WA resale gains outpace nation

The result follows a significant recovery in local values, which have climbed more than 180 per cent from their 2019 pre-pandemic low.

Perth’s inner-west Cambridge ranked second, with a $740,000 median gain, followed by Joondalup in the city’s north, where profitable sellers recorded a median gain of $732,500.

Premium and lifestyle markets feature

Several high-value eastern-state and lifestyle locations also made the national list of top-performing LGAs.

Mosman recorded a median gain of $725,000, equal to Kiama on the NSW South Coast, while Woollahra posted a $650,000 median gain.

Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, recorded a median gain of $711,000.

Yet Cotality said Kiama’s result was notable for a different reason: despite its large median profit, it had the lowest proportion of profitable resales among the leading LGAs, at 91.4 per cent.

Higher-value Adelaide markets completed the list, with Burnside, where the median dwelling value is above $1.67 million, recording a $684,000 median gain.

Mitcham and Adelaide Hills followed, with median gains of $662,500 and $651,000, respectively.

Brisbane keeps top spot

Meanwhile, Brisbane held its title as Australia’s most profitable capital, a position it has retained since the June 2024 quarter.

Almost every Brisbane resale generated a nominal gain, with the profitable share edging down to 99.8 per cent from its September 2025 peak of 99.9 per cent.

The city’s median gain softened only slightly, from $530,000 in March to $525,000 in June.

Profitable Brisbane vendors had a median holding period of 8.2 years, during which dwelling values rose 108 per cent.

Adelaide ranked second among the capitals, with 98.9 per cent of resales profitable, although that was down from 99.4 per cent in March. Its median gain nevertheless reached a record $480,400, up from $472,000.

Perth held third position, with 98.8 per cent of resales recording a profit, down marginally from 99 per cent. Its median gain fell from $480,000 to $470,000.

Cotality said Perth’s median hold period for a profitable resale was 7.9 years, shorter than in other capitals and reflective of the city’s transition from the post-mining-boom slump into the pandemic housing upswing.

Profits ease nationally

The broader report found that resale conditions remained strong, but had begun to soften as declining home values flowed through to transactions.

Across more than 94,000 resales examined in the June quarter, 95.4 per cent produced a nominal gain, down from a 21-year high of 96.1 per cent in March.

The national median profit eased from a record $378,000 to $371,000, while the median loss increased from $44,000 to $45,000.

Cotality head of research Gerard Burg said the data marked an early shift after several years of strong housing-value growth.

“Profitability is still exceptionally high by historical standards, but we are starting to see the impact of weaker housing market conditions flow through to resale outcomes,” Burg said.

Regional markets remained stronger than the combined capitals, with 97.5 per cent of regional resales profitable compared with 94.1 per cent in capital cities. However, both measures declined from the March quarter.

Burg said the value gains secured over the past five years were still protecting many vendors as market conditions weakened.

“Most sellers are still benefiting from the significant value growth accumulated over the past five years, which is providing considerable protection against the early stages of the downturn. With home values falling across more markets, that buffer will become increasingly important in determining resale outcomes,” he said.

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