November buyer activity arrived like an early Christmas gift for committed vendors, with Raine & Horne recording almost twice as many groups through open homes compared with the same time last year.

According to Craig Betalli, Senior Broker, Our Broker, significant changes to the Federal Government’s first-home assistance framework have helped boost buyer confidence ahead of the holiday season. From 1 October 2025, the First Home Guarantee was expanded and renamed the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, allowing eligible first-home buyers to enter the market with as little as a 5% deposit.

“Key updates to the scheme include the removal of income caps, increased property price caps, and unlimited places for first-home buyers,” Craig said.

Lean listings and festive FOMO point to a strong 2026 for vendors

Raine & Horne data shows listings fell 14% year-on-year in November, with an 8% drop in appraisals signalling fewer early-2026 sales.

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman, Raine & Horne, says leaner pre-holiday season stock levels and strong enquiry are setting a strong platform for vendors considering a sale in the new year.

“As we sleigh towards 2026, the combination of lower interest rates and the expanded 5% deposit guarantee scheme is supporting genuine buyer demand that is reaching FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) levels in some markets, as buyers look to add a property to their Christmas stockings,” Angus said.

“Current market factors point to a positive beginning for 2026 for vendors, and I’d encourage owners considering a move to contact their local Raine & Horne agent for an obligation-free assessment of their property’s value.”

Moreover, strong buyer demand is continuing to flow through to price growth, with Cotality’s national Home Value Index rising another 1.0% in November, the third consecutive month in which Australian home values have lifted by 1% or more. The mid-sized capitals are outperforming even this robust national result, led by Perth, which recorded 2.4% growth in November, followed by Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin, all recording solid gains of 1.9%.

Low vacancies and rising rents deliver a festive gift for landlords

Beyond capital growth, landlords can head into the holiday season on a positive note, with rental markets remaining extremely tight and vacancy rates showing no sign of easing. Nationally, vacancy rates have hovered near record lows at around 1.5% over the past four months, down from 1.9% a year ago. With supply this constrained, rents continue to climb. Cotality reports that the national rental index rose by 0.5% in November, bringing the annual rate to 5.0%, the fastest growth since this time last year.

Maria Millilo, Head of Property Management at Raine & Horne, said, “The market is undeniably strong right now, and returns for investors are better than they’ve been in years.

“For anyone looking at property as a long-term play, it’s a reasonable time to step in, provided the fundamentals stack up. That said, yields can vary significantly from suburb to suburb, so investors still need to do their homework.”

Maria adds that while it’s good news for landlords, it still pays to balance enthusiasm with pragmatism. “Heading into the holiday season, it’s a smart time to review your cash flow, run the numbers, maybe tighten the budget, and make sure you can comfortably carry the investment through all market and interest rate cycles,” she added.

Change in dwelling values capital cities – November 2025

(Source: Cotality Home Value Index 1 December 2025)

If you’re considering listing a property this summer, contact your local Raine & Horne agent today.