Australians are looking to buy, but confidence in the property market is mixed.
Our research reveals that 35% of Australians are considering buying a property in the next 12 months, while 15% are considering selling a home or investment property. At the same time, 60% expect property prices in their local area to stay the same or rise, and 39% are not confident about the Australian property market.
Based on a nationally representative survey of 1,002 Australians, Voice of Australia: Property Pulse explores who’s looking to buy and sell, what’s holding prospective buyers back, how investors are approaching the year ahead and where confidence differs across generations.
Australians are divided on where property prices are headed
When it comes to residential property prices in their local area, Australians are almost evenly split on what the next 12 months will bring.
One-third (33%) expect prices to rise, while 31% expect them to fall. A further 27% expect prices to stay about the same and 9% don’t know.
The results point to a mixed outlook, with no clear consensus on whether local property prices are headed up or down.
Cost of living is the biggest barrier to buying
For prospective buyers, property prices aren’t the only affordability challenge.
Cost-of-living pressures are the most commonly cited barrier to buying at 41%, ahead of property prices at 37%. Interest rates are a barrier for 25%, while 23% point to saving a deposit.
The results highlight how broader household pressures are influencing property plans, with prospective buyers balancing the cost of purchasing a home against everyday financial pressures.
Most investors are holding steady
For current property investors, holding onto existing properties is the most common plan for the next 12 months.
More than four in 10 (43%) plan to keep all their properties, while 12% intend to buy an additional property. At the same time, a quarter are considering selling, with 19% looking to sell one or more properties and 6% looking to sell and buy another. A further 20% remain undecided.
Government policy on negative gearing and capital gains tax is the top driver of investor plans at 19%, ahead of interest rate movements at 10% and rental income and returns at 9%.
Investors are also divided on where prices are headed, with 31% expecting prices to rise compared with 34% who expect them to fall.
Younger Australians are far more active and upbeat
One of the clearest divides in the research is between younger and older Australians.
More than half (55%) of Australians aged 18 to 34 are considering buying a property, compared with just 17% of those aged 55 and over.
Younger Australians are also more confident about the market, with 34% feeling confident compared with 21% of those aged 55 and over. Their outlook on prices differs too: 43% of 18 to 34-year-olds expect prices to rise, while 44% of Australians aged 55 and over expect them to fall.
The findings reveal a clear age divide in both activity and sentiment, with younger Australians showing much stronger buying intent and a more positive outlook on the market.
What this means for the property market
Australia’s property market is showing a mix of strong buying intent and cautious confidence.
Cost-of-living pressures are the biggest barrier for prospective buyers, investors are largely holding steady, and younger Australians stand out as the most active and upbeat group surveyed.
For property, finance and related brands, understanding these differences can provide a clearer picture of who’s looking to move, what’s influencing their plans and where confidence sits across the market.
Our research was also featured in news.com.au with insights from KPMG Urban Economist, Terry Rawnsley. Read more here >
The infographic series below represents key findings from our research:
Based on a nationally representative Pureprofile AU survey of 1,002 Australians, conducted in August 2026.
