SPRING PROPERTY MARKET TIPPED FOR HOTTEST RUN IN YEARS
Buyer demand, seller confidence and the First Home Guarantee Scheme are setting up a frantic spring, with activity likely to run through Christmas.
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The spring property market is shaping up as the most active in recent memory, according to property experts Two Red Shoes.
Mortgage brokers Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton and Brett Sutton point to a potent mix of pent-up buyer demand, robust seller confidence and the First Home Guarantee Scheme as catalysts for a sustained run.
“We’re seeing an unprecedented level of activity, with high auction numbers already a clear indicator of the market’s trajectory,” said Sutton. “Last week, Sydney saw its second-highest number of auctions for the year. This kind of volume, even before the new First Home Guarantee Scheme (FHGS) changes take effect, signals a powerful market run.”
Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton added a note of caution. “While inquiries are at an all-time high, the big question is whether we will have enough stock to meet this demand. The market is incredibly hot, and this could lead to a highly competitive environment for buyers, with many homes selling for hundreds of thousands above their reserve.”
“With listings not keeping pace with buyer demand, buyers are needing to compromise faster and bid harder.”
Two Red Shoes identifies several spring trends. The First Home Guarantee Scheme is expected to unlock a wave of first-time buyers by enabling eligible purchasers to enter with deposits as low as 5 per cent. The firm notes this supports entry and reduces rent leakage, but it is a demand-side fix that risks pushing prices higher around the relevant caps.
Buyer behaviour is shifting toward flexibility. With competition intense, purchasers are prioritising what they can afford over ideal suburb or land size. Two Red Shoes expects the common first-home target price to rise to between $1 and $1.2 million over the next six months.
Affordable corridors are drawing attention. The team highlights Hawkesbury, Claremont Meadows and growth areas such as Austral, with Glenbrook in the Lower Blue Mountains posting standout results. Preliminary Sydney auction clearance rates are holding above 70 per cent despite increased listings, underscoring the depth of demand.
The heat is not without friction. Reports of gazumping have risen, including instances where contract statements were withheld while agents continued to receive offers, reflecting the pressure on buyers in fast-moving campaigns.
Rates are steady, yet some banks are quietly trimming variable and fixed products. Many borrowers are maintaining higher repayments to accelerate principal reduction. “We’re also seeing a strong trend in rent-vesting, where owner-occupiers are investing in a property with the eventual goal of moving into it,” said Jarrett-Dalton.
“This is a smart strategy for safeguarding one’s future in this competitive market, where all signs point to an exceptionally busy and action-packed season.”
Two Red Shoes expects momentum to carry through the holiday period and into the new year, with competition remaining elevated while stock lags demand.
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More than half of Stage One was exchanged on opening day as buyers chase harbour views, amenity and metro connectivity at 177 Walker Street.
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North Sydney’s apartment market notched another milestone with the launch of The Walden, where 55 per cent of the Stage One release exchanged contracts totalling $103 million within three hours of sales opening. The project is by ALAND, a gold star iCIRT rated developer and builder.
Positioned at 177 Walker Street on the eastern edge of the CBD, The Walden fronts uninterrupted harbour views from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Sydney Heads.
Limited local housing supply, strong demand from affluent downsizers and a growing population are cited as drivers of both interest and pricing in the suburb.
Data referenced in the release notes North Sydney apartment prices rose nearly 10 per cent in the 12 months to August 2025, compared with an average year to date gain of 0.7 per cent across wider Sydney. The precinct continues to benefit from public and private investment as it evolves into an 18 hour destination.
“It’s clear that North Sydney’s changing rapidly, and property buyers are excited both by what’s on offer in the suburb now, as well as what’s yet to come,” ALAND Founder Andrew Hrsto said.
“Against this backdrop, The Walden is set to become a benchmark for luxury living in North Sydney, and it’s perfectly poised for buyers to capitalise on the continued growth and transformation in the local area. With its unrivalled amenities, refined design, and rare balance of sophistication and community connection, The Walden delivers a lifestyle unlike anything else on the market.”
Planned resident facilities include a fully equipped gym, wellness and treatment room, spa, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining room, pool, dedicated work from home and meeting spaces, plus concierge services.
“Apartment sales in North Sydney have remained robust throughout 2025, and today’s opening sales at The Walden reflect strong buyer confidence in the area’s ongoing revitalisation,” said Ben Stewart, Partner at SRM Residential, which is overseeing sales.
He added that purchasers are responding to apartment scale and amenity, along with metro connectivity that places Barangaroo three minutes away and Martin Place five minutes away.
“The Walden has the best views in this part of the North Shore which can never be built out, with 70% of apartments enjoying front row views of the harbour.”
Stewart also pointed to confidence in delivery and quality. “The design and sizing of apartments at The Walden is a level above the majority of other projects on the market, and we’re seeing buyers prioritise well designed apartments that offer both lifestyle appeal and long term investment potential.
“ALAND’s 23 years of delivery success, backed its Gold Star iCIRT rating and Latent Defect Insurance (LDI) have been embraced by this market.”
Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2026, with completion targeted for 2028.
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