With election uncertainty now behind us and another interest rate cut expected soon, many are anticipating a lift in market activity. But in the short term, low supply will likely remain a defining factor—particularly over winter.
April saw a seasonal slowdown, with auction and listing volumes hitting their lowest levels for this time of year since 2019. Public holidays and caution ahead of the federal election contributed to delayed campaign launches. Yet despite the slowdown in activity, demand remained strong enough to push national housing values to a record median of $825,349.
As winter approaches, most discretionary sellers are likely to wait until spring to act. But buyers shouldn’t be taking a break. Now is the time to closely monitor key signals:
Open for inspection numbers – rising interest here often points to increased buyer competition.
Auction clearance rates – particularly telling during quieter periods.
Time on market – shorter durations can highlight where demand is heating up.
Comparative sales – help track momentum and potential price growth.
Local agent insights – on-the-ground feedback often provides the earliest shifts.
As one contributor noted, “Prices can rise rapidly once competition sets in,” and recent examples show how quickly values can escalate when buyers are caught off-guard.
Those who are finance-ready, connected to local agents, and actively watching the market will be in a stronger position—not just for opportunistic winter purchases, but to move decisively as momentum builds toward spring.
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