The Future of Cairns: Airport Boom, Population Crisis, Changing Economy.
Is Cairns on the verge of a major transformation? In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Sarah Mort, Managing Director of MiHaven Cairns, to unpack the real forces shaping the city’s future.
With 20 years of experience in the Cairns economy and over $50 million in NDIS projects, 135 share house rooms, and multiple residential developments, Sarah provides rare insight into what’s really happening on the ground.
Whether you're buying in Cairns, investing in property, or simply want to understand the region’s changing economy, population outlook, and housing supply, this video breaks it all down in a way that’s accessible, honest, and data-backed. From the airport expansion and population pressures to the housing shortage, land constraints, and economic diversification, we explore what these shifts mean for property values, rental demand, and long-term growth in Far North Queensland.
🔑 Key Topics Covered
00:00 – Introduction & Sarah Mort’s Background
03:13 – Cairns Population Growth & Infrastructure Pressures
07:09 – Land Shortage and Housing Affordability Challenges
09:19 – The Case for Density & Community Acceptance
13:02 – A More Diverse Cairns Economy: Health, Defence, Aviation & More
21:04 – The Evolution of MiHaven: Infill, Student Accommodation & NDIS
34:48 – Sky Haven: A New Airport Accommodation Project
43:18 – Smart Design, Planning & De-Risking the Development
50:27 – Investment Overview: Structure, Returns & Timeline 📈 Cairns Market Snapshot (2025)
Here’s where the Cairns market currently stands based on recent data:
-Strong Price Growth: House prices have risen ~10% over the past year, with forecasts of 7–11% growth in 2025.
-Extremely Tight Rental Market: Vacancy rates around 0.7%, with strong yields above 5%. Diverse, Resilient Economy: Growth driven by health, construction, defence, aviation engineering, tourism, and education.
-High Demand, Low Supply: Less than two months of listing stock—pointing toward continued upward pressure on prices.
🤔 Is Cairns a Good Place to Buy or Invest? We break down the real factors influencing the Cairns property market today:
• Why population growth is accelerating
• How the airport upgrade and infrastructure spend may reshape the region
• The risks and opportunities for homebuyers and investors
• Why limited land supply may continue to support price growth
If you’re researching Cairns real estate, the Cairns economy, or FNQ property investment, this episode gives you the clarity you need. For more information or assistance buying in Cairns get in touch today.
