Buyer searches show shifting priorities

What Australians search for when house-hunting often says more than price charts alone.

Search data from realestate.com.au (see below) reveals how buyer priorities have evolved, highlighting features people are actively filtering for as affordability shapes what’s realistic. These trends offer useful signals for anyone planning a purchase in 2026.

The takeaway isn’t that buyers want more – it’s that they’re choosing more carefully. As budgets tighten, shoppers are weighing lifestyle features against location, size and long-term running costs.

This matters because every feature choice has a borrowing impact. Compromises around layout, location or inclusions often determine whether a purchase stays comfortable once repayments begin.

Planning with intent

Understanding what buyers are prioritising can help you decide where to compromise and where not to. That’s especially important when borrowing limits, deposits and buffers are all in play.

If you’re planning a purchase this year and want to line up expectations with borrowing power, contact me and I’ll help you sense-check the trade-offs before you commit.