Australia Home Values Rise for 2nd Straight Month

Australia’s Cotality Home Value Index increased by 0.6% in March 2026, down from a 0.7% rise the previous month. This slowdown reflects shifting expectations of further interest rate hikes, which have tempered price growth and reduced market activity. The cooldown was most pronounced in Sydney and Melbourne, where prices dipped by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively, and transaction volumes weakened significantly. Meanwhile, mid-sized capitals continued to see robust growth, with Brisbane (+1.8%), Adelaide (+1.2%), and Perth (+2.5%) leading the gains. As the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) signals more rate hikes ahead, the housing market faces growing headwinds, making a rebound in price acceleration unlikely in the near term.

Australia’s Cotality Home Value Index rose 0.7% in February 2026, easing slightly from a 0.8% gain in the previous month. Price growth remained strong in Brisbane (1.6% vs 1.4% in January), Adelaide (1.3% vs 1.3%), and Perth (2.3% vs 1.9%), while values were flat in Melbourne (vs 0.2%) and Sydney (vs 0.3%). On an annual basis, national home values advanced 9.6%, moderating from 10.2% in January.

Australia’s Cotality Home Value Index rose 0.8% month-on-month in January 2026, accelerating from a 0.5% increase in the previous month, which had marked the softest pace of growth in seven months. The pickup signaled renewed momentum in the housing market at the start of the year, with price gains broadening across major cities. Prices continued to rise in Brisbane (1.4% vs 1.6% in December), Perth (1.9% vs 1.9%), and Adelaide(1.3% vs 1.9%), while rebounding in Melbourne (0.2% vs -0.1%) and Sydney (0.3% vs -0.1%). On an annual basis, national home values surged 10.2%, quickening from a 9.2% rise in December and underscoring the resilience of Australia’s housing market despite earlier signs of moderation.