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In the past few years, homebuyers’ must-haves have evolved into some interesting requests for our Propertybuyer team. Big garages and nearby amenities are one thing, but ice baths and EV chargers? It seems plenty of purchasers now want these too.
Or do they? Buyers in 2026 may not, thanks to a few key reasons, which could change how you choose to purchase a property this year.
Let’s look at the evidence and start with a Domain report from September, which highlighted how property priorities had changed between 2024 and 2025 for buyers. Based on the most requested keywords that purchasers entered in search fields, the data revealed that searches for granny flats in Sydney were the most frequent. Homes with architectural character were more appealing to Melbourne house hunters than those with a pool. It was the opposite in Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, where pools still ranked first in searches.
However, as 2025 ended, some Brisbane sales agents warned that pools’ maintenance costs were deterring buyers. At least one agent said he advised buyers to purchase houses with a shed rather than a pool, as a shed now increased the property’s overall value by more, and they could potentially be turned into a granny flat or similar down the track.
Interestingly, our own Propertybuyer database of requests revealed dual-living potential, and pools were the most popular priorities for increasingly savvy home buyers. These are just a few of the features creating enduring value in the modern-day home.
The Domain report also examined how more buyers are rethinking “affordability trade-offs,” such as Sydney buyers’ interest in granny flats for their rental income potential and multigenerational living.
Similarly, stamp duty, or rather, government concessions in and around this, are important to Adelaide purchasers, with these words now appearing in the city’s top 10 list of most popular search terms. So too are words such as “region,” “greater,” and “western”—all terms that broaden the search area. This shows the impact of the drive toward affordability and the need for flexible living options across both metropolitan and regional Adelaide.
The REA Group’s Property Seeker Survey, conducted in September 2025, also showed that buyers were now prepared to sacrifice some of their dream-home priorities to gain traction in the market. In fact, 83 percent of property purchasers have now adopted the COMO (Compromise Or Miss Out) mindset to secure a home. The survey noted that buyers’ most negotiable inclusions are the number of bedrooms, followed by solar energy and water, and walk-in wardrobes. Here at Propertybuyer, I can’t see these inclusions ever becoming entirely obsolete with energy efficiency, including EV chargers and solar power, ranking highly on Propertybuyer’s list of client requests in 2025. But money talks, so financial challenges will shape this year’s buyers again. Happily, for these clients, there are a few significant differences in the 2026 market that could help them find their new dream home.
Domain’s Forecast Report for 2026 showed households will, finally, enjoy an increase in their disposable incomes this year. While only minor, this rise will help offset elevated housing costs and stabilise our continuing property demand. Additionally, Domain believes 2026 buyers will be further supported by easing financial conditions in other areas and a more balanced, policy-driven cycle.
One of the most interesting, to say the least, government policies already impacting the market is the expanded First Home Guarantee Scheme.
Further helping home buyers across the country, new housing supply is expected to creep ahead this year, especially in Brisbane and Adelaide, while population growth will slow down. As a result, homebuyers may find more money in their pockets, and that could mean more cash to spend on their top property priorities.
With financial restrictions easing this year, I would usually expect buyers, especially expectant first-time ones with big ideas, to jump onto the renovation ladder. But with construction cost increases still above long-term averages this year, 2026 buyers will continue to steer clear of renovations, just as they did in 2025.
Certainly, CBRE’s Q4 2025 Residential Valuer Insights report showed that unrenovated properties experienced some of the largest decreases in demand throughout the past year, especially when compared to newly renovated, established, and new properties.
On the point of renovations, homes that need such changes can present another COMO opportunity for cash-strapped buyers seeking lower-priced properties. Some of the same buyers are choosing to play it slow and steady with planned renovations. For example, they’ll leave big-ticket items such as new bathrooms until later. They’ll also often utilise the tradie skills of friends and family members for these renovations, enabling them to reduce construction costs.
Space is essential this year, thanks in large part to the growing number of multi-generational households. Evident in Sydney buyers’ strong interest in granny flats and dual living, the popularity of such households is driven again by cost-of-living pressures and low property supply.
The 2021 Census revealed 335,000 Australian homes comprised three or more generations, while a 2020 study from UNSW’s City Futures Research Centre also showed one in five Aussies live in multi-generational properties. Some Brisbane sales agents I spoke with at the end of 2025 commented that this trend was increasing, and I believe it will likely grow stronger this year as well.
No one has a crystal ball when it comes to exactly what will increase, slow down, prove popular, or decline in a new year's market. But the points I’ve mentioned, and many others, are definitely ones for homebuyers to be aware of in 2026.
If you’re keen to buy a home with a granny flat, pool, or shed, or other attractions, the Propertybuyer team can guide you on your property purchasing journey. Our day-to-day dealings in the real estate space ensure we stay up-to-date with housing trends and market changes. Savvy buyers can utilise our skills and networks to ensure they secure the right home for their needs, both now and in the future.
To have one of the friendly Propertybuyer Buyers' Agents to contact you:
call us on 1300 655 615 today.