Perth property market: what rising listings mean for buyers
Perth property buyers have more choice as listings rise and homes take longer to sell. That gives buyers greater scope to compare and negotiate. It can also make the decision to buy more complicated: when conditions are changing, how do you know whether to proceed or wait?
That question came up recently while I was inspecting a Subiaco cottage with my client Sarah. We had been searching together for three weeks, and the home met her priorities. As we were at the inspection a push-alert appeared on her phone showing a headline about Perth listings reaching a three-year high.
“Should we wait?” she asked.
It was a reasonable question. Buying a home is a substantial financial commitment, and nobody wants to discover they rushed into it. But answering it meant looking at both the market and the property in front of us.
For Sarah, and other buyers navigating Perth’s changing market, the opportunity is to use the extra choice to make a decision they can explain and feel comfortable with.
Why are Perth property listings rising?
Available stock can increase when homes take longer to sell, even without a surge in new properties entering the market. Understanding that distinction helps explain Perth’s current conditions.
According to REIWA’s August 2026 figures:
| Perth Market Indicator | August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Properties advertised for sale | 7,335 |
| Change from July | Up 7.8% |
| Change from August 2025 | Up 146.1% |
| Median house selling time | 23 days |
| Median unit selling time | 21 days |
REIWA attributed the build-up in active listings to easing demand and slower sales. New listings had largely returned to long-term average levels.
Source: REIWA’s market report, published 6 September 2026. Active listings measure properties advertised at a point in time; new listings measure properties entering the market.
For buyers, the distinction matters because a larger selection is only useful if it includes homes that meet your needs. More apartments across Perth may do little to improve your options if you are searching for a particular type of family home in one suburb.
Is Perth becoming a buyer’s market?
Conditions are becoming more favourable to buyers, but a city-wide label is a blunt guide to an individual purchase. Negotiating power depends on competing buyer interest, the seller’s expectations and how many suitable alternatives you can buy.
A property with several close substitutes presents a different negotiation from a home with features that are difficult to find within your budget.
This is where local research becomes valuable. Before making an offer, establish:
- What similar properties have recently sold for.
- How the home compares in land size, condition, layout and location.
- Which competing properties are available.
- How long it has been advertised and whether its price has changed.
- What is known about other buyer interest and the seller’s preferred timing.
Together, these details help you decide whether to negotiate, investigate further or move on.
Are Perth property prices falling?
REIWA reported declines in Perth’s June 2026 quarterly median sale prices, while its annual medians continued to rise in August. These measures cover different periods, and annual figures can be slower to reflect changing conditions. Read REIWA’s explanation of its price measures.
When assessing a home, check the dates and relevance of the comparable sales being used to justify its price.
A nearby sale can be useful evidence, but differences in condition, accommodation and land can materially affect the comparison. An asking price also represents a seller’s expectation; it is not proof of what buyers will pay.
The aim is to build a defensible price range for the property you are considering.
How should buyers negotiate in a changing Perth market?
Start with the property’s value and your alternatives. A discount from an ambitious asking price may still leave you paying too much, while a fairly priced home may warrant an offer closer to expectations.
Four steps can help keep the decision grounded.
- Set a maximum price before negotiations begin. Consider both the comparable sales and what you can comfortably afford. Agree on the limit before counteroffers create pressure to stretch it.
- Compare the full cost of each option. A lower purchase price may come with immediate repairs or renovation costs. Compare homes on the basis of what they will cost to buy and make suitable for your needs.
- Understand which terms matter. Price is one part of an offer. Settlement timing and other conditions can also matter to a seller. Any proposed flexibility should remain consistent with your circumstances and the advice of your broker or conveyancer.
- Keep credible alternatives in view. Knowing what else you could buy makes it easier to assess a counteroffer. It also helps you walk away when the price exceeds the evidence or your budget.
More choice is valuable when it improves your decisions.
Should you buy a home in Perth now or wait?
Rising listings alone cannot answer whether you should buy now. The decision should reflect your finances, housing needs, intended ownership period and the quality of the properties available to you.
Waiting may make sense if suitable homes remain beyond your comfortable budget, your circumstances are uncertain or you have not found a property that meets your needs.
Buying may make sense when a suitable home is available at a supported price, the repayments are manageable and the purchase fits your longer-term plans.
Consider the cost of waiting, including rent and another potential move, alongside the risks and costs of buying. Neither decision should depend on confidence that you can predict the market’s lowest point.
There is no obligation to buy because you have finance approved. Equally, a broad market headline should not replace a careful assessment of a suitable property.
What this meant for one Subiaco buyer
For Sarah, the appeal of the cottage was straightforward: a three-bedroom layout that worked, a quiet street and a backyard she could see herself enjoying. Those details mattered because she was choosing somewhere to live.
Our job was to assess whether the purchase also made sense at the price.
We talked through the market figures, the alternatives available and what comparable properties were worth. Access to more options, including off-market homes, helped her feel less pressure to accept the first suitable property.
As she put it: “I just have a complete picture now, so I don’t feel like I have to say yes to the first thing I see.”
We made an offer two days later. The seller countered, and we continued negotiating before reaching an agreement.
What mattered was that Sarah had room to question the decision. She could compare, revisit the home and consider whether it met her needs. By the time she committed, she understood why she wanted to buy it and the basis for her offer.
That is a useful way to approach this market. You can care deeply about a home and still be disciplined about buying it.
How can a Perth buyer’s agent help?
A buyer’s agent can help you turn market information into a decision about a specific home: whether it meets your brief, whether the asking price is supported and how to approach the negotiation.
At Cohen Handler, our Perth buyers’ agents assist with property searches, evaluation, due diligence and negotiation. Our search can include advertised homes and suitable pre-market or off-market opportunities identified through local relationships.
An off-market property still needs the same scrutiny as an advertised home. Access expands the search; careful evaluation determines whether an opportunity is worth pursuing.
If you are weighing up a Perth purchase, speak with Justin Dixon about your preferred suburbs, budget and timeframe.
About the author
Justin Dixon is a Perth buyers’ agent with Cohen Handler, with more than 30 years of real estate experience across the UK, Canada and Australia. He also chairs REIWA’s Buyers’ Agent Network Committee. This article presents his commentary for Cohen Handler.