South Australian property was the star of a new report highlighting the nation’s investment hotspots, with one of the paper’s 10 key talking points: “What will it take to derail Adelaide’s unbroken run?”.
Hotspotting’s Price Predictor Index Autumn 2026 has just been released and it highlights the SA locations buyers should target based a pattern of strong consecutive quarterly sales, rather than median prices, as a sustained rise in sales volumes is typically followed by a rise in prices.
According to the report, Adelaide was one of the nation’s most solid markets.
“Boom cycles often run out of steam after three years but it seems nobody has told Adelaide that,” report author Terry Ryder said.
Hotspotting founder Terry Ryder.
“Underpinned by one of Australia’s strongest state economies, the Adelaide market keeps on rising.
“Sales levels in the latest quarter represent a 9 per cent rise in three months to 27 per cent higher than a year ago.
“In the many years of tracking Adelaide’s prolonged upcycle, the biggest news has mostly centred around huge demand (and price growth) in the cheaper areas like Playford and Salisbury in the northern suburbs.
“While notable demand is still occurring there, it’s the upper end of the market that is the most buoyant at present.”
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According to the report, of the 295 significant markets across the greater Adelaide area to have recorded more than 10 sales in the past quarter, more than 60 per cent had positive trends, with 138 considered rising markets and another 35 considered consistent markets.
Fulham Gardens, Henley Beach, Magill, Morphett Vale, Nuriootpa and Pooraka were all identified in the National Top 50 Supercharged Suburbs list, with houses in all of these areas the property type buyers should target.
Henley Beach was identified as one of Adelaide’s places to buy. Image/Russell Millard
Salisbury was identified as one of the nation’s top-50 most consistent markets, and no South Australian locations were featured in the national bottom 50 declining suburbs list.
“A strong South Australian economy has been a key factor and the latest information from CommSec’s State of the States report shows that SA ranks alongside Western Australian and Queensland as the nation’s strongest economies – with SA leading the nation in construction and economic growth,” Mr Ryder said.
“While SA continues to deliver this kind of economic strength, its property market is likely to remain elevated – even though it is no longer the affordable option it provided five years ago.
“Indeed, the latest price data finds that Adelaide has overtaken Melbourne for house prices.”
Harris Real Estate managing director Phil Harris. Picture: Supplied
Harris Real Estate managing director Phil Harris, who has recently released his annual Harris Report said Adelaide’s market was fuelled by a number of factors.
“If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that South Australia’s property market doesn’t just endure – it adapts, surprises, and keeps moving,” he said.
“Adelaide home values rose 8.2 per cent, and regional markets rose 10.4 per cent, with affordable homes leading the charge.
“Stock shortages kept competition fierce, investors returned in force, and buyers navigated tighter credit and rising living costs.
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“Opportunity favoured the prepared and the patient.”
He said, looking ahead, 2026 promises a balanced market.
“Higher interest rates, easing population growth, and affordability limits will temper value growth, while low stock, lifestyle-driven demand, and investor interest will underpin resilience,” he said.
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