The market's quietly handing the advantage back to buyers
Written by Michael Lawes
For a while there, FOMO was running the show. Listings were scarce, prices were climbing fast, and plenty of buyers were making decisions based on fear rather than strategy. Almost two in five first home buyers told Finder they'd bought simply because they were worried about being priced out.
That pressure has eased, and if you have property plans on the table this year, it's worth understanding why.
Listings are back on the rise. Back in January, stock on market sat 25% below the five year average. By June, new listings were up 13.3% nationally year on year - more choice for buyers generally means less pressure to settle.
Auctions are losing their grip too. Clearance rates have dropped to their lowest point since 2020, and private treaty sales are becoming the norm. That shift matters because private treaty gives buyers room to negotiate directly, and pre-approval is what gives you the leverage to do it. A seller who knows you're ready to move takes your offer more seriously.
Investor activity is also cooling. Investors made up around two in five new mortgages earlier in the year, but the recent Federal Budget tax changes are expected to pull that back sharply. Less competition from that end of the market strengthens the negotiating position of anyone buying to live in.
Discounting is becoming more common, with the median discount on sales climbing to 3.6% in the capitals, up from 3.0% in March - regional areas are sitting close behind at 3.5%. On a $903,000 median home, that's a discount north of $32,000. Not small change for anyone weighing up timing.
None of this is a green light to rush in.
Well located, well priced property still moves quickly, and waiting on the sidelines for a bigger correction has burned plenty of buyers before. But for clients who've been holding off, feeling like they were competing against everyone else, the landscape looks genuinely different right now.
If you're thinking through a purchase, a refinance, or where property fits into their broader plan, we are always happy to run through what this shift actually means for their numbers. No pressure, just a clear picture of where they stand.
Credit Representative 550477 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328.
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