Property Clock: What's next for your market?

Australia's property markets continue to evolve in 2025, with buyers and sellers seeking clarity on where things are headed. 

Each month, independent valuation firm Herron Todd White (HTW) releases its residential Property Clock to grade the country's top 50 markets and provide a simple indication of what to expect next. 

Is your market on the rise, holding steady, or cooling down? Let’s take a closer look at HTW’s findings and what they mean for your local property scene.

Markets on the rise

2024 was another stellar year for many Australian markets, particularly the country's three mid-sized capital cities: Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. 

According to HTW's predictions, Perth and Adelaide are still firmly planted in the 'rising market' category, along with more than a dozen other markets. 

The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to cut interest rates in February is being seen by many experts as the start of a positive sentiment shift among buyers, one that would no doubt become stronger if rates were to fall further in 2025. 

With an outlook of positivity in mind, the list of markets considered to be on the up also includes a number of Queensland regional spots like the Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Emerald, and Gladstone.

Other spots tipped as being at the start of their recovery include Canberra and NSW regions Newcastle, the Central Coast, Albury and Bathurst.

Markets at or approaching their peak

While two of the three top-performing cities of 2024 are still sitting firmly in the 'rising market' category, Brisbane is the surprising outlier. 

According to HTW, the Brisbane house market is now right at its peak, with units nearing the top as well.

While they see the Queensland capital having a slow first half of 2025, they say, "Overall, we remain bullish about Brisbane property in 2025. 

"The fundamentals are strong, and future prospects look good. There’s steady demand anticipated across various segments. While affordability concerns and political shifts may cause short-term fluctuations, Brisbane will reward those who buy property with good fundamentals and hold onto it for the long term."

Looking elsewhere around the country, HTW has identified markets like Tamworth, Mildura, Toowoomba, Bundaberg and Albany as regions at their peak, with the Sunshine Coast and Ipswich approaching the top.

Markets declining or at the bottom

While the left-hand side of HTW's property clock is filled with markets on the rise, the right-hand side has only a few spots that are classified as being on the downhill. 

Most notable among them are Sydney and Melbourne, which — as of February 2025 — HTW had considered as declining markets. 

It's important to note, though, that February's rate cut had a significant impact on both capital cities, resulting in a sudden turnaround in growth as buyer confidence rebounded with strength. 

In the short term, HTW suggested that the upcoming federal election would put a dampener on activity in the two cities, and performance for the remainder of the year will likely be dictated by the RBA's rate-cutting decisions. 

If we do see more rate cuts in 2025, Sydney and Melbourne sellers will be first in line to see price growth benefits. If rates stay on hold, however, both markets could continue to see softer conditions. 

Elsewhere, HTW believes Port Macquarie is close to its low point, while Hobart, the Illawarra, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Geelong and the Southern Highlands are all at the bottom for now. 

Thinking of selling?

If you're looking to get in on the action in 2025, it's important to be as prepared as possible in order to cut through the competition and achieve a standout result. 

Step 1: Understanding how your market is performing

Every market is different, and understanding your local market is fundamental to making the right selling decisions. Our guide to tracking market trends and data will help you to get a clear picture of how your market is performing and how that impacts you as a seller. 

Step 2: Know what your property might be worth

Getting a free home value estimate is a great way to set a foundation for your selling expectations and begin planning the path forward.

Step 3: Get a no-obligation market appraisal from a top real estate agent

Understand what your property could sell for in the current market by speaking to the top-performing agents in your suburb. Comparing top agents in your area will help you find the perfect partner for your selling journey and move towards a successful result.

Step 4: Finally, get your property listing-ready

Taking a thorough approach to preparing your home for sale is another critical step. From cleaning, decluttering, painting and performing other cosmetic renovations to home staging, photography and marketing, getting your property to sale-ready condition is a must.