Buyer affordability pockets for 2026

1 month ago 21

They’re the suburbs affording buyers the opportunity to stretch their dollar further.

In 2026, savvy buyers can cast their eyes to affordable pockets across the country as well as varying locales across major capital cities.

Home buyers could pay as little as $65,000 for a property in outback regions, according to PropTrack’s latest market trends and affordability data.

Standout locations include South Australia’s Andamooka, with a $65,000 house median, or Coober Pedy at $80,000.

In Queensland’s Darling Downs, the Dirranbandi house median sits at $67,500, while in Cunnamulla, just $99,750 could secure a home.

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Lot 417 Gelignite Road, Andamooka, SA listed for $132,000

Brewarrina, in the Far West and Orana region of NSW, has a house median of $104,000, while buyers may be able to snap up a home for the price of $160,000 in Coonamble.

Outback regions in WA also offer staggeringly good value, with Norseman offering a median of $105,000, Southern Cross at $145,000 and prices not far behind Victoria’s Japarit, where the house median is $158,000.

Buyers across major capital cities may find affordability at a slightly higher price point with units the best option.

Sydney City and Inner South unit medians included $715,000 in Ultimo, Chippendale at$742,500 and Eastlakes at $760,000.

530 Settlers Rd, Lower Macdonald NSW listed for $565,000.

Units in outer suburbs such as Parramatta’s Carramar sit at a lower median of $375,500 or Fairfield $445,500.

Sydney’s Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury region has houses at $529,000 in Lower Macdonald, while Mount Victoria in the Outer West and Blue Mountains can set you back$770,000.

Melbourne’s Inner region unit median prices include $353,750 in Travancore, $390,000 in Carlton, and $400,000 in Essendon North, while houses in Pascoe Vale ($1.093m) or Kensington ($1.11m) also provided value.

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105/70 Queensberry Street, Carlton VIC listed for private sale for $140,000

A buyer with $500,000 in Melbourne’s Inner East could score a unit in Box Hill, while $578,0000 would get them into Hawthorn.

In WA, Perth’s Inner region unit’s revealed a median of $430,000 in Wembley, $435,000 median in Glendalough and $492,000 in Highgate.

Perth’s North East offered houses in Koongamia at $598,500 or Midland at $600,000.

In Adelaide’s central and hills region, Walkerville’s unit median is at $460,000, Woodforde at $475,000 and Everard Park at $499,250.

Meanwhile a house median in Lobethal comes at $700,000 or $755,000 in Mount Barker.

Brisbane’s Inner City region has units in Dutton Park for $535,000 and in Spring Hill for $560,000.

Houses in Albion have a median price of $1.26m, while in Kelvin Grove, they’re $1.3m and in Nundah $1.37m.

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32 Diagonal Road, Ardrossan, SA listed for $329,000 to $359,000

Ray White senior data analyst Atom Go Tian said a general trend across the capital cities was affordability in apartments and established areas rather than houses and outer suburbs.

“If you are a first homebuyer and price is really your main concern, then inner city living is the more accessible option as long as you are willing to consider apartments or units,” he said.

Mr Go Tian said cheapest price points nationally reflect the general greater affordability of regional locations.

“The farther you go from major cities, normally the cheaper it gets,” he said.

“Distance is one factor and then normally the economy that drives those locations.

“For example Townsville, that has a very diverse economy would be more expensive then somewhere like Mount Isa that is predominantly mining.”

130 Lucas Dr, Lamb Island, QLD listed for $478,000

In 2026 Mr Go Tian said the affordable price point sits around $750,000 to $1m, a bracket which is increasing faster than more expensive price points of $2m or above.

According to Mr Go Tian, there are two main drivers to this, firstly the 5 per cent deposit making these affordable price points more accessible with a sense of urgency for buyers.

“The second is there is a larger bank group in this more affordable segment pushing prices outward from city centres,” Mr Go Tian said.

“So definitely we will continue to see these suburbs increasing in price over the New Year.”

Mr Go Tian anticipates affordable suburbs will approach the price caps of the first home deposits and then slow down in growth.

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6 Kingsley Place, Melton West VIC listed for $580,000 to $620,000

“The caps in different cities are different and even in regional centres this is different so that will vary where those suburbs are,” he said.

Mr Go Tian highlighted Melbourne for affordability in 2026.

“Melbourne was very special because the median unit price ranged between $350,000 to $400,000 which was the cheapest among major cities and it was also the cheapest for median house price so there is something definitely going on there in terms of opportunity,” he said.

Propertyology managing director Simon Pressley said buyers’ goals should be taken into consideration in the new year.

“There’s a big difference between someone buying for investment purposes, someone buying as an owner occupier and someone with an existing homeowner who is changing for a variety of reasons,” he said.

Mr Pressley’s advice for all buyers was that houses should take preference over apartments for return on investment.

1120/18 Mt Alexander Road, Travancore VIC listed EOI $310,000 to $340,000

“Apartments never have been and never will be favoured by owner occupiers,” he said.

“Everything grows if you hold it long enough but it won’t grow anywhere near the rate of what a house will grow.

“There are apartments all across Melbourne and Sydney that today are worth not much more than they were 10 years ago, I’m talking 10 per cent of what they were 10 years ago.”

Mr Pressley offered advice for navigating the market in 2026 including setting your goals and limits of what you can afford.

“Stress test your limit such as thinking about the what ifs such as ‘what if I lost my job’, ‘what if I got sick’, ‘what if interest rates went up’ – then go bloody hard,” he said.

1 Roberts Street, Norseman WA sold for $46,000 October 2025

“There’s nothing more frustrating or disappointing them missing out, if you’re going hard but remain within your own safety guards then do it with gusto and next year you’re going to have to.

“There’s already quite a bit of strength in most markets and there’s no reason for anyone to think that 2026 won’t be strong.

“Interest rates look like they are going to be stable whether there is a minor adjustment up or down.”