The Gold Coast is tipped to benefit from an influx of cashed-up Chinese buyers turning to Queensland for property. Foreign families are buying houses to accommodate the unprecedented number of children studying in Queensland on international student visas. 

Buyers are in the market for big homes close to good schools. And the number of Chinese buyers looking to the sunshine state is set to grow as investors become increasingly nervous about buying real estate in America. 

New figures from Chinese property portal Juwai.com reveal more than 33,000 mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students were studying in Queensland in 2018 — up from about 21,000 in 2015. 

Juwai.com chief executive Carrie Law said there were a number of reasons Chinese would buy in Brisbane and surrounding areas like the Gold Coast this year. This included strong growth in Chinese wealth, the appeal of solid markets, a lack of other investment opportunities and a possible shift in investment from the US due to the trade war. 

Ms Law said the trade war was making some Chinese investors increasingly nervous about buying real estate in the US and some of those investors may turn to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and other parts of Queensland as a natural alternative. 

Since a lot of the Chinese real estate buying in Queensland is related to housing students, that would have big spill-over effects on local real estate investment. According to latest realestate.com.au data, Benowa and Southport were among the top 10 Queensland suburbs Chinese buyers were searching for property. There are a number of reasons these two suburbs were more popular than others. Prices are more affordable but the number one reason is the option of numerous schools and universities in a close proximity. 

The Southport School, St Hilda’s School and Benowa State High School are highly regarded by Chinese buyers. Also, it’s easy at Southport for them to have the public transport for their kids to go to Griffith University. 

Southport has got China Town and the transport is very convenient as well. Additionally, Hope Island was also a popular Coast suburb among Chinese buyers as it was Foreign Investment Review Board approved. 

TOP QUEENSLAND SUBURBS FOR CHINESE BUYERS 

1. St Lucia 

2. Indooroopilly 

3. South Brisbane 

4. Sunnybank 

5. Cairns 

6. Benowa 

7. Carindale 

8. Toowong 

9. Southport 

10. Calamvale

WHAT CHINESE BUYERS WANT 

• Convenient location
• Low maintenance
• Small yard
• New house
• Close to schools