Elizabeth Tilley, Property Journalist
First published 15 Nov 2026, 5:00am
A Brisbane family looking to upgrade to a bigger home has been told their townhouse could have fetched $150,000 more just a few months ago, but their selling agent says the changing market could actually work in their favour.
Carlos and Daniela Natale bought their three-bedroom townhouse at Minnippi Quarter in Carina off the plan in 2019, before the pandemic sent Brisbane property prices soaring.
Carlos and Daniela Natale Carlo, and daughter Inna, 8 months. Photo: Steve Pohlner
This townhouse at 27/9 Ellen St, Carina, is on the market for offers over $949,000.
This townhouse at 9 Ellen St, Carina, is in the Minnippi Quarter estate with access to Minnippi parklands.
Now, with eight-month-old daughter Inna, they’re preparing to sell and find a larger family home, but are approaching the move cautiously.
Carina has been ranked Queensland’s third most vulnerable area to potential housing stress linked to artificial intelligence, with new research warning that mortgage-heavy households could face pressure from weaker wage growth and falling property values.
Mr Natale, a commercial finance broker, said higher interest rates and the costs of raising a young family had already changed their spending habits.
This townhouse at 9 Ellen St, Carina, is on the market for offers over $949,000.
One of three bedrooms in the townhouse.
“Our discretionary spending is way, way down. I remember when my wife and I would go out dining every weekend — no kids or pets,” he said.
“Now with a baby and the high rates, we’re a bit more cautious in terms of how we spend.
“We’re doing OK, all things considered, but we’ve got no holidays planned, full stop.”
While Mr Natale isn’t particularly concerned about losing his own job to AI, which he already uses in his business, he is watching developments across the banking and finance industry.
“It just moves so quickly. The advances in AI in just one year are incredible,” he said.
The couple are searching for a larger home between Carina and Wellington Point, but have decided to sell before buying rather than take on bridging finance.
“For us, bridging was viable in a rising market,” Mr Natale said.
The kitchen inside the townhouse at 9 Ellen St, Carina, which is on the market for offers over $949,000.
The townhouse comes with a covered alfresco area and fenced, level lawn space.
Selling agent Remy Durieux, of Remys, said the townhouse could have sold for $150,000 more just a few months ago, reflecting how dramatically buyer conditions had changed.
He estimated the first-home buyer market for properties priced up to $1.5 million had contracted by 15 to 25 per cent.
“I get feedback every day from them: ‘I really like the property, but I’m going to wait and see’,” he said.
Carlos and Daniela Natale Carlo, and daughter Inna, 8 months. Photo: Steve Pohlner
One of the bedrooms in the townhouse at 9 Ellen St, Carina, which is on the market for offers over $949,000.
But Mr Durieux said homeowners who bought before 2023 or 2024 had generally built up enough equity to upgrade, while the price gap between townhouses and detached houses had narrowed.
“Carlos is in a good position to upsize,” he said. “It’s the best time to upgrade.”
But Mr Durieux warned buyers were increasingly cautious, with activity in the first-home buyer market up to $1.5 million having fallen by an estimated 15 to 25 per cent.
“I get feedback every day from them: ‘I really like the property, but I’m going to wait and see’,” he said.
For the Natales, the prospect of securing a larger home at a more affordable price is an upside to selling in a softer market.
But Mr Natale said they would miss their townhouse’s location, close to Minnippi’s walking trails and surrounded by other young families.
Help us improve your reading experience
Got a minute? Your feedback will help us build a better experience for you.
