Each week, First Home Loan Weekly News Wrap Australia brings a clear, independent recap of Australia’s housing headlines. We sort the noise into need‑to‑know stories on property market movements, policy changes that affect first‑time buyers, regional and city trends, and practical implications for your plans. Expect plain‑English context, quick takeaways, and links to trusted sources, so you can stay informed and confident about your next steps — in under ten minutes.
This Week:
This week: House prices fell across every capital for the first time in 15 years, with the September quarter wiping roughly $60k off the median and boosting buyer negotiating power. Auction conditions softened further, with clearance rates below 50%, longer selling times and more listings. Rents remain high, but rent growth is slowing in parts of the country as more households share to manage costs. Ahead of the 3 November RBA meeting, big banks expect sticky underlying inflation, while mortgage stress is rising, particularly in regional areas and among mid‑career borrowers. Takeaways for first‑home buyers: keep pre‑approval current, budget carefully for upfront costs and buffers, use softer conditions to negotiate, and stress‑test repayments.
EPISODE 3375 | First Home Loan Weekly Property News Wrap | Wed, 28th Oct 2026
1 Nov 2026 | Paige Estritori
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Read Full Transcript:
Hello and welcome to the First Home Loan Weekly Property News Wrap, Im Paige Estritori, and its Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
First up, prices have stepped down across every capital city for the first time in 15 years. The September quarter saw combined-capital house prices fall about four to five per cent, wiping roughly sixty thousand dollars off the median, with some of the biggest drops in Perth and Brisbane. For first‑home buyers, that means more choice and firmer negotiating power, but borrowing capacity is still tighter, so keep your pre‑approval current and know your ceiling before you bid.
Next up, auction conditions are soft. The latest weekly read shows clearance rates under fifty per cent, homes taking longer to sell, and total listings up on last year. In practice, you can take your time: add a finance clause if youre buying by private treaty, organise building and pest checks early, and factor in upfront costs like stamp duty and potential lenders mortgage insurance so your offer is realistic and safe.
Meanwhile, rents remain high but the market is shifting. The median capital‑city house rent is around seven hundred dollars a week, vacancies are still low, yet more households are doubling up as affordability bites and some cities are seeing rent growth slow. If youre renting while you save, a stable lease or shared setup can free extra cash for your deposit and an emergency buffer.
And looking ahead to rates, major bank forecasts for September‑quarter inflation land around one per cent on the trimmed mean, keeping the risk of another Reserve Bank move on the table at next Tuesdays meeting, 3 November 2026. At the same time, new credit data shows mortgage stress rising faster than a year ago, especially in regional areas and for borrowers in their mid‑30s to mid‑50s. Sensible next steps are to stress‑test repayments a bit higher than today, build a few months of buffers, and compare features like offset accounts to help manage cash flow.
Thats the wrap. For clear guides on eligibility, deposits, government incentives, buying steps and calculators, head to first-home-loan.com.au and subscribe to MoneyTips for handy updates.
The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.
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Knowledgebase
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): A type of insurance that a borrower might be required to purchase as a condition of a conventional mortgage loan, if the down payment is less than 20% of the property value.
