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Australia’s property market is experiencing a sharp downturn, with record quarterly price declines across capital cities, weakening auction results and rising mortgage stress putting pressure on investors and home buyers alike.
As investor lending slumps and confidence fades, some regions continue to show resilience, while buyers are finding renewed opportunities in discounted markets, more affordable suburbs and properties where stronger fundamentals outweigh short-term market trends.
With borrowing costs straining household budgets and regulatory changes reshaping the housing landscape, this week’s headlines highlight the need to balance caution with decisive action and focus on long-term value amid growing market uncertainty.
– The HomeGuru Team
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Auction Clearance Rates
Home Buyers Around the Country
‘Extraordinarily weak’: Fewer than half of homes sold at auction (AFR)
Home loan strain up 7.3% in first half of 2026, Experian finds (MPAMag)
The catch for Aussie buyers as house prices tumble nationwide (Domain)
Melbourne buyers warned waiting could cost them $80k (REA)
Major bank CEOs to face Senate inquiry over offset failures (SPI)
Homebuyers are canceling sales at near-record rates (Yahoo)
'Sell or put up with it': Changed regulations redraw housing battle lines (ABC)
NSW rent freeze on cards in new bill before parliament (News)
Mortgage strain growing three times faster than a year ago: Experian (ABN)
New reserve price rule takes a toll on Victoria’s auction market (AFR)
Brisbane houses under $1 million are back – but there’s a catch (Domain)
The toll of interest rate hikes on SA’s property market revealed (REA)
The end of ‘price on request’? The big change coming for NSW home buyers (Domain)
Affordable home scheme went from 'blessing' to 'disaster', buyers say (ABC)
Double whammy predicted for new home building (AFR)
Household Capital raises $304m to fund reverse mortgage growth (ABN)
Investors
Some regions still climbing as nation sees record drop in house prices (ABC)
Chasing hotspots? Experts say to focus on the fundamentals instead (Domain)
Investor sales rise as confidence falls 79% (SPI)
Mega landlord touts $70m Aussie property strategy that defies market price drops (Yahoo)
Investor shift to new homes driven by retreat from established market (ABN)
Property investors retreat as lodgements fall up to 44% (MPAMag)
$5bn homes gone: Foreign buyers flood Aus (REA)
Australia's steepest quarterly housing decline on record: capitals see up to $89,000 wiped off prices in 3 months (Domain)
Darwin home owners selling up in nation's 'strongest property market’ (ABC)
93% of sales made a profit – but where did investors win big? (SPI)
Australia's house price plunge takes turn not seen in 15 years: 'Jolting change' (Yahoo)
Investor lending slumps as tax changes and rate rises bite (ABN)
Depth of Australia's housing downturn writ large in Mirvac results (MPAMag)
Property Stat of the Week
Credit: Property Update
Property Chatter
Meme by @lia.the.realtor (found on Instagram)
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