Inside 2025: Property highlights, market shifts and what’s next

As the year wraps up, we’ve done the rounds with the Ray White Commercial Noosa & Sunshine Coast team to reflect on the wins, the standout moments and the shifts we saw across the local commercial market in 2025. From landmark sales and long-game lease deals to record-breaking industrial activity, it’s been another dynamic year.

We also asked the team to cast their eyes forward to 2026 to explore what’s on the horizon and where opportunities are likely to emerge.

Here’s what they had to say.

DAVID BRINKLEY

2025 Highlight

• Sale of 1 Arcadia Street, Noosa Heads: Having managed the property for several years, we worked closely with the vendors to strategically position the asset for sale. A broad-reaching expression of interest campaign generated strong enquiry and resulted in a sale to an interstate buyer for $9.4 million, reflecting a 5% cap rate.

2025 Reflections

• Owner-occupiers lead the way: Strong owner-occupier demand drove standout results across office, medical and industrial sectors, often outperforming leaseback scenarios. Industrial continued to set new benchmarks with record pricing and dominant enquiry, while the second half of the year brought a surge in interest from retail and F&B operators seeking key Sunshine Coast locations.

TRACEY RYAN

2025 Highlight

• Sale of two separate Eenie Creek Road properties – 10 & 12 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville: The campaigns delivered strong outcomes through tailored sale strategies that aligned with each vendor’s objectives, resulting in positive results for all parties involved.

2025 Reflections

• It was a year that raised the question: Can industrial rental rates rise to deliver capitalisation rates above 6% in 2026? Demand remained strong even with yields still sitting around 5%.

JOHN PETRALIA

2025 Highlight 

• Sale of 10 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads: A boutique 11-room motel with a licensed café/restaurant sold after an extended and complex process involving multiple contracts. A true exercise in persistence and follow-through. 

2025 Reflection

• Late-year surge in business sales: Business sales gained strong momentum in the second half of the year. We negotiated around a dozen deals, including several that had been on the market for an extended period.

RACHEL CADAMY

2025 Highlight 

• Lease of 2/24 Lanyana Way, Noosa Heads: A complex but rewarding deal involving a lease surrender and re-leasing to QML Pathology. The incoming tenant utilised the existing fitout, saving make good costs for the outgoing tenant, while the Lessor secured a 5+ year lease at their target rental.

2025 Reflection

• Sunshine Coast market resilience: Despite broader economic fluctuations, enquiry levels remained strong throughout 2025, reflecting ongoing confidence in the region’s fundamentals. Owner-occupier demand, particularly for industrial and mixed-use assets, continued to drive activity, with buyers prioritising quality locations, functional improvements and long-term growth potential in areas like Noosaville, Coolum, Cooroy and Yandina.

ALANNA SHAPLAND

2025 Highlight 

• Sale of 8 Emerald Street, Cooroy: Following six months of preparation and detailed advice, this purpose-built medical centre was listed in April and went under contract within weeks. A strategic campaign, supported by engaged and motivated sellers, made this a standout transaction.

2025 Reflection

• Local knowledge drives results: The local market thrives when you price strategically, present professionally and stay proactive. This year proved that the right approach still drives strong enquiry, quick turnarounds and standout results.

ADAM MORLEY

2025 Highlight 

• Sale of 31 Production Avenue, Warana for $4,000,000 to a local buyer:Listed in October this standalone warehouse, purpose-built for pharmaceutical manufacturing and with a state-of-the-art fitout, attracted strong interest, generating five quality offers. The sale settled on 8 December 2025.

2025 Reflection

• Owner-occupier demand high: While the leasing market was somewhat subdued, sales activity, particularly from owner-occupiers, remained strong throughout the year and continued right through to December with no signs of slowing.

