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Perth Property Market Update: Opportunity Is Back on the Table for Savvy Buyers
Australia’s property market is shifting gears, and for many Perth buyers, that’s creating new opportunities.
After several years of intense competition, lightning-fast sales and limited negotiating power, buyers are finally starting to see more choice and a little less urgency in the market. Across much of the country, properties are taking longer to sell, buyers are becoming more selective, and vendors are finding they need to meet the market if they want to secure a sale.
Recent Federal Budget tax changes have also prompted many investors to revisit their strategies, adding another factor to an evolving property landscape.
Here in Perth, however, the story remains slightly different. While national conditions are softening, Western Australia continues to outperform many eastern states thanks to strong population growth, tight housing supply and ongoing demand for quality homes and investment properties.
If you’re considering purchasing a home or investment property, now is a great time to understand your borrowing power and finance options. The team at Fox Mortgage Services can help you secure pre-approval and position yourself confidently when the right opportunity appears.
Interest Rate Update
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% at its June meeting, following three consecutive rate increases earlier this year.
While headline inflation has continued to ease, underlying inflation remains stubbornly above the RBA’s target range.
Annual inflation fell to 4% in the 12 months to May, largely due to lower fuel prices, which were nearly 12% cheaper than a year ago.
However, the RBA’s preferred trimmed mean measure of inflation rose from 3.4% to 3.6%, suggesting price pressures remain present in parts of the economy.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers welcomed the better-than-expected inflation figures but reiterated that the government was not “complacent” about inflation risks.
The RBA has acknowledged that recent rate rises appear to be having “broadly the expected effect”, with housing demand moderating and broader economic activity slowing.
The next cash rate decision is scheduled for 11 August. Economists and major lenders remain divided on what comes next, making it more important than ever for borrowers to review their lending options and ensure their home loan remains competitive.
Perth Continues to Stand Out
While many capital cities experienced price falls throughout June, Perth continued its strong performance.
According to the latest figures from Cotality, national dwelling values declined by 0.4% during June, marking the largest monthly fall since December 2022.
Among the major capitals:
- Sydney fell 1.2%
- Melbourne fell 1.0%
- Canberra fell 0.6%
- Brisbane rose 0.3%
- Adelaide remained flat
- Perth increased 0.7%
- Hobart increased 0.6%
The quarterly results paint a similar picture. Sydney led the declines, falling 3.2% over the June quarter, while Melbourne dropped 2.6%.
Perth, meanwhile, continued to benefit from strong underlying demand and limited housing stock.
According to Cotality Research Director Tim Lawless, affordability pressures, higher living costs and recent taxation changes are all contributing to softer housing conditions nationally.
For Perth buyers, this reinforces an important point: while conditions have cooled elsewhere, Western Australia remains one of the country’s strongest property markets.
What This Means for Buyers
The changing market is creating a more balanced environment.
Nationally, buyers now have:
- More properties to choose from
- Less pressure to make rushed decisions
- Greater negotiating power
- Increased opportunity to conduct due diligence
At the same time, sellers are adjusting their expectations as stock levels rise and demand moderates in many regions.
In Perth, quality properties still attract strong interest, but buyers who are finance-ready are often better positioned to negotiate and act quickly when the right opportunity presents itself.
June 2026 Housing Snapshot
Monthly Home Value Changes
| State | Monthly Change |
|---|---|
| WA | ▲ 0.7% |
| NT | ▲ 1.4% |
| TAS | ▲ 0.6% |
| QLD | ▲ 0.3% |
| SA | 0.0% |
| ACT | ▼ 0.6% |
| VIC | ▼ 1.0% |
| NSW | ▼ 1.2% |
Source: Cotality, June 2026
Thinking About Buying?
Whether you’re purchasing your first home, upgrading, downsizing or expanding your investment portfolio, having finance sorted before you start house hunting can make all the difference.
Most home loan pre-approvals remain valid for around 90 days, giving you confidence to search knowing what you can afford.
At Fox Mortgage Services, we’ll help you:
- Understand your borrowing capacity
- Compare lenders and loan options
- Navigate the pre-approval process
- Structure your finance to suit your goals
With Perth continuing to show resilience while other markets soften, now could be an excellent time to explore your options and put a plan in place.
Ready to take the next step? Contact Fox Mortgage Services today and let’s discuss your finance strategy.
Sources & Credits
- Cotality Housing Market Update: https://www.cotality.com/au/insights/articles/housing-market-downturn-deepens-as-demand-headwinds-build
- Cotality Daily Home Value Index: https://www.cotality.com/au/our-data/indices#dailyIndices:~:text=Indices,-See%20the%20Cotality
- Cotality Auction Results: https://www.cotality.com/au/our-data/auction-results
- Realestate.com.au Auction Results: https://www.realestate.com.au/auction-results/
- The Guardian (Inflation Update): https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/24/interest-rate-hikes-remain-on-cards-as-underlying-inflation-climbs-economists-warn
- The Guardian (Economic Outlook): https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/03/australia-economic-outlook-economy-gdp-growth-jim-chalmers
- RBA Cash Rate Information: https://www.rba.gov.au/
- News.com.au RBA Commentary: https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/interest-rates/rba-signals-rate-hikes-having-expected-effect-door-open-for-fourth-hike/news-story/15390c307308aa5b9b9dea3f431269b1