Demand is rising in previously-underperforming capitals, with increased investor interest fuelling a home price turnaround.

Tracking how the average number of key enquiries per property listing on realestate.com.au has changed can reveal where buyer demand is increasing, and where interest is waning.

Key enquiries combine high-intent actions such as emailing an enquiry, calling the agent or downloading documents.

If enquiries per listing are rising, it suggests more serious buyers are interested in properties in that area. If enquiries are going down, it suggests demand is decreasing.

Key enquiries per listing – houses

Enquiries remain steady at the national level, with houses receiving 41 enquiries on average and units receiving 40 enquiries.

But most cities experienced significant changes in enquiries in the past year, with demand surging in some cities and waning in others.

Demand rises sharply in Darwin

Darwin recorded the largest increase in buyer demand amid a surge in investor interest, with enquiries rising 57% for houses and 40% for units. 

Lending data from the ABS shows the number of investor loans in the Northern Territory in the year to June 2025 was about 81% higher than the previous 12-month period, while owner-occupier loans were up about 10%.

There are far fewer homes on the market in Darwin than last year, according to the latest REA Group Listings Report, which shows the total number of homes for sale declined by 41% year-on-year.

With fewer homes for sale, higher enquiries per listing and lower days on market, prices are expected to rise further.

Key enquiries per listing – units

Home prices in Darwin are already at record highs, having risen 6.6% in the 12 months to July this year, according to the latest PropTrack Home Price Index. 

Updated price forecasts from ANZ released last week predicted home prices will rise by about 14% in the 2025 calendar year, outperforming the other capitals.

Improved affordability in Melbourne lifts buyer interest

Enquiries per listing in Melbourne were up 22% for houses and 16% for units, indicating demand is strengthening.

Melbourne’s improved affordability relative to the other capitals has attracted more investment recently, with investor loans in the June quarter at the highest level in three years.

The number of investor loans in Victoria in the year to June was almost 9% higher compared to the prior 12 months, while owner occupier loans rose about 4%. 

Regional Victoria recorded an even higher rise in enquiries per listing than Melbourne – up 33% for houses and 28% for units.

How home prices changed around Australia in July

Enquiries per listing rose in all regional areas in the past year, reflecting increased interest in areas where homes are typically more affordable.

Hobart enquiries rise as market recovers

Enquiries per listing in Hobart were up 24% for houses and 31% for units compared to a year ago.

The total number of homes for sale in Hobart in July was about 10% lower than the same time last year, and homes are selling quicker too.

This comes after a slower period during 2023 and 2024, when Hobart faced declining prices amid a glut of properties on the market.

Although the supply and demand imbalance is less extreme than in Darwin, prices in Hobart have been creeping up, and are about 3% higher than a year ago. 

However, prices are still about 7.5% lower than the peak reached in February 2022, indicating Hobart’s recovery is still in its early stages.

Enquiries ease in booming capitals

The biggest declines in enquiries per listing were in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane – Australia’s three strongest capital city housing markets in the past few years.

These cities have recorded home price growth of about 8-9% in the past 12 months, although this is slower than the rapid growth of last year, when property prices in Perth rose by about 23% in the year to August 2024.

Perth had the most significant decline in enquiries per house listing (down 18%) while Adelaide recorded the largest drop for units (down 12%). However, enquiries in these cities remain elevated and above the national average.

Demand in Sydney and Canberra has been stable compared to a year ago, and price growth in these cities has been relatively subdued – Sydney prices rose about 3% in the past year, while prices in Canberra remain flat year-on-year. 

Increasing buyer demand in previously-underperforming capitals where supply has tightened could put further upward pressure on home prices, but gains aren’t expected to be even – ANZ forecasts more rapid growth in Darwin and Melbourne than in Hobart.

While some of the heat has come out of the market in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, strong underlying demand and the prospect of further interest rate cuts means prices in these cities are likely to stabilise rather than fall.

The post Buyer demand shifts from booming hotspots to rebounding markets appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Aussies are increasingly falling victim to settlement scams.

Homeowners and aspiring buyers have been warned to be vigilant following a rise in AI powered bank scams, which new research suggests nearly every Aussie would fail to detect.

Exchange platform PEXA revealed 97 per cent of Aussies who had bought property in the last year or intended to buy in the next failed to spot dangerous scam markers in property transaction emails.

These were the same red flags typically seen in settlement scams – where crooks hijack email accounts and impersonate real estate agents or solicitors in property transactions.

The PEXA data comes as the ACCC revealed the amount lost to property scams increased from $13 million in 2021 to $43.2 million in 2024.

MORE: Aus warned: ‘Crazy’ effect of Albo’s new plan

The scams capitalise on the sense of urgency that usually governs property transactions.

MORE: Aussie landlord’s horror after 12 homes stolen

Recent victims have included a Sydney couple who lost $970,000 in a settlement scam, while another buyer in Western Australia lost $732,000.

