Prestige property leads Australia’s market story

Property prices and sales activity react to a continuous to-and-fro of supply and demand, with the influence of population growth, housing approvals, interest rates, rental yields and consumer confidence and other elements all playing their part.

However, there is one segment of the market that can often operate outside conventional dynamics – the prestige and ultra-prestige sector. This year, we have witnessed some extraordinary luxury home sales, with records broken across numerous population centres and property types.

High-net-worth purchasers are primarily driven by a property’s characteristics and alignment with their lifestyle aspirations and investment objectives, rather than its price. A home’s location, position, outlook, calibre of fittings and overall prestige take precedence. When a property meets these criteria convincingly, buyers demonstrate remarkable determination in proceeding with their acquisition.

Several factors have bolstered Australia’s prestige markets throughout 2025, as wealth disparity has continued to widen in recent years. Recent changes to superannuation legislation have prompted some investors to direct capital into prestige residential property as part of their broader wealth strategy. These homes offer tax-effective wealth preservation – future sales incur no capital gains tax, creating a compelling investment case for those with substantial liquid funds.

Strong stock market performance has also enhanced borrowing capacity for many wealthy purchasers, enabling them to leverage improved equity positions to fund acquisitions. This dynamic has created a particularly favourable backdrop for prestige property transactions.

This month, our residential teams across the country examine prestige residential property markets within their service areas. From capital city trophy homes to regional agricultural and coastal estates, they provide a comprehensive summary of the most valuable properties that traded hands in 2025. Their submissions also explore the prestige rental sector and the compelling figures being achieved there, as well as the most expensive listing currently available for purchase in each market.

Our commercial section this month presents a comprehensive wrap-up of retail property performance throughout 2025. Our specialists discuss how yields, prices, and rents have moved over the year, identify the key drivers of these movements, highlight the most significant transactions, and discuss how retail property types and locations performed relative to one another.

Finally, our rural teams deliver a comprehensive analysis of the national grain sector and its property market performance. Grain production remains a critical primary industry for Australia, and our specialists have covered all major markets to provide readers with an authoritative overview of this vital sector and its prospects.

Please enjoy our November edition of Month in Review.

Gary Brinkworth
CEO