Over the past two years, regional Queensland has emerged as one of Australia’s hottest property markets — and Mackay is right at the centre of it.
📍 The reason?
A sharp uptick in investor activity — particularly from buyers’ agents scouring the country for strong rental yields and affordable price points.
📈 100% Increase in Buyers’ Agent Activity
Industry data and on-the-ground observations show a dramatic rise in the number of buyers’ agents operating in regional markets like Mackay — doubling in just 24 months.
These professionals, often acting on behalf of investors based in Sydney, Melbourne, or interstate, have shifted their focus away from traditional metropolitan hubs and zeroed in on high-performing regional areas.
🔍 Their brief is simple:
Find properties that offer strong returns. And in that search, regional Queensland has stood out.
💰 The Yield Advantage
A key driver of this trend is yield .
In contrast to capital city markets where property prices often far outpace rental returns, regional cities like Mackay have offered a compelling equation:
👉 Affordable entry prices + healthy weekly rents = Smart investment.
For example:
An investor purchasing a home for around $450,000
Achieving $550–$600 per week in rent
Has been able to enjoy positive or close-to-neutral cash flow
📈 In a rising interest rate environment, that kind of setup is gold .
It’s no surprise then that house prices in Mackay and similar regional centres have surged by as much as 50% over the last two years .
These markets weren’t just undervalued — they were under-discovered .
🌅 From Secret to Spotlight
What started as a strategic play by savvy buyers’ agents has turned into a wave.
📢 Word has spread, and now these once-overlooked towns are firmly on the radar of mainstream investors and first-time buyers alike.
The appeal isn’t just about numbers — it’s lifestyle, infrastructure, and economic diversity.
🌟 Mackay , for example, benefits from:
💼 Time to Cash In?
After years of being undervalued, the market in Mackay has become a real platform for locals to cash in .
We’re now seeing a wave of homeowners using the equity they’ve built to upgrade — selling units or entry-level homes and stepping into larger homes or prestige properties.
Many are using this moment to leap from $800,000 homes into the million-dollar bracket .
💸 That wave of equity-powered movement is a major driver of the current selling activity.
It’s not just investors who are winning — local sellers are too .
🔍 Still a Window of Opportunity
While the market remains strong, timing is everything.
With buyers’ agents and investors starting to scan other regions for the next opportunity, there may be a softening ahead as supply and demand rebalance.
That makes now an ideal time to consider selling — while demand is high and momentum is still on your side.
Whether you’re an investor capitalising on returns, or a local homeowner ready to upgrade, the current market is still offering a rare and valuable window to make your move.
