What Lifestyle Investment Tells Us About The Future Of A Property Market

The smartest property buyers aren’t just reading market reports. They’re watching where cities are investing in themselves. A new restaurant on a forgotten riverfront. An arts precinct announced in a suburb nobody was watching. A café strip that appears before the cranes do. Lifestyle investment tends to move ahead of property capital and for buyers who know how to read it, that gap is an opportunity.

Two recent announcements across South East Queensland are worth paying attention to.

Brisbane Is Building An Identity, Not Just A City

The expansion of Howard Smith Wharves reflects something bigger than a hospitality precinct getting larger. It reflects Brisbane’s evolution from a city once viewed primarily as an affordable alternative to Sydney and Melbourne, into a destination with its own distinct identity. Over the past decade, significant investment in dining, entertainment and riverfront activation has reshaped how Brisbane is experienced by residents, visitors and increasingly, by buyers. Cohen Handler Queensland Buyers Agent Anna Ellis has watched this shift play out in real time. “Our buyers aren’t just purchasing bricks and mortar anymore, they’re buying into a way of life,” she says. “Walkability, river access, café culture, parklands and entertainment precincts are all factors that influence purchase decisions and ultimately contribute to long-term owner-occupier demand, which remains one of the key drivers of capital growth.”

The Case For Lifestyle-Driven Units

This shift is also changing the way buyers evaluate different property types. While land has traditionally been viewed as the strongest long-term wealth creator, lifestyle precincts are demonstrating that location can sometimes be equally important. “One of the sayings I often share with clients is, ‘Location for faster growth, land for longer growth’,” says Anna. “Historically, land has been a strong long-term wealth creator, however in lifestyle-driven cities like Brisbane, well-positioned units in tightly held precincts can outperform.” To illustrate the point, Anna points to a comparison Cohen Handler Queensland conducted between a unit in Teneriffe and a house in Keperra, both purchased at similar price points and held over seven years.

“The long-term capital growth outcome was almost identical, however the Teneriffe property delivered a stronger rental yield throughout the holding period,” she explains. “Quality units in tightly held, owner-occupier lifestyle precincts can perform exceptionally well. The key is understanding that not all apartment markets are created equal, which is why we continue to see stronger performance in low-supply lifestyle locations such as Teneriffe.” As affordability pressures continue across South East Queensland, this dynamic is becoming increasingly relevant for buyers navigating their options.

“Unit living is becoming more common, particularly among professionals and downsizers who prioritise lifestyle and convenience,” Anna says. “The neighbourhood has effectively become an extension of the home. The ability to walk downstairs to a riverwalk, café, parkland or entertainment precinct has become incredibly valuable.”

The Gold Coast Property Market Is Diversifying

A similar story is unfolding on the Gold Coast with the proposed Miami Arts Depot, a creative and innovation precinct bringing together film, design, technology, hospitality and community spaces. Beyond the development itself, it signals something important: the Gold Coast economy is broadening. Cities that attract a diverse mix of industries, employment opportunities and cultural investment tend to be better positioned for sustainable population growth, and the long-term property demand that follows.

Anna sees this relationship between placemaking and property performance playing out clearly in Brisbane’s own recent history. Cities that invest in placemaking tend to attract people first and capital second,” she says. “Newstead is a great example. Fifteen years ago, the suburb was predominantly investor-driven. Today, after evolving into one of Brisbane’s premier lifestyle precincts, the majority of my buyer briefs for Newstead come from owner-occupiers seeking walkability, amenity and lifestyle.”

What This Means For Buyers

The expansion of Howard Smith Wharves and the proposed Miami Arts Depot won’t determine property performance on their own. But both offer genuine insight into the broader trends shaping South East Queensland’s future. The strongest property decisions aren’t just about what a market has done, they’re about where a city is clearly going. Brisbane and the Gold Coast are both telling you something right now. The question is whether you’re listening. For expert guidance in securing your next investment property, get in touch with Anna Ellis today.

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