Selling in 2026 - Should you Sell Now or Wait?

If you’re thinking about selling in 2026, chances are you’re not really wondering whether to sell, you’re wondering when.

Now? Before or after Winter? After one more rate cut to see if prices increase?

It’s a very normal headspace, and the good news is, this decision is usually far less risky than it feels.

Let’s talk about what actually matters when choosing when to sell in 2026, based on what the Canberra market did last year, what’s expected ahead, and what you should be focused on.

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So How is the Canberra market?

What happened in 2025 For house owners, 2025 was a year of slow and steady growth rather than big swings.

• House prices in Canberra generally improved over the year

• Growth was modest, not dramatic

• Buyer demand was consistent, but not overly motivated

• Well-located, well-presented/updated homes continued to sell well

  
  

In short: it wasn’t a boom, but it certