March 2026 has reinforced Brisbane's position as one of Australia's strongest-performing property markets, even as the operating environment has grown more complex.
According to Cotality’s Home Value Index to 31 March 2026, Brisbane dwelling values rose 1.8 per cent for the month, 0.2 percentage points above February’s 1.6 per cent result, with the annual gain accelerating to 19.0 per cent from 17.3 per cent. The median dwelling value now sits at $1,101,151, up from $1,080,538 a month prior, and Brisbane dwelling values have risen 85.3 per cent over the past five years.
Source: Cotality
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) followed its February rate rise with a further 25 basis point increase in March, lifting the cash rate to 4.10 per cent, just 25 basis points below the recent cycle high. The RBA’s decision reflected inflationary pressures that have built significantly through the second half of 2025, with the Board signalling that inflation is expected to remain above target for some time and that risks are skewed toward higher inflation for longer. Adding to the difficult backdrop, the ANZ–Roy Morgan Weekly Consumer Confidence Index fell to its lowest reading on record in March, a level not seen since the series commenced in 1973, driven by anxiety over the Middle East conflict, rising energy costs, and the prospect of further rate increases.
These pressures have prompted SQM Research to revise its 2026 national housing forecasts sharply downward. Under its revised base case, weighted capital city price growth is forecast at just 0 per cent to +3 per cent for the year, down from the prior projection of +6 per cent to +10 per cent. In contrast to this, Brisbane is still expected to outperform the national average, rising between +7 per cent and +11 per cent, which is a downgrade from +10 per cent to +15 per cent as previously forecasted.