The Australian property market is entering an interesting period. While some weekly indicators are showing signs of improvement, the broader pressures on buyers, sellers and investors haven't necessarily gone away.

In this week's episode of The Orchard View, I look beyond the headline property statistics and explore what I believe could be a convergence of pressures across the Australian housing and lending markets.

Auction activity has improved slightly, but volumes remain significantly lower than a year ago. Property values have adjusted in some major markets, listings remain elevated, and affordability continues to challenge buyers despite those price reductions.

But there's a bigger picture developing.

Interest rates, cumulative household expenses, changing investment incentives and borrowing capacity are all influencing the way people approach property. We're also seeing mortgage arrears attract increasing attention, raising questions about seller urgency and how lenders might respond if financial pressures continue to build.

From a mortgage broking perspective, I'm also seeing changes in borrowing capacity, available equity and the way clients are approaching their purchasing decisions. These are important considerations that can sometimes get lost when the conversation focuses entirely on property prices.

We also look at the changing investment equation, including rental yields, holding costs, negative gearing changes and whether some investment properties are being brought back to more realistic valuations.

I'm not predicting a property market collapse, but I do think we're potentially entering a period of slower adjustments, with different markets responding in different ways.

The question is whether these pressures eventually translate into a more sustained period of declining values, or whether the market finds a new level and begins to plateau.

In this episode:

• Why improved auction results don't necessarily mean market pressures have eased

• Interest rates, household expenses and the cumulative impact on affordability

• Why a 5–10% property price reduction doesn't automatically make housing affordable

• Markets within markets: why Sydney and Melbourne are behaving differently to Adelaide and Perth

• Investors, negative gearing changes and the changing economics of property ownership

• Rental yields, vacancy rates and increasing property holding costs

• Mortgage arrears, seller urgency and the potential for further market adjustments

• Whether lenders and APRA could respond with tighter lending policies

• Why the next phase of the property market might be a slow grind rather than a dramatic correction

Read the full weekly property market report, including the PDF and infographic:

https://orchardlending.com.au/2026/11/10/australian-property-market-update-week-ending-8-november-2026/

The Orchard View
Property • Finance • Economy

Presented by Kevin Orchard, Director and Finance Broker at Orchard Lending.

https://orchardlending.com.au/

Australia's property market is experiencing a significant downturn, with falling values, weaker sales and buyers becoming increasingly reluctant to jump into the market. But does a sharp correction automatically mean we're heading towards a housing crisis?

In this episode, I look at the latest Cotality figures, including seven consecutive monthly declines in national dwelling values and the remarkably fast pace of the current downturn compared with previous market corrections.

We explore the apparent contradiction between falling property prices and Australia's ongoing housing shortage, why affordability and borrowing capacity are weighing on buyers, and how sellers are beginning to adjust their expectations.

I also look at the distinction between falling property values and genuine mortgage stress. While some households are undoubtedly under pressure, the latest Reserve Bank figures provide a more measured picture of overall borrower resilience.

So, is the housing market actually on fire, or are we witnessing a necessary market correction? Perhaps grab a few marshmallows, but keep the fire blanket somewhere close.

In this episode:

• How quickly Australian property values are falling

• Why housing shortages aren't necessarily supporting prices

• Buyers, sellers and the changing balance of negotiating power

• Mortgage stress and what the RBA's figures actually tell us

• What to watch as we head towards the end of 2026

Read the full article:
https://orchardlending.com.au/2026/11/01/australias-housing-downturn-is-accelerating-that-doesnt-yet-make-it-a-housing-crisis/

The Orchard View | Property • Finance • Economy

Presented by Kevin Orchard, Orchard Lending.
https://orchardlending.com.au/

The latest Australian property market update looks at the week ending 25 October 2026.

Auction activity picked up, but clearance rates remain subdued, while property values, listings and rental conditions continue to tell a mixed story across the country. We take a look at what's happening, where the market is showing resilience, and what buyers, sellers and investors should be keeping an eye on.

Read the full report:
https://orchardlending.com.au/2026/10/26/australian-property-market-update-week-ending-25-october-2026/

The Orchard View | Property • Finance • Economy
Presented by Kevin Orchard, Orchard Lending.