Regulatory changes, tightening supply and strong interstate demand are expected to reshape how buyers and investors engage with the Noosa region, according to a local property expert.
Agent Kirstie Klein-Hunter, of Klein Hunter Property Buyers, said prospective sellers and buyers faced a more complex phase.
“2026 will be a year where knowledge becomes currency,” she said.
“Regulation, compliance and micro-market shifts will influence value in a way we haven’t seen for more than a decade.”
She said new planning rules and tightened Short-Term Letting (STL) controls will be central to buyer strategy in 2026.
“Amendments to the Noosa Plan 2020 have embedded new medium-density arrangements that are already influencing search patterns for low-maintenance, centrally located homes.”
She also said an uptick in long-held family holiday homes coming to market in 2025 is expected to continue.
“Rising land tax obligations are prompting families to divest earlier, releasing rare high-quality stock into tightly held pockets”.
Ms Klein-Hunter expected Victorian investors to drive demand again in 2026, continuing a trend built on rising land taxes and restrictive tenancy rules in the southern state.
“Two groups are expected to dominate — investors targeting income-producing STL-approved stock and buyers securing future homes for relocation within the next three to five years.”
She said Noosa’s 2025 performance revealed a pattern that is expected to intensify in 2026: micro-markets operating on entirely different cycles.
“Noosa Hill is expected to stay supply-constrained, with premium apartments tightly held. Little Cove may offer occasional buying opportunities, though demand is rising, while Hastings Street-adjacent areas remain competitive with new medium-density options.”
Ms Klein-Hunter said the Noosa Hinterland — led by Eumundi, Doonan and Cooroy Mountain — is positioned for another year of strong activity.
“Following a string of $4 million-plus acreage transactions in late 2025, the region is emerging as a stable alternative to coastal scarcity.”
She added that the introduction of Queensland’s mandatory seller disclosure laws in August 1 sets a new baseline for transaction scrutiny in 2026.
“Buyers will need to factor in renovation compliance, certification histories, zoning and STL eligibility, documentation gaps that may not be detected through standard conveyancing, fragmented listings across an increasing number of boutique agencies.”
Ms Klein-Hunter said these conditions will widen the gap between well-advised buyers and those approaching the market unassisted.
“Noosa’s fundamentals remain strong but the pathway through 2026 is narrower,” she said.
“Those who understand the regulatory environment and the dynamics of each micro-market will be the ones who secure the best opportunities.”
