Overview
- Major forecasts point to modest national gains in 2026 of roughly 4–6%, with Domain at 6% for houses and 5% for units, ANZ at 5.8%, CBA at 4%, NAB at 6% and Westpac revised to 6%.
- Outer-suburban houses are expected to log the strongest increases as first-home buyers and investors chase more affordable options.
- Government support through an expanded 5% deposit scheme and a shared-equity program is expected to bolster activity at the lower end of the market.
- Late-2025 indicators showed cooling conditions, with auction clearance rates sliding to the high 50s and high-end Sydney pockets recording mild price falls.
- Analysts see affordable regional areas, including Far North Queensland and parts of Western Australia, likely to rise, with some rentvesting by first-home buyers.