2025 Property Predictions: Steady as she goes

If you've been hoping for a property boom in 2025, you might want to hold off on popping the champagne. While we’re looking at the busiest start to the year in over four years, thanks to a lot of stock spilling over from the delayed spring selling season, it’s unlikely we’ll see the market moving at full speed.

The slow spring was compounded by broader market uncertainty, largely driven by the US election cycle. Surprisingly, we saw a distinct period of inactivity during the three weeks leading up to the election, as both buyers and sellers paused to assess the situation. On top of this, ongoing uncertainty around interest rates and inflation, fueled by the Reserve Bank's lack of clear direction, has left the market in a state of flux. As a result, things have moved slower than usual, with many buyers and sellers stuck in a bit of a holding pattern.

For vendors, the biggest headache has been days on market. Buyers are taking their time to make decisions and banks are dragging their feet on finance approvals. Settlements are lagging too, with most sitting anywhere from 60 days to six months. Patience, I’ve come to learn, is a virtue.

Despite the market’s slow burn, the Yass Valley is holding steady. Local demand remains strong due to Canberra’s job and education market that insulates us from the volatility we see in some other regions. With interest rates on hold and a number of significant projects reaching lock-up stage, the Yass Valley market has been chugging along nicely, and those who invested in property in this region during COVID are starting to see their returns stacking up.?

Looking ahead, we can expect modest growth in property prices of around 6% - a far cry from the explosive growth of 30% or 12% seen in previous years - but still a nice upward trend. Unfortunately, the federal election in April/May could trigger a pause button for a little while, but as interest rates begin to ease, we’ll start to see some gradual improvement ten weeks after that announcement.?

While a boom may not be around the corner, there are still plenty of opportunities for smart buyers and sellers - especially if you’re willing to be patient, strategic and talk to your agent early. It’s all about making the right moves at the right time, and if you’ve got your finger on the pulse, you’ll be well-positioned to sail through whatever comes next.