As we approach end of 2025, we're going to share the outlook for the 2026 property market based on the excellent 'Boom and Bust' report released by SQM Research towards the end of each year, which is available here to purchase - https://sqmresearch.com.au/boombustreport.php.
Key highlights of the report are described in the article here - http://australianpropertyupdate.com.au/apu/housing-boom-with-no-bust-on-the-horizon-sqm.
The outlook for all markets Australia-wide look solid, with growth on the horizon. Based on SQM's 'base case' scenario (which is based on a 25-50 basis point rate cut during 2026), below is a summary of forecasted growth across each of our 8 cities.
Perth: +12% to +16% capital growth
Brisbane: +10% to +15% capital growth
Darwin: +12% to 16% capital growth
Melbourne: +4% to +7% capital growth
Sydney: +3% to +6% capital growth
Adelaide: +10% to +14% capital growth
Hobart: +4% to +7% capital growth
Canberra: +3% to 6% capital growth
Based on above, average capital growth across all 8 cities for 2026 nationally is forecasted to be +6% to +10%.
Perth, Brisbane, and Darwin are set for the best growth, with Melbourne growth looking minimal, meaning this market still offers some great value for investors looking to dip their toe into the water in 2026.
Happy property investing for 2026, and definitely check out the SQM Research Boom and Bust report to get excellent insights for all 8 cities and regions in Australia!