TALLON PAMENTER

2025 Highlight 

• Combined sale of 3 industrial developments in Coolum Beach: Industria (7 units), Palmier (6 units) and Quanda Business Park (36 units and 2 luxury caretaker’s residences) achieved a combined value of over $45 million. Two of the three projects sold out prior to titles, with Quanda Business Park setting a new benchmark for lifestyle-industrial on the Sunshine Coast.

2025 Reflection

• Off-the-plan booming: The industrial and development sectors remained strong in 2025, with solid enquiry leading to many successful transactions, particularly in the off-the-plan sector. Developments that stood out in design and quality consistently achieved better results.

JOSH HARRIS

2025 Highlight 

• Sale of 2-20 Hofmann Drive, Noosa Heads: A high profile land holding in the heart of Noosa. We ran a fantastic campaign with enquiry from all across Australia for one of the last major land holdings in Noosa, achieving multiple offers, with the eventual buyer having a strong plan for how they will utilise the site.

2025 Reflection

Caloundra commercial property in demand: Caloundra has seen a huge increase in demand over the last 12 months. Owners and businesses alike are seeking quality spaces with modern amenities and shop fronts. This creates a strong vibrant precinct which is positive for all of Caloundra.

ALICIA PREGNELL

2025 Highlight

• Sales for 1A-1B Taylor Court Cooroy:Working with Tallon, we sold 20 boutique units in this new industrial complex, achieving a positive result for the developer so he can move on to his next venture.

2025 Reflection

• Industrial and office strength: The industrial sector remained strong throughout the year across both sales and leasing, while retail leasing and A-grade office leasing gained momentum as the year progressed.

The year ahead: 2026 outlook

The team remains optimistic about the coming year, with strong market fundamentals, ongoing infrastructure investment and steady population growth continuing to support commercial property demand across the region.

“We’re expecting continued demand from investors shifting capital north due to tax changes in the southern states,” says David Brinkley. “With Olympic infrastructure starting to roll out and ongoing migration, the region will stay firmly on the radar.”

Tracey Ryan adds: “Residential growth will drive renewed demand, especially in the back half of the year. Infrastructure investment is only going to increase as we get closer to 2032.”

The momentum is already visible in Caloundra, where Josh Harris notes: “The development boom is beginning, with multiple new projects under construction and completions expected in late 2026 or early 2027.”

Tallon Pamenter reports strong momentum across the region as we head into Christmas, with some major developments set to launch in early 2026. A standout is the recently approved Crowne Plaza on Ocean Street, Maroochydore, featuring 180 hotel rooms, a grand ballroom, function centre and  4 levels of sky homes. “This approval highlights the strength of the Sunshine Coast in the eyes of interstate developers, particularly as the Olympics approaches,” says Tallon.

In the industrial sector, Alicia Pregnell says leasing demand has ended 2025 on a strong note: “We’re seeing more businesses moving out of home-based setups and into dedicated industrial spaces.”

Across the region, the way businesses choose and use commercial space is changing. “The demand for operationally ready assets is growing,” explains Alanna Shapland. “Tenants want functional layouts, upgraded services, and minimal downtime. Asset presentation and preparedness will be the key differentiators in 2026.”

Health, medical and wellness assets are expected to stay in favour. “Medical properties continue to hold firmer yields than general commercial stock, and this trend is likely to strengthen as investors prioritise secure, resilient income streams,” says Rachel Cadamy.

In business sales, John Petralia is seeing early signs of increased activity. “With more owners reassessing their next steps and considering succession or exit strategies, we expect a lift in both seller and buyer activity.”

Finally, Adam Morley points to a broader investment trend: “We’re seeing capital flow out of equities and back into direct property, with investors drawn to the comparatively better yields now evident across the commercial market.”

With infrastructure investment accelerating, investor confidence rising and business activity shifting in new directions, 2026 is shaping up to be another year of opportunity for the Sunshine Coast.

Whether you’re buying, selling or leasing, our team has their finger on the pulse and the local knowledge to support your next move.

Get in touch with our team on +617 5474 7600.