Low supply, high returns: Why downsizers and professionals are targeting Brisbane’s inner east
There’s no shying away from the fact that the Brisbane property market is the best performing market in the country.
New apartments are being snapped up, and enquiry is at an all-time high across Apartments.com.au throughout the state, with demand strong across every development, location, and price point.
The imbalance between limited supply and rising demand has seen prices climb significantly in recent years — pushing Brisbane up the capital city rankings for median dwelling value, now sitting just behind Sydney.
While every suburb is experiencing growth, some untapped pockets are showing even stronger potential. That’s according to Place Bulimba agent Ally Edmonds, who sees real opportunity in Brisbane’s inner eastern suburbs, where supply is unlikely to increase dramatically.
“Brisbane is going through a prolonged growth cycle across almost every market,” Edmonds says.
“History shows that suburbs with low supply continue to see long-term capital growth, outperforming the rest of the market. That’s exactly what we’re seeing in these smaller suburbs within the East Brisbane growth corridor.”
Edmonds points to suburbs such as Bulimba, Cannon Hill, and Murarrie, all of which sit close to the city but remain undersupplied.
Values are tracking strongly, according to property data analytics firm Cotality — and it’s the unit sector that’s doing the heavy lifting.
While Bulimba is the headline suburb of the east thanks to its riverfront positioning, prime location, and thriving retail and family-home market, the surrounding suburbs are benefitting from the spillover effect.
In the past three months, dwelling values in Bulimba have lifted 4.3 per cent, with growth of 1.7 per cent in Murarrie and one per cent in Cannon Hill. At a unit level (apartments and townhouses), growth has been even stronger.
Murarrie leads the way, with unit values up 5.3 per cent, outpacing Bulimba (3.5 per cent) and Cannon Hill (3.3 per cent). Murarrie also presents a value opportunity, with a median unit price of $863,000 — some $165,000 less than Bulimba.
Edmonds is currently selling the third and final stage of Park Hill Village Collection in Murarrie, the only new apartment development on the market in the area.
The release features 65 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments across two buildings, Horizon and Skyline, at 19 Governor Terrace in the Park Hill community.
Set high on the hill, the elevated position delivers expansive views back to the Brisbane CBD, a feature that resonates strongly with downsizers.
Designed by Kris Kowalski of Kowalski Architects, the buildings embrace the principles of classic modernism while responding to Brisbane’s subtropical climate.
Apartments have been crafted with a focus on space, light, and liveability. Most include generous balconies, study nooks, or private courtyards, while kitchens are fitted with Smeg appliances, induction cooktops, and externally ducted rangehoods.
Residents will also enjoy rooftop lounges and terraces with kitchenettes and barbecues, as well as landscaped ground-level communal gardens. These outdoor spaces balance privacy with interaction, offering greenery and uninterrupted city outlooks.
Positioned just minutes from the Gateway Motorway, residents can be at Brisbane Airport in 10 minutes or on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast within an hour.
Locally, Murarrie is seeing an uplift in amenity, with the new Rivermaker precinct and the popular BrewDog brewery drawing crowds and strengthening the suburb’s lifestyle credentials.
Everyday amenity is also close at hand, with nearby Cannon Hill Plaza and access to schools, transport, and green spaces such as Colmslie Beach Reserve along the Brisbane River.
“There’s nothing like this in Murarrie or the surrounding areas. We don’t believe there will be another opportunity at this price point anytime soon,” Edmonds says.
The apartments are under construction by respected local firm Skyline Builders, with completion expected by mid-2026.
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project—from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out—delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey
