Australia’s residential sales market saw a fresh wave of stock hit the portals in April, signalling more options for borrowers and brokers even as overall supply remains constrained in several cities, according to the latest REA Group Listings Report.
New listings on realestate.com.au were significantly higher than a year ago, delivering the strongest April result since 2021. Across the combined capitals, new listings rose sharply year-on-year, while regional markets also recorded solid gains as more owners opted to test buyer demand.
The lift in activity comes as a new market analysis suggests a national housing downturn is now under way, with combined capital city values rising just 0.2% in April – the slowest monthly pace since January 2025.
At the same time, a separate analysis of ABS data shows total dwelling approvals fell 10.5% in March and remain well below what’s needed to meet long‑term housing targets, indicating that even as more properties hit the market now, the broader supply pipeline is still thinning out.
Canberra posted the biggest annual jump in new listings, with the number of homes coming to market climbing well above last year’s levels. Total listings in the national capital are now noticeably higher than a year ago, pointing to a clear lift in choice for buyers.
REA Group executive manager of economics Angus Moore (pictured) said the city’s performance reflects a broader pattern of improved activity. Moore noted that conditions in Canberra have been “busier in 2026 than 2025”, with more sellers confident about achieving acceptable prices in a higher-rate environment.
Local agents report that increased building activity and recently completed apartments are contributing to the lift in stock, particularly in inner-city and infill suburbs. That is helping to ease some of the intense competition seen during the pandemic-era boom, when buyers regularly faced multiple offers on scarce listings.
Brisbane also delivered strong growth, with new listings well up on a year earlier and higher than March. Yet the total number of homes on the market there remains below last year’s level, suggesting demand is still absorbing new stock quickly.
Perth recorded a solid rise in new listings, but total listings are materially lower than a year ago. One leading local agent said “more choice is a good thing” because it allows owners to trade up or downsize but warned that the city is still grappling with an undersupplied market.
Darwin, Hobart, and Adelaide also saw double-digit annual increases in new listings, although in each case total stock remains flat or lower.
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