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Australians are searching for mortgage help in record numbers.

Google Trends data shows searches for "mortgage broker" in Australia have reached an all-time high, surpassing even the peak recorded during the COVID lockdowns of 2020.
Searches for "mortgage stress" hit their highest point in May, while queries for "mortgage help" have exceeded levels seen during the 2008-09 Global Financial Crisis.
The surge comes with some homeowners feeling the financial pressure. Three rate hikes since the start of 2026 have reversed all of last year’s rate relief, pushing the cash rate back to 4.35 per cent. According to Canstar, those increases have added $272 per month to repayments on a $600,000 loan with 25 years remaining.
Roy Morgan research from March found 26.8 per cent of mortgage holders, around 1.45 million Australians, are now at risk of mortgage stress. That figure could climb further if rates rise again at upcoming RBA meetings.
If you're feeling stressed from your mortgage, a mortgage broker can review your current loan and help you compare your options across a range of lenders.

Brisbane emerges as a global luxury property hotspot

Brisbane is quickly establishing itself as one of the world's most dynamic luxury property markets, driven by Olympic infrastructure investment, severe stock shortages and record levels of wealth creation.

According to Knight Frank's Wealth Report, Australia is fourth globally for billionaire growth, projected to rise 77 per cent by 2031, and fifth for ultra-high-net-worth individual growth at nearly 60 per cent. Globally, 89 new ultra-high-net-worth individuals are created each day, supporting sustained demand for luxury assets.

The luxury residential sector is experiencing uneven performance across Australia's major cities. Melbourne has recorded a 4 per cent increase in buying power over five years, while Sydney has declined 5 per cent. Brisbane is down 5 per cent, Perth down 11 per cent, and the Gold Coast down 14 per cent, though the Gold Coast continues to offer the strongest relative value.

Globally, luxury residential prices rose 3.2 per cent in 2025, outperforming mainstream housing markets for a second consecutive year. Within Australia, Perth led luxury price growth at 4.1 per cent, followed by the Gold Coast at 2.8 per cent and Brisbane at 2.1 per cent, while Sydney and Melbourne recorded slight declines.

Brisbane has been identified as a key luxury growth location, supported by Olympic-related infrastructure investment and ongoing urban redevelopment. Planning conditions have enabled fast-tracked development, with top-end apartment prices rising from around $9 million to over $15 million within a 12-month period.

Investor activity has shifted toward Brisbane, overtaking Victoria amid higher taxation settings, while owner-occupier lending has reached record levels.

At the top end of the market, demand is being driven by both migration and demographic changes.

Looking ahead, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Perth are expected to be the strongest performing luxury markets in 2027, with 2 per cent growth forecast in luxury residential prices. The Knight Frank report found that in Brisbane, $1 million now buys 5 per cent less than it did five years ago, while the Gold Coast has seen the biggest reduction in buying power at 14 per cent but still offers the greatest value for money.

Home value growth slows but remains positive

Australia’s housing market continues to grow, with national home values rising 0.3% in April according to Cotality. While Sydney and Melbourne saw modest monthly dips of 0.6%, most markets are still trending upward.

Perth remains a standout performer, with values up 2.1% in April alone, adding more than $21,000 to the median dwelling value. Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin also continued to grow, each recording monthly gains above 1%, reflecting the strength of demand across the mid-sized capitals.

Regional markets are also particularly strong, rising 4.2% over the first four months of the year, more than double the 1.8% recorded across the combined capitals. Bunbury in WA led the smaller markets with growth of 9.8% year-to-date, while no regional market saw a decline over the period.