My Perspective on Buying in a Changing Property Market
I was recently featured in the Australian Financial Review, sharing my perspective on the current property market and why I believe the downturn could present opportunities for buyers and investors who are prepared to act.
The article, “Now’s the time to buck the herd”, by property journalist Sue Williams, looks at the significant price falls occurring across parts of Australia and asks whether now could actually be the time for savvy buyers and investors to step into the market.
Published in the Australian Financial Review on 2 September 2026, the article has also been republished by Domain, where the full article is available to read online.
When Confidence Returns, the Market Can Move Quickly
We’ve seen prices soften significantly in some areas, but that doesn’t necessarily mean buyers should continue sitting on the sidelines waiting for prices to fall further.
There is a point where market sentiment changes, buyer confidence returns and competition starts to increase again.
“As soon as confidence comes back into the market, it will go up again. There’s just not enough stock in Australia to satisfy demand.”
That doesn’t mean I think buyers should rush into the market or buy simply because prices have fallen. It means understanding what represents a good opportunity and being ready to act when the right property comes along.
For buyers who have a clear strategy and understand what they are looking for, a market with less competition can provide a very different buying environment to the heated conditions we’ve experienced in recent years.
Why Buyers Can Miss Opportunities
One of the things that continues to surprise me is how differently people behave when the market finally gives them the conditions they’ve been waiting for.
For years, buyers may hope for less competition, softer prices and more negotiating power. But when those conditions actually arrive, uncertainty can make people hesitate.
“But it never ceases to amaze me that so many people have been waiting for this moment, dying for the heat to come out of the market, and prices to soften, yet when it comes, they sit on their hands.”
I completely understand why buyers feel nervous. Nobody knows exactly what the market is going to do next, and there will always be predictions about whether prices could fall further.
But trying to time the market perfectly is incredibly difficult. By the time there is widespread confidence that the market has turned, competition can already be returning.
Don’t Follow the Herd
My message to buyers is not to ignore the market or act without doing their homework. It’s to avoid making decisions simply because everyone else is nervous.
“My message to them is: Don’t be a sheep. Everyone gets nervous, but this is the time to act.”
For buyers who have done their research, understand their budget and know what they are looking for, a softer market can provide an opportunity to negotiate with less competition and potentially secure the right property before sentiment changes.
The key is to focus on the property, the location and the fundamentals, rather than trying to predict exactly what the broader market will do next.
It’s About Buying the Right Property
A changing market doesn’t automatically make every property a good buy.
For me, the fundamentals still matter. The right location, the right property and the right price remain the foundations of a successful purchase, regardless of where we are in the broader property cycle.
This is particularly important when there is uncertainty in the market. Rather than getting caught up in headlines about prices going up or down, buyers should be asking whether the property they’re considering actually makes sense for their individual circumstances and long-term plans.
When competition is lower, there can also be more opportunity to negotiate. Sellers may be more open to conditions or prices that would have been much harder to achieve in a strongly competitive market.
That doesn’t mean every negotiation will result in a bargain. It means buyers may have more room to have a conversation and make decisions without the same pressure that comes with multiple competing buyers.
Don’t Wait for Perfect Certainty
Ultimately, nobody can tell you exactly when the property market has reached its bottom.
What we can do is assess the information available, understand the local market, identify quality properties and determine whether the opportunity in front of us represents good value.
For buyers who are ready and have a clear strategy, that can be far more valuable than waiting for a headline telling them that the market has definitely turned.
Because by then, the opportunity may look very different.
Read the Full Article
My comments feature in Sue Williams’ article “Now’s the time to buck the herd”, originally published in the Australian Financial Review and subsequently republished by Domain.
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