![Brisbane housing market update [video] | March 2026](https://cdn.propertyupdate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/brisbane-270x200.jpg)
Brisbane’s housing market maintained its strong upward momentum through February, with home values rising by 1.6% over the month. This growth added approximately $17,100 to the median dwelling value in just 28 days. While the pace of growth remains rapid, it has moderated slightly from the 2.0% monthly gains recorded in October last year, signaling…
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…
![Sydney housing market update [video] | March 2026](https://cdn.propertyupdate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/sydney4-270x200.jpg)
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…
![Melbourne housing market update [video] | March 2026](https://cdn.propertyupdate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/melbourne-1-270x200.jpg)
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…
Australian housing values continued to rise in February, but the market is showing a clear and widening divergence. While the national headline recorded a 0.8% increase, this figure masks contrasting trends between the cooling major capitals and the surging mid-sized cities. Sydney and Melbourne have largely flatlined, whereas Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide continue to see…
Every year the property market follows a familiar rhythm. January is sleepy. Buyers are still on holiday, sellers are hesitant, and the market feels like it’s barely moving. Then February arrives… and the real year begins. This year has been no exception. As soon as the market woke up, activity lifted sharply – more properties hit…
SQM Research released its latest data on residential rental property vacancy rates. Australia’s national residential vacancy rate fell to 1.1% in February 2026, down from 1.2% in January and notably down from February 2025 (1.3%). The total number of residential vacancies declined to 34,572 dwellings, indicating continued tightening in rental market conditions across most capital…
Capital city rental markets have continued to tighten over February with most cities reporting lower vacancy rates for both houses and units. Most capitals reported higher or steady house rents over the month with Hobart the top performer up by 1.7% followed by Perth higher by 1.4%, Darwin up 0.2% with Melbourne and Adelaide steady….
Something interesting has just happened in the interest rate debate. For months Australians were told the worst of the interest rate cycle was behind us. Inflation was easing, the economy was slowing, and many commentators were confidently predicting rate cuts sometime in the near future. But suddenly the narrative has flipped. Two of Australia’s largest banks…
Australia’s economy grew at its fastest annual rate in almost three years in the December quarter, rising 2.6%, although this is still modest growth by historical standards. Gross domestic product (GDP) for the quarter rose 0.8%, picking up from 0.5% in the September quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Both private-sector and government…
