HTW Prestige Property Monitor, October 2026
The October HTW Prestige Index holds at 51 out of 100, unchanged from September. After a run of readings that took the national average from 66 at our February launch to 58 in July and 53 in August, this is the first month since June that sentiment has not retreated further. Each of our six city scores is also unchanged, suggesting the top end may be finding its footing at the lower edge of Balanced territory. It is a pause, though not yet a turn.
That steadiness has been achieved against a tougher backdrop. The Reserve Bank lifted the cash rate to 4.60 per cent in September, the fourth increase this year and the highest setting since 2011, with headline inflation at 4.3 per cent on the back of rising electricity and fuel costs. Combined with the May Budget's changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, these conditions continue to keep even well-capitalised buyers measured and deliberate.
| City | Index score | Market condition |
|---|---|---|
| Perth | 80 | Warm |
| Gold Coast | 55 | Balanced |
| Brisbane | 50 | Balanced |
| Adelaide | 50 | Balanced |
| Sydney | 35 | Cool |
| Melbourne | 35 | Cool |
| National average | 51 | Balanced |
Spring has nonetheless delivered some telling results. Point Piper recorded the year's highest sale at $75 million, Adelaide set another benchmark at $11 million in St Georges, and a New Farm residence went under contract at $14 million. The lesson from Sydney's two largest sales, each finalised around $10 million below initial expectations, is that capital is available, but vendors must meet the market to secure it.
With the Reserve Bank meeting again in early November, the coming weeks will test whether this stability holds. Our prestige teams remain in these markets every day.