A growing number of Queensland homebuyers are relying on people they trust when deciding where to live, figures released by developer Stockland show.
Data from the company’s refer-a-friend program shows one in five buyers in Stockland masterplanned communities were influenced by friends or family when purchasing a home in the 2026 financial year.
The trend is being seen locally at Yarrabilba, where buyers are increasingly choosing to live close to relatives and existing social networks.
Stockland senior development manager Rachel Dunstan said the pattern reflected how people approached major financial decisions.
“Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions people make, particularly for first home buyers, so it’s natural they turn to people they trust when choosing where to live,” Ms Dunstan said.
“At Yarrabilba, we’re seeing many of those recommendations come from people already living in the community; siblings, parents or friends who love where they live and encourage others to join them.
“In some cases, homeowners are even referring several people within their network, from friends relocating from overseas, to adult children choosing to build nearby, or siblings looking to enter the market.”
For some buyers, those connections are shaping not just where they live, but how communities form.
Yarrabilba resident Arlene Mlasi said her experience living at Yarrabilba encouraged her sister Mwajuma to buy nearby.
“Having already lived at Yarrabilba, I knew the lifestyle and the sense of community it offers, and I was excited to share that with my sister,” Ms Mlasi said.
“Being able to build close to each other makes it feel like we’re putting down roots and building a future together, not just buying property.”
Mwajuma said the move allowed her to enter the property market while staying close to family.
“I’d been renting until now, but I really wanted to live closer to my sister and have a place to call my own, and Yarrabilba made that possible,” she said.
“As a first home buyer, it’s a big decision, and knowing my sister had already had such a positive experience here gave me the confidence to take that step.”
Property economist Cameron Kusher said personal recommendations were becoming more influential as buyers navigated a complex and expensive housing market.
“A recommendation from someone you trust can cut through that noise and help simplify the decision-making process,” Mr Kusher said.
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