The latest inflation figures are a timely reminder that while the headline numbers grab attention, it’s what’s driving them beneath the surface that really matters for interest rates, household budgets, and ultimately property markets. According to the latest data, headline inflation jumped to an annual rate of 4.6% in March, up from 3.7%. ABS CPI…
Over the years, I’ve often said that when housing affordability deteriorates, Australians don’t just complain, they adapt. What we’re seeing now is another example of that adaptability, although this time it’s being driven less by choice and more by necessity. The traditional idea of moving out, gaining independence, and progressing through predictable housing stages is…
Tight rental markets don’t automatically mean rising rents forever – and that’s exactly what we’re seeing play out right now across Australia. The Domain Rental Report – March 2026 shows national vacancy rates have fallen to a record low of 0.7%, yet rent growth has stalled in several cities. The reason comes down to one…
A single street tree can potentially increase an average Sydney house price by A$30,000, our new research shows. This echoes past research showing street trees not only help boost property prices, but offer other benefits, from improved scenery and privacy to increased shade. But there’s a catch. Our analysis, published in the international Cities journal,…
Our housing markets are fragmenting. New analysis from Cotality shows that since October last year, properties with an estimated value below the 5% deposit guarantee scheme price caps have recorded stronger growth than higher priced homes. Over the first six months of the expanded scheme, homes with a value under the price caps have increased…
Adelaide home values rose by 1.2% in March, maintaining a steady pace of gains as the city continues to perform well above the broader capital city average. Through the first quarter of the year, dwelling values increased by 3.6%, pushing the median home value to $937,000. This long-running expansion has seen Adelaide property values soar…
Brisbane’s housing market maintained its robust upward trajectory in March, with dwelling values rising by 1.8% over the month. This follows a solid 1.7% gain in February, signaling that the Queensland capital remains one of Australia’s most resilient and fast-growing markets. On a quarterly basis, the market surged by 5.1%, adding approximately $54,000 to the…
The pace of growth in Perth housing values accelerated in March, with the market recording a significant 2.5% increase over the month. This surge has taken the quarterly gain to 7.3%, making Perth the strongest-performing capital city in Australia by a considerable margin. Over the past 12 months, housing values have risen by a remarkable…
Sydney’s housing market recorded a 0.1% decline in March, marking the third month-on-month fall in the last four months. This subtle downturn has taken housing values 0.2% lower over the first quarter of the year. The weakness is currently confined to the detached housing sector, while units continue to show resilience, reaching a new record…
Australian renters are spending a record share of their gross median household income on housing costs, as a chronic shortage of rental stock drives rents higher across the country. Cotality’s Rental Review Q1 2026 shows national dwelling rents increased 2.1% over the three months to March, up from a 1.2% increase in Q4 2025, indicating…
