Same country, opposite markets: what the August 2026 numbers show

Australia’s national median dwelling value is $912,885 according to Cotality’s Home Value Index for August 2026. National values dipped 0.9% over the month but are still 2.7% higher than a year ago. On its own, that headline tells you almost nothing useful about where to buy.

Here is the same data broken down by market. All figures are the annual change in dwelling values to August 2026.

Market	Annual change
Perth	+15.6%
Brisbane	+10.8%
Regional Queensland	+9.1%
Adelaide	+8.6%
Sydney	−4.6%
Melbourne	−4.7%

Same twelve months. Same country. Very different outcomes.

Why this matters for your plan

A national average is the sum of markets that are moving in opposite directions. If your plan is built on the headline, it is built on a number that does not exist anywhere in particular. If it is built on the market you are actually buying in — and on the reasons that market is behaving the way it is — you are working with something real.

That is why at TNC Group we pick the market before the house. The property search is the last step, not the first.

Other signals worth knowing this month

• The national gross rental yield sits at 3.8% (Cotality, August 2026).
• Median time on market is 39 days nationally, up from 28 days a year earlier (Cotality Monthly Housing Chart Pack, 10 September 2026).
• The four-week auction clearance rate was 49.5% at the end of August (Cotality).
• Rental vacancy remains tight: 1.3% nationally, 0.9% in Brisbane, 0.6% in Perth and Adelaide (SQM Research, August 2026).

These are the kinds of inputs that go into a market selection decision alongside your own numbers — income, expenses, borrowing capacity and goal.

An important note on what this is not

None of this is a forecast, and past performance is not a guide to future results. Cotality publishes measured results; where it or anyone else offers an outlook, that is their opinion, not a TNC prediction. Our job is to help you make an informed decision with current, sourced information, then execute the plan properly.

Next step

If you want the real numbers for the markets you are considering — not the national average — book a free 15-minute call: https://leads.leads.tncgroup.com.au/widget/booking/VIiJOVAo7mhEsE3xLNrb

Sources: Cotality Home Value Index, August 2026 results (released September 2026) and Monthly Housing Chart Pack, 10 September 2026 (cotality.com.au); SQM Research residential vacancy rates, August 2026 (sqmresearch.com.au).

General information only — not financial advice. Past performance is not a guide to future results. Speak to your own qualified professional.