A hot spring selling season forecast as property market roars back to life
Real estate leader says strong sales last month point to a busy season ahead
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Ray White boss Dan White is forecasting a bumper spring selling season for Australia’s property market, after the real estate company wrote a staggering $6.9 billion in sales last month.
August’s stellar result was 14 percent higher than the same month last year and only four percent down on 2021 when record home price growth was seen.
“Our August sales results officially certified the renewed and broad-based resurgence in the residential market that we have been seeing since late May,” Mr White said.
May was when Ray White saw a small “but identifiable” lift in new listings coming to market, particularly in the eastern states, he said.
“This was very unusual as new listings normally drop in the winter months. Interest rates were still rising, and given that the expectation was for an increasingly depressed market, was this a blip? But the trend became firmer in June, and stronger again in July.”
Ray White Group listed 10,500 homes in August, up 12 percent on last year and more than 20 percent higher than 2021.
And Mr White revealed the company’s pre-listing data shows a “strong” flow of more listings in the next few weeks.
“Buyers, including potential sellers that intend to repurchase, now have a lot more property to choose from. The market is very well-stocked for spring.”
Despite an increase in supply, buyer demand remains elevated across much of the country, meaning prices are likely to continue rising in the months ahead.
CoreLogic’s latest Home Value Index, released this week, shows home prices nationally inched upwards by 0.8 percent in August – the sixth consecutive month of growth.
Since bottoming out in February, prices at a national level are 4.9 per cent higher, adding $34,000 to the median value of a dwelling.
Sydney has led the recovery trend, with a gain of 8.8% since values found a floor in the Harbour City in January, while Brisbane has also seen values up 6.2% since bottoming out in February.
Ray White’s Lower North Shore Group posted $216 million in sales in August while Ray White Quakers Hill sold 135 homes.
Mr White is expecting the coming months – traditionally the busiest in real estate – to be just as busy.
“There will be enough stock to record some big results – maybe not at 2021 levels but not too far off,” he said. “So much depends of course on the broader economic sentiment and how that influences buyer behaviour.”
One likely driver of sustained buyer confidence is the decision this week by the Reserve Bank to leave interest rates on hold, which has led many economists to believe the tightening cycle is on hold for now.
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Strong rental fundamentals and tight supply have driven more than $155 million in Sydney apartment block and residential investment sales over the past year.
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Sydney’s residential investment market has recorded $155 million in apartment block and townhouse sales over 2025, underscoring continued investor confidence in rental-led assets despite broader economic uncertainty.
The transactions were completed by Knight Frank’s Investment Sales agents James Masselos and Adam Droubi, who negotiated 19 sales across Sydney during the year.
Residential investments accounted for 75 per cent of their total sales activity, supported by more than 4,200 active purchaser enquiries.
Co-living deal sets national benchmark
Among the standout transactions was the off-market sale of 142 Carillon Avenue in Newtown, a 37-studio co-living apartment block located close to the University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
The property sold for $21.5 million, setting a new benchmark for the living sectors market nationally.
The deal achieved approximately $581,000 per bedroom, believed to be one of the highest per-bedroom results recorded for a co-living asset in Australia.
Inner-city assets trade in one line
Other notable sales included a group of 12 townhouses at 108 Illawarra Road in Marrickville, sold in one line for $14 million, and a block of 20 studio apartments at 171 Rowntree Street in Birchgrove, which changed hands for $6.7 million.
Both transactions reflected strong buyer competition for well-located residential assets with established income streams.
Supply constraints underpin momentum
Mr Masselos said Sydney’s apartment block market continued to benefit from tight supply and strong rental conditions.
“Apartment blocks and broader residential investments remain a robust asset class, underpinned by strong rental growth, record low vacancy levels and scarcity of stock,” he said.
He added that more than $25 million worth of residential investment opportunities are expected to come to market in 2026, with buyer enquiry remaining elevated.
Mr Droubi said competitive sales campaigns had become a feature of the market as investors sought secure income and long-term value.
“Supply constraints and ongoing population growth underpin market strength,” he said. “New approvals and completions lag demand, keeping stock tight and boosting both rents and prices.”
Vacancy rates keep pressure on rents
According to Knight Frank, rental demand across Sydney remains intense, with vacancy rates well below typical “healthy” levels.
Many middle and outer-ring suburbs are recording vacancies of around 1.5 per cent or lower, maintaining upward pressure on rents and reinforcing the appeal of residential investment assets.
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