QMI: September 2026

Welcome to Oliver Hume’s Quarterly Market Insights (QMI) Report, September 2026. QMI is our flagship report examining the trends, data and market forces shaping Australia's residential land and property markets.

The established market downturn has now spread nationally, and macroeconomic pressures are impacting land markets differently across Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

With Victorians heading to the polls on 28 November, UDIA Victoria CEO Linda Allison explains why the result could cast a long shadow over other states, including the New South Wales election in 2027.

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Established Market Key to Land Recovery

Our CEO Julian Coppini explains the link between established markets and land recovery. Strong established markets have driven land price growth in South East Queensland and Adelaide, while in Melbourne, established homes in key greenfield corridors sell for significantly less than new house and land.

Chief Economist Matt Bell breaks down the September quarter:

• Melbourne: sales at an 18-month low, median lot price flat at $410,500.
• South East Queensland: a record median of $549,000, up 13% annually, despite sales down nearly 30%.
• Adelaide: median up 6.4% to $415,000, back above Melbourne, after four quarters of falling sales.

From Our Contributors

Arash Manafi on semi-detached housing market dynamics across Australian states and nationally, Matt Belford (ID_CORP) on Shape Homes’ move into Queensland, and Tony McEntee on the value of expertise in a complex market.

Plus project news from Silva South Ripley and ReGen Living Waurn Ponds, and the Land Monkeys’ record $562,000 for Variety Victoria.