In this episode of Talk Property To Me, Brad East and Aaron Downie break down Australia's 2026 Property Market Forecast using the latest SQM Research Boom & Bust Report. We analyse population growth, supply shortages, dwelling completions, and city-by-city price predictions to explain what buyers and investors should expect in 2026.

Australia is heading into another major year for real estate, with 390,000 new migrants, tight vacancy rates, and a national housing shortage continuing to shape prices. In this episode, we unpack why Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast are forecast to lead the country — and why Sydney and Melbourne may lag behind. Whether you're a first-home buyer, investor, or simply watching the market, this breakdown gives you clear, data-driven explanations behind the expected 4%–14% price growth for 2026.

🔍 Key Topics Covered

✔️ Australia Property Market Forecast 2026

✔️ Population growth impact on housing prices

✔️ Housing supply shortage & dwelling completions

✔️ City-by-city predictions: Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney

✔️ Vacancy rates, rental demand & investor activity

✔️ Supply vs demand imbalance explained

✔️ Why units may outperform houses in major cities

✔️ Inflation, interest rates & possible RBA cuts

✔️ Worst-case, base-case & best-case growth scenarios

✔️ What buyers and investors should watch in 2026

🏙️ City Forecast Highlights

🏆 Perth: 12–16% growth expected — strongest market in Australia

🔥 Brisbane: 10–15% growth, record-low listings

📈 Adelaide: Strong demand with limited supply

Darwin: Major rebound driven by infrastructure projects

🏖️ Gold Coast & Sunny Coast: 7–15% growth

🏚️ Sydney & Melbourne: Slower growth due to affordability pressures

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down one of the biggest debates in the Australia property market 2026: Are houses still outperforming units, or has the market completely shifted?

With affordability tightening, inflation rising, and lifestyle preferences changing across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and regional areas, many buyers and investors are rethinking where real long-term value actually is. In this episode, we analyse why units and townhouses are now outperforming houses in multiple LGAs, what's driving this shift, and how buyers can protect themselves from bad assets and identify high-performing opportunities.

🔍 Key Topics Covered

✔️ Houses vs Units in 2026 — what the data really says

✔️ Why units are outperforming in key LGAs

✔️ Affordability crisis: how inflation & income stagnation are reshaping demand

✔️ Capital growth vs rental yields — where the numbers win

✔️ Boutique developments vs high-density towers

✔️ How remote work and infrastructure are changing buyer behaviour

✔️ Scarcity: the #1 rule for picking a winning property

✔️ First-home buyers in 2026 — why units may be the smarter choice

✔️ What to avoid: risks, strata reports, build quality & supply saturation

✔️ What's next for the Australian property market?

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie unpack one of Australia's biggest issues right now: building approvals are rising, but construction output is falling — all while the country faces the largest population boom on record. Australia approved more homes than ever in 2024–2025, yet fewer houses are actually being built.

In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind the housing supply crunch — from labour shortages, skyrocketing material costs and developer feasibility, to the impact of surging investor lending and record migration.

We also analyse how government planning reforms, council delays, CDC pathways and the Housing Future Fund are affecting supply, rental prices, and long-term affordability for first-home buyers and investors.

🔍 Key Topics Covered in This Episode

✔️ Why building approvals are rising but construction is falling

✔️ Labour shortages, high materials costs & builder insolvencies

✔️ Investor lending at record highs — how it affects first-home buyers

✔️ Australia's population surge (380K → 470K) and pressure on housing

✔️ NSW planning reforms: CDC fast-track, dual occupancies & DA changes

✔️ How government policies are shaping supply, rent, and house prices

✔️ Why developers are building less despite huge demand

✔️ What needs to change to fix Australia's housing shortage

✔️ The outlook for construction, rental markets & property prices in 2025

Australia is heading into a critical phase: approvals are up, supply is down, migration is booming, and investors are flooding the market. Understanding these factors is essential for buyers, sellers, renters and investors.