As the winter school holidays come to a close it’s a great time to reflect on the past quarter and what’s ahead for the Sydney property market.

Since our last update in April, when conditions were favouring buyers, we’ve seen a slight shift in conditions. Market activity has increased, buyer confidence seems to be returning, and prices have seen a modest lift. According to SQM Research, this week’s auction clearance rate was 55.1% — the highest so far this year.

It’s been a busy second quarter. Inflation has now returned to the RBA’s target range of 2%–2.5%, financial markets are reaching all-time highs, and new density regulations across Sydney have been making headlines. 

There’s more confidence across the market, with fair and measured outcomes being achieved. That said, premium results are being reserved for turnkey homes, well-presented apartments, and rare renovation or knockdown opportunities on larger blocks or with exceptional views.

Buyers are engaged but strategic in their approach to purchasing. Timing, pricing, and presentation need to align to secure a successful result. Often, there’s still a gap between buyer perception of value and vendor expectations — and that’s where we come in. As buyers agents, our role is to identify the genuine opportunities and act strategically when the right one presents itself.

4x Recent Purchases

Low to Mid Rise Housing Policy: What’s Really Happening on the Ground
We’re now seeing the first sales of potential development sites under the new Low to Mid Rise (LMR) Housing policy — particularly in premium areas like the Lower North Shore and Eastern Suburbs. In many of these sales, groups of neighbours are joining together to sell their properties “in one line” to developers, often securing prices well above individual market value.

Most of these deals are secured through option agreements, which reduce risk for the developer. Sometimes this includes the early release of deposit — but not always. In many cases, settlements are delayed by 2 to 3 years, meaning homeowners won’t see their funds until the developer clears key hurdles.

It’s also important to note that the policy is a state-led mandate, not a local council one. This distinction matters — because if local councils don’t support the proposal, developers may need to escalate to the Land & Environment Court, adding both time and cost to their approval process.

If you’d like to check if your area falls within one of these hotspots, click on the image below which will take you to the Government’s interactive LMR map:

If you want to have a chat about the current market or your property plans get in contact with us today.