ONE of the biggest myths I still hear in real estate is that spring is the best time to sell.
It used to be true, but not anymore.
Since Covid, the idea of a “selling season” has really gone out the window
The market now moves year-round, and in my experience, waiting for spring can work against you.
Why? Because everyone else is doing the same thing.
When spring hits, we see a flood of properties come onto the market all at once.
Buyers suddenly have plenty of choice, and that increased competition can soften prices.
Personally, I always say this: you want to sell your home in isolation, not in competition.
If there’s less stock on the market, your property stands out.
Buyers focus on your home, not five others just like it down the road.
Now, buyers are still very much active.
Even with interest rate rises, people still need somewhere to live – and most would much rather buy than rent if they can.
What we are seeing though is urgency, especially from first-home buyers.
They’re trying to get in before rates move again, because even a small increase can significantly impact their borrowing power.
A 0.25 per cent rise might not sound much, but it can cut borrowing capacity by tens of thousands of dollars.
That’s the difference between securing a home or missing out.
At the top end of the market, things are a little different.
There are fewer buyers in that bracket, so sellers are always working with a smaller pool.
But demand is still there.
No matter the season, my advice to sellers is always the same: give your property everything you’ve got.
This is your biggest asset.
You only get one chance to present it to the market, so don’t cut corners.
If you skimp on marketing, styling or preparation, how can you be sure the offers you receive are the best possible?
One thing I always tell my clients is that the first offer is often the best.
It can be hard to accept, especially if you’ve got a certain price in your head.
But I’ve seen it time and time again, the strongest buyer comes early, and if you hesitate, they move on.
And once they’ve bought somewhere else, that opportunity is gone.
That’s why it’s so important to choose an agent you trust and then listen to their advice.
We do this every day.
We’re speaking to buyers, analysing feedback and watching the market in real time.
I always say to my clients: I would never ask you to do something I wouldn’t do myself.
There’s also a lot happening behind the scenes right now.
Some investors are holding off decisions until after the end of the financial year, particularly with uncertainty around capital gains tax changes.
But my advice is simple.
If you’re already thinking about selling, don’t wait for everyone else to make the same decision.
Because when they do, you’ll be back competing again.
On the flip side, there are some great opportunities for first-home buyers, with government schemes helping people get into the market with smaller deposits and avoiding extra costs like lenders mortgage insurance.
That’s been a big driver at the entry level and it’s pushing prices up in that space due to strong demand and limited supply.
So where is the market heading?
We might see a slight adjustment, but I don’t see anything major or long-term.
If anything, we’re talking small shifts, and short-lived ones at that.
Brisbane has proven incredibly resilient.
Time and time again, it has defied expectations and a big part of that relates to value.
Even with the price growth we’ve seen, Brisbane is still more affordable than Sydney and Melbourne. That’s continuing to attract buyers.
The Olympics will also play a role, but at its core, it’s still about relative affordability.
If I can leave you with one piece of advice, it’s this: Stop trying to time the market.
I see it all the time. Buyers waiting for the “perfect” moment, hoping prices will drop or conditions will improve.
But often, what happens is they wait … and end up paying more anyway.
