Mackay Market Holds Firm as Buyers Refocus

In Mackay, the market still feels more active than distressed, but the conversation is changing. Buyers remain engaged, yet they are asking harder questions about value, repayments, and holding costs. That matters because the national picture is also becoming more selective: price growth has not disappeared, but it is becoming more uneven and more sensitive to affordability.

Cotality's latest Home Value Index shows national dwelling values rose 0.7% in March and 2.1% over the quarter, with annual growth of 9.9%. Regional markets are still outperforming the combined capitals, up 3.3% over the quarter versus 1.8% across the capitals. Sydney and Melbourne have softened, while lower-priced markets and more affordable segments are still attracting demand. Cotality also notes that buyers are increasingly constrained by serviceability, higher living costs, and weaker confidence, while policy support for first home buyers is helping at the lower end, but with less impact than before.

For Mackay, the available portal data still points to a market with firm underlying demand. On realestate.com.au, Mackay's median house price is listed at $594,000 and the median unit price at $415,000 over the past year. The same source shows median rents of $550 per week for houses and $480 for units, with indicative gross yields of 5.3% and 7.5% respectively. It also reports 40 properties for sale and 23 for rent in the past month, which suggests supply is still fairly lean.

Domain's suburb profile provides a useful read on selling speed, even though its figures are segmented by dwelling type rather than offering one suburb-wide median. It shows two- and three-bedroom houses moving in around 15 to 16 days, while one- and two-bedroom units are sitting around 18 to 20 days on market. Larger three-bedroom units are taking longer at 43 days, which suggests buyers are still moving quickly on more affordable stock while being more selective elsewhere.

That aligns with broader Queensland and regional trends. Cotality shows Regional Queensland dwelling values up 1.4% for the month, 4.0% for the quarter, and 14.7% annually, with a median value of $839,458. PropTrack's March update also reported regional prices rising 0.4% in the month and 11.0% over the year, still ahead of capital cities.

For renters, conditions remain tight. Cotality says the national vacancy rate was 1.6% in March and rents were up 5.7% annually, while REIQ-reported figures published locally put Mackay's vacancy rate at 1.1%, still firmly in tight-market territory. Mackay's adopted Housing Strategy 2026–2031 also highlights a shortage of smaller dwelling types and aims to improve housing diversity and increase supply across the region.

For homeowners, this is still a reasonable market to sell into, but buyers are more price-aware than they were a year ago. For first home buyers, Mackay remains more accessible than many larger centres, though competition for well-presented, lower-priced homes is likely to stay firm. Over the next three to six months, watch listing volumes, time on market, and any further shift in borrowing costs. For tailored advice on what these conditions mean for your next move, contact us.