Source: https://www.domain.com.au/news/beach-towns-where-house-prices-have-jumped-the-most-in-dollar-terms-over-the-past-year-1094840/

House prices have boomed as much as $700,000 in some of the most sought-after coastal locations through the pandemic as city dwellers seek a sea change. As lockdowns lift, and potential buyers can travel further to inspection properties, hot competition by the beach is likely this summer.

New analysis shows the neighbourhoods that have recorded the biggest price gains by dollar value, with gains of three-quarters of a million dollars at the upper end. In Queensland, house prices in Noosa’s Sunshine Beach are up more than $445,600 over the past year to $2.2 million, and the area has been highly sought.

Williamson & Co principal Rory Williamson said the market was “extremely buoyant”, and expected a spike once Sydney and Melbourne buyers were allowed to visit.

He has been selling sight unseen to southern buyers and international buyers, who have reassessed their lives and made good on their sea-change dreams.

Sunshine Beach has been particularly popular because it is edged by a national park, so cannot be developed out, and has a surfing beach and restaurants, nearby Noosa Heads but without the hustle and bustle.

“Everyone can make a living from the laptop; a lot of professions can, and they’re choosing to live in their perfect environment,” he said.

“If they don’t need to be in the office, why live anywhere else?”