Street Secrets 012: Tony Coughran of SimplyGC | Gold Coast
“Sub-market areas will outperform a postcode every day of the week.” — Tony Coughran
The Gold Coast is booming, but it’s also one of Australia’s most misunderstood markets. In this episode, we strip back the layers with someone who has lived, valued, and bought through every cycle for the past 25 years.
Tony Coughran began in property valuation, assessing thousands of homes across the Coast—before founding Simply Gold Coast in 2010 to help buyers navigate the region’s complex patchwork of pockets, waterways, micro-markets, lifestyle shifts, and risk zones. His perspective combines hard data with on-the-ground intelligence that only decades of local practice can teach.
We explore the Coast’s distinct markets: beachfront scarcity, boatie-friendly canal systems, hinterland acreage, and high-rise downsizer demand. Tony reveals the traps outsiders rarely see—revettment walls, flood nuance, zoning shifts, traffic cut-throughs, and the pockets that look good online but underperform in real life.
If you’re buying or investing on the Gold Coast, this episode arms you with the clarity, context, and street-level insight needed to avoid missteps and secure a long-term performer.
Episode Highlights
00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:29 – Tony Coughran's Background and Career Journey
03:45 – Starting Simply Gold Coast
06:19 – Insights into the Gold Coast Property Market
13:54 – Common Mistakes and Risk Factors in Gold Coast Real Estate
18:42 – Impact of Infrastructure and Development on the Market
20:29 – Client Relationships and Negotiation Strategies
25:11 – Adapting to Market Changes and Future Outlook
38:48 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts
About the Guest
Tony Coughran is the founder of Simply Gold Coast Buyer’s Agency, established in 2010. His property career began early, fuelled by a family with a long history of owning, building, and investing. Tony studied Property Valuation at the University of Queensland and began his professional journey at the Queensland Government State Valuation Service, later joining a national valuation firm on the Gold Coast, where he valued thousands of properties for banks and brokers.
This valuation background gave him deep expertise in sub-markets, micro-markets, and property fundamentals—insights that now give his clients a clear edge. In 2010, after repeatedly watching buyers overpay, particularly around the GFC, he launched Simply Gold Coast to make buying “safer, smarter and simpler”.
Tony is known for his long-standing agent relationships, strategic negotiation style, and hyper-local understanding of Gold Coast pockets from beachfront to hinterland. With 25 years in the region, he is one of the most experienced buyer’s agents on the Coast.
Connect with Tony
Work with Chris (Alcove)
- Business Webpage Link - https://www.alcove.com.au/
- Phone: 0489 913 227
- Email - hello@alcove.com.au
- Socials:
- LinkedIn (Alcove) - https://www.linkedin.com/company/alcovemb
- LinkedIn (Chris) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbates/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alcove.au
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The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial, investment, or credit advice. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of the information to your circumstances and seek advice from a licensed financial adviser, mortgage broker, or other qualified professional before making any decision. Canopy Private Pty Ltd holds Australian Credit Licence 558709.