The typical settlement scam involves a hacker posing as the buyer’s solicitor or selling agent and providing them with new account details for the transfer of upfront buying costs like deposits.

Buyers fooled by the fake email will then deposit their funds – usually hundreds of thousands of dollars – into the scammers account.

One recent case reported to PEXA involved a single buyer, a retiree, who received an email that appeared to come from her conveyancer requesting the $800,000 she owed in a settlement transfer be paid two weeks ahead of schedule. Bank account details were changed.

The fraud was detected before money was transferred.

MORE: Salary you now need to be ‘rich’ in Australia

PEXA tested survey respondents with this email.

PEXA’s research, which involved survey respondents being asked to spot red flags in a sample email, suggested most Aussies buyers would be fooled by settlement scams.

This was despite most people believing they could identify fraud attempts.

PEXA reported part of the reason Aussies were so susceptible to the scams was because the tactics had become more sophisticated.

AI technology means voice cloning of someone involved in the transfer process is possible, while creating highly convincing and personalised messages and emails has become easier.

PEXA chief information security officer Graham Fairley said settlement scams have become one of the most financially devastating forms of cybercrime in Australia.

“Property transactions involve large sums, short time frames and routine reliance on email – the exact conditions that cybercriminals exploit,” Mr Fairley said.

A recent scam saw a buyer cheated out of $970,000.

Scam measures can include emails demanding urgent payment with revised bank details and threatening forfeiture unless immediate deadlines are met.

Buyers are often busy, stressed and focused on the transaction outcome, so such changes can be easily overlooked.

Unlike a fraudulent credit card transaction, money lost to scammers in a property transaction can be more difficult to recoup, Mr Fairley added.

These scams are typically executed via business email compromise, he explained.

“(They) trick victims into sending large sums to the wrong bank by impersonating trusted parties in a transaction such as real estate agents, lawyers, or conveyancers.”

Original Grand Designs Australia host and renowned architect Peter Maddison, who is acting as PEXA’s Scam Awareness Ambassador, urged home buyers and sellers to stay vigilant.

Buyers are usually incredibly stressed during settlement periods and are often in little state to be mulling over small details. Scammers take advantage of this.

He recommended buyers use secure channels, double-check any unsolicited or urgent email instructions for payment and always verifying any payment details.

AI-POWERED SCAMS PICKING UP

Australian Banking Association CEO Simon Birmingham said the ever-increasing use of AI highlights the evolving and extreme lengths scammers are now deploying to steal your money.

“Unfortunately, we live in a world where advances in AI generated video and audio make it possible for criminals to impersonate celebrities, your friends, family members or even your bank,” Mr Birmingham said.

“From fake investment ads by celebrities to voice clones asking for help, AI scams are becoming more targeted, sophisticated and emotionally manipulative.

“While AI is a powerful tool for banks and law enforcement to combat scams, it has also become the new weapon of choice for scammers. AI scams sound real, look real, and feel real. That’s what makes them so dangerous.

“Banks will continue to fight back by using AI to detect and shut down scams so as to protect people’s money, however customer vigilance is still the best form of defence.”

Red flags for buyers and sellers to look out for include:

•Last minute change of bank details

•Urgency of payment demand

•Altered email addresses

•Unsolicited/unverified requests

•Confirmation of payee warnings

Parties involved in a property transaction are advised to:

•Always use secure communication platforms

•Never trust unsolicited email instructions for payments.

•Pay attention to Confirmation of Payee (CoP) warnings. Never ignore these warnings.

Tips to beat AI scams:

•Verify identities – be wary of familiar voices if they are coming from an unknown number. End the call and call them back on a known number.

•Consider pausing before responding to emotional or urgent calls – even if the voice seems familiar.

•Be wary of celebrity endorsements – if a famous face is pushing an investment, be sceptical.

•Never invest based on a video advertisement alone – research the platform or opportunity thoroughly before acting.

•Don’t trust emails or messages from your bank asking for personal information – banks will never ask you for PINs or passwords on email or text.

The post Popular property scam on rise as nearly every Aussie fooled appeared first on realestate.com.au.

How balanced, innovative marketing is winning and bringing agents quality leads, popular listings and a strong brand reputation.

Taylor Swift didn’t just announce an album, she created a cultural moment. Here’s how to turn your listing into a must-see event with storytelling, anticipation and a some follower-fueled magic.

Who doesn’t love a good roast?

Britt and Taz, that’s who. Meanwhile Han and Can seemed to be completely baffled by the entire concept.

I am not talking about the traditional meat and three veg here, but rather the grand old art of taking people down a peg or two with some witty barbs performed in front of a live audience.

Dean Martin was the master of this sort of entertainment. Our Blockheads, not so much.

But there were plenty of incentives to get good at it – aside from not looking a complete fool in front of a live audience – and that came in the form of prizes.

The team which did the best job at roasting the other participants got to take home $5000 cash, a $50,000 outdoor fireplace and a bonus point.

