As widely expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) hiked rates for the second straight meeting, lifting the cash rate to 4.1% (from 3.85% previously). The consensus across banking sector economists and financial markets is another hike in May, which would fully reverse the 2025 interest rate cuts. This second hike for the year represents a…
Some of Australia’s best-performing property markets right now aren’t in the capital cities at all. In fact, a number of regional areas across the country are recording double-digit price growth, with places like Ballina, Rockhampton and Greater Shepparton posting some surprisingly strong results over the past year. But before investors rush out chasing the latest…
Sydney’s housing market has hit a plateau at the start of 2026, with home values remaining unchanged (0.0%) in February. This follows a gradual easing in the pace of growth since the cyclical peak in August of last year. On a rolling quarterly basis, Sydney values have edged 0.1% lower, reflecting a market that is…
Is 2026 the year Australia’s housing market splits in two? We’ve had another interest rate rise. There’s talk of tax reform. Global political instability is back on the radar. And yet, in some cities, entry-level property prices are still surging at double-digit rates. So what’s really going on? Are we heading for a slowdown… or are supply shortages and strong demand…
Over the last week the tone in global financial markets has shifted noticeably, and that uncertainty is starting to filter through to sentiment in Australia’s housing markets. The escalating conflict in the Middle East has pushed oil prices sharply higher, which in turn is raising concerns that inflation will remain stubbornly elevated for longer than…
Let me introduce you to a group of 100 everyday Aussies. They come from all walks of life; teachers, tradies, nurses, small business owners, retirees, professionals, and investors. Some rent, some own their homes outright, and a few have one or two investment properties. Some are just starting their careers, and others are planning for…
Following subtle declines through December and January, Melbourne’s housing market remained flat (0.0%) in February. The sluggish performance has dragged the market 0.4% lower over the rolling quarter, making Melbourne one of the less resilient capital city markets following the February interest rate hike and a noticeable softening in buyer sentiment. Leading Segment and Growth…
If you’ve followed the property market for any length of time, you already know first-home buyers have never had it easy. But the latest numbers from the Domain First-Home Buyer Report 2026 suggest the challenges have shifted into a new gear. The report found that rising entry-level home prices have offset the benefits of lower…
There is no doubt that our housing markets are facing challenges from all directions, but clearly, they have remained resilient. To better understand what’s happening, this monthly collection of charts from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) paints an interesting picture. Buying a home for roughly the same cost as renting might sound unlikely in Australia’s current housing market,…
For decades, Australia’s housing market has been powered by a dependable demographic conveyor belt. People pair up, get married, start families, need more space, trade up, and eventually downsize. That tidy progression created suburbs, justified infrastructure, and underwrote a century of housing supply assumptions. But the engine room of household formation is changing – quietly,…
