Steam comes out of the market as Australian property values cool
Stubborn inflation and just-out-of-reach interest rate cuts are the likely reasons for the softer end to the year, new data has revealed
2 min
Australian capitals experienced their smallest rise in home values since January 2023, new data from CoreLogic has revealed.
The property data provider’s Home Value Index showed values rose by 0.1 percent over spring after 22 months of consecutive rises. CoreLogic predicted this could be close to the last rise in this cycle, with both the Sydney and Melbourne markets showing signs of cooling.
“The downturn is gathering momentum in Melbourne and Sydney,” said Tim Lawless, CoreLogic’s research director.“While the mid-sized capitals, which have dominated the growth cycle of late, are also losing steam.”
The trend was most obvious in Melbourne, with housing values recording drops in 10 of the past 12 months. Melbourne values fell by -1.0 percent in November, while Sydney experienced a fall of -0.5 percent. The report indicated that Sydney values had most likely peaked in August this year.
Some of the smaller capitals were also showing signs of a weakening in values, with Darwin down -0.7 percent and Canberra recording a drop of -0.3 percent.
“The mid-sized capitals and most of the regional ‘rest of state’ markets continue to provide some support for growth in the national index, but it is clear momentum is also leaving these markets,” added Mr Lawless.
However, it was a different story on the other side of the country, with Perth home values experiencing further growth. CoreLogic data showed values in the Western Australian capital up 1.1 percent over the month and 3.0 percent over the quarter. While the increases in values were the strongest amongst the capitals, CoreLogic noted that they were less than half that recorded in the June quarter, where they were at a robust 6.7 percent.
Mr Lawless pointed to a lack of movement in core inflation, as well as the diminishing likelihood of an interest rate cut early next year as factors in the subdued capital gains. Leading Australian economists are predicting a cut somewhere between February and May 2025.
“A lower cash rate will be a positive factor for housing markets,” Mr Lawless said. “Lower mortgage rates will provide a lift to borrowing capacity, and, along with lower inflation, should see an improvement in serviceability assessments and see a further rise in consumer sentiment.”
“A couple of rate cuts might be enough to shore up a declining trend in home values, but it is hard to see any material upward pressure returning until interest rates reduce more substantially and affordability barriers are less formidable.”
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Sydney’s rental market is hitting new highs, with prime suburbs now topping $2,000 a week.
4 min
Sydney is well and truly on the world map when it comes to luxury residential property, rivalling—and even beating—the likes of Tokyo and Dubai in terms of price per square metre.
The harbour capital has also proven itself to be a powerhouse for luxury residential rental growth. Knight Frank’s Prime Global Rental Index Q4 2024 showed prime rents across Sydney grew 4.7 per cent over 2024, the fifth-highest growth globally.
This has pushed several of Sydney’s top suburbs over the $2,000 per week median rent mark for a house, with surrounding areas fast approaching the milestone.
We’ve wrapped up the most expensive suburbs to live in across Sydney, with data sourced from property data analytics firm CoreLogic.
1. Vaucluse: Median purchase: $8.69m; Median rent: $2,198
Vaucluse has consistently ranked as Sydney’s most expensive suburb for rental properties over the past few years, even with annual rents contracting by over 14 per cent. What sets it apart is its unique geography—it’s the only suburb in the Eastern Suburbs that stretches from the harbour to the ocean. Homes in Vaucluse top the price charts because most either boast Sydney Harbour views or enjoy uninterrupted outlooks over the Pacific Ocean.
The Neighbourhood
While most Eastern Suburbs have one main beach, Vaucluse is dotted with several secluded spots, such as Parsley Bay, Milk Beach, and the recently reopened Shark Beach, which had been closed for several years due to retaining wall repairs.
2. Dover Heights: Median purchase: $6.38m; Median rent: $2,024
Vaucluse’s immediate southern neighbour, Dover Heights, is the only other suburb in Sydney with a median house rental over $2,000. Dover Heights hugs the cliffs and is well known as one of the most tightly held house markets in the Eastern Suburbs. The homes are perched on the cliffside, and the majority of houses in the area have at least four bedrooms, pushing up prices.
