Buyer demand has gone quiet, auctions are being pulled and another interest rate rise could be coming. Is this a genuine buying window, or are Sydney and Melbourne only halfway through the correction?
In this episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates examine what they are seeing on the ground as investors step back, buyer enquiry dries up and confidence deteriorates. They discuss why falling turnover is hurting agents and state stamp duty revenue, how another RBA hike could affect borrowing capacity and sentiment, and why weak development economics and private credit stress may deepen Australia’s housing shortage.
Pete and Chris also unpack a proposal to let renters and mortgage holders redirect part of their compulsory superannuation towards housing costs. Could early access help Australians buy a home or reduce mortgage debt, or would it risk repeating the inflationary effects of COVID-era withdrawals?
Finally, they answer the practical question facing buyers now: should you wait for another 5% to 10% fall, or act when a scarce, well-located property appears? The answer depends on serviceability, time horizon, property quality and how quickly competition could return when sentiment turns.
If you are buying, upgrading, investing or simply trying to understand this unusual property cycle, this episode offers a clear look at the risks, opportunities and decisions that matter next.
