If this weekend’s grand finals were based on property and not players, Brisbane would return home with both the AFL and NRL titles.

While the Lions and the Broncos are outsiders in their respective grand finals, Brisbane’s property markets have had the bounce of the ball in real estate for both apartments and houses.

In apartment terms, Collingwood (median $613,750) is pricier than Brisbane City ($550,000). But over the last 12 months, Brisbane apartments recorded 6.8% growth while Collingwood’s median price dipped 6.3%. 

For investors, Brisbane apartments offered a 6.5% rental yield from a median rent of $620 per week, while Collingwood recorded 5.1% return from a median of $550 per week. Rents in Brisbane surged 24% over the last 12 months compared to 10.6% for Penrith.

Collingwood apartments won a tight contest over days on market to sell, 38 to 39.

And in the house market, Brisbane’s LGA outperformed the Penrith LGA as well over the period. Brisbane had a median house price of $1.104m compared to Penrith's $878,950. And while the Queensland capital wasn’t immune to interest-rate driven corrections over the last 12 months, the city is now only 1.1% below its August 2022 median while Penrith is 2.3% in decline.

Penrith houses took an average of 23 days to sell, a little better than Brisbane's 26.

Brisbane just edged out Penrith for rental yields (3.3% compared to 3.2%) while growth in rents was also similar (Brisbane 11.1% compared to 10.7% for Penrith).

“The Lions and Broncos might be the outsiders for the big games, but they’ve outperformed their respective opponents in the eyes of sellers and investors,” said LJ Hooker Head of Research Mathew Tiller.

“Will the bragging rights for property find themselves onto the footy field?”

Mr Tiller said Brisbane’s apartment and house markets had both been underpinned by Queensland’s strong population growth post-Covid. 

Over 2021-22, Queensland was the best performing state for interstate migration according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The state recorded net interstate migration of 31,070 residents, while New South Wales lost 30,213 residents and Victoria 5,644.

“Brisbane’s property market has performed well leading into September, just as its football codes have. Will it be an omen for the big games?”

*Apartments were chosen to compare Brisbane and Collingwood die to the prevalence of attached dwellings in the inner city, while houses were chosen for the Brisbane and Penrith Local Government Areas (LGAs). 

Brisbane vs Collingwood (Apartments)

Median unit price – Winner Collingwood ($613,750)

Median price change – Brisbane (6.8%)

Average days on market – Collingwood (38)

Average weekly rent – Brisbane ($620)

Rental yield – Brisbane (6.5%)

Growth in rents – Brisbane (24%)

Brisbane vs Penrith (Houses)

Median house price – Winner Brisbane ($1.104m)

Median price change – Brisbane (-1.1%)

Average days on market – Penrith (23)

Average weekly rent – Brisbane ($653)

Rental yield – Brisbane (3.3%)

Growth in rents – Brisbane (11.1%)