Brisbane’s real estate professionals have seen their January open homes score more than double the usual post-Christmas numbers, in just the first two weeks of the new year.
Home hunters were found to be returning to the inner-city housing market after the holidays in greater droves, spurred on by continued competition and low stock.
Brisbane’s real estate agents have seen some of their January open homes double their usual post-Christmas numbers. Picture: iStock
Place New Farm agent Aaron Woolard said he was seeing, on average, more than 20 buyer groups per open home, with a property typically receiving around five offers.
“We’re seeing buyer numbers well above what we’d normally expect,” he said. “Nothing has changed on the supply side – stock remains tight.”
“What’s changed is buyer mindset. People who missed out last year have come back more decisive, however, anxious and fearful of continuing to miss out.”
Aaron Woolard of Place New Farm called the market “a buyer’s frenzy”. This spike came after the end of the year saw buyers fatigued by an unreasonably competitive market.
This follows the end of year ‘buyers fatigue’ trend, where many homebuyer hopefuls were left tired and worn down by a relentless property market that continues to see spiking prices.
Brisbane’s median house price surged to a ridiculous $1.15m by the end of 2025, with units seeing a $121,200 jump to a median of $788,000.
Place New Farm found 85 per cent of buyers in January were owner-occupiers seeking two-bedroom apartments near areas with easy amenities.
14 Ada St, Windsor, a complex with just four apartments. Buyers were swarming over open homes for two-bedroom units, with owner occupiers dominating the early year market.
Unit 1 at 14 Ada St saw 75 buyer groups in just one open home day. The median apartment price in Brisbane was $788,000 in December, compared to a median unit price of $1.15m.
Mr Woolard said the sub $1m apartment sector was where the majority of interest lay at the start of the year, with first homebuyers and returning owner occupiers searching for a more affordable entry point into housing.
“It’s a buyer’s frenzy,” he said. “There’s no hesitation and no indication at this stage that momentum is slowing.”
1/81 Langshaw Street, New Farm, had more than 20 buyer groups a day in its open homes: which Mr Woolard said was a typical turnout for this month.
The two-bedroom unit 1/14 Ada St, Windsor – one of only four units in the complex – saw 75 buyer groups go through the property on just one open home day.
Meanwhile, more than 20 buyer groups were moving through 1/81 Langshaw St, New Farm, every open home day – one of many two bedroom apartments within a larger inner-city block.
“What we’re seeing right now is confidence colliding with a serious lack of stock.”
Each of these homes have been on the market for less than a week.
Mr Woolard added any available unit was under heavy scrutiny from the previous year’s earlier buyers who had missed out, while investors slowly returned to the market.
“What we’re seeing right now is confidence colliding with a serious lack of stock,” he said.
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