Current Market Insights

On 2GB Nights with John Stanley, Peter O’Malley takes a hard look at the softening Australian property market and what weakening auction clearance rates mean for buyers and sellers. As competition thins, the focus is shifting from auction theatre to genuine negotiation, while rising renovation costs are forcing many owners to rethink their plans. They also discuss: Winter stock levels tightening and the short selling window this can create Weakening auction clearance rates an...

Sydney’s property market can look like a disaster if you only read the headlines, yet the real story is more nuanced: prices are off their highs, auctions are struggling, and buyers are cautious, but demand has not vanished and credit is still flowing for people who qualify. We walk through what we’re seeing across Sydney right now, why the mood feels worse than the reality, and how to make sense of auction clearance rates that sit in the low 30s while open homes can still be busy. We dig in...

Hosts Ciaran O’Brien and Peter O’Malley unpack the RBA’s latest rate hike and why inflation in Australia remains stubbornly above target. We explore how the next six weeks could reshape sentiment, borrowing capacity and price momentum, while comparing Sydney’s serviceability risks against other cities and assessing whether policy proposals around land supply can truly shift the housing balance. We also discuss: Cash rate rising to 3.85% with mortgage rates sitting in the high fives to low six...

Hosts Ciaran O’Brien and Peter O’Malley deliver a clear-eyed check on how Sydney’s property market opens in 2026—steady inspections, cautious buyers, and a noticeable shift where apartments begin edging ahead of houses as first home buyer activity concentrates at the affordable end. We map the three key signals to watch this year—immigration, the employment market, and interest rates—and explain how they flow through to rents, sentiment, and price direction. We also discuss: Buyer activity ho...

In this special Talking Property episode, Harris Partners’ Peter O’Malley is joined by SQM Research Director Louis Christopher, widely regarded as Australia’s leading property analyst, to preview what lies ahead for the housing market in 2026. With Sydney tipped for a strong year, Louis unpacks the key forces that will shape prices, rentals, and market stability. We also discuss: The RBA’s interest rate dilemma and what it means for housingWhy 2026 is shaping up as a strong year for property ...

Hosts Ciaran O’Brien and Peter O’Malley wrap up a year where rate cuts calmed mortgage distress, yet inflation quietly returned through energy, services, and daily essentials. As AI reshapes jobs, rental markets hold steady, and policy reforms tighten compliance, we reflect on what defined 2025 — and what’s next for Sydney’s property landscape. We also discuss: How rate cuts removed forced selling and lifted sentimentInflation’s reacceleration through energy and service sectorsUnemployment ed...