Queensland’s property market is on a tear – and the Gold Coast just scored a major upvote in confidence.
Global alternative asset manager MA Financial Group has secured $380 million in institutional funding for the $540 million Burly Residences, an upscale beachfront development in the city's coveted North Burleigh neighborhood.
“Burly Residences represents a compelling opportunity to support the delivery of a premium residential project in one of the strongest-performing lifestyle destinations in Australia," said MA Financial Group managing director and head of real estate credit Drew Bowie.
MA Financial Group investment director, asset management Rodney Norris added: “This transaction marks a significant milestone and lays a strong foundation for our growth strategy in Queensland and we are committed to building on this momentum and delivering long term value for our clients.”
The funding – a joint commitment between MA Financial and its $1 billion real estate credit vehicle, which launched last year with real estate investment firm Warburg Pincus – will help bring to life the luxury residential development.
The real estate credit vehicle was created to fill a critical funding gap in the market while tackling Australia's housing shortage and giving global institutional investors a gateway into the local property markets. The Burly deal also signals rising investor confidence in Queensland’s booming property scene, and with it, fresh opportunities for commercial finance brokers.
“We’re seeing signs of a more constructive environment for real estate development, with improved confidence and stabilizing costs," Bowie said. "That’s opening up more opportunities for private credit to step in and support projects that may have struggled to access traditional financing over the past 12 to 18 months."
Queensland’s property market has been on a roll for some time – and not just in the capital city. CoreLogic’s latest Hedonic Home Value Index shows Brisbane dwelling values jumped 11.8% in the 12 months to April. But it’s regional Queensland stealing the spotlight, with Townsville, Mackay, and Central Queensland posting year-on-year gains of more than 20%.
While the index focuses on residential housing, the upswing reflects broader economic confidence, a key indicator that commercial property activity may also be on the rise, as investor interest and development follow population and infrastructure growth.
One example is rent. National Australia Bank's (NAB) "Australian Commercial Property Survey Q1 2025" found that industry property rents are expected to grow about 3.9% in Queensland in the next two years.
The luxury Burly Residences, set for completion in late 2027, are drawing high-net-worth owner-occupiers. And they’re a prime example of the kind of opportunity commercial finance brokers can tap into as the market heats up.
“The [Australia] real estate credit vehicle and MA Financial Group's syndicated financial backing comes at a time of strong growth and transformation for Southeast Queensland, as the region prepares to host the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.” said David Devine, founder and chief executive officer of DD Living, the property development firm behind Burly Residences.
MA Financial’s decision to fund Burly Residences is part of a broader shift in capital flows toward Southeast Queensland. With limited housing supply, strong population growth and major infrastructure investment ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, the region is drawing interest from both local and global investors.
From a lending perspective, this kind of institutional backing is filling a gap in the market. Traditional lenders have remained cautious in the face of rising costs and tighter credit policies. As a result, private and non-bank lenders are stepping in to support lucrative developments in growth markets.
With more private capital flowing into the state, Queensland is shaping up as one of the most promising frontiers for commercial finance brokers.
The demand for alternative funding is rising, and not just in residential development, but across a range of asset classes, including mixed-use, hospitality and commercial projects. For brokers, this opens up fresh opportunities to connect developers and investors with flexible, institutionally backed finance options outside the major banks.
Nick Anderson – founder and managing director of Sonam Capital, a boutique finance brokerage, which works in both the residential and commercial sectors – said the key is in understanding the client base and what each market segment really wants.
On the commercial front, Anderson said his firm has seen strong results so far in 2025.
"Depending on what industry they're in and where they are geographically," he told Australian Broker. "Hospitality and retail in lower affluent areas are struggling because of cost-of-living pressures from people; they're spending less at the tills. However, in the more affluent areas, they're spending a bit more. There's a bit more cash there. We're seeing pubs going under on the outskirts, but thriving in the wealthier areas."
