Australia’s housing market is continuing to deliver strong resale gains for most homeowners, with new realestate.com.au data showing loss‑making sales remain rare across many regions.
The latest analysis of repeat sales over the 12 months to April highlights that the most profitable areas are concentrated in New South Wales and Queensland, with blue‑chip Sydney pockets and high‑demand South‑East Queensland markets leading the pack.
The Sydney – Northern Beaches SA4 recorded the highest median resale profit nationally at $810,000, with 96.3% of sales in the region turning a profit over the year. Sydney – Eastern Suburbs followed at $779,000 with 96.2% of resales profitable, while Sydney – Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury posted a median gain of $750,000 and a 94.8% profit share.
In Brisbane, the West SA4 delivered a median resale profit of $640,000, with 99.5% of repeat sales finishing ahead. Across the top 10 regions for median profit, every area was located in either NSW or Queensland, underscoring the strength of recent capital gains in those states.
REA Group senior economic analyst Megan Lieu (pictured) said the figures underline how powerful recent price growth has been in key markets.
“Analysis of properties resold with multiple prior sales, shows that homeowners have made exceptionally large capital gains in the past year,” Lieu said, adding that profits in many Brisbane regions, lifestyle hubs in regional Queensland and blue‑chip Sydney areas “have risen substantially”.
When ranked by the share of repeat sales that were profitable, all of the top 10 SA4s recorded profitability above 99%, with Brisbane – North and Moreton Bay – South both at 99.9%. Gold Coast was the most profitable region by estimated total resale profit at about $5.3 billion, ahead of Sydney – North Sydney and Hornsby at $4.5bn and Sunshine Coast at $3.38bn.
Lieu said the broad‑based equity gains are likely to shape how households respond to higher interest rates.
“Almost all property owners with a loan are currently in positive equity, meaning they have a buffer against an increase in mortgage repayments,” she said.
This gives borrowers scope to trim expenses, refinance, or draw more heavily on savings rather than being forced to sell. Their resilience will now be tested by the Reserve Bank’s latest 25‑basis‑point hike to 4.35%, its third increase this year, which adds further pressure to household budgets already stretched by rising living costs.
“Though price growth is expected to slow further and decline in some regions as a result of demand, these equity buffers will limit cases of distressed selling,” Lieu said, arguing they should support a more gradual easing in prices rather than “abrupt and destabilising” falls.
That view comes as recent national price data indicate a housing downturn is now under way, suggesting equity buffers may be a key factor in keeping any correction orderly rather than severe.
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