Lower stock set to intensify competition among buyers
Australia’s property market has entered the spring selling season with a notable reduction in new listings across the country, according to the latest PropTrack report.
The report, which draws on data from realestate.com.au, found that new residential listings were down 12% in August 2025 compared to the same month last year.
This trend was observed in both metropolitan and regional markets, with most capital cities experiencing double-digit declines in new listings year-on-year.
“National new listings in August were down 12% year-on-year, with broadly consistent declines in metro and regional markets,” said Angus Moore (pictured right), senior economist at REA Group. “These declines reflect, in part, a particularly strong August last year.”
The data revealed that Darwin saw the sharpest annual fall in new listings (-25.4%), followed by Perth (-19.4%), Brisbane (-18.4%), Canberra (-16%), Sydney (-12.3%), Hobart (-10.6%), Adelaide (-10%), and Melbourne (-7.3%).
Total listings have also decreased, with 8% fewer properties available for sale nationally compared to the previous year.
“The decline was similarly sized in regional areas and capital cities,” Moore said. “However, the declines differed across the cities.
“Buyers in Sydney (-3%), Perth (-3%), and Adelaide (0%) are facing similar or modestly smaller stock, while buyers in Melbourne (-12%), Brisbane (-13%) and Hobart (-19%) have seen larger declines.
“Darwin (-44%) has seen a particularly sharp decline in active stock, driven by both a smaller flow of new listings and homes selling faster.”
Fewer new property listings mean mortgage brokers may face reduced transaction volumes and increased competition for clients. With less stock on the market, buyers have fewer options, which can slow the pace of new loan applications and settlements. Brokers may need to focus more on client retention, value-added services, and proactive communication to maintain business levels during this period of constrained housing supply.
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