- Analysts predict 2026 could transform investor sentiment and market performance nationwide.
- Broad-based growth marks 2026 as a standout year for property returns.
- From Darwin to Hobart, 2026 signals a synchronised housing upswing.
2026 is shaping up as a pivotal year for investors, with the property market entering a broad growth phase.
Hotspotting Managing Director Tim Graham revealed that buyer demand is strengthening across nearly all capital cities and major regional markets.
“Normally, across Australia at any one time, we would see some markets booming, others stagnating, and some falling,” Mr Graham said.
“Right now, we’re seeing price growth and rising buyer demand almost everywhere – and that’s highly unusual.”
Mr Graham said every major capital city and regional market was now achieving price growth, supported by strong sales volumes and tight supply.
The markets that were lagging a year ago, including Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin, have recovered, highlighting the speed at which cycles can turn.
“Darwin has gone from virtually zero growth to leading the nation in under 12 months,” Mr Graham said.
“That’s how quickly conditions can change when demand surges and listings collapse.”
Four main forces are underpinning the upswing:
- Strong population growth
- Government incentives supporting first-home buyers and new construction
- Easing interest rates and improving borrowing capacity.
- Record infrastructure spending, with close to $900 billion in projects underway or planned
“All of that is having an impact,” Mr Graham said.
“But the most powerful constraint remains the shortage of stock, with national listings for sale down more than 12%.”
Hotspotting’s latest Best Buys report shows what sort of results can be achieved when buying in the right location, before it takes off.
“Our approach focuses on identifying markets early in their growth phase, allowing investors to benefit from compounding over five to ten years, rather than chasing short-term momentum,” he said.
“Reviewing our Best Buys report from three years ago shows just how successful this approach can be.”
Every location selected in that report has recorded price growth, with average gains of around 50% over three years, equating to roughly 17% per annum.
Many of these gains occurred in locations where median house prices were still in the $300,000 to $400,000 range at the time of selection.
Most of the heavy lifting in capital growth comes from choosing the right city or region.
Tim Graham, Hotspotting
He predicts that prices will continue to rise across most locations in 2026, particularly in parts of Tasmania, Brisbane and some regional Victoria markets.
“The lesson from 2025 is simple,” Mr Graham said. “Markets move faster than most people expect, and the biggest gains usually go to those who position early, not late.”
