News & Tips

Oliver Hume's August Home Value Index Statement

Following the release of Cotality Australia’s August Home Value Index, Our Chief Economist Matthew Bell shared his insights on the evolving property landscape:

“Land sales jumped across the country in the June quarter and into July on the back of rising established dwelling prices, and the seventh consecutive month of house price increases reported today by Cotality points to better times for land markets across the country for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.

National house prices rose again in August, with an increase of 0.7%, the largest since May 2024. The distribution of rises across the country takes us back to 2023/24, when Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide led the nation in house price growth, with Sydney and Melbourne lagging behind.

The ongoing improvement in the established market bodes particularly well for a continued recovery in the Melbourne land market that has struggled over the last few years.

Although Melbourne’s monthly price growth was among the lowest in the country, annual growth has again increased to 1.4% annually. Brisbane (7.9%) and Perth (6.6%) not only lead the way out of the major capitals but saw the annual rate of increase rise.

With at least two more rate cuts forecast, an entrenched established market growth cycle combined with the recovery in key land markets should see another increase in land sales activity in the September quarter, and eventually some movement back to headline price growth in markets like Melbourne.”