What properties can you buy in Brisbanewith $100k, $300k, $500k and more? (January 2026)

Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Australia Property Pack

Yes, the analysis of Brisbane's property market is included in our pack

What can I realistically buy with $100k in Brisbane right now?

Are there any decent properties for $100k in Brisbane, or is it all scams?

For A$100,000 (roughly US$63,000 or EUR 58,000) in Brisbane in 2026, you cannot realistically purchase any normal, titled residential property because the median dwelling value sits at over A$1 million, making $100k approximately one-tenth of the average price.

At this budget level, legitimate options in Brisbane essentially do not exist in terms of actual homes, so listings that appear at this price point are typically car spaces, storage units, timeshare-style arrangements, leasehold retirement village interests, or outright scams designed to trick inexperienced foreign buyers.

Popular and upscale Brisbane suburbs like New Farm, Teneriffe, Bulimba, Ascot, and Paddington are completely out of reach at $100k, as even the smallest studios in these premium areas typically sell for A$400,000 or more, and the only way to get exposure to these locations would be using $100k as a deposit toward a much more expensive property.

What property types can I afford for $100k in Brisbane (studio, land, old house)?

At the A$100,000 price point in Brisbane in 2026, you cannot afford a studio apartment, vacant land suitable for building, or any type of house, because Brisbane's property market has risen dramatically over recent years with dwelling values up nearly 87% in five years.

If something appears for sale at $100k in Brisbane, you should expect it to be either a non-standard ownership structure (like a leasehold arrangement in a retirement village), a car parking space in an inner-city building, or a listing that involves hidden conditions or potential fraud.

Given Brisbane's price reality, the smartest use of $100k for a foreign buyer is treating it as deposit money toward a new-build apartment in the A$500,000 to A$700,000 range, which would give you actual ownership of liveable property while complying with the rules that channel foreign buyers toward new dwellings.

What's a realistic budget to get a comfortable property in Brisbane as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the realistic minimum budget to get a comfortable property in Brisbane is approximately A$550,000 to A$600,000 (around US$350,000 to US$380,000 or EUR 320,000 to EUR 350,000) for a modest one or two-bedroom apartment in a middle-ring suburb with decent transport connections.

Most buyers looking for a genuinely comfortable standard in Brisbane, meaning modern finishes, reasonable space, and a good location, will need to budget A$700,000 to A$900,000 (US$445,000 to US$570,000 or EUR 410,000 to EUR 525,000) for apartments or townhouses, while detached houses with outdoor space typically start well above A$1 million.

In Brisbane, "comfortable" generally means a property of at least 60 to 80 square meters for an apartment, with air conditioning, secure parking, and proximity to public transport or amenity hubs, and ideally in a building constructed within the last 15 years with reasonable body corporate fees.

Your required budget can vary dramatically depending on the neighborhood, with inner suburbs like Paddington, West End, and Kangaroo Point requiring A$800,000 or more for entry-level apartments, while outer areas like Chermside, Nundah, or Upper Mount Gravatt might offer similar quality for A$550,000 to A$650,000.

What can I get with a $200k budget in Brisbane as of 2026?

What "normal" homes become available at $200k in Brisbane as of 2026?

As of early 2026, at A$200,000 (approximately US$127,000 or EUR 117,000) you still cannot purchase a normal home in Brisbane, as the city's median unit price alone sits at around A$807,000 and even the cheapest functional apartments in outer suburbs typically start above A$350,000.

With A$200,000 in Brisbane, your best realistic strategy is using it as a substantial deposit (around 25% to 30%) toward an apartment in the A$650,000 to A$750,000 range, which would get you approximately 50 to 70 square meters of living space in suburbs like Moorooka, Annerley, or parts of the northern corridor.

By the way, we have much more granular data about housing prices in our property pack about Brisbane.

What places are the smartest $200k buys in Brisbane as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the smartest approach with A$200,000 in Brisbane is using it as deposit plus costs toward well-located apartments in emerging corridors like Nundah, Zillmere, Chermside, or southside suburbs such as Annerley, Greenslopes, and Moorooka where transport access is strong and price growth has been consistent.

