Welcome to the inaugural episode of Market Room Live, where I delve into the complexities of the property market and the recent bombshell federal budget’s impact. This discussion, featuring insights into current trends and future predictions, is essential for anyone interested in navigating the evolving landscape of real estate investment in Australia. Understanding the Federal…
SQM Research released its latest data on residential rental property vacancy rates. Australia’s national residential vacancy rate rose to 1.2% in April 2026, up from 1.0% in March. The total number of residential vacancies increased to 35,258 dwellings, reflecting a moderate rise in available rental stock across several capital cities. Despite the monthly increase, vacancy…
Every week I sit down with the latest property data and try to cut through the noise to find what actually matters for serious investors. And this week, there is more noise than usual. The RBA confirmed what most of us expected on May 5th, raising the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.35%…
For much of the last two years Australia’s property markets have defied expectations. Despite higher interest rates, affordability pressures, and cost-of-living concerns, property values in many parts of the country continued to push higher as strong population growth, tight rental markets, and limited housing supply kept prices resilient. But the landscape is beginning to change….
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. Cotality’s latest Housing Chart Pack shows conditions are easing as borrowing capacity tightens, with analysis of the Home Value…
For many Australians, getting into the property market has never been more challenging, so it’s no surprise that policies aimed at helping first-home buyers are gaining traction. According to Money.com.au, first-home buyer market could take until 2030 to return to peak levels following 5% deposit scheme expansion. First-home buyer (FHB) loans surged 9.7% in the…
If a picture paints a thousand words, then this collection of charts should do a pretty good job of painting the landscape as it affects our economy and our property markets. Each month the RBA summarises macroeconomic and financial market trends in Australia by providing a detailed chart pack. World Economy Australia’s economy doesn’t operate in…
Low vacancy rates have continued to predictably drive house rents higher over April with most capital cities again reporting higher results. Unit rents however reported generally lower rents and higher vacancy rates reflecting the seasonal effects of the lengthy April holiday month. Hobart was the top performer with house rents up by 3.2% over the…
Stubbornly above-target inflation and the risk of pass-through from higher oil prices means this may not be the peak of the rate cycle. In line with expectations, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) hiked rates for the third time in 2026, lifting the cash rate to 4.35% (from 4.1% previously). This fully reversed the rate cuts…
SQM Research’s Weekly Asking Prices Index for the week ending 27 April 2026 showed mixed price movements across capital cities. Nationally, asking prices eased slightly over the month, with houses down 0.3%, units up 0.3%, and combined dwellings slipping 0.2%, while remaining 11.5% higher year-on-year. Sydney (-0.5%) and Brisbane (-1.3%) recorded monthly declines in combined…
