The Australian property investment market bounces back
More property investment means more supply for tenants amid a rental housing crisis
2 min
Investors are returning to the property market after an exodus in early 2023 and a significant decline in investor buying between 2015 and 2020. The lack of investor activity has been seen as a contributor to today’s massive undersupply of rental homes. That five-year decline began after the banks applied higher interest rates to investor loans in a bid to slow investor loan growth, as requested by the prudential regulator.
However, the latest lending data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a 20.4 percent increase in the value of investor loans over the past year, indicating more investors are buying property. This is welcome news for renters across the country, who are finding it exceedingly difficult to secure affordable accommodation amid rapidly rising rents and record-low vacancy rates of about 1 percent.
Last year’s surprisingly strong price growth across most of Australia’s markets has likely inspired more investors to look at property again. Capital growth is typically the primary goal of new investors, with yield seen as simply a way to help pay off the mortgage over time. However, yield becomes more important when interest rates are rising, and a 40 percent increase in rents since the pandemic means many city and regional markets are now delivering healthy yields above 5 percent.
Investors are also increasingly looking beyond their own neighbourhoods for more attractive property investment opportunities, typically in cheaper markets. Research by MCG Quantity Surveyors shows the average distance between landlords’ homes and their investments was 1,502km in the year to November 2023. Prior to the pandemic, that average distance was just 294km.
Western Australia provides an example of this trend, and is one of the hottest markets among out-of-area investors today. This follows a 15.6 percent lift in Perth’s median house price to $691,100 in 2023 – the highest capital gain of any capital city – along with an 8.2 percent increase in regional house values to a median $477,690 – the third highest gain among Australia’s regions, according to CoreLogic figures.
“WA and Perth have caught the eye of Eastern States investors,” said Joe White, president of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA). “They’re drawn by the value our market offers. Despite increases over the past few years, our property prices are much more affordable than the east coast and we’ve had significant rent price growth. This means properties have the potential for very good yields.”
Total returns including capital growth and rent on investment houses reached a staggering 20.8 percent in Perth last year, and 14.5 percent in regional areas, according to CoreLogic data.
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
From bushland greens to valley reds, the country’s most awarded designers are proving that the best colour palette was never on a swatch card; it was outside the window all along.
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
3 min
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of apartments, positioning itself as one of the last opportunities for buyers to secure a new Sydney home below $700,000.
The project, located in one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors, is offering rare buyer protections at a time when affordability is tightening and competition for quality stock is intensifying.
According to JLL’s Q2 2025 Apartment Market Overview, Sydney’s median apartment price has already climbed to $795,000, setting a record.
With interest rates now on a downward trend and supply still heavily constrained, experts warn that today’s price brackets may not exist next year.
Ronnie Rahme, Development Manager at KDMC, said buyers were responding to the combination of quality and value.
“You simply don’t see this level of finish at these price points anymore,” Rahme said. “That’s why demand has been so strong for this final release.”
Dr Andrew Wilson, Chief Economist at My Housing Market, says the economic drivers are clear. “High rents and higher prices continue to provide clear incentives for first-home buyers and investors chasing solid investment returns,” he told Kanebridge News.
“New government initiatives to support first-home buyers will also act to place upward pressure on prices.”
The bigger picture
JLL’s research reinforces that point. While over 15,700 apartments are expected to be delivered nationally this year, a 40% uplift on 2024, Sydney remains undersupplied, with demand continuing to outpace completions.
The report also notes that reductions in the RBA cash rate are expected to further fuel buyer activity, with constrained supply continuing to push prices higher into 2026.
With construction costs soaring, Government contributions climbing, and interest rates remaining high, projects are harder than ever to bring to market, putting upward pressure on newly completed apartments.
The pipeline of new supply is shrinking as developers delay or abandon projects that no longer stack up financially.
According to JLL’s overview, only 2,554 completions are forecast for Sydney this year – against annual demand exceeding 30,000 dwellings.
At the same time, population growth, rental demand, and first-home buyer incentives are intensifying competition for limited stock. The imbalance between constrained supply and resilient demand is leaving new apartments scarcer and more expensive across Sydney.
Ophora: Last Chance In Sydney’s northwest
Developed by KDMC and designed by Architex, the $50 million project has launched its final release, with limited availability of 81 brand-new residences from just $545,000 for a one-bedroom, or $695,000 for a two-bedroom, which is far below Sydney’s median and significantly cheaper than nearby competition.
The five-storey development at 37 Reis St, Tallawong, combines affordability with premium inclusions more often seen in luxury builds: ducted air-conditioning, timber floors, premium finishes, fridge cavities with water plumbing, video intercom systems, fibre internet, EV charging, landscaped gardens and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views.
It also comes with something almost unheard of at this price point, a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy. Typically reserved for multimillion-dollar projects, LDI guarantees structural integrity for a decade and is only awarded to developers with a strong building track record.
SHC Insurance Brokers founder Stefan Hicks acknowledged the rarity of obtaining LDI, particularly for entry-level residential apartment complexes like Ophora.
“Gaining LDI is no mean feat. It’s offered selectively to developers and builders with a quality building history, and it requires both parties to employ an independent inspection service throughout construction,” he said.
“While this insurance is well-established around the world in about 40 countries, in Australia, we’re typically seeing high-end buildings covet LDI. The fact that Ophora has joined this exclusive list of quality-assured builds is a coup for entry-level home buyers.”
Raising the standard for affordable luxury
Rahme says the KDMC team wanted to set a new benchmark.
“Our mission with Ophora has always been clear: to raise the standard of what buyers should expect, regardless of budget,” he said.
“We’ve delivered a collection of apartments with finishes and features you’d usually only find in luxury projects, and we’ve backed it with one of the most stringent insurances available in the market. That gives buyers peace of mind that their investment is protected for the long term.
“People are walking through and realising you simply don’t see this level of quality at these price points anymore, as it’s effectively replacement cost in 2025.
“With rates coming down and limited competition, buyers and investors are moving quickly because they know the window won’t stay open. Investors, who have recently purchased at Ophora, have reported a strong rental demand, with minimum rental yields exceeding five per cent.”
Developments like Ophora, move-in ready, competitively priced and backed by rare structural protections (LDI), may represent the last chance for buyers to secure a sub-$700,000 apartment in Sydney.
View Ophora on cpmrealty.com.au
To arrange a private viewing or request more information, contact Sam Elbanna from CPM Realty: 0411 222 260
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Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