These areas represent smarter buys compared to chasing the absolute cheapest outer suburbs because they offer better public transport connections (train lines and busways), shorter commute times to the CBD, established amenities, and stronger historical capital growth that protects your investment over time.

The main growth driver in these smart-buy areas is Brisbane's ongoing infrastructure investment, including the Cross River Rail project, Brisbane Metro, and the build-up to the 2032 Olympics, which is creating connectivity improvements that disproportionately benefit middle-ring suburbs with existing character and transport access.

What can I buy with $300k in Brisbane in 2026?

What quality upgrade do I get at $300k in Brisbane in 2026?

As of early 2026, stepping up from A$200,000 to A$300,000 (approximately US$190,000 or EUR 175,000) in Brisbane still does not unlock standard "normal" property purchases outright, but it does put you in range of very small older studios in outer suburbs or, more practically, allows you to make a stronger 35% to 40% deposit on a decent A$750,000 to A$850,000 apartment.

At A$300,000 as a purchase price, buying a property in a newer Brisbane building is generally not realistic because new-build apartments with reasonable sizes typically price above A$500,000 due to high land and construction costs, and foreign buyers who are channeled toward new stock will find this budget insufficient.

If you can find anything legitimate at A$300,000 in Brisbane, expect features like an older building (1970s to 1990s construction), very compact floor plans under 50 square meters, basic finishes that may need updating, limited or no car parking, and locations in suburbs further from the CBD like Woodridge, Kingston, or Goodna in the greater Brisbane area.

Can $300k buy a 2-bedroom in Brisbane in 2026 in good areas?

As of early 2026, finding a genuine 2-bedroom property for A$300,000 in good areas of Brisbane is essentially not possible, as two-bedroom apartments in desirable suburbs like Greenslopes, Nundah, Coorparoo, or Chermside typically start at A$500,000 or more.

The only Brisbane areas where A$300,000 might theoretically approach 2-bedroom territory are far outer suburbs and greater Brisbane spillover zones like Woodridge, Beenleigh, Goodna, or Redbank Plains, but these locations involve longer commutes, fewer amenities, and may not meet the "good area" criteria most buyers have in mind.

If you did manage to find something at A$300,000 with two bedrooms in Brisbane, expect it to be quite compact at around 55 to 65 square meters, in an older building with dated finishes, and likely requiring body corporate special levies for maintenance work in the near future.

Which places become "accessible" at $300k in Brisbane as of 2026?

At A$300,000 in Brisbane, the suburbs that become marginally accessible for outright purchases include outer northern areas like Zillmere, Boondall, and Taigum, southern fringe suburbs like Salisbury and Coopers Plains, and greater Brisbane zones in Logan (Woodridge, Kingston, Beenleigh) and Ipswich (Goodna, Redbank Plains).

These newly accessible areas offer better value than lower budgets simply because they have actual functional housing stock, established suburban infrastructure, and in many cases train station access, whereas at A$200,000 or below you are essentially locked out of the residential market entirely.

In these A$300,000-accessible suburbs, expect to find older one-bedroom apartments, very small two-bedroom units in walk-up buildings from the 1980s, or occasionally a rundown property requiring significant renovation investment to bring up to comfortable living standards.

By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Brisbane.

What does a $500k budget unlock in Brisbane in 2026?

What's the typical size and location for $500k in Brisbane in 2026?

As of early 2026, at A$500,000 (approximately US$317,000 or EUR 292,000) you can realistically purchase a one to two-bedroom apartment of 50 to 80 square meters in Brisbane's middle-ring suburbs like Annerley, Greenslopes, Woolloongabba fringe, Nundah, Kedron, or Toowong (older stock), with decent transport access and established local amenities.

At A$500,000 in Brisbane, buying a family home with outdoor space is generally not realistic because detached houses command a median price above A$1.1 million, so this budget keeps you firmly in the apartment or possibly townhouse-in-outer-suburb territory rather than standalone homes with gardens.

For A$500,000 in Brisbane, the typical configuration is either a well-appointed one-bedroom apartment with study nook in a better location, or a functional two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in a middle-ring suburb, with secure parking usually included and building amenities varying by age and body corporate quality.

