In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates take stock of a property market that feels busier on the surface but weaker underneath. Open home traffic is picking up, yet buyers are hesitating, listings still look thin for spring, and another RBA hike is back in play after inflation and bond yields pushed higher.
Pete and Chris unpack why sentiment has turned so quickly, from forecasts of a 10% peak-to-trough decline to the risk that higher-for-longer rates squeeze borrowing power, budgets and buyer confidence. They also explore how the current slowdown could hit different markets unevenly, why investor appetite remains fragile, and what weaker turnover might mean for prices through the rest of 2026. The bigger question is whether buyers get more choice this spring without getting much real confidence back.
The episode also dives into the pressure building across construction and development. With costs permanently higher, credit harder to access and a major New South Wales builder collapse rattling confidence, the pair argue the biggest issue may not be demand alone but the supply crunch forming underneath it.
If you want a practical read on spring listings, mortgage competition, investor behaviour and the next phase of Australia’s housing cycle, this is a timely episode to catch.
