Luxury Gold Coast Beachfront Properties: A Premium Investment

Australia’s absolute beachfront properties, particularly on the Gold Coast, remain among the most prestigious and sought-after real estate investments worldwide. Offering unrivalled ocean views, exclusive access to the sand, and premium amenities, these properties continue to outperform inland and regional alternatives. Recent research from Ray White Projects reveals why investing in Gold Coast beachfront homes in 2024 is smarter than ever.

As reported by Ray White’s research division, owning an absolute beachfront property on the Gold Coast remains the epitome of prestige, with Canal, Broadwater and Main River homes coming a close second. These properties offer unparalleled access to the coast, featuring uninterrupted water views, some with direct beach access, and the option to include luxurious amenities such as private jetties for those positioned on the extensive canals and river system.

Ray White’s analysis indicates that Australians, more than many international buyers, are eager to pay a premium for this sought-after coastal lifestyle.

By comparing various other luxury real estate markets globally, the Gold Coast beachfront stands out for its dramatic price difference between a waterfront home and one located just a short distance inland, evidence of the scarcity and desirability of these types of properties.

By March 2024, the Gold Coast beachfront had risen to the top of the list, with a 120% price premium for waterfront homes—up from a 90% premium five years earlier. This increase in value is part of a global trend, with Australian properties experiencing some of the largest price increases seen anywhere worldwide in early 2024, and widely tipped to continue steadily over the next decade as we move towards the SEQ 2032 Olympic Games.

Brisbane has also seen its own waterfront premium rise, from 45% in 2019 to 56% in 2024, mirroring the price increases seen in other similar parts of the world. 

The trajectory for Sydney’s exclusive waterfront properties is the only one in the country which outstripped the stellar growth on the Gold Coast, with a staggering 130% increase (when compared to the Gold Coast’s similar growth of 120%).

Meanwhile, Melbourne's waterfront properties have seen a significant jump in price, with a 41% premium in 2024, which is comparable to the 40% premium for homes along the Seine in Paris.

In contrast, waterfront homes in regional areas along Australia’s East Coast offer more affordable options, making them appealing to those looking for a coastal lifestyle without the Gold Coast's hefty price tag.

Caitlin Rosenboom, Head of Ray White Projects on the Gold Coast notes that many buyers are looking further afield to locations like Yamba to the South and Hervery Bay to the North for coastal locations which offer a similar lifestyle.  The properties in these and similar locations are typically priced around a third of what one would pay for a similar property on the Gold Coast

Rosenboom adds: “For buyers looking to secure a waterfront lifestyle and enjoy boating, beaches and a coastal community, these towns offer an attractive option in terms of price. But for those seeking more wide-spread amenity; access to world-class healthcare and increased work opportunities in particular, the Gold Coast still comes up trumps and remains the most online-searched area in Australia for waterfront properties and more specifically apartments”.

Though Australia boasts a vast coastline, absolute beachfront properties remain a comparative rarity. These highly prized properties are often passed down through generations due to their exceptional value and as the saying goes, no one is creating more beachfront!

On the other hand, homes with spectacular water views, though not directly on the water’s edge, are more commonly available and therefore can often be purchased at a more competitive price than the direct beachfront options.

Some recent off-the-plan apartment sales include a 532sqm full-floor Main Beach apartment selling for $11.995m; a $9.445m sale of a 414sqm full-floor apartment at Arc Residences Northcliffe and a staggering $24million sale of a Burleigh Heads 2-level penthouse rounding out an impressive list of recent luxury beachfront sales on the Gold Coast.