Australian home sales fell 17.4% year over year in the three months through September, and New Zealand sales are also falling, with a warning that the moving industry may not feel the full effect until the peak season.
Commenting on the figures, Michael Dunstan of Palmers Relocations, a regional representative on IAM’s Core Members Management Board, said Australian movers saw demand soften in July and fall sharply through August and September, though broader economic conditions are also playing a part. With settlement periods of 60 to 90 days, spring sales normally feed the summer peak, when private moves coincide with school holidays and government transfers.
“A property transaction that doesn’t happen generally means the associated household move doesn’t happen either,” said Dunstan. “Rather than the normal squeeze on trucks, crews, and moving capacity, we could potentially see significantly more capacity available during what is traditionally one of the busiest periods of the Australian moving calendar,” he added.
Cotality data show quarterly sales down about 25% in Sydney and Brisbane, 23.9% in Perth, and 18.4% in Melbourne. National home values have fallen for six consecutive months to 5.2% below their March peak, and upper-quartile values in Sydney and Melbourne are more than 10% below peak. Buyers and sellers are at a standoff: New listings were 8.2% below the five-year average at the end of August, and capital-city auction volumes opened spring 31.1% below last year. On September 29 the Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate to 4.6%, its fourth increase this year.
New Zealand is following a similar trend. About 78,680 homes sold in the 12 months through August 2026. ANZ reports that sales are trending down in every region and prices are edging lower, with Wellington and Auckland weakest. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised its official cash rate on September 2.
IAM Member Impact: Fewer home sales mean fewer domestic household moves, so members may expect a softer peak season than usual in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, and Wellington.
Source: Cotality; ANZ; Opes Partners
Member Contributions: Michael Dunstan, Palmers Relocations