For the first time in 2025, Ray White Collective (RWC) held its quarterly Virtual Property Event off the back of a cash rate cut. We’ve been running this exclusive virtual market analysis, featuring industry-leading figures, for quite a few years now yet never in a climate when the RBA has reduced rates.
I sat on a panel alongside Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee, RWC principal Haesley Cush and senior agent Christine Rudolph to cover key topics including interest rate impacts, price growth forecasts and prestige property numbers.
Nerida pulled apart the ‘why’ behind the RBA’s decision to drop the cash rate 0.25 per cent from 4.35 per cent to 4.1 per cent, saying it reflects the fact the economy is slowing down while inflation has fallen to within target. Markets are pricing in four rate cuts this year, but Nerida told the room that the likelihood of those cuts being made depends on what’s happening in the United States, China and Middle East.
We have an obvious issue with housing supply in Brisbane, and it’s continuing to push up house prices. The problem being, Nerida said, Brisbane property was cheap five years ago so prices now are a tough pill to swallow. Units are outperforming houses here, which is an unusual trend but reflects the lack of housing development, although house prices are still rising swiftly. Top growth suburbs over the past decade include New Farm, Bowen Hills and Newstead. All are inner-city pockets and all are areas no one would want to be seen in a couple of decades ago.
Looking at seasonal trends, if you believe they still exist, Brisbane’s market should not be performing as strongly as it currently is. An influx of buyers and limited stock are driving an unprecedented volume of off-market offers. My phone is ringing hot with prominent buyer agents enquiring on behalf of clients seeking blue-chip homes in the high-end Brisbane market.
Ray White Collective held its first in-room auction event of 2025 at The Calile Hotel recently, and recorded a clearance rate of more than 70 per cent, with another $10 million worth of stock selling prior. We saw all parts of the market moving, and buyers from not only Brisbane but as far away as Chicago. I’m fielding calls from almost a dozen American buyers at the moment, and it’s safe to say the exchange rate is playing a huge part in that. As my mate Haes said at the Virtual Property Event, “We’re looking like a doner kebab at 3am”. On lifestyle and price, Australia is great value.
Before I let you go for this week, we’re proudly celebrating the 20th year of Ray White New Farm and there’s no better way to mark it than by launching a commercial division. We’ve got the right people at the helm, so if you have any questions or would simply like to have a chat with us in regards to Collective Commercial, please reach out.
I hope you enjoyed the read.
Matt Lancashire
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