From summer slowdown to autumn momentum: What’s next for agents

Typically, the market picks up during the season, as serious buyers return from summer holidays and sellers take advantage of low competition, and a moderate price growth.

This year, REB top agents across Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane have forecasted the market to balance out in autumn, as supply and demand stabilise following the unpredictable summer months.

Across markets, agents have started to see a growing demand for apartments and units thanks to affordability, while newly renovated turnkey properties are trending as buyers prioritise convenience.

Despite the Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent rate hike, agents have also predicted buyer activity will remain strong, with a surge of first home buyers using government schemes to get a foothold in the market.

Here’s what to expect:

Victoria

Jellis Craig Richmond director Elliot Gill said his agency was experiencing a balanced market, with buyer demand going strong and stock levels higher than he had seen in recent years.

He said he expected demand to continue into March, but in April, the market was likely to be disrupted by school holidays and Easter, with many families holding off selling until May.

“With a high number of owner‑occupiers choosing to sell over summer, many of them naturally transition into buyers as we move into autumn, which helps maintain momentum in the market,” he said.

Gill said renovated homes were continuing to lead the way in his area, with buyers increasingly steering clear of properties that require major work and the preference shifting toward turnkey options.

“Renovations have become more costly and time‑consuming, so homes that are move‑in ready are commanding the most interest.”

According to Gill, Melbourne agents will need to be proactive in the coming months, as more properties will sell in shorter time frames, making the first week of a sales campaign crucial.

“Agents should have their vendors fully prepared to make decisions early while buyers are moving quickly, and sellers need to be ready to meet the pace of the market.”

He added that many owners will aim to sell before any potential regulatory changes are introduced, particularly regarding reserve price disclosure and possible new taxes following the May budget.

“That expectation alone could prompt a wave of activity, with some sellers opting for quicker decisions and earlier launches.”

NSW

While the NSW market is likely to be stable during the autumn months, Maroubra Agents and Co director Nick Papas said his agency expected to have lower stock than in summer.

“January and February have been very big months for me personally with stock and buyers, we’ve pretty much had two near record months,” he told REB.

“I think March will be very similar. I think April will start to quieten down, and we've got full holidays and Easter and long weekends and all that happening.”

Due to the tight market, Papas said he expected all types of property in his area to be popular, but noted apartments were currently outselling houses as a result of first home buyer grants and affordability.

According to Papas, autumn being a quieter time of year also meant agents tended to be less active, and that it was especially important to keep the momentum going and ensure transactions continued.

“Agents are a bit burnt out by the first half of the year, so a lot of agents think, oh, April’s a write-off, then we're going to go into winter. They start just having that negativity.”

South Australia

According to Ouwens Casserly Adelaide property consultant James Robertson, autumn in South Australia often meant a more consistent and deliberate market rhythm than summer.

‘As we move into autumn, activity usually becomes more predictable, with increased buyer engagement and steadier listing volumes.”

He said his agency was anticipating solid, sustainable transactional activity, rather than a sharp price acceleration, as Adelaide continued to benefit from relative affordability, lifestyle strength and economic stability.

Despite buyers pausing to consider recent interest rate hikes, underlying demand has remained strong, after stabilising toward the end of 2025.

“Family homes in tightly held inner and middle ring suburbs continue to attract strong enquiry, as do low maintenance homes that suit downsizers.”

“The sub $1 million segment remains highly competitive, while prestige properties are still performing well when vendors take a disciplined approach to price and presentation.”

Robertson said that to prepare for the autumn season, his office was leaving heavily into preparation, structure and data.

“Autumn rewards campaigns that are well planned, beautifully presented and supported by consistent buyer follow-up.”

Queensland

In Queensland, Place Bulimba lead agent Anna Dunne has seen increased demand, which she said was likely to persist into the autumn months.

“Since the Christmas break, coming back there have been a lot of families thinking long term and wanting to secure a family home. What I am seeing is there is a lot of competition with buyer demand,” she said.

“With Easter being later this year, we are seeing that the buyer demand will continue. There is no sign of buyer demand slowing down at all.”

Dunne said she expected to see strong demand for townhouses and apartments, while renovated homes and move-in-ready properties were also rising in popularity, creating competition.

“Knockdown or renovators in blue-chip locations are also in very high demand.”

Dunne said her network planned to capitalise on the demand by hosting a Brisbane-wide auction event in May, with buyer activity likely to peak around that time.

Western Australia

Hillarys Noble Avenue director Linda Noble said she was feeling optimistic about the autumn season in Western Australia as sellers were likely to remain active, with her agency seeing many new listings.

While Perth’s summer market was unpredictable, with people going on holiday and sales often slowing down, Noble said autumn felt like a fresh reset.

“Kids are back at school, and people start to get back into normal life and routine, cooler weather means more inspections, and people are just more focused on decision-making,” she said.

She expected buyers in autumn to include couples and first home buyers chasing well-priced units and townhouses, upsizers in established family suburbs, and investors keeping an eye on opportunities where rental demand was strong.

Noble added that buyers, equipped with knowledge and confidence, were committed to their property purchasing approach.

“[They’re] more prepared with finance pre-approvals and are ready to act quickly when the right property is on the market.”

To make the most of autumn, Noble said agencies should think strategically about how they showcase properties, including presentation, smart pricing, tailored buyer engagement, and reliable marketing.

“Our campaigns lean into lifestyle and local market movement; we focus on Perth’s diverse offerings, what’s happening in the WA market this season, and why now is a great time to list with confidence,” she concluded.