Why seller “FOBO” is bottlenecking Brisbane’s property market
I was recently featured in a Real Estate Business (REB) article examining how seller psychology is contributing to Brisbane’s ongoing shortage of property listings.
In the piece, I discussed the growing influence of “FOBO” – the fear of being out of the market, which is making some homeowners hesitant to sell while prices continue to rise.
As explained in the article, many sellers are worried that if they sell their current property they may struggle to purchase another home at a similar price point in the same market.
“Sellers are concerned that if they sell, they may not be able to buy back into the same market.”
This hesitation is contributing to a tightening supply environment across Brisbane, even though buyer demand remains strong.
The article highlights how this seller behaviour is creating a bottleneck in the market, particularly in key family price brackets where many homeowners would normally sell in order to upgrade.
It’s creating a bottleneck in the market.
Another factor discussed is the role of transaction costs such as stamp duty and selling expenses, which can further discourage homeowners from listing their properties.
Combined with rising values, these factors mean many sellers are choosing to hold onto their homes longer, which reduces the number of properties available for buyers.
The article also notes that the impact is being felt most strongly in Brisbane’s middle-to-upper price ranges, where upgrading families are typically active.
Overall, the discussion highlights how seller psychology – not weak demand – is playing a major role in limiting housing supply across Brisbane’s property market.
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