If you are considering buying a home or investment property north of Brisbane, the City of Moreton Bay offers a wide range of locations, property types and price points.
As buyers agents servicing Moreton Bay, we see everything from established homes close to Brisbane and bayside property on the Redcliffe Peninsula to modern housing around North Lakes and Mango Hill, new growth areas near Caboolture and Morayfield, and acreage properties around Samford Valley, and Dayboro.
That variety is one of the region’s strengths, but it can also make choosing where to buy more complicated. There is no single “Moreton Bay property market”. Prices, housing types, transport, flood risk, development activity and future supply vary considerably from one part of the city to another.
This guide explains what property buyers should consider when buying in Moreton Bay and highlights major projects shaping the region.
Where is the Moreton Bay region?
The City of Moreton Bay sits immediately north of Brisbane and extends from Brisbane’s northern boundary towards the Sunshine Coast.
It includes established suburban areas such as Everton Hills, Arana Hills, Ferny Hills, Strathpine, Bray Park, Lawnton and Petrie.
It also takes in the Redcliffe Peninsula, including Redcliffe, Scarborough, Margate, Woody Point and Clontarf. Further north are North Lakes, Mango Hill, Griffin, Rothwell, Narangba, Burpengary, Morayfield and Caboolture.
To the west are rural and acreage areas including Samford Valley, Dayboro and Mount Mee.
For buyers, this means a Moreton Bay buyers agent needs to understand a much broader range of property markets than the name “Moreton Bay” might suggest.
What types of property can you buy in Moreton Bay?
One of the advantages of buying property in Moreton Bay is the range of housing available.
Hills District and southern Moreton Bay
Closest to Brisbane is the Hills District, including Everton Hills, Arana Hills and Ferny Hills. These leafy suburbs were largely developed during the 1960s and 1970s and contain many post-war and two-storey timber homes, often on comparatively generous blocks.
These locations can suit buyers who want to remain close to Brisbane without paying inner-city prices. Buyers comparing this area with nearby Brisbane suburbs may also find our profiles of Everton Park, McDowall and Mitchelton useful.
Strathpine, Bray Park, Lawnton and Petrie
Further north are established suburbs including Strathpine, Bray Park, Lawnton and Petrie. Housing ranges from older timber homes to brick houses developed through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
These suburbs generally offer established infrastructure, public transport and reasonable access to Brisbane. Petrie also has direct rail connections and sits beside the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus.
Redcliffe Peninsula
The Redcliffe Peninsula offers a different property market again. Redcliffe, Scarborough, Margate, Woody Point and Clontarf contain everything from older houses and units to renovated homes, modern apartments and premium properties with water views.
Location within the peninsula can make a significant difference to value. Buyers should consider proximity to the waterfront, traffic, flooding, storm-tide risk, surrounding development and the quality of the individual street.
For more detail, see our Redcliffe Buyers Agent’s Guide.
North Lakes, Mango Hill and Griffin
Around North Lakes, Mango Hill and Griffin, housing tends to be newer. Many properties were developed as part of master-planned communities and typically comprise modern brick homes on relatively small blocks.
These areas have strong access to shopping, schools, transport and major roads, but buyers should pay close attention to land size, density and the amount of competing housing supply.
Narangba, Burpengary, Morayfield and Caboolture
Further north, these suburbs offer a mixture of established housing, new estates and acreage properties. They generally provide more house and land for the money than locations closer to Brisbane, but commuting distance and future housing supply become increasingly important considerations.
The development of Waraba, west of Caboolture, is particularly important when considering the long-term supply of new housing in this part of Moreton Bay.
Acreage and hinterland property
Areas around Samford Valley, Dayboro and Mount Mee offer larger blocks, acreage and rural-residential property.
Acreage buyers need to consider additional issues, including flood and bushfire risk, restrictions on clearing vegetation, slope, water supply, septic systems, vegetation overlays, access, ongoing maintenance, and insurance costs.
Buying acreage can involve very different due diligence from buying a conventional suburban house. Our Samford Valley Buyers Agent’s Guide provides a useful example of the issues involved.