Finally, please note that we cover all the housing price data in Brisbane here.

Which "premium" neighborhoods open up at $500k in Brisbane in 2026?

At A$500,000 in Brisbane in 2026, you gain access to "premium-adjacent" neighborhoods rather than true premium suburbs, meaning you might secure a small or older apartment on the fringes of areas like Newstead, West End, Kangaroo Point, Paddington, or Kelvin Grove, but not the best-positioned or highest-quality stock in these locations.

These neighborhoods are considered premium in Brisbane because they offer walkable lifestyle precincts, riverside or city views, heritage character, proximity to employment hubs, excellent dining and cafe culture, and strong long-term capital growth driven by limited land supply and high owner-occupier demand.

For A$500,000 in these premium-adjacent Brisbane locations, expect to find a compact studio or one-bedroom apartment in an older building (1980s to early 2000s construction), potentially without a car space, with higher body corporate fees than outer suburbs, and likely requiring some cosmetic updating to match the neighborhood's contemporary standards.

What counts as "luxury" in Brisbane in 2026?

At what amount does "luxury" start in Brisbane right now?

In Brisbane in 2026, the luxury threshold generally begins at around A$1.5 million (approximately US$950,000 or EUR 875,000) for apartments and A$2 million (US$1.27 million or EUR 1.17 million) for houses, where you start seeing riverfront positions, premium building amenities, high-end finishes, and genuinely exclusive addresses.

Entry-level luxury in Brisbane means features like stone benchtops, integrated European appliances, engineered timber or quality tile flooring, ducted air conditioning, resort-style pools, concierge services in apartment buildings, and either river views or positioning in heritage-protected character precincts like Paddington or Ascot.

Compared to Sydney where luxury apartments often start above A$3 million, Brisbane's luxury threshold remains relatively accessible, though the gap has narrowed significantly as Brisbane's prestige market has matured following strong population growth and the upcoming 2032 Olympics driving investor confidence.

Mid-tier luxury in Brisbane typically ranges from A$2 million to A$4 million (US$1.27 million to US$2.54 million or EUR 1.17 million to EUR 2.34 million), while top-tier trophy properties in suburbs like Teneriffe, Hamilton, and New Farm can reach A$10 million or more for the most exceptional riverfront homes or penthouses.

Which areas are truly high-end in Brisbane right now?

The truly high-end neighborhoods in Brisbane in 2026 are New Farm, Teneriffe, Newstead, Ascot, Hamilton, Bulimba, Hawthorne, Paddington, and select riverfront pockets of St Lucia, Indooroopilly, and West End, where median house prices typically range from A$2 million to A$3.6 million.

These areas command premium status in Brisbane because they combine heritage character or architectural prestige, proximity to the Brisbane River, excellent private and public school catchments, walkable village atmospheres with quality dining and retail, and extremely limited housing stock that creates persistent undersupply against strong buyer demand.

The typical buyer profile for Brisbane's high-end areas includes successful business owners, medical specialists, senior corporate executives, interstate downsizers from Sydney and Melbourne seeking lifestyle improvements, and increasingly, interstate families relocating for Brisbane's combination of space, climate, and relative value compared to southern capitals.

How much does it really cost to buy, beyond the price, in Brisbane in 2026?

What are the total closing costs in Brisbane in 2026 as a percentage?

As of early 2026, total closing costs in Brisbane typically range from 3% to 6% of the purchase price for Australian residents, but foreign buyers should budget 10% to 15% or more due to Queensland's Additional Foreign Acquirer Duty (AFAD) which adds an extra 8% on top of standard transfer duty.

For a standard non-concessional transaction in Brisbane, Australian residents face approximately 4% to 5% in closing costs covering stamp duty (transfer duty), conveyancing fees, title searches, and registration, while first home buyers may qualify for concessions that reduce or eliminate stamp duty on properties under A$800,000.

The main fee categories making up Brisbane closing costs include Queensland transfer duty (the largest component at roughly 3% to 4% for mid-range properties), conveyancing or legal fees (A$800 to A$2,000), title searches and registration fees, building and pest inspections, and loan establishment costs if using a mortgage.

