Every week, we see headlines about property prices, interest rates, housing shortages and the direction of the Australian economy. Yet these issues are often discussed in isolation, making it difficult to understand what is actually happening in the property market.
At Wills Property, we believe a more complete picture is needed. That is why we have developed the Wills Property Economic & Housing Barometer, an independent analytical model bringing together key economic, financial and housing indicators to assess the underlying conditions shaping Australia's economy and Sydney's property market.
Our aim is to move beyond individual headlines and provide property owners, buyers and investors with a more balanced, evidence-based understanding of the market.
We are pleased to introduce our October 2026 inaugural report, which identifies an important tension in the market:
The market is soft. The housing shortage remains.
Our first Housing Temperature reading is 46.2 out of 100, reflecting subdued market activity and elevated economic pressures, while structural housing scarcity continues to provide an important longer-term influence.
Below, we explain how the Barometer works, what its three measures represent and what the latest results mean for property owners, buyers and investors.
Understanding the Property Market Beyond the Headlines
Property markets do not operate in isolation. Interest rates, employment, consumer confidence, lending activity, population growth and housing supply all influence market conditions, often in different and sometimes conflicting ways.
To bring these factors together, Wills Property has developed its own Economic & Housing Barometer, drawing on established economic and property market data to provide a broader, evidence-based assessment of the Australian economy and Sydney housing market.
The Barometer examines three key forces:
- Market Pulse - the current strength of housing activity, including lending, auction results, transaction volumes and property prices.
- Structural Scarcity - the balance between population growth, housing construction and the underlying availability of dwellings.
- Economic Vulnerability - the economic pressures affecting households, businesses, borrowing capacity and market confidence.
These measures contribute to an overall Housing Temperature, expressed as a score out of 100, helping readers understand whether market conditions are strong, balanced or weak.
Our objective is simple: to look beyond the headlines and provide property owners, buyers and investors with a clearer understanding of the forces shaping today's property market.
OCTOBER 2026 | ECONOMIC & HOUSING BAROMETER
We intend to update the Barometer on a quarterly basis, allowing readers to follow changes in housing conditions as new economic and property data become available.
Better property decisions begin with better market intelligence.
For yours call.
John Wills FAPI CPV JP
Principal
Wills Property
[email protected]
+61 467 443 838