A British couple who fled the UK partly due to soaring house prices were left stunned after witnessing an auction on the Gold Coast where a three-bedroom apartment sold for just over $1.3 million.
Jude Hurcombe-Pitman, 24, and his partner Daisy arrived in Australia on a working holiday visa in November, citing the UK's 'f**king mental' housing market as a major reason for leaving. While strolling along Seabeach Avenue in the upscale enclave of Mermaid Beach, they stumbled upon the auction and began filming.
'That apartment there just sold for $1.3 million,' Mr Hurcombe-Pitman said of the unit featuring three bedrooms, one bathroom, and one parking spot. 'F**k me dead, I would not buy that at all.' His partner remarked that the apartment 'looked like a prison'.
Panning the camera to nearby spacious houses, Mr Hurcombe-Pitman wondered about their prices. 'That's insane,' he said. 'Even if I was a millionaire, I wouldn't buy that. It's just bonkers.'
Speaking to news.com.au, Mr Hurcombe-Pitman clarified he 'wasn't being horrible' with the video. 'People can obviously buy what they want, but it just seemed like a lot of money for what it was,' he said. The personal trainer, originally from Gloucester in southern England, described the Aussie property market as 'very, very weird' based on his rental search. He and his partner secured a $750-a-week apartment on the Gold Coast esplanade that met their needs, but other rentals they viewed were 'like prisons'. 'Looking at the place we've got now, it's like how is that the same price?' he added.
He noted that the UK housing situation was 'f**king mental' and a key reason for leaving. 'Most people over there are sharing because it's so expensive,' he said, mentioning that his brother recently bought a small two-bedroom house in rural Tewkesbury for about $563,000.
Real estate agent says 'prison' unit is a steal
Joshua Soineva of Amir Prestige Group, one of the agents involved in the sale, told news.com.au the apartment sold for just over $1.3 million and was actually a bargain for the location. He highlighted that Mermaid Beach is highly sought-after, with nearby houses fetching up to $13 million.
'That particular apartment was a boutique block of four, so redevelopment potential down the track is definitely something that appealed to some of the buyers,' Mr Soineva said. 'There was a mix of first-time buyers, investors, and a retiree. The auction opened at $850,000 and sold for $1.3 million. It was a good result; the owners were very happy.'
Having seen the British couple's video, Mr Soineva said he 'understood' their reaction but emphasised that in Mermaid Beach, the price was 'very affordable, quite cheap' for what you get: direct beach views, three bedrooms, and a liveable space ideal for families or investors. He compared it to 241 Hedges Avenue, a nearby four-bedroom house with ocean views that sold for close to $13 million.
'You look at that direct beachfront, obviously it's a house and a completely different style of property, but you look at this in comparison to the lifestyle that you get, you still get everything,' he said. 'Beach views, you're literally footsteps from putting your toes on the sand in the ocean. So, it's very affordable.'
Regarding the 'prison' comment, Mr Soineva said everyone is entitled to their opinion. 'In real estate, everyone's entitled to their opinion on what properties you've got to offer to the market. This particular one was all open-plan kitchen, living, dining, and then you had three oversized bedrooms, full concrete building. Whether you want to call it a prison or a family home or, from an investor's point of view, a very strong asset... it is what it is at the end of the day.'
He noted that the Gold Coast market remains strong despite recent tax changes announced in the budget, which are 'on the top of everybody's mind'. 'But the people looking for properties in blue-chip areas like Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach Waters, Sorrento, Isle of Capri, the market is still strong,' he said. 'In any market, there's people looking to upsize, downsize, or move interstate. We've still got a lot of interstate migration coming here at the moment, which is really fuelling the market, and still a lot of expats coming back from overseas like the Brits.'
Mr Soineva added that if the British couple ever wanted to buy a home on the Gold Coast, they should get in touch.
UK housing market context
The UK has faced a housing affordability crisis in recent years, similar to Australia, though prices are now cooling. The average UK property is valued at roughly £268,000 to £278,000 ($515,000 to $535,000), while the average first-time buyer home in England costs £243,000 ($467,000). In Australia, the national mean dwelling price is $1,074,700, varying significantly by state and property type.
On Monday, The Independent reported that UK house prices softened in May, with the first monthly dip this year. The average price fell by 0.6% month-on-month in May, following a 0.3% decrease in December 2025. Annual growth slowed to 1.7% in May from 3.0% in April. Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist, attributed the dip to uncertainty from Middle East developments, rising energy prices, and market interest rates. He noted that economic growth may be weaker and inflation higher than expected, but household finances remain solid with low debt levels and savings buffers.
