OnePoint Wealth Partners

The national property headline doesn't tell you what is happening in your own city.

In Melbourne, July dwelling values fell 1.2%, taking the quarterly decline to 3.4% and the annual result to -2.8%. Auction clearance rates also remain well below last year's levels, giving buyers more negotiating power overall.

In Perth, values still sit 20.5% higher than a year ago, but momentum has slowed sharply. July growth was just 0.1% and the quarterly result slipped to -0.3%.

So one market is already in an established correction, while the other is moving from exceptional growth toward a much flatter period.

That matters because the right finance strategy is not identical in every market.

In Melbourne, the opportunity may be negotiating well while keeping a strong cash buffer. In Perth, it may be understanding your updated equity without assuming the past year's growth will simply continue.

Our job is not to predict the next headline. It is to help clients understand what today's market means for their own numbers and decisions.

Want a clearer picture of your borrowing capacity, equity or refinance position in the current market? Let's talk.

Falling property values can make homeowners nervous about refinancing, but a softer market does not automatically mean you are stuck with your current lender.

Mortgage demand has slowed across the major banks, while lenders are still competing for suitable borrowers. There are also refinance incentives and cashback offers in the market, although eligibility, rates, fees and conditions vary significantly.

The key number is your loan-to-value ratio (LVR).

If your property value has eased but you still have solid equity, refinancing may remain completely workable. If the lower valuation pushes your LVR higher, however, it can affect lender choice, pricing, eligibility and potentially Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

And if you want to refinance and release equity, the valuation becomes even more important because it can change how much usable equity is available.

Not sure whether today's property value changes your refinance options? Send us your loan balance and approximate property value and we can review the finance side.

On 11 August, the Reserve Bank left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% after three increases earlier this year.

The hold does not mean the inflation problem has disappeared. Annual CPI eased to 3.8% in June, while trimmed mean inflation remained elevated at 3.6%.\

The RBA's message was cautious: financial conditions are already restrictive, so the Board is allowing more time to see how the earlier rate rises flow through the economy - but it has also made clear that another increase remains possible if inflation does not ease as required.

For mortgage holders, a hold means there is no additional RBA increase this month. It does not automatically mean your lender will reduce your rate, and it does not mean every borrower is currently on a competitive deal.

If your home loan has not been reviewed since the three 2026 rate rises, this is a sensible time to check it.

Wan to know your current rate and repayments compare with available options? Send us your details and we'll review the finance position with you.

Is It a Bad Time to Buy When Prices Are Falling?

t? Send us a message or ask in the comments.

There has been a lot of noise around the Federal Government's negative gearing and capital gains tax reforms. Here is the simple version.

If you held an investment property before 7:30pm AEST on 12 May 2026, the existing negative gearing treatment for that property is grandfathered.

For an established residential investment property purchased after that time, the rules change from 1 July 2027. Rental losses will no longer be deductible against non-property income such as salary and wages. Instead, losses can generally be used against residential property income, including relevant capital gains, with excess losses able to be carried forward.

Eligible new builds are treated differently and can continue to access negative gearing after 1 July 2027.

The CGT rules also change from 1 July 2027. For affected taxpayers and assets, the existing 50% CGT discount is being replaced by cost-base indexation together with a 30% minimum tax on real capital gains. Eligible new residential builds receive a choice between the existing 50% CGT discount and the new arrangements.

Some technical parts of the reforms are still being worked through in further legislation and consultation, so personal tax advice is important before making an investment decision.

If you're considering an investment property, we can help with the finance and borrowing side. Your accountant or tax adviser can confirm how the tax rules apply to your circumstances.

If an investment property is on your radar, the distinction between an established property and an eligible new build will become more important from 1 July 2027.
Under the new negative gearing rules, eligible new residential builds can continue to be negatively geared after that date.

For established residential investment properties purchased after 7:30pm AEST on 12 May 2026, losses will no longer be deductible against income such as salary and wages from 1 July 2027. Those losses can generally be applied against residential property income, including relevant capital gains, with excess losses carried forward.

That does not mean you should rush into a new build or avoid established property. Tax is only one part of the decision. Purchase price, location, rent, cash flow, growth prospects, finance structure and your own risk position still matter.

The right question is not “Which property gives me the biggest tax deduction?” It is “Which investment stacks up after finance, tax, cash flow and risk are all considered?”

If you're weighing up established versus new, we can model the borrowing and finance side with you. Speak with your accountant or tax adviser for personal tax advise.

Perth is still one of Australia's strongest property markets on an annual basis - but the pace has changed sharply.

The median dwelling value is now around $1.03 million, up 20.5% over the past year. But July growth was just 0.1%, and values were 0.3% lower over the quarter.

Units have also slightly outperformed houses over the past year, rising 21.8% compared with 20.4% for houses.

For buyers who have been waiting for Perth to cool, this is the clearest sign yet that conditions are becoming more balanced.

For owners who bought during the past few years, it is also a good reminder not to assume last year's growth rate is still continuing. Your current equity position should be based on today's value, not last ye

Bought in Perth in the last few years? We can help you review your estimated equity and finance position before you plan your next move.

Melbourne remains one of the softer capital-city markets, which is giving prepared buyers more room to negotiate.

Cotality's July figures show Melbourne dwelling values fell 1.2% for the month, 3.4% over the quarter and

2.8% over the year, taking the median dwelling value to around $797,354.
Auction conditions have improved from their winter lows, but they remain subdued. For the week ending 16 August, Melbourne's final auction clearance rate was 52.9%, compared with 69.1% in the same week last year.

That doesn't mean every property is a bargain. Quality homes can still attract competition. But overall, buyers have more choice and more negotiating power than they did a year ago.

The opportunity is being financially ready when the right property appears.

Thinking about buying while Melbourne conditions favour buyers? Let’s review your borrowing capacity and finance position before you negotiate.

Australia's housing slowdown broadened in July, with national dwelling values falling 0.7% - the sharpest monthly decline since December 2022.

Sydney and Melbourne continued to lead the falls, but the weakness is no longer confined to those two cities. Brisbane fell 0.6% and Adelaide 0.2%, with both recording a second consecutive monthly decline.

Perth and Hobart each edged 0.1% higher, while Darwin rose 0.8%.

One of the most interesting signals is at different price points. Values in the most expensive quarter of the market fell 3.2% over the three months to July, while the least expensive quarter rose 0.3%.

That suggests higher borrowing costs are putting more pressure on the expensive end of the market, where larger loan sizes are more exposed to changes in borrowing capacity.

National headlines only tell part of the story. Want to know the current market means for your borrowing position, equity, and next move? Let's talk.

No, Refinancing Doesn't Always Cost You Thousands

MYTH: "Refinancing will cost you thousands in fees."

We hear this from almost every client who's thought about switching and talked themselves out of it.

Here's the reality: most lenders will cover your discharge and new establishment costs to win your business. Break costs only apply if you're on a fixed rate and moving early and even then, the savings usually outweigh the fee within 12–18 months.

The real cost is the one nobody talks about: staying at a rate that's no longer competitive. With the average Australian mortgage now sitting around $735,000, a 0.3% difference in rate can mean well over $2,000 a year in extra interest.

If your loan hasn't been reviewed since the last rate change, it's worth fifteen minutes of your time.

Send us your current rate and loan balance and we'll tell you straight whether switching is worth it.