Perth’s Fast-Moving Property Market: What It Means If You Already Own a Home
- Andy Vann
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Perth’s property market continues to move at pace, with rising values and limited listings across many suburbs. While much of the conversation focuses on buyers trying to enter the market, homeowners are facing a different challenge altogether.
If you already own property, deciding whether to upsize, downsize, or stay put has become far more complex than it was just a few years ago. With competition strong and supply tight, many owners are questioning not just what their home is worth, but what their next move should actually look like.
As Perth property prices continue pushing higher across many suburbs, these decisions are becoming increasingly important.
To better understand what’s happening on the ground, I recently caught up with local real estate agent Emma Little from Consolidated Property Management and Sales to talk through what she’s seeing across the Perth market.
What local agents are seeing on the ground
While chatting with Emma, she shared that Perth’s property market continues to gain momentum, driven by strong demand and limited supply.
Recent changes to stamp duty concessions have encouraged more first home buyers to enter the market, particularly in the under $850,000 price range. Combined with ongoing population growth, this increased activity has contributed to steady price growth across many suburbs.
Emma also noted that properties priced under $1.2 million are generally selling faster, with well-presented homes often attracting strong interest within the first week of listing. While this creates urgency for buyers, it places homeowners in a unique position where demand is strong, but suitable replacement properties can be harder to find.
Emma works closely with buyers and sellers across the Perth market and regularly sees firsthand how changing conditions are influencing decision making. Get to know Emma here.
The challenge homeowners are facing right now
Many homeowners feel caught in the middle. On paper, rising values increase equity, while in reality, the cost of replacing your home has risen just as quickly, what looks like progress can feel like standing still.
This tension is completely normal in fast-moving markets and is being amplified by the ongoing shortage of available homes across Perth.
What to focus on next:
Before worrying about timing or next steps, it helps to clearly understand your current position. Knowing your approximate property value, remaining loan balance and usable equity gives you a far stronger foundation for future decisions.
Upsizers: when moving forward feels harder than expected
For upsizers, increased equity often brings mixed emotions, your home may be worth more, but the next home you want has likely moved as well. Many upsizers feel pressure from higher upgrade costs, limited listings and the challenge of buying and selling within the same market.
What to focus on next:
Rather than concentrating only on sale price, it’s important to understand the upgrade gap. Factoring in stamp duty, purchase costs and borrowing capacity early can remove much of the uncertainty later.
Downsizers: when simplifying is not as simple as expected
Downsizing is often expected to be straightforward, yet many homeowners are discovering it comes with its own challenges. Smaller homes in established suburbs remain in high demand, and transaction costs can reduce the financial benefit people expect from downsizing.
What to focus on next:
Mapping expected sale proceeds against realistic purchase costs early allows downsizers to plan calmly and avoid feeling rushed once their home is on the market.
Why many homeowners are choosing to pause and reassess
In markets like this, doing nothing can feel uncomfortable, but pausing is not the same as falling behind. Many homeowners are choosing to reassess their position by reviewing loan structures, interest rates and long-term flexibility before committing to a major move.
What to focus on next:
A simple home loan review can often highlight whether your current structure supports future options, even if you are not planning to move immediately.
Self-employed homeowners face an added layer of uncertainty
For self-employed borrowers, changes in income structure or recent business growth can create additional concern. Many assume lenders will not consider them, when in reality outcomes often depend more on how income is assessed and presented than on the business structure itself.
What to focus on next:
Clarifying how lenders view your income today can remove uncertainty and provide reassurance well before any major decisions need to be made.
This is an area I’ll explore in more detail in an upcoming article.
Is investing an alternative to moving?
Some homeowners are choosing not to move at all. Instead, they are considering whether existing equity could be used differently, including for investment purposes. This approach is not suitable for everyone and should never be rushed, but in some situations it can provide flexibility without selling.
What to focus on next:
Understanding usable equity and current loan structure is the first step before considering any investment strategy.
This is another topic I’ll break down separately in more detail, but it might be worth having a chat to your home loan guy about how you can leverage your equity so your money can start working for you.
The common thread across all homeowner decisions
Across every scenario, one theme remains consistent, fast-moving markets reward preparation, not urgency. Homeowners who feel most confident are those who understand their position early, giving them the freedom to act calmly when the time feels right.
Final thoughts
Perth’s property market will continue to move in cycles, as it always has. What matters most is not predicting the perfect moment, but understanding your options clearly so you can move forward with confidence when opportunities arise.
If this article raised questions about your own situation, a short conversation can often bring clarity.
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