Do you want to know the features driving demand this spring? Start by understanding the distinct buyer personality types, from pragmatist to romantic, from optimiser to fundamentals buyer.
New research showed buyers’ preferences for different property features vary by city, with six different personalities emerging this spring.
Domain’s report, The shape of spring: from search to sale, compared the top 10 searched features across the platforms’ sale listings in the three months to August in 2021, 2025, and 2026.
As spring gets underway, Domain said buyers were becoming increasingly deliberate about what they wanted from a home.
“Across the country, search trends point to a common theme: Australians are searching for homes that better fit the way they live,” it said.
“Whether it's flexibility in Brisbane, character in Melbourne, practicality in Adelaide, space in Perth or long-term liveability in Canberra, buyers are becoming more intentional about the features they value.”
Additionally, the report examined supply across each city, with Sydney and Melbourne showing some of the sharpest declines in new listings amid softer price conditions.
“The pullback suggests many sellers are choosing to wait rather than bring their property to market in weaker conditions,” Domain said.
Meanwhile, new listings in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth have largely remained higher as total stock levels continue to rise, easing supply pressure in recent years.
“Together, these trends point to housing markets moving through different stages of the cycle,” Domain said.
Here are the key buyer personalities:
Sydney – the optimiser
Sydney's most-searched features reflected an emphasis on versatility as buyers focused on practicality and maximising space, with dual living features, garages and ground-floor homes rising in popularity.
The data compared to five years ago, when balconies and gardens were more of a priority.
“The rise of granny flats, studies and dual-living opportunities suggests buyers are increasingly prioritising flexibility as well as lifestyle,” Domain said.
Meanwhile, pools, waterfront homes and property views remained in buyers’ scope, while penthouses briefly made the top 10 in 2025 but faded this year.
When it came to supply, Sydney was divided, with new listings falling across established markets including Kogarah, Rockdale and Bankstown.
On the other hand, total supply expanded across Sydney's western and south-western growth corridors, with Mount Druitt leading the way.
Melbourne – the romantic
Over the years, Melbourne searchers have increasingly preferred homes with both character and practicality.
Heritage, Art Deco, and warehouse properties appeared in the 2025 top 10 list, and have remained, alongside features such as garages, courtyards, studies and new homes.
Compared to 2021, other features, such as balconies and having a ground-floor home, have vanished off the top 10 ranking.
“Buyers remain drawn to homes with a story, provided they meet the practical demands of modern living,” Domain said.
Melbourne’s new listings mainly fell in established suburbs, including Stonnington – West, Stonnington – East and Whitehorse – West, while growth areas led total supply, such as Sunbury, Frankston and Cardinia at the forefront.
Brisbane – multigenerational buyer
In Brisbane, buyers favoured features that served multiple purposes, especially dual living arrangements that could provide additional income opportunities or accommodation for extended family.
Compared to five years ago, searches for “granny flat” and dual living” have become more popular,
while searches for practical features such as "shed" and "garage" have climbed the rankings.
“The trend points to growing demand for space, flexibility and functionality,” Domain said.
The results also showed that buyers in 2025 prioritised water-related features, including waterfronts, waterviews and rivers, but in 2026 only waterfronts remained.
When it came to supply, only a few areas recorded a decline in new listings, such as Mount Gravatt, The Gap – Enoggera and Centenary.
Meanwhile, outer suburban markets and growth corridors saw the strongest total supply growth, particularly Caboolture Hinterland, Capalaba and Springfield – Redbank.
Adelaide – the pragmatist
According to the data, Adelaide buyers were focused on lasting value, with a growing preference for practicality and long-term liveability.
Since 2021, features such as solar power, en suites, dishwashers and corner blocks have entered the top 10 ranking, while garages and beach-related searches have fallen out of purchasers’ favour.
Universities briefly appeared in the 2025 list, before disappearing this year, while land took the top spot last year only to be replaced by pools again.
Further, Domain said the addition of stone in the 2026 ranking showed an ongoing appreciation for character, with buyers continuing to seek charm as well as function.
Declines in new listings were only seen in Burnside and Norwood - Payneham - St Peters, with total supply increasing strongly across Adelaide City, Playford and Gawler – Two Wells.
“With stock levels rising across most markets, buyers are benefiting from greater choice than a year ago,” Domain said.
Perth – space seeker
Perth's search patterns pointed to a strong demand for versatility and room to grow, with buyers continuing to search for granny flats, land, workshops, sheds, and dual-living opportunities.
Compared with five years ago, searches for land and dual living have climbed the rankings, while character and heritage featured on the list in the past but faded out in 2026.
Searches including waterfront and beach have also dropped out of the top 10, suggesting buyers were more focused on practicality than lifestyle.
The report noted that Perth’s supply story was unique, as it was the only city where every area recorded annual growth in new supply, signalling strong seller activity.
Total supply also rose, with Mandurah, Bayswater – Bassendean and Canning dominating the ranking.
“The mix of strongest performing markets across growth and established areas suggests rising stock levels are expanding buyer choice across a diverse range of housing markets,” Domain said.
Canberra – the fundamentals buyer
According to the research, Canberra buyers focused on necessities rather than extras.
Compared with 2021, searches for separate-title homes, ground-floor living, north-facing properties, and property views climbed the rankings.
However, terms such as rent, plan and land dropped from the top 10, pointing to a growing focus on long-term liveability and property fundamentals.
Meanwhile, Canberra was the only capital city where a focus on views overtook pools as the most searched feature in 2026.
Canberra's supply story was largely positive, with only Woden Valley and South Canberra seeing declines in new supply, while North Canberra saw the strongest total supply growth.
"These trends suggest seller activity remains relatively resilient across the territory, while rising stock levels continue to improve buyer choice,” Domain said.
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