Data from Queensland real estate agents shows the state is at the top of the interstate migration ladder, with one sunny region emerging as the most popular.

And the revelation could spell tough news for home buyers.

According to interstate migration data analysed by Real Estate Institute Queensland, NSW remains the largest source of interstate migrants to Queensland, making up 60 per cent of the state’s net gain in 2024-25.

The news comes as Queensland tops the national list in attracting interstate migration, with the Sunshine Coast the most sought-after relocation.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said the high numbers of Australians moving to Queensland was a vote of confidence in the state’s lifestyle, economy and prospects.

“Queensland’s overall population growth of 1.6 per cent has easily outpaced NSW’s 1.2 per cent, and in particular, the Sunshine State has proven to be an incredibly strong magnet for interstate migrants,” Mercorella said.

In 2025, Queensland gained 16,528 people from interstate migration she said, while NSW lost 21,465 people.

“The only other state with positive net interstate migration was Western Australia with 10,410, so Queensland comes out on top again,” Mercorella said.

But the high numbers meant that data analysts expected Brisbane would also defy the predicted national downturn in property values due to a supply shortfall, sustained demand pressures and strong long-term growth drivers.

“It’s hard to see how that wouldn’t be the case, with all that’s on the horizon for the city and the state – namely, just a little thing called the Olympics,” Mercorella said.

Cotality’s June quarter Home Value Index indicates that Brisbane’s median dwelling value is $1,118,306, below Sydney’s $1,265,608.

The median dwelling price in regional Queensland is $855,835, higher than the median for regional NSW at $841,198.

Nevertheless, Queensland continues to feature prominently among Australia’s leading regional destinations, according to the latest Regional Movers Index.

The index uses data from the Commonwealth Bank and its 16 million customers. It found The Sunshine Coast remains the nation’s top regional migration hotspot, attracting 8.8 per cent of Australia’s total net internal migration in the 12 months to March 2026.

The Fraser Coast ranked third nationally, with 3.9 per cent migration during the same period. The other areas in the top five were greater Geelong and Moorabool in Victoria and Lake Macquarie in NSW.

Toowoomba and Townsville were also among some of the fastest-growing destinations for capital city movers, with annual growth in net capital-to-regional migration of 236.4 per cent and 159.7 per cent respectively.

Queensland’s economic growth rate has also exceeded that of NSW, with an average annual rate of 3.6 per cent since 1989-90, compared its southern neighbour’s  2.3 per cent.

Mercorella said Queensland’s success and popularity had brought a responsibility to ensure housing supply and infrastructure kept up.

“Queensland’s growth story should be celebrated, but it also reinforces the need to tackle our housing shortage with urgency,” she said.

“If we want to keep attracting workers, families and investors, we need to make sure we’re building the homes, communities and infrastructure that support a growing population.”

Republished from InQueensland