About this episode

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates discuss the current property market conditions and whether now is a good time to buy.

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack one of the biggest questions in property right now: is the current slowdown creating a genuine buying window, or are buyers still too early? They break down the Reserve Bank’s August hold, what the latest press conference signals for rates, and why soft sentiment is colliding with an 11-week high in auction clearance rates. Melbourne is a major focus, with the pair exploring whether better auction results, stronger yields and years of underperformance could finally set the city up for a rebound. Pete and Chris also dig into the listings story. They explain why higher stock levels matter, why some data sets are telling slightly different stories, and why buyers should watch what actually sells, what passes in and where competition is still real. Their broader message is that headline fear can hide the fact that quality assets may already be finding support. The episode also covers mortgage competition, bank forecasts of deeper price falls, and why investor-heavy markets in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth may still be the ones to watch most carefully from here. In the listener Q&A, they tackle…

People in this episode

Hosts: Pete Wargent, Chris Bates

Topics covered

• property market
• buying opportunities
• auction clearance rates
• mortgage competition
• investor markets
• market psychology

Keywords

• property buying
• RBA
• auction results
• market update
• investor markets
• mortgage rates
• Castle Hill
• Brisbane
• Melbourne

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Reserve Bank

Places: Melbourne, Castle Hill, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth

More episodes of Australian Property Podcast

• Will another RBA hike freeze the property market this spring? · September 5, 2026 · 55 min
• Do you need a buyer's agent in a buyer's market? · September 1, 2026 · 48 min
• Spring buyers' market or false dawn? Rents, listings and 40-year mortgages · August 29, 2026 · 51 min
• Property reset or buying window? Sydney, spring listings and the six-year rule · August 22, 2026 · 45 min
• Deposit bonds explained: how to buy property without an upfront cash deposit · August 18, 2026 · 34 min
• How to make an offer on a property · August 11, 2026 · 55 min

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