The Gold Coast’s skyline has always told the story of the region’s growth – and 2026 is no exception. From Burleigh Heads to Surfers Paradise, new apartment developments continue to reshape the coastline, offering buyers the opportunity to secure a brand-new residence, often years before construction is complete, at pricing locked in today. For many buyers, an off the plan purchase represents one of the most significant financial decisions they will make. Here is what you need to know before signing.
What “Off the Plan” Actually Means
Purchasing off the plan means entering into a contract to buy a property – typically an apartment – before it has been built, based on architectural plans, renders, and a display suite or sample finishes. The buyer typically pays a deposit (commonly 10%) upon signing, with the balance due on completion, which can be anywhere from 12 months to several years later depending on the development’s stage.
The appeal is straightforward: buyers can secure today’s price for a property that will be completed in the future, in a market where prices have historically trended upward over time. For owner-occupiers, it also offers the opportunity to select a brand-new, never-lived-in home with modern finishes and amenities. For investors, it can offer depreciation benefits on a new asset that are not available on established properties.
The Questions Every Off the Plan Buyer Should Ask
Who is the developer, and what is their track record? Before signing anything, research the developer’s previous projects. Have they delivered on time? Have previous buyers reported the finished product matching what was marketed? A developer with a strong track record of delivering quality projects on schedule significantly reduces the risk inherent in an off the plan purchase.
What happens if the project doesn’t proceed? Most off the plan contracts include clauses allowing the developer to terminate if the project does not reach a certain pre-sale threshold or if construction costs make the project unviable. Understand what your rights are – and what happens to your deposit – in this scenario.
How is the deposit held, and is it protected? In Queensland, deposits for off the plan purchases are generally required to be held in a trust account. Confirm this is the case, and understand the conditions under which the deposit can be released to the developer before completion.
What are the sunset clause provisions? A sunset clause specifies a date by which the development must be completed, after which either party may be entitled to terminate the contract. Sunset clauses have occasionally been used by developers to terminate contracts with buyers when property values have risen significantly during construction, allowing the developer to resell at a higher price. Understanding your sunset clause – and the protections it does or doesn’t offer – is essential.
Will the final product match the marketing? Renders, display suites, and marketing materials are designed to sell the vision of a development – but contracts typically include provisions allowing for “minor variations” in the final build compared to what was marketed. Understand what level of variation is contractually permitted, and what recourse you have if the final product differs materially from what was represented.
What are the body corporate fees likely to be? For new developments, especially those with extensive shared amenities – pools, gyms, concierge services, landscaped grounds – body corporate fees can be substantial and are often estimated rather than confirmed at the point of sale. Ask for a realistic projection of likely fees, and factor this into your overall cost calculations.
Why Location and Scarcity Matter More Than Ever
The recent record sale of ONE Burleigh’s penthouse for $30 million – the highest price ever paid for a Queensland apartment – offers an instructive case study for off the plan buyers. ONE Burleigh comprises just 17 full-floor residences across the entire building. This scarcity model, combined with an exceptional beachfront position in Burleigh Heads, created conditions for a result that significantly exceeded historical benchmarks for apartment values in the area.
For buyers considering an off the plan purchase, this underscores an important principle: developments offering genuine scarcity – fewer total residences, larger floorplates, premium positions – tend to hold and grow their value more reliably than high-density developments where similar product is abundant, both within the development itself and from competing projects nearby.
The Gold Coast Apartment Pipeline in 2026
Industry forecasts suggest apartment completions across the Gold Coast are expected to fall significantly – from close to 1,900 completions in recent years to fewer than 100 by 2027 in some forecasts. Combined with a Gold Coast vacancy rate sitting around 1% and weekly rents for houses pushing toward $780, the fundamentals supporting new apartment purchases – both for owner-occupiers and investors – currently appear favourable. Reduced future supply, against a backdrop of strong population growth driven by interstate migration, points toward continued demand for both new and established apartment stock.
The Light Rail Factor
The Gold Coast Light Rail extension to Burleigh Heads, expected in 2026, is already influencing buyer behaviour along the southern corridor – from Broadbeach through to Palm Beach. For off the plan buyers considering developments along this corridor, proximity to light rail infrastructure represents a meaningful long-term value driver, as has been observed in other Australian cities where light rail networks have expanded.
Working With an Experienced Local Agent
Perhaps the single most valuable resource an off the plan buyer can have is access to an agent with direct, current knowledge of the local market – someone who can provide honest context on a development’s pricing relative to comparable established properties, who understands the track record of developers operating in the area, and who can advise on how a particular position is likely to perform once completed.
Freddie Tehle’s recent involvement in the sale of ONE Burleigh’s $30 million penthouse – itself an off the plan transaction within a development still under construction – provides a unique vantage point on how genuinely premium off the plan opportunities are priced, marketed, and ultimately valued by the market once delivered.
Considering an Off the Plan Purchase on the Gold Coast?
Whether you’re evaluating a specific development, want a second opinion on pricing relative to the established market, or are simply exploring what’s available across Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, and Miami, Freddie Tehle’s team can provide the local context that marketing material alone never will.