In this episode of Market Watch on The Property Frontline, Debra Beck-Mewing and Scott Hochgesang reviewed the latest performance of Australia’s property market, and also analysed key market aspects influencing prices over the coming months.
For this episode’s IN FOCUS session, Deb and Scott reviewed took a look into the future for the Australian property market forecast for the next 12 months – from July 2025 to June 2026. This includes insights and commentary on forecasts from a range of major data houses, plus what the big four banks are predicting for 2026.
Watch the session HERE to see the key forecasts and hear Deb and Scott’s views on which forecasts have a higher chance of being achieved.
National Market Snapshot to 30 June 2025
Property prices across Australia continued to edge upward, with most capital cities posting modest gains. Sydney saw steady growth of around 0.5–0.6%, while Melbourne recorded a rise between 0.4% and 1.1% as seller confidence continues to build. Brisbane had a solid month, growing by up to 1.2% depending on the data source. Adelaide performed well, with some reports (like SQM) noting growth of up to 2%, though this figure may be an outlier.
Perth remains a strong performer with growth ranging from 0.3% to 1.2%, while Hobart delivered mixed results when compared against the three main data lists, swinging between a slight decline of 0.4% and a 0.6% gain. Darwin continues to confound forecasters, with Cotality showing an increase of 1.8% and SQM reporting a 1.2% drop. Canberra surprised on the upside, with SQM data showing a 3.7% jump in asking prices. Overall, Perth and Darwin remain market standouts, while Melbourne appears to be finally shaking off its long-running stagnation.
The following chart shows the price growth trend line, with annual house percentage prices plotted month by month. Note this doesn’t list ‘prices’ but the percentage change. We can see the Perth market continuing to track closely with Adelaide and Brisbane, and Darwin continuing on it’s blip run – that market is so small we put it in same basket as Hobart meaning it’s not great if you’re looking for good long term capital growth. The remaining locations are also tracking together albeit around 5% less than the Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin group.
July to 2026 – Forecasts Reveal Cautious Optimism (with a Few Bold Calls)
By way of quick summary, most forecasters are tipping moderate to strong growth across Australia’s capital cities from July 2025 through to June 2026, with a few outliers predicting a much hotter market.
Domain took a relatively balanced view in its FY25–26 forecast, placing Sydney and Melbourne at the top of the list with 6–7% growth, followed closely by Brisbane and Perth at 5%. Even Adelaide and Canberra were expected to increase steadily, although they were a touch lower. Interestingly, Hobart and Darwin didn’t make the cut in Domain’s forecast — likely due to their smaller size and more volatile data.
The big four banks weren’t exactly aligned though all are forecasting increases.
- Westpac put Melbourne in the lead with 8% growth, while tipping most other cities to rise by around 6%.
- NAB, on the other hand, backed Brisbane as the top performer, projecting growth above 8%.
- CBA was bullish too — predicting Brisbane could grow by 9%, and Perth by 7%.
- Only ANZ struck a more cautious tone, projecting modest gains of around 4.3%, with Sydney lagging slightly behind at just 3.7%.
SQM forecasts were also reviewed based on ‘scenario three’ from the set forecast SQM released in November 2024. This shows Perth pegged for up to 20% growth, and Brisbane potentially jumping by 16%. Even Adelaide was in double-digit territory. But it isn’t all blue skies – Melbourne and Sydney were expected to rise more modestly, and SQM was relatively lukewarm on Hobart and Canberra.
While Deb and Scott agree that some of the higher numbers might be overly optimistic — particularly SQM’s outlook for Perth — the consistent thread across all forecasters is clear: most capital city markets are expected to grow. And in a climate of tight supply, stalled new housing starts, and strong underlying demand, that’s hardly surprising.
If you’re thinking about buying now the opportunities look good. As always be sure to use reliable data when making decisions and ensure your choices are based on your goals, not just someone else’s strategy.
Author: Debra Beck-Mewing
Debra Beck-Mewing is the Editor of Property Portfolio Magazine and CEO of The Property Frontline. With over 20 years of experience buying property across Australia, Debra is a skilled property strategist and buyers agent known for uncovering tailored opportunities — from family homes to multi-use investments.
She has deep expertise in advanced strategies including renovations, granny flats, sub-division, and development. A Qualified Property Investment Advisor (QPIA®), licensed real estate agent, and holder of a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business, Debra combines strategic insight with hands-on experience.
Debra is the creator of the Property Smart Track System™ – a professional property buying system that enables buyers to select, assess and buy property independently in today’s market. She also leads Buy Like A Genius™, a premium end-to-end buyers’ agency service for busy professionals seeking expert property acquisition without the stress.
As a passionate advocate for greater transparency in the property and wealth industries, Debra is a sought-after speaker, author, podcast host, and participates on numerous committees including the Property Owners’ Association.
