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Ahmad Imam Square Wide Lo Rez 400.jpglouis Christopher
By Louis Christopher
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Latest Property Asking Prices State by State | National Listings Lift Sharply in October as Spring Selling Heats Up

key takeaways

Key takeaways

National residential listings surged 10.9% month-on-month in October, reaching 252,557, but remain 0.3% lower year-on-year.

Sydney and Melbourne led the monthly lift, up 13.2% and 15.4% respectively, reflecting robust spring activity.

New listings (<30 days) rose 18.2% nationally, driven by Melbourne (+23.7%) and Adelaide (+33.5%).

Nationally, asking prices rose 1.9% for houses and 1.4% for units over the month, with combined dwellings up 1.6% month-on-month and 9.7% year-on-year, according to SQM Research’s Weekly Asking Prices Index for the week ending 28 October 2025 which revealed a continued upward momentum.

Sydney house asking prices eased marginally (-0.04%) to $2.1 million yet remain 8.4% higher YoY.

Melbourne (+0.3% monthly, +4.3% YoY) and Brisbane (+1.7% monthly, +12.0% YoY) saw steady appreciation, while Perth recorded another strong month (+2.3% monthly, +10.2% YoY).

Adelaide and Canberra also posted healthy annual gains above 8%. Darwin remains the most volatile market, with house asking prices up 14.1% YoY.

Surge

Australia’s housing market recorded a sharp lift in total listings through October 2025, signalling sellers’ renewed confidence as the spring selling season hit full stride.

National listings rose to 252,557 dwellings, up 10.9% from September, only marginally below levels seen a year earlier.

Sydney listings rose 13.2% to 37,078, supported by strong new supply and steady buyer demand.

Melbourne surged 15.4% to 43,708, pushing above last year’s level by 2.3%—a sign of returning vendor confidence.

Adelaide and Canberra continued to climb, up 15.7% and 16.1% respectively, while Perth rose 8.4%.

Darwin’s listings inched up 3.5%, but remain sharply lower (-31.5% YoY), underscoring its long-term contraction in available stock.

Total Listings of Properties for Sale

City Oct 2025 Total Sept 2025 Total Oct 2024 Total Monthly change Yearly Change %
Sydney 37,078 32,759 35,290 13.2% 5.1%
Melbourne 43,708 37,867 42,731 15.4% 2.3%
Brisbane 16,284 14,745 17,569 10.4% -7.3%
Perth 14,140 13,049 13,698 8.4% 3.2%
Adelaide 8,999 7,777 8,216 15.7% 9.5%
Canberra 4,996 4,302 4,666 16.1% 7.1%
Darwin 966 933 1,411 3.5% -31.5%
Hobart 2,821 2,554 2,885 10.5% -2.2%
National 252,557 227,671 253,327 10.9% -0.3%

Source: SQM Research

New Listings

Fresh stock under 30 days soared 18.2% month-on-month to 87,986 listings, extending spring’s momentum.

Melbourne and Sydney led the charge, up 23.7% and 17.2%, respectively.

Adelaide posted a remarkable 33.5% monthly increase, while Canberra and Darwin climbed 20.5% and 44.4%, indicating broad-based vendor engagement.

Year-on-year, national new listings were 6.7% higher, reversing months of subdued inflows.

Sydney’s annual lift of 15.3% underscores rising confidence, while Melbourne (+14.7%) and Canberra (+23.7%) also recorded strong gains.

Only Brisbane (-0.5%) and Perth (-2.6%) saw slight annual dips, reflecting localised market tightness.

This surge in fresh listings highlights both seasonal momentum and growing willingness among sellers to test buyer appetite as clearance rates stabilise and price expectations recalibrate.

New Listings of properties for sale (less than 30 days)

City Oct 2025 Total Sept 2025 Total Oct 2024 Total Monthly change Yearly Change %
Sydney 19,240 16,422 16,690 17.2% 15.3%
Melbourne 22,127 17,886 19,290 23.7% 14.7%
Brisbane 8,132 6,969 8,169 16.7% -0.5%
Perth 6,485 5,541 6,657 17.0% -2.6%
Adelaide 5,129 3,841 4,572 33.5% 12.2%
Canberra 2,537 2,106 2,051 20.5% 23.7%
Darwin 338 234 306 44.4% 10.5%
Hobart 778 590 705 31.9% 10.4%
National 87,986 74,464 82,458 18.2% 6.7%

Source: SQM Research

Old Listings

Aged stock (180 + days) increased modestly, rising 1.0% nationally month-on-month and 3.9% year-on-year, to 72,364 properties.

The small uptick suggests most new listings are being absorbed efficiently.

Sydney’s old listings were steady (+0.2%), while Melbourne saw a marginal lift (+0.8%), reflecting relatively balanced conditions.

Adelaide’s decline of 17.8% indicates brisk turnover and pricing alignment, and Canberra’s 5.7% fall also signals healthy buyer engagement.