The Neighbourhood
While there are no beaches to speak of, its elevated position provides some of the highest views of Sydney Harbour. It is also home to the Federation Cliff Walk, a five-kilometre clifftop walk with postcard views of the Pacific Ocean from Dover Heights to Watsons Bay.
3. Bronte: Median purchase: $5.64m, Median rent: $1,963
Bronte takes out the title of the most expensive of the ‘typical’ Eastern Suburbs beachside suburbs. Just 30 per cent of homes in Bronte are separate houses, with nearly half being apartments. Houses in the rental pool are typically original homes dating back to the 1960s that have been renovated over the last decade or so.
The Neighbourhood
Bronte has long been a favourite due to its more relaxed beachside lifestyle compared to the busier Bondi, although Bronte is no longer a ‘hidden gem’ anymore. It offers numerous lifestyle perks, from a small high street lined with shops and cafés to several eateries located by the beach, which also features one of the best natural ocean pools in the Eastern Suburbs.
4. North Bondi: Median purchase: $4.81m; Median rent: $1,932
North Bondi has become a hotbed of new homes, with frequent sales of either original houses or older apartment complexes being bought to be demolished and replaced by brand-new contemporary builds. There’s a mix of original cottages and new homes in the rental pool, the latter fetching over $7,000 a week.
The Neighbourhood
North Bondi is situated in a small pocket, just south of Dover Heights and north of Bondi Beach. Starting at the Ben Buckler Peninsula, near where Campbell Parade transitions into Military Road, North Bondi is one of the most secluded areas on the coastline, with Hastings Parade, Brighton Boulevard, and Ramsgate Avenue all offering a southward view over the sand.
5. Balgowlah Heights: Median purchase: $4.13m; Median rent: $1,930
Balgowlah Heights is the most expensive suburb to rent a house in the Northern Beaches. Land sizes tend to be much larger, and you get more for your money in the area compared to the East.
The Neighbourhood
Balgowlah Heights is the harbourside southern neighbour of Balgowlah. The Sydney Harbour National Park occupies half of the leafy suburb, part of the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk, and is home to Tania Park, with a children’s playground and sporting facilities overlooking Manly Cove. Nestled on the northern shores of Sydney Harbour, it offers a serene and leafy environment.
6. Bellevue Hill: Median purchase: $10.63m; Median rent: $1,917
Bellevue Hill stands as one of Sydney’s most prestigious suburbs and has some of the largest houses by median land size.
Given the large gap between median purchase price and median rental price, it is no wonder renters want to live among $10m homes and pay under $2,000 a week, when a $10m purchase means $2m deposit, over $500k in stamp duty, and roughly $12,000 a week in repayments.
Most mansions will never make it to public rental sites and are often snapped up by Hollywood stars, musicians, or even royalty when they visit Australia.
The Neighbourhood
One of the biggest drawcards for those living in Bellevue Hill is the proximity to two of the country’s top schools. While there are no catchment areas for private schools, Cranbrook School and Scots College will always draw affluent families to the suburb. Scots fees start at around $30,000 per annum from Year One and reach nearly $50,000 by Year 12.
Sydney’s Cheapest Suburb: Tregear; Median purchase: $782,000; Median rent: $544
The cheapest suburb to rent in Sydney is Tregear, located on the outskirts of Mt Druitt, approximately 50 km west of the CBD. The median house rental is $544, which is four times cheaper than renting a house in Vaucluse. The median house price in Tregear is $782,000, around 12 times less than Vaucluse.
Sydney’s Best Suburb: Point Piper
If money were no object, it’s hard to look past Sydney’s most affluent suburb as the top pick for the best place to live in the city, in my opinion.
It doesn’t even have an actual median house price, simply because so few properties change hands. Last year, just five houses sold, ranging from $8 million to $51.5 million. Homes on the best streets offer gun-barrel views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, while the cosmopolitan Double Bay next door provides all the lifestyle conveniences.
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