As Australia’s property market records its strongest monthly growth in more than two years, buyers are increasingly turning to off-market and pre-market sales to secure homes amid fast-moving property prices and limited visibility, according to buyer’s agent Jack Freestone (pictured) of Buyers Collective.
National dwelling values jumped 1.1% in October, Cotality data shows, with momentum building across major capitals.
“The market is moving so fast that people are finding it hard to understand where prices sit,” Freestone said. “In many areas, agents don't publish price guides at all, so it becomes a guessing game unless buyers are watching sales happen every day.”
Freestone said this lack of transparency is driving more buyers toward off-market opportunities. “It gives buyers more time to properly assess value and negotiate terms.”
This shift is occurring as new forecasts tip record prices across all capital cities by late 2026, with Sydney’s median house price projected to reach $1.9 million. Cheaper mortgage rates, tight supply, and rising incomes are fuelling competition – even as APRA flags more high-risk mortgage lending and intensifying bank competition, warning that strong demand combined with any softening in underwriting standards could amplify price pressures.
Market tightening continues nationwide. Cotality’s October 2025 figures show median days on market are now 29, around a week faster than the decade average. Listings sit 18% below long-term levels, while auction clearance rates in major cities remain around 70%.
“With numbers like this, buyers in the traditional market are under enormous pressure to act quickly, often with very little insight into true value,” Freestone said.
Demand for alternative pathways is broad. The Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia estimates that around 20% of homes are sold off-market each year, reflecting a growing appetite for more control and fewer competitors.
Investor demand is adding additional heat. ABS data shows new investor loans rose 13.6% in the September quarter – the highest number ever recorded – as low vacancy rates and falling borrowing costs attract more investors into the market.
While off-market transactions offer clear advantages, Freestone warns they require significant effort to source.
"To uncover these properties, buyers need relationships with multiple real estate agents and daily contact,” he said. “A buyer would need to call 25 or more agents every single day to replicate what a buyer's agent network provides. It's absolutely possible, but extraordinarily time-consuming, essentially turning the search into a full-time job."
Selling agents also tend to prefer dealing with buyer’s agents because offers are pre-qualified.
"Agents know that our buyers are pre-approved and that we've completed all due diligence upfront," Freestone said. "Before we even inspect a property, we've checked flood maps, easements, overland flow, and future suburb development. When we put forward an offer, agents know it's solid and will proceed to settlement."
Even without off-market access, Freestone says buyers can improve their position.
“Have finance fully approved, be clear about your non-negotiables and move quickly when the right property appears,” he said.
Freestone recommends attending auctions and inspections in target suburbs to build pricing awareness.
“The more on-the-ground knowledge you have, the fewer surprises you’ll face, and the more confidence you’ll have in a fast-moving market,” he said.
Freestone warns the conditions driving off-market interest are unlikely to ease.
“Property market forecasts suggest prices will continue rising in 2026, while dwelling starts indicate that supply constraints are unlikely to ease, which means the strategic advantages of off-market access are likely to become increasingly sought-after by homebuyers nationwide.”
With prices expected to hit new highs across all capitals – and APRA signalling rising risks – brokers may see stronger demand from both homebuyers and investors seeking early access before competition intensifies further.
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