Darwin’s aged stock plunged 51.7% year-on-year, underscoring the city’s limited supply and volatility.

City Oct-25 Sep-25 Oct-24 Monthly change Yearly Change %
Sydney 6,006 5,993 5,088 0.2% 18.0%
Melbourne 8,180 8,114 7,910 0.8% 3.4%
Brisbane 1,702 1,726 1,638 -1.4% 3.9%
Perth 1,566 1,557 1,283 0.6% 22.1%
Adelaide 982 1,194 878 -17.8% 11.8%
Canberra 793 841 668 -5.7% 18.7%
Darwin 288 307 596 -6.2% -51.7%
Hobart 1,197 1,144 1,174 4.6% 2.0%
National 72,364 71,169 69,658 1.0% 3.9%

Source: SQM Research

Distressed Listings

Distressed property numbers remained unchanged nationally in October but are down nearly 30% from a year earlier, pointing to improved household balance sheets and reduced mortgage stress despite higher interest rates.

Queensland (-32.8%), Western Australia (-50.1%), and New South Wales (-24.9%) led annual declines, while the ACT bucked the trend with a 36.7% rise YoY, following a 24.2% monthly increase—a small but notable shift reflecting isolated financial pressure pockets.

South Australia also recorded an uptick (+25.8% monthly), though from a low base.

Distressed Property Listings

Distressed Listings October

Source: SQM Research

Asking Prices

Sydney Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 2,102,115 2.363 -0.4% 7.6%
All Units 876,562 5.233 -0.3% 4.5%
Combined 1,602,270 3.533 -0.4% 6.7%

Source: SQM Research

Melbourne Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 1,306,369 2.321 0.7% 4.4%
All Units 657,413 1.587 0.6% 7.4%
Combined 1,101,055 2.089 0.7% 4.8%

Source: SQM Research

Perth Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 1,187,378 1.515 1.5% 9.6%
All Units 692,693 8.087 2.0% 18.9%
Combined 1,057,641 3.239 1.6% 11.1%

Source: SQM Research

Brisbane Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 1,334,768 9.032 2.7% 12.5%
All Units 801,839 6.961 2.0% 19.7%
Combined 1,200,541 8.510 2.6% 13.5%

Source: SQM Research.

Adelaide Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 1,067,282 4.318 0.3% 13.0%
All Units 587,485 -5.985 0.4% 24.3%
Combined 980,911 2.463 0.3% 13.0%

Source: SQM Research

Canberra Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 1,278,069 -6.319 1.2% 8.5%
All Units 584,092 1.033 -0.4% -3.0%
Combined 1,017,471 -3.558 0.9% 5.3%

Source: SQM Research

Darwin Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 784,534 1.466 0.5% 13.4%
All Units 444,262 4.238 0.7% 15.5%
Combined 650,473 2.556 0.6% 13.9%

Source: SQM Research

Hobart Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 870,754 -12.391 0.6% 8.7%
All Units 497,564 0.836 1.4% 3.9%
Combined 813,808 -10.373 0.6% 8.2%

Source: SQM Research

National Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 1,049,091 -0.216 1.7% 10.1%
All Units 621,871 2.631 1.2% 10.5%
Combined 956,461 0.401 1.6% 10.1%

Source: SQM Research

Capital City Average Weekly Asking Prices Index

Property type Price ($) Weekly Change Monthly Change % Annual % change
All Houses 1,523,230 1.427 0.4% 7.5%
All Units 769,259 6.343 0.5% 8.8%
Combined 1,298,091 2.895 0.4% 7.6%

Source: SQM Research

Final note...

The October surge in listings is a clear sign of renewed vendor activity heading into the final quarter of the year.

We’ve seen a 10.9% national lift—an unusually strong result even for spring—suggesting sellers are more confident in finding buyers, particularly in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

While total stock is still fractionally below last year’s level, the balance between new and old listings shows a healthier, more dynamic market.

Distressed listings remain low nationwide, reinforcing that most homeowners are coping with current financial conditions.

We do, however, continue to watch Canberra closely.

The lift in older and distressed listings there points to some market fatigue, possibly due to pricing mismatches.

Overall, though, the market is functioning well—buyers are selective, and realistically priced homes are selling.

Ahmad Imam Square Wide Lo Rez 400.jpglouis Christopher
About Louis Christopher Louis is recognised as one of Australia’s most respected and impartial research property analyst. He has extensive knowledge and experience of property and is regularly quoted in the media on his insights and is director of SQM Research.
Visit www.SQMResearch.com.au
4 comments

Just sold a property in Gold Coast. The Real Estate website had a "high confidence" medium price of $689k, with an upside of $730k. Sold at $740. So I believe that these websites are underestimating prices. Why? No idea.

1 reply

So Perth has officially caught up with Adelaide?

1 reply
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