Moreton Bay property prices
Moreton Bay has experienced substantial price growth over the past decade.
According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), the median house price across the Moreton Bay LGA reached approximately $1.053 million in the March 2026 quarter. The REIQ reported quarterly growth of 5.3%, with 1,544 house sales recorded during the period.
That is a substantial change from when this guide was first published in 2017, when the Moreton Bay median house price was around $422,000.
However, buyers should be careful when using a council-wide median. The City of Moreton Bay covers a large area and includes everything from relatively affordable outer suburban housing to expensive waterfront homes and acreage.
When acting as a buyers agent in Moreton Bay, we assess individual properties using recent comparable sales from the immediate local market rather than relying on broad council or suburb medians.
Why is Moreton Bay growing?
Population growth
Population growth is one of the main long-term influences on the Moreton Bay property market.
The City of Moreton Bay is one of Australia’s fastest-growing local government areas. According to City of Moreton Bay planning information, the city is expected to accommodate around 792,700 residents by 2046, requiring approximately 125,800 additional homes.
That growth will create demand for housing, transport, schools, healthcare, retail, recreation and employment.
Population growth alone, however, does not guarantee strong property performance. Some parts of Moreton Bay also have substantial amounts of developable land, so future housing supply needs to be considered carefully.
Major infrastructure projects in Moreton Bay
Infrastructure investment continues across the region, particularly around the major growth corridors.
Bruce Highway upgrades
The Bruce Highway is the main road connection between Moreton Bay and Brisbane. Major upgrades are continuing between Anzac Avenue and Caboolture-Bribie Island Road, including additional lanes and interchange improvements.
For property buyers, improved road access can be a positive, but properties immediately beside highways and major roads may be affected by traffic noise and reduced amenity.
Youngs Crossing upgrade
Construction is underway on a new flood-resilient bridge at Youngs Crossing Road, Joyner, together with surrounding road upgrades. The project is intended to improve safety and maintain access during flood events, with completion expected in late 2027.
Caboolture River Road
Caboolture River Road at Morayfield is being progressively upgraded to accommodate population growth. The section between Morayfield Road and Grant Road is planned to become a four-lane divided road, with construction expected to commence in 2027.
This corridor will become increasingly important as development continues around Morayfield and Waraba.
New Bribie Island bridge
The Queensland Government is progressing detailed design for a new Bribie Island bridge. The proposal includes a new two-lane eastbound bridge with a dedicated active transport path, while the existing bridge would carry westbound traffic.
The project is intended to improve capacity, safety and resilience for Bribie Island and surrounding communities.
The Mill at Moreton Bay and UniSC Petrie
One of the most significant changes since this guide was first published has occurred at Petrie.
The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus is now well established, with close to 6,000 students studying more than 100 programs. The university expects the campus to grow to around 10,000 students by 2035.
The campus sits within The Mill at Moreton Bay Priority Development Area, a major mixed-use precinct around Petrie, Lawnton and Kallangur. The long-term plan includes education, employment, commercial, residential and recreational uses.
If Petrie is on your shortlist, see our detailed Petrie suburb profile and buyers agent guide.
Moreton Bay and the 2032 Olympic Games
The former Petrie Mill precinct is also expected to benefit from investment associated with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A new Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre is planned within the precinct as a competition venue.
Additional recreational infrastructure has already been delivered around the area, including a lakefront walking circuit and landscaped public spaces.
Major projects can improve amenity and raise the profile of an area, but we would not recommend buying a property simply because it is close to an Olympic venue. The individual property, land component, location and surrounding housing supply remain more important.
Waraba – a new city west of Caboolture
Waraba, formerly known as Caboolture West, is one of the largest long-term developments planned for Moreton Bay.
The Priority Development Area covers approximately 2,900 hectares and is ultimately intended to accommodate around 30,000 homes and 70,000 residents, together with schools, employment, shopping and community facilities.
The first development is already occurring around Lilywood. Waraba will substantially change the Caboolture and Morayfield area over coming decades.
For investors, large greenfield developments need careful assessment. Population growth and new infrastructure are positives, but a large pipeline of new housing can also create more competition between properties.
