lifestyle
The Sunshine Coast suits families, retirees and people moving from the cities for a coastal lifestyle. The median age was 43 in 2021 and families made up 72.6% of households. Around 9.3% of private dwellings were unoccupied on Census night, a sign of the many holiday homes. Expect a mix of beachside units, suburban houses, new estates and hinterland acreage.
Sunshine Coast
Did you know?
Sighted by Cook
James Cook sighted the Glass House Mountains from HM Bark Endeavour in 1770. He was the first known European to sight them. They sit southwest of Caloundra.
Nearly the Suncoast
The region was officially renamed the Sunshine Coast in 1967. Silver Coast and Diamond Coast were also considered. "Suncoast" was rejected because a company held the copyright.
A black swan name
Andrew Petrie named Maroochydore in 1842. The name comes from the Yuggera word Muru-kutchi, meaning red-bill. It refers to the black swan.
A new runway
Maroochydore Airport opened on 12 August 1961. Now Sunshine Coast Airport, it opened a new main runway on 14 June 2020.
Property types
The Sunshine Coast is mostly a house market.
- Houses make up 73.1% of homes, from older beach houses to new estate homes.
- Townhouses and semis make up 13.0%.
- Flats and apartments make up 12.8%, mostly near the beaches at Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Kawana and Caloundra.
- Size: 39.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 3.5% have one.
Check the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 for zoning and overlays and Council's MyMaps for flood mapping, property by property.
What lenders look at in Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast mixes beach, suburbs and hinterland. Here's what tends to come up with lenders.
New estates and building
Large new estates are growing in the south and west of the region. Construction loans pay out in stages and need a fixed-price building contract and approved plans. Lenders may value a new home on completion, so leave room in your deposit.
Flood and low-lying land
Land near the Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers and the Pumicestone Passage can be flood affected. Lenders and insurers look at flood risk and insurance costs feed into what you can afford. Check the address on Council's MyMaps before you sign.
Beach units and holiday lets
One LMI provider's public guidelines need units to have at least 30 m2 of living area, not counting balconies and car space. Lenders are also more cautious with serviced apartments and buildings run as holiday letting pools.
Hinterland acreage
One LMI provider's public guidelines accept rural residential properties up to 50 hectares if they aren't income producing. Sheds and stables are noted but left out of the value. Bigger blocks can mean a bigger deposit.
Postcode 4558
Maroochydore's postcode 4558 isn't on one LMI provider's lists of excluded or single-industry postcodes. Neither are the other main Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast
On the Sunshine Coast the type of land often shapes the loan. A unit near the beach, a new estate home and a hinterland block are each treated differently by lenders. Checking how a lender sees the property before you make an offer saves time.
First home buyers
Houses dominate the Sunshine Coast, so many first home buyers look at new estates, townhouses or units. If you're building, you'll need a construction loan. 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 here move from a unit or small house to a family home in a newer suburb or to acreage in the hinterland. If you're buying before you sell, ask about bridging finance early. Older beach houses often need work, so budget for a building and pest inspection.
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
- a survey or boundary check, plus septic, water tank and access checks where they apply
- 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 Sunshine Coast
In 2021, 27.3% of homes on the Sunshine Coast were rented and the median rent was $440 a week. Investors often choose between long-term rentals and holiday letting. Lenders treat short-stay income differently from a standard lease. See our investing in property page for how investment loans work.
Lender considerations
Sunshine Coast purchases often involve new estates, beachside units, flood checks and acreage. Lenders look at your income, the property type and its flood and insurance position. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with Sunshine Coast buyers by phone and video, so those points can be checked before you sign.
Thinking about buying in Sunshine Coast?
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 the Sunshine Coast mostly houses?
Yes. In the 2021 Census 73.1% of homes were separate houses and 39.6% had four or more bedrooms.
Does the Sunshine Coast flood?
Some areas do, particularly low-lying land near rivers and the Pumicestone Passage. Check any address on Council's MyMaps and get an insurance quote before you sign.
Is Noosa part of the Sunshine Coast Council?
No. Noosa merged into the Sunshine Coast Region in 2008 but left again in 2014. It has its own council, Noosa Shire Council.
Can a Brisbane mortgage broker help me buy in Sunshine Coast?
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 Sunshine Coast purchase. Stamp duty and grants follow Queensland rules.
Can I borrow to buy acreage in the hinterland?
Often, if the property is mainly a home and not a working farm. One LMI provider's public guidelines accept rural residential properties up to 50 hectares. Lenders may ask for a bigger deposit for larger blocks.
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. 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.