Don’t cool your property plans this Autumn – John McGrath

Another Autumn selling season has begun, and I expect healthy buyer numbers at open homes and auctions, following a very active Spring and Summer.

Cotality’s latest Home Value Index found mid-sized capitals Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, continue to achieve excellent month-on-month growth of more than 1%. Perth’s median dwelling value of $989,211 is now the third highest in the country, after Sydney and Brisbane.

In comparison, Sydney and Melbourne’s monthly growth stabilised and dropped below zero across the past quarter, with median dwelling prices standing at $1,296,039 and $826,132 respectively.

Tim Lawless, Cotality’s research director, noted that these cities’ vendors are more motivated to sell, and the flow of new listings could strengthen in the lead up to Easter.

This brings to me to the autumn holidays of Easter and school breaks. Anzac Day also falls on a Saturday this year, so some states and territories are observing an additional public holiday on Monday, April 27.

These holidays will result in the usual drop in open homes and auctions, but I’ve always maintained that long weekends, and similar, rarely deter committed buyers. Equally, there can be a strong ramp up and rebound in these events prior to, and after, long weekends.

Cotality’s weekly market auction report last Monday found more than 4,000 homes were currently scheduled for auction this week, with the period before Easter typically marking the seasonal high point in auction activity across the country.

Yet this stands against the backdrop of an increasingly nervous property market. Two cash rate rises this year have almost eradicated the three cuts the Reserve Bank gave us in 2025. We’re already back to the February 2025 figure of 4.1%.

While geopolitical issues have resulted in a volatile stock market, we may see a move towards bricks and mortar becoming an even more attractive asset class.

Back to the basics of autumn selling, I maintain that cooler temperatures doesn’t mean autumn is a bad time to sell. Keen autumn buyers won’t be deterred by colder weather. But the window-shopping people will be, which gives vendors a better chance of a faster sales result.

I’ve also seen the Autumn property market described as a transitional season. It’s quieter than our traditionally active Spring and Summer, but not so quiet as Winter can be. Christmas is well behind us and children have gone back to school, giving buyers more time and space to consider their property decisions.

The end of the financial year is also not too far away, which is an important consideration especially for property investors. Queensland and other northern locations are just beginning a cooler, but sunnier season, which makes attending open homes and auctions far more appealing than summer ones.

This brings me to some of my most important Autumn tips. As I mentioned this time last year, don’t be dismayed if you’re a Sydney and Melbourne vendor, or in another area where the local market is weakening.

Instead, focus on setting a reasonable and attractive price for your home. Your agent can help you compare prices with similar properties nearby and understand values in your area.

A strong marketing campaign and excellent presentation is also important. And, here’s where cooler weather can help your property.

Autumn gives sellers the chance to show that their property easily stays warm and dry – a crucial point for buyers in many locations. And, wood, or even electric or gas fireplaces, can easily give your home a cosy ambience on a chilly day.

Even with the recent cash rate increases and some flatlining growth, as well as several holidays, there’s plenty of great reasons to stay positive this Autumn.

Vendors should expect to enjoy genuinely strong competition this season, and for buyers, this cooler, quieter period is the perfect time to make smarter property decisions than you might have made in hot, hectic Summer or Spring.