![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…
National home price growth picked up in February, consistent with the seasonal lift in housing market activity after the holidays, according to PropTrack. The report shows that prices lifted across every capital city, while nationally values are now 9.1% higher than a year ago. The national increase marks the fastest annual pace of growth since…
Canberra’s residential property market is structurally distinct within Australia. Its clear segmentation, policy-driven income base, constrained supply, and unique tax framework create a niche market characterised by low volatility, regime-driven behaviour, and counter-cyclical tendencies. Unlike Melbourne’s credit-sensitive apartment market or Sydney’s globally priced scarcity model, Canberra responds primarily to fiscal and policy conditions rather than…
Two months into 2026, and we have seen a clear divergence in housing trends, with Sydney and Melbourne values flatlining while the mid-sized capitals continue to record a solid rate of gain at more than 1% month on month growth. Perth is showing the strongest trend, with home values jumping 2.3% in February, adding more…
