Agents are saying Logan is a clear illustration of a problem reshaping housing markets across Australia: there is simply not much land left to build on.
Industry reports from groups such as the Urban Development Institute of Australia and property analytics firms including CoreLogic have repeatedly warned that the supply of shovel-ready residential land is shrinking.
“Large parcels of land are increasingly scarce and, as a result, command strong demand in today’s market,” Alison Russell, manager at Real Property Vibe, said.
“This scarcity is clearly reflected in the significant level of development activity across areas such as Park Ridge, Chambers Flat, Logan Reserve, and Greenbank over recent years.”
According to industry analyses, most greenfield sites within commuting distance of Brisbane’s employment hubs have either already been rezoned, fragmented into smaller lots, or constrained by infrastructure and environmental limitations.
“This growth has been primarily driven by affordability pressures, with buyers moving further west to secure greater value for their budget,” Ms Russell said.
“Coastal locations have become largely out of reach for the average buyer, further intensifying demand within these emerging growth corridors.”
Developers say Logan’s appeal lies not just in price, but in scale. Unlike inner-city suburbs, parts of Logan still offer landholdings large enough to support subdivision and master-planned communities — a point frequently highlighted in feasibility studies and development forecasts.
“Importantly, these subject areas continue to offer large landholdings suitable for subdivision while maintaining close proximity to established and expanding infrastructure, including schools, retail centres, and medical facilities,” Ms Russell said.
“This combination of affordability, scale, and accessibility underpins ongoing demand and strongly supports future growth potential.”
But not all land is valued equally. Neil Giles, owner of Browns Plains Real Estate, said the headline scarcity often masks sharp variations in price, even between neighbouring blocks.
“The prices on the blocks can vary a lot, depending on where the infrastructure is relating to the block — sewer, stormwater — also the zoning on the block,” Mr Giles said.
“If it can be rezoned to commercial or high-density housing, that has a huge impact on what the property is worth.”
Industry reports echo that assessment, noting that delays in trunk infrastructure delivery — particularly sewer and transport upgrades — can stall development even where demand is strong.
Flood risk is another critical factor in Logan.
“Logan City flood mapping also has an impact on the price of a property,” Mr Giles said.
“Sometimes this can be overcome by building up the land to get the development out of the flood zoning. Bunnings and Ikea are masters of this, where the car parks flood but the stores are high and dry.”