To avoid hidden costs and bad surprises, you can check our our pack covering the property buying process in Brisbane.

How much are notary, registration, and legal fees in Brisbane in 2026?

As of early 2026, conveyancing and legal fees in Brisbane typically cost A$800 to A$2,000 (approximately US$510 to US$1,270 or EUR 470 to EUR 1,170), title searches run A$20 to A$50 per search, and registration of transfer fees are set by Titles Queensland at fixed rates published in their official fee schedule.

These fees typically represent less than 1% of the property purchase price in Brisbane, making them a relatively minor component compared to stamp duty, though they can vary based on transaction complexity, whether any issues arise with the title, or if additional searches are required.

Unlike many European countries, Australia does not use a traditional notary system, so the conveyancer or solicitor handles contract review, searches, and settlement coordination, with conveyancing fees being the largest "legal" cost and registration fees being fixed government charges regardless of property value.

What annual property taxes should I expect in Brisbane in 2026?

As of early 2026, annual property costs in Brisbane include council rates which vary by property valuation and category but typically range from A$1,500 to A$3,500 per year (approximately US$950 to US$2,220 or EUR 875 to EUR 2,045) for standard residential properties, calculated according to Brisbane City Council's published rates resolution.

Council rates in Brisbane generally represent around 0.2% to 0.4% of property value annually, though this varies significantly based on the property's rating category, land valuation, and whether it is owner-occupied or used for investment purposes.

Land tax may also apply depending on how you hold the property and your total Queensland land holdings, with rates starting from 0% for holdings under the tax-free threshold for individuals (around A$600,000 for owner-occupiers) and increasing progressively for higher values, plus a 2% land tax surcharge applies to foreign owners on top of standard rates.

Principal place of residence exemptions exist for land tax if you live in the property, and some council rate concessions are available for pensioners and certain other categories, though foreign owners who rent out their Brisbane property will be subject to full land tax including the foreign surcharge.

You can find the list of all property taxes, costs and fees when buying in Brisbane here.

Is mortgage a viable option for foreigners in Brisbane right now?

Obtaining a mortgage as a foreigner in Brisbane is possible but challenging in 2026, with most Australian lenders offering loan-to-value ratios (LVR) of only 60% to 70% for non-residents, meaning you will typically need a deposit of 30% to 40% rather than the 20% that local buyers might provide.

Foreign buyers in Brisbane can generally expect interest rates 0.5% to 1% higher than Australian residents receive, LVR caps that require larger deposits, income shading where lenders only accept 50% to 80% of your foreign income for servicing calculations, and a limited selection of lenders willing to work with non-residents at all.

To qualify for a mortgage as a foreigner in Brisbane, you will typically need FIRB approval documentation, passport and visa details, proof of income translated into English if from a non-English speaking country, evidence of the deposit source, employment verification, and often a credit check in your home country, with the application process taking longer than for local buyers.

You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in Australia.

What should I predict for resale and growth in Brisbane in 2026?

What property types resell fastest in Brisbane in 2026?

As of early 2026, the property types that resell fastest in Brisbane are move-in-ready houses and well-located apartments in the sub-A$1 million price bracket, where buyer demand significantly exceeds available stock and properties attract multiple offers within days of listing.

The typical time on market for a well-priced Brisbane property in early 2026 is around 25 to 30 days on average, with desirable properties in high-demand suburbs like Paddington, Nundah, Coorparoo, or Chermside often selling within two to three weeks if priced correctly from the start.

Properties that sell fastest in Brisbane specifically share characteristics like proximity to train stations or busway stops, established suburb amenities, move-in condition without requiring immediate renovation, reasonable body corporate fees for apartments, and positioning in suburbs benefiting from Cross River Rail or Brisbane Metro infrastructure projects.

The slowest-selling properties in Brisbane tend to be apartments in buildings with known defects or high special levies, oversized luxury homes in outer suburbs where buyer pools are thin, properties requiring significant renovation in areas without strong rental demand, and units in high-density complexes with excessive similar stock competing for the same buyers.

If you're interested, we cover all the best exit strategies in our real estate pack about Brisbane.

What sources have we used to write this blog article?

Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Brisbane, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.

We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.