Both pricey and inexpensive pockets of the capitals are drawing the attention of buyers as rate cuts drive improved confidence.
Buyer enquiry volumes and speed of sale provide timely insight into demand dynamics across Australia’s housing market.
The latest PropTrack data reveals that while buyer interest remains elevated in many pockets, the strongest demand is concentrated in affordable outer-suburban markets and lifestyle-rich areas.
This is particularly the case in Sydney’s west and select parts of regional Queensland and Adelaide.
Werrington and St Marys, two suburbs in Sydney’s Outer West and Blue Mountains have topped the list for key enquiries per property listing in the 6 months to July 2025, with 150 and 144 enquiries for a typical house respectively.
With houses having median estimated values well below $1 million, these suburbs offer relative affordability in the highest cost capital, helping fuel demand from potential buyers.
Although buyer interest is elevated in these affordable pockets as interest rates have moved lower this year, price growth across the capitals is converging, becoming increasingly synchronised following 2024’s divergent performance.
The gap between outperforming cities and laggards is narrowing, signalling a more uniform phase of price recovery and home buying demand across the capitals.
With buyers benefitting from interest rate cuts increasing borrowing power demand remains strong across Sydney’s eastern suburbs too, albeit for a different cohort.
Coogee, Rose Bay, and Bellevue Hill all rank in the top 10 for houses, despite median values ranging from $4.18 million to over $10 million.
Looking at apartments, Sydney’s east is also in high demand. Unit listings in Tamarama, Double Bay and Bronte all rank in the top 10 nationally.
Interest in these highly desirable coastal suburbs demonstrate that premium buyers are active, seeking lifestyle and location even at higher price points. This is likely underpinned by improved buyer sentiment, borrowing power and renewed confidence following interest rate cuts.
Meanwhile, Logan and Ipswich in Queensland have also drawn elevated enquiry for units, underscoring the ongoing strength in southeast Queensland markets.
Suburbs like Forestdale (houses) and Goodna (units) attract strong interest due to lower median values — just over $1 million and $540,000 respectively — offering accessible price points in Brisbane.
Its clear affordability is drawing strong enquiry in outer suburbs and regional markets, while premium locations are still seeing demand driven by lifestyle appeal and scarcity.
This bifurcation in buyer demand, with two very different demand cohorts active, is likely one of the factors driving the convergence in home price growth across markets this year.
When looking at days on market in the 12 months to July 2025, it’s South Australia and regional Queensland that are leading the pack.
In suburbs such as Roseworthy (Adelaide – North), Bridgewater (Adelaide – Central and Hills), and Port Willunga (Adelaide – South), homes sell in just 14 to 16 days on average.
In Queensland, Blackstone (Ipswich), Manly (Brisbane – East), and Garbutt (Townsville) are also among the fastest-selling suburbs nationally, reflecting robust competition in markets where price points are more attainable and supply remains tight.
Unit markets are also seeing swift turnover, particularly in Townsville, Brisbane, and Adelaide’s inner south. The median value across the fastest-selling unit suburbs ranges from just $341,000 in Garbutt to $861,000 in Manly, reinforcing the appeal of lower entry points amid stretched affordability.
These rapid sales times highlight pockets of the market where competition is strongest, often in regions where buyers can still find relative value.
While enquiries remain high in select premium suburbs, competitive momentum appears to be strongest in areas offering a blend of value and lifestyle.
Outer-ring suburbs and regional hubs are likely to continue attracting interest, particularly as affordability constraints remain in play and population growth increases pressure on already tight housing supply.
Further interest rate cuts expected later this year will continue to ease borrowing costs, adding to the momentum in housing demand and reinforcing recent price growth.
Looking ahead, while stretched affordability will remain a constraint, a chronic lack of new housing supply, population growth, and targeted buyer incentives are expected to keep upward pressure on prices. In combination with interest rates continuing to move lower, these factors are likely to drive further demand and price growth throughout the remainder of 2025.
Despite these tailwinds, the upturn remains gradual, and stretched affordability will see a more measured upswing than in previous rate cutting cycles.
