Overview
- Australia’s housing index from Cotality, released Friday, showed prices up 0.3% in April, the slowest rise in over a year, with Sydney and Melbourne each down 0.6% as more homes hit the market.
- Perth led gains with a 2.1% jump in April; REIWA reported a A$890,000 median house price for the March quarter and said growth could reach 20% in 2026 if current trends persist.
- The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the cash rate twice to 4.1% this year, and a widely expected third hike next week is curbing borrowing power as the Middle East energy shock weighs on sentiment and construction costs.
- Nationwide said Friday that UK house prices rose 0.4% in April and 3.0% year on year to an average £278,880, citing solid household finances even as consumer confidence weakens.
- UK tax data show March home sales fell 41% from a year earlier due to a stamp duty rush in March 2025, and analysts expect recent mortgage‑rate swings to filter through as earlier loan offers expire in the coming months.