25 March 2026
A number of homeowners in Stockland Halcyon’s over-50s land lease communities have seen their homes increase in value at resale while avoiding the exit fees common with traditional retirement villages, driving confidence in the model’s long-term performance.
Sunshine Coast couple, Michael and Deborah Cox are among those benefitting. Two years after purchasing at Buderim’s B by Halcyon in December 2023, they decided to sell and move into Aura’s Halcyon Coves, achieving what they described as a significant uplift.
“We achieved around a 35 per cent gain when we sold,” Mr Cox said.
“Coming from a retirement community in Victoria where we paid about $80,000 in exit fees in less than two years, being able to retain the full capital gain at Halcyon was a major factor for us. Instead of feeling locked in, we came out with equity in hand.”
Mr Cox said the sale, which was completed within six weeks, allowed them to move into a slightly larger home at Halcyon Coves while giving them the financial flexibility to enjoy other things in life.
“The resale gave us options. We moved into a bigger home, upgraded our caravan and supported our grandchildren – all while enjoying the resort lifestyle here at Halcyon”, Mr Cox said.
Informally dubbed within Stockland as “Halcyon hoppers”, this behaviour reflects homeowners selling in one established community and purchasing in a newly launched development – often upgrading home design or location while leveraging realised growth.
Queensland General Manager of Stockland Halcyon Communities, Scott Ng, said the performance of established communities was reshaping perceptions of the land lease model.
“There’s a misconception that over-50s communities are purely lifestyle decisions,” Mr Ng said.
“What we have seen historically is that many homeowners see strong resale outcomes when they sell their Halcyon home – and importantly, they retain that uplift. Some then choose to purchase in a new Halcyon community, freeing up capital to enjoy holidays, travel and other lifestyle benefits.”
Stockland Halcyon operates 31 communities nationally, including 19 in Queensland. Unlike traditional retirement villages, homeowners in land lease communities purchase their home and lease the land beneath it. As a result, there is no stamp duty when they buy or sell, and no deferred management or exit fees that would typically reduce resale outcomes.
“That transparency around ownership and resale underpins the confidence we’re seeing across established communities,” Mr Ng said.
“When homeowners achieve meaningful uplift and then choose to buy again in another Halcyon community, it demonstrates trust. It shows that these communities are not only delivering lifestyle outcomes but also performing as secure property assets.”
Property economist Cameron Kusher said strong resale outcomes in premium over-50s land lease communities were consistent with broader housing market conditions across Queensland.
“South East Queensland remains a market where housing supply continues to lag behind demand, and that’s supporting price growth across established housing, new homes and rental markets,” Mr Kusher said.
“Land lease communities are no different – particularly when the number of homes available for resale within established communities is typically very limited.
“In those types of markets, it’s not uncommon to see repeat purchasing behaviour within the same housing segment, where homeowners sell and choose to re-enter the market after experiencing strong resale outcomes and gaining confidence in the performance of the sector.”
Mr Kusher said resale performance in land lease communities had historically been less visible in broader property market analysis because transaction data is not recorded in the same way as traditional housing sales.
“Because the home is sold while the land is leased from the operator, those transactions don’t always appear in conventional property sales datasets,” Mr Kusher said.
“As more Australians adopt this type of housing and resale activity increases, there will likely be growing demand for greater transparency around how this segment performs.”
For Halcyon Yandina, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-yandina
Halcyon Coves, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-coves
Halcyon Dales, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-dales
Halcyon Rise, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-rise/
Halcyon Edgebrook, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-edgebrook
Halcyon Vista, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-vista
Halcyon Bayside, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-bayside
Halcyon Providence, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-providence
Halcyon Serrata, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-serrata
Halcyon Promenade, visit: www.stockland.com.au/halcyon-communities/qld/halcyon-promenade
About Stockland Halcyon
Stockland Halcyon’s land lease communities have been redefining over 50s living for more than 21 years, with 19 communities either established or in development across Queensland, and 31 communities nationally. Halcyon is the winner of 33 state and national awards, including best in seniors’ living. The land lease model gives customers the opportunity to free up capital with no hidden costs, stamp duty or deferred management fees, and homeowners retain all capital gains.
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