Northern Beaches
In 2025, Australian property owners experienced a year of solid growth, reinforcing confidence across the national housing market. According to Cotality, Australian housing values increased by 8.6% over the year, adding approximately $71,400 to the national median dwelling value. This marked the strongest annual growth since the Covid-impacted surge of 2021.
In the Raine & Horne blog, 2025 delivers best housing gains in four years, it was reported that every Australian capital city and each rest-of-state region recorded price growth throughout 2025. Performance varied by location, ranging from a significant 18.9% rise in Darwin to a more moderate 4.8% increase in Melbourne. While national figures provide useful context, local market conditions remain critical, particularly in tightly held lifestyle markets such as the Northern Beaches.
Despite rising values, property supply continues to be constrained. Raine & Horne data shows that appraisals were down nearly 15% nationally year-on-year in December, while listings declined by just over 15.5%. Lower listing volumes typically create more competition among buyers, which can place upward pressure on prices in well-presented, well-located homes.
For homeowners considering selling on the Northern Beaches, reduced supply can present favourable conditions, particularly when buyer demand remains steady.
Buyer behaviour is also evolving in response to competitive conditions. In the Raine & Horne blog, First-home buyers embrace ‘COMO’ to achieve their goal, new research from PropTrack revealed that four in five first-home buyers are taking a ‘compromise or miss out’ (COMO) approach to enter the market.
Areas where buyers are showing flexibility include:
Number of bedrooms or bathrooms
Location
Property style
Quality of finishes
In the current climate, adaptability is proving more powerful than waiting for perfect conditions. For many aspiring homeowners, COMO has become more practical than relying on policy-based solutions.
For those planning to step off the rental treadmill and purchase their first home in 2026, preparation is essential. In the blog What are the key steps to take before inspecting your first property?, Raine & Horne highlights that understanding your financial position is the most important first step.
Before attending inspections across suburbs such as Mona Vale, Dee Why, or Manly, buyers should have a clear understanding of what they can realistically afford. Establishing a defined budget helps narrow your search, manage expectations, and position you to act confidently when the right opportunity arises.
Rather than relying solely on online borrowing calculators, we would love to have a quick chat and point you in the right direction and ensure you are ready to move quickly in a competitive Northern Beaches real estate market.
If you’re considering buying or selling before autumn, your local Raine & Horne Northern Beaches sales agents are available to provide tailored advice based on current Northern Beaches market conditions. Call us today on 02 9999 0800.