Market Pulse

3 things that moved, and what they mean for you

The RBA held at 4.35% this week. Beyond that, three things moved:

1. Borrowing inside super was banned. From 10 August, you can no longer take out a new loan to buy residential property inside a self-managed super fund. Existing loans are grandfathered, so anyone already set up is safe.

2. Inflation eased, but the number that matters went up. Headline inflation cooled to 4.0% over the year, down from 4.2%. But the trimmed mean, the core measure the RBA watches most closely, ticked up to 3.6%.

3. The banks split on August. With unemployment climbing to 4.5%, above the RBA's forecast, the major banks now disagree on whether the next move is a cut or another hold.

What it means for you: a rate cut still looks a way off. Lock in your pre-approval and stress-test your repayments at rates about 1% higher than today. And if buying inside super was part of your plan, the 10 August deadline closes that door, so move now or rethink the structure.

Source: RBA, ABS, Treasury

Negotiation Tip

Never tell the agent your budget

The agent works for the vendor, not you. The moment they know your ceiling, that number quietly becomes the target. They almost always open with "what's your budget?", so have a way to deflect it.

How to handle it:

• Give a range, not a number: "It depends on the property. Our range shifts based on what the data says each one is actually worth."
• Anchor to evidence: reference three recent comparable sales in the area.
• If they push, hold the line: calmly restate your range and move on.

One tactic every week. Stack them up and you could save thousands on your first home.

The Data

This week's auction clearance rates

City	Clearance rate
Canberra	55.9%
Brisbane	52.1%
Hobart	49.7%
Sydney	47.2%
Melbourne	45.8%
Perth	41.3%
Adelaide	38.6%

The auction clearance rate is the quickest way to read the market's temperature. A high rate (above 70%) means buyers are competing hard and prices tend to rise, a sign of a hot market. A low rate like this week's (under 50%) means there are more sellers than keen buyers, which usually leads to slower price growth or even small falls. A softer clearance rate leads to less competition and more room to negotiate.

Source: Cotality, preliminary results week ending 28 June 2026.

Suburb Spotlight

Beveridge VIC 3753

Houses · 39km to CBD · LGA: Mitchell

Typical Value	$650,100
Capital Growth (12mo)	0.2%
Rental Yield	3.75%
Weekly Rent	$480
Vacancy Rate	5.58%
DSR Score	47
Days on Market	45 days
Stock on Market	0.53%
Build Approvals	9.65% (523)
Vendor Discount	1.85%
Renter to Owner-Occupier Ratio	17.7%

Our Score 1/10

Our Analysis: Beveridge is located 39KM from Melbourne's CBD. This suburb is known for its development potential with new builds flooding the suburb. As an investor this should sound alarm bells. Capital growth is a simple supply and demand game and due to the increase in supply and new build premiums this suburb is an easy no thanks. Please be aware of any house and land packages being framed as 'investment' potential as the supply here is too much which will not cause any pressure on house prices.

Unsure how these stats affect capital growth? Check out our Instagram that breaks down each term.

Source: Moorr, REA & HTAG

Reader Question

What's a cooling-off period? Do I actually get one?

A cooling-off period lets you back out of a contract within a set window, usually for a small penalty. It's your safety net to confirm finance and check the fine print after signing.

At auction: there is no cooling-off period anywhere in Australia. Once the hammer falls, you're locked in. Only bid if your finance is fully sorted.

For private sales, it varies by state:

• VIC: 3 business days (penalty around $1,300 on a $650k home)
• NSW, QLD, ACT: 5 business days (0.25% penalty)
• NT: 4 business days (full refund, no penalty)
• SA: 2 business days (around $100 max)
• WA: none by law (but negotiable)
• TAS: none by law (an optional 3-day can be added)

Want your question answered? DM us on Instagram.