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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationQueensland housing affordability improvements welcomed
Queensland housing affordability improvements welcomed
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HIA Executive Director Queensland Mike Roberts, said the latest HIA Housing Affordability Report showed Brisbane recorded the strongest improvement in affordability of any capital city during the September 2026 quarter, but nonetheless remained one of the least affordable housing markets in the country.
"Brisbane continues to rank among Australia's most unaffordable housing markets, despite recording the largest quarterly improvement in affordability nationwide," Mr Roberts said.
"The improvement was driven by a combination of improved earnings growth for Queenslanders, relatively stable interest rates and a decline in dwelling prices during the quarter.
"While that is encouraging news for aspiring home buyers, affordability remains significantly worse than it was a year ago and well below historic norms."
The report shows affordability in Brisbane improved by 5.6 per cent in the September quarter, the strongest quarterly improvement of any capital city, while regional Queensland improved by 2.4 per cent.
At the same time, Brisbane remains Australia's second least affordable capital city, requiring around two average incomes to comfortably service a mortgage on a median-priced home. Regional Queensland also remains among the least affordable regional markets in the nation.
"Queensland recorded the strongest wage growth in the country over the year, and that has helped provide some relief for households," Mr Roberts said.
"But the reality is that affordability remains under immense pressure because we still don't have enough homes to meet demand.
"The underlying supply-demand imbalance has not disappeared. Population growth continues to add demand, while barriers to delivering new housing continue to constrain supply."
Mr Roberts said history showed that improvements in affordability driven by softer market conditions were often temporary if housing supply remained inadequate.
"Falling house prices alone are not a long-term affordability solution," he said.
"The only sustainable way to improve affordability is to build more homes across all housing types and price points.
"When Queensland can increase the supply of shovel-ready land, streamline planning approvals, invest in enabling infrastructure and reduce unnecessary costs on new housing, we create the conditions for affordability to improve over the long term."
Mr Roberts said governments at all levels must remain focused on reforms that increase housing supply and improve the productivity of the residential building sector.
"The improvement we've seen this quarter is welcome, but it would be a mistake to assume the affordability crisis has passed," he said.
"Queensland's population continues to grow, households continue to form, and demand for housing remains strong.
"If we want today's improvement to become a lasting trend, we need more homes delivered to market faster.
"The lesson is simple: when housing supply increases, affordability improves," concluded Mr Roberts.
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