August 2026 · Issue #2
The quiet boom in Thornlands townhouses — and why so few make it online.
Ask most people which part of the Redlands market is running hardest and they’ll point at the big waterfront houses. But some of the strongest growth this year has been in a much less glamorous corner: townhouses and units in Thornlands.
I’ll declare my interest up front: I live in a townhouse complex on Edina Street, right in the thick of it. So this one is a bit close to home — but the numbers stand on their own.
Why townhouses, why now
It comes down to who’s buying. A well-located Thornlands townhouse is chased by three completely different groups at once: downsizers who want to stay local without the maintenance, first-home buyers priced out of a house, and investors after a low-fuss rental. Three buyer pools, one small pile of stock — that’s the recipe for the growth you’re seeing.
And the stock really is small. Redland’s planning settings have never made this a townhouse-heavy city, so new medium-density product trickles rather than floods. When demand from three directions meets supply that barely moves, prices climb and homes sell fast.
The part that surprises owners
Here’s the bit most townhouse owners don’t realise: in a segment this tight, a lot of the selling happens quietly. When I’ve got downsizers and investors actively waiting on these streets, the right home can be matched to a buyer before it ever needs a portal listing and a four-week campaign. That’s not for everyone — but if you value a quiet, low-disruption sale, a tight market is the one place it genuinely works in your favour.
What it means if you own one
If you bought a Thornlands townhouse a few years ago, the equity sitting in it has almost certainly moved more than you’d guess — and unlike a house, there’s far less comparable stock for you to gauge it against. That’s exactly when a proper appraisal earns its keep.
Own a townhouse or unit in Thornlands? I’ll tell you what it’s really worth today — from your neighbour, not a call centre.
What’s mine worth?
Greg Leigh — local Redlands specialist and Thornlands resident, Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty.
Sources: Your Investment Property / CoreLogic suburb data, Thornlands 4164, 12 months to April 2026. Growth figures vary by source and data period; treat as indicative.