Healthcare and employment growth
Healthcare is becoming an increasingly important source of employment in Moreton Bay.
Caboolture Hospital has undergone substantial redevelopment and now provides expanded emergency, surgical, maternity, paediatric and critical-care services. The hospital employs more than 2,400 staff.
Cancer treatment services also commenced locally in 2026, allowing more residents to receive chemotherapy, immunotherapy and associated treatment without travelling into Brisbane.
Increasing local employment is important because Moreton Bay has historically had a large commuter population. Over time, stronger employment hubs should reduce the region’s reliance on Brisbane for work.
Shopping, lifestyle and recreation
Moreton Bay has an extensive range of established retail and recreational facilities. Major shopping centres include Westfield North Lakes, Strathpine Centre and Morayfield Shopping Centre, while North Lakes is also home to IKEA and Costco.
Lifestyle attractions include the Redcliffe foreshore, Moreton Bay, Bribie Island, Lake Samsonvale, Lake Kurwongbah, walking and cycling trails, Samford Valley, Dayboro, Mount Mee and the D’Aguilar Range.
This range of locations attracts families, commuters, retirees, first-home buyers and investors.
What should buyers be careful of in Moreton Bay?
Buying property in Moreton Bay requires more than choosing a suburb with good historical growth. Some of the issues we regularly investigate for buyers include:
- Flooding and overland flow: particularly around waterways and low-lying areas.
- Coastal hazards: including storm-tide inundation and erosion in bayside locations.
- Bushfire risk: particularly around acreage, bushland and hinterland areas.
- Traffic noise: especially near the Bruce Highway and major arterial roads.
- Rail noise: relevant to some properties near rail corridors.
- Slope and retaining walls: particularly in the Hills District and western areas.
- Future housing supply: especially in large growth corridors and new estates.
- Small block sizes: common in some modern estates.
- Development applications: future surrounding development can substantially change an area’s amenity.
- Planning overlays: including flooding, bushfire, vegetation and coastal hazards.
This is where an experienced buyers agent in Moreton Bay can be useful. Due diligence should be undertaken at the individual property level rather than assuming every property within a desirable suburb carries the same risks or prospects.
Is Moreton Bay a good place to buy property?
Moreton Bay has several positive long-term fundamentals, including strong population growth, substantial infrastructure investment, increasing local employment, established transport connections and a broad range of housing.
It also contains major areas of future housing supply. For that reason, we do not recommend simply “buying in Moreton Bay”.
Our preference is to identify established locations and individual properties where buyer demand is strong, the underlying land is difficult to replicate, and future supply is relatively constrained. A well-located established property can behave very differently from a new house in an estate where similar properties continue to be built nearby.
Buyers comparing different parts of the region may find these suburb guides useful:
- Petrie Buyers Agent’s Guide
- Redcliffe Buyers Agent’s Guide
- Mango Hill Buyers Agent’s Guide
- Bray Park Buyers Agent’s Guide
- Ferny Hills Buyers Agent’s Guide
- Samford Valley Buyers Agent’s Guide
Looking for a Buyers Agent in Moreton Bay?
If you are considering buying a home or investment property in Moreton Bay, Your Property Hound can assist with your property search, due diligence, price assessment and negotiation.
As independent buyers agents servicing Moreton Bay and Brisbane’s northern suburbs, we work exclusively for property buyers.
Our role includes:
- helping identify suitable suburbs and locations
- searching advertised and off-market properties
- inspecting and assessing properties
- investigating flooding, planning overlays and other risks
- reviewing recent comparable sales
- helping determine an appropriate purchase price
- negotiating with selling agents
- assisting through to settlement
You can read more about how our buyers agent process works or, if you have already found a property, our expert property negotiation service may be more suitable.
Moreton Bay is a large and varied market, so buying well requires more than choosing the right suburb. The individual street, property, land, surrounding development and purchase price can all make a substantial difference.
If you would like assistance buying property in the region, contact Your Property Hound to speak with a buyers agent about your Moreton Bay property search.