Australia Housing Market Posts February Rise

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.

Australia’s Cotality Home Value Index rose 0.5% month-over-month in December 2025, easing from 1.0% in the prior month and marking the weakest monthly increase since May. The slowdown underscored the cooling momentum in housing, with affordability pressures, elevated borrowing costs, and softer year-end demand weighing on buyer activity. Growth slowed in Brisbane (1.4% vs 1.7% in November) and Perth (1.9% vs 2.4%), while Adelaide remained steady (at 1.9%). In contrast, values slipped in Melbourne (-0.1% vs 0.3%) and Sydney (-0.1% vs 0.5%). Despite the monthly deceleration, national home values surged 9.2% year-on-year, accelerating from 7.2% in November.