Is This the Best Time to Buy Property? Yes—and Here’s Why
If you’re reading this and asking yourself whether now is a good time to buy property, the answer is simple: Yes.
For those already taking action and stepping into the market, 2025 presents real opportunities. Not just for short-term capital gains, but for long-term financial transformation. And while this may feel particularly true now, it’s always been the case—in 2021, in 2016, in 2012, and even back in the ’70s.
The truth is, there’s no perfect time or worst time to buy. The most successful investors don’t try to time the market perfectly—they understand that wealth in property is created over time, not overnight.
Best vs Worst Time to Buy: It’s All Relative
Ask any experienced property investor and they’ll tell you: the best time to buy is when you’re personally financially ready. Market conditions play a role, of course—but your own financial position is what truly matters.
Best Time to Buy
- You have a stable income.
- You’ve saved a deposit.
- You’ve got access to finance at competitive rates.
- You’re planning for long-term growth, not quick wins.
Worst Time to Buy
- You’ve lost your job or have unstable income.
- You’re relying on emotional decisions.
- You don’t understand how property cycles work.
- You haven’t done your due diligence.
Understand the Market Before You Dive In
Before rushing into a purchase, take the time to understand how the property market works. It’s not about luck—it’s about aligning your goals with the right timing, strategy, and suburb selection.
Let’s walk through the core drivers that influence property prices and performance.
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Key Factors That Influence Property Price Growth
1. Overall Economic Conditions
A growing economy boosts buyer confidence and encourages spending. If the broader market is strong, property prices tend to follow suit.
2. Consumer Confidence
When people feel good about their jobs, future prospects, and income stability, they’re more willing to make big purchases like homes or investment properties.
3. Employment Rates
High unemployment lowers demand for housing. Fewer people buying means prices either stagnate or fall.
4. Government Incentives
Tax breaks, grants, and depreciation policies—especially for new builds—can drive demand in specific areas or property types.
5. Population Growth
More people means more demand. Suburbs experiencing rapid population or migration growth tend to see upward pressure on property prices and rental demand.
6. Demographics
Age, income, household structure, and employment sectors all influence what types of properties are in demand in a given area.
7. Supply Levels
Basic economics—low supply and high demand equals rising prices. Be wary of oversupplied areas or new developments where price growth may be limited.
8. Credit Availability
Even if people want to buy, they still need to be able to access finance. Low interest rates and lending flexibility open up the market to more buyers.
How Property Cycles Work (And Why You Should Care)
Property prices move in cycles, and understanding where we are in that cycle helps you invest more confidently. Here are the four key phases:
Boom Phase
Prices rise rapidly. Buyers scramble to get in. Competition is fierce, and FOMO kicks in. This is often the shortest phase, and while exciting, it’s also easy to overpay.
Downturn Phase
Following the boom, prices begin to fall due to oversupply and tightening demand. Vacancy rates rise. Rental income can take a hit. This is when the less experienced investors tend to panic.
Stabilisation Phase
The market begins to level out. Prices stop falling, and demand starts to slowly return. This is when savvy investors quietly start buying.
Upturn Phase
The market begins to recover. Vacancy rates drop. Rents rise. Property values increase steadily. Confidence returns—and so do the crowds.
The trick is not to chase the boom. Buy during stabilisation or the early upturn and you’ll be better positioned for gains without overexposure to risk.
Property Cycles Are Localised
There’s no one national market. Australia has multiple markets operating simultaneously.
Sydney could be cooling while Perth is booming. Brisbane may be plateauing while Adelaide quietly surges. That’s why it’s crucial to use tools like SuburbsFinder to identify which suburbs are at the right point in their cycle.
Should You Buy When Property Prices Are Rising?
You’ll hear the term “buy low, sell high” thrown around a lot. But in practice, many successful investors buy during the rise—as long as the fundamentals still stack up.
Rising prices are often backed by:
- Infrastructure upgrades
- Population growth
- Rising rental yields
- Economic improvement
It’s more important to buy the right property in the right location, than to hold off waiting for the elusive “bottom” of the market.
When NOT to Buy Property
Avoid buying if any of the following apply:
You’re Buying for Tax Reasons Only
Negative gearing only works when the property grows in value. Don’t buy just to offset tax—buy because the investment is strong in its own right.
You’re Reacting to FOMO
Emotional investing leads to poor decisions. Ignore the hype. Run the numbers. Trust the data.
You Expect to Get Rich Quick
Property is a long game. Most investors build wealth over 10–30 years, not in 12 months.
You Lack Financial Literacy
If you don’t understand finance, cash flow, or loan structures, start there first. Get educated, then invest.
You Want One Property to Do Everything
Trying to buy a property that’s an investment, a retirement home, and a holiday escape all in one? You’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Stick to one purpose per property.
You’re Not in a Financially Stable Position
You need a buffer. Property is illiquid. You can’t sell it at a moment’s notice like shares. Make sure your income and savings are solid.
What’s an “Abnormal” Market?
When property prices grow by double digits year after year, that’s not normal—it’s often the result of a boom tied to a specific event, like a mining boom or pandemic stimulus.
These periods can create spikes, but they often cool quickly. Don’t base your entire investment plan on unsustainable trends. Look for markets with diverse economies, consistent population growth, and long-term demand drivers.
So… When Is the Right Time to Buy?
The answer is: when your finances are solid, your research is thorough, and your goals are clear. Don’t waste time trying to time the market perfectly.
If you’ve found a property that:
- Fits your investment strategy
- Is in a suburb with strong fundamentals
- Offers potential for growth or positive cash flow
…then the time to act is now.
Use SuburbsFinder to Identify the Best Opportunities
Don’t leave your future up to guesswork. With SuburbsFinder, you can:
Filter over 15,000 suburbs using 40+ data points
Identify areas with strong capital growth and positive cash flow
Compare historical performance of key suburbs
Run feasibility studies on up to five properties at once
Save time, reduce research effort, and eliminate emotion
It’s the tool I wish I had when I started. Whether you’re a first-time investor or a seasoned buyer looking to sharpen your edge, SuburbsFinder puts data and strategy in your hands.
It’s Not About Timing the Market—It’s About Time in the Market
There’s no crystal ball in real estate. But history shows us that over the long haul, property prices tend to rise, driven by demand, limited supply, and Australia’s population growth.
If your financial house is in order, and you’ve done your research, there’s no bad time to buy—only bad strategy.
Stop waiting for the perfect year. Instead, build the perfect plan.
There is really so much to learn in property investing and SuburbsFinder is here to help you. We offer our services to help you find the best location to buy investment properties and more importantly, identify the right property to have.
Take advantage of our fully customisable tool to help you in choose which areas have both Good Capital Growth and Positive Cash Flow and utilize it to be on top over the less-knowledgeable property investors, local real estate representatives, developers and owners. It lets you narrow down 15,000+ suburbs by combining all 40 data points as filters. It also lets you compare suburbs historical & current performance. And once you identified the best location our tool also lets you do feasibility studies on 5 properties all at the same time. Save time, budget, and cover the full cycle of your investment property research workflow.
It is the most comprehensive location report of all 15,000+ suburbs in Australia – with linked state, suburb, and postcode. It’s the perfect tool for property investors looking to buy a property to rent out rooms individually to have a positively geared portfolio.