After downing some cocktails for a quick surge of liquid courage, Taz and Britt did a passable job at roasting (made better by some clever costuming that tugged at the locals’ heartstrings).

RELATED: Every room reveal from The Block 2025

Shock details of Adrian Portelli’s new reno show

Who will buy The Block 2025 houses?

Britt and Taz try and bribe the local audience with their footy tops.

Ben and Emma took the unorthodox approach of mocking the audience. While Han and Can spent their time at the mic, telling everyone how much they loved them prompting Scotty Cam to begin heckling them to up their game from the audience.

“God, wasn’t that boring!” Robby announced as he took to the stage after Can and Han’s love fest.

Predictably, the boys dominated the stage with an effortless array of jokes made at the expense of the other teams. Their only rivals were Sonny and Alicia, who also brought their A Game with some hilarious banter about Emma’s pole dancing.

Ultimately though (and to Sonny’s displeasure) the boys came out the winners.

Robby and Mat didn’t win any points with Foreman Dan though when they took off shopping together rather than staying on site to help insulate the room.

Dan didn’t believe that TV shopping was a two-man job and feared they would not have the money to complete their much-hyped wine cellar if they didn’t knuckle down.

“It’s only 12 weeks of pain for something that could set you up for the rest of your life,” Dan argued.

Alicia was feeling every one of those weeks of hard slog as the group headed into living and dining room week.

Alicia is unimpressed with what the judges had to say about her main bedroom.

Missing her three kids, Alicia was also still smarting from the judges’ comments about their main bedroom on Sunday night.

Can was also in a tailspin over the harsh feedback on her styling. Conversely Han was in an uncharacteristic state of Zen.

After five weeks of tears and taking to her bed when things had gone awry, Han wasn’t even ruffled when it was revealed their concrete slab was uneven and would need additional work to repair.

She barely raised an eyebrow when those repair efforts went wrong. Twice.

Has she turned over a new leaf? Or has Can resorted to slipping something into her McCoffee?

Everyone will need to keep calm and keep going to get their massive spaces finished by Sunday.

Front of mind for Mat and Robby was keeping their wine cellar under wraps. And hiding a hole that big was proving easier than anticipated. All it took was some strategically placed plastic sheets.

Shaynna Blaze performs at The Block roast.

The pair were stunned that none of their neighbours (apart from Emma and Ben) had noticed any of the digging work.

“They are all really lovely people but where are your eyes?” Mat quipped, stunned that nobody had noticed their massive excavation site.

“We have got fences and black tarps in our house. Either it’s a murder or a hole.”

The Block’s resident police, Britt and Taz, were not remotely close to unearthing this mystery.

Having won big with their bedroom, the West Australians were too busy splashing the cash around on their living and dining space, which would feature a wooden ceiling and an intricate stone fireplace. To help them on the Tetris puzzle of brick work they recruited the Alicia and Sonny’s tilers, the Cursio brothers.

“It’s bold, but we have also just won $30k so we have to put that to some good use. We also want to double down for the wins. And like Marty Fox said, we need to make every week rememberable. Is that a word?”

Can is devastated by last night’s judge’s feedback.

No. It’s not. But Taz will be (re) memorable, even if his stone fireplace isn’t.

Conversely, season bridesmaids Emma and Ben are keeping their room simple and budget friendly with a Venetian plaster fireplace their one major feature.

To help the more skint teams get their homes finished, Scotty Cam revealed a lifeline. Unveiling a wall of lurid orange levers and flashing lights that looked like it had been found in a skip filled with old sets from The Price is Right, Cam said Hipages would provide each team with $10,000 worth of trades.

The only catch would be that the teams would have to decide this week which service they wanted and when they needed them. And nobody could use the same service.

Everybody was keen to nab the help with landscaping. Who will win that battle remains to be seen. Game on.

MISSED AN EPISODE? HERE’S ALL OUR RECAPS SO FAR

Episode 1: Why no NSW applicants were good enough for The Block

Episode 2: The worst day on The Block

Episode 3/4: ‘Tear them off’: teams forced to rip tiles from walls

Episode 5: Judges feedback leaves one contestant vomiting

Episode 6: Dan and Dani’s heartbreak

Episode 7: The big problem with the Block house designs

Episode 8: Robby and Mat’s drunken blunder

Episode 9: ‘An up-market nursing home’

Episode 10: Can faces the wrath of Han

Episode 11: Han micromanaging from her sick bed

Episode 12: Sonny cops a spray from Alicia

Episode 13: Brutal feedback leaves Block team confused

Episode 14: Han and Can are in trouble with Dan, and other contestants

Episode 15: Han explodes at Dan in shocking tirade

Episode 16: Defiant Han gets epic dressing down from Scott Cam

Episode 17: Two teams are smashed by hyperbolic judges

The post The Block 2025 Episode 18 recap: Two teams start the week devastated by judges’ feedback appeared first on realestate.com.au.