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…
After an extended period of strong growth, the latest data suggests Australia’s housing markets are beginning to move into a new phase, with the early signs of fatigue now becoming evident in Sydney and Melbourne. Australia’s two largest housing markets are showing clear signs of strain, with Sydney and Melbourne recording their first quarterly house…
It’s shaping up to be another uncomfortable week for borrowers, with most economists expecting the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates yet again. In this month’s Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey™, 36 experts and economists weighed in on future cash rate moves and other issues relating to the state of the economy. Three-quarters of the…
National home prices in April marks a turning point in the housing cycle according to PropTrack, which reports that national home prices fell 0.1% in April, marking the first monthly decline in 2026, and taking the national median home value to $910,000. However, prices remain 8.5% higher than a year ago, adding about $92,200 to…
Cotality’s national home value index rose 0.3% in April, the slowest pace of growth since January 2025, just ahead of last year’s rate-cutting cycle. The national result was dragged lower by Sydney and Melbourne, where values fell 0.6% over the month. Sydney home values are now 1.0% below their November peak, while Melbourne values are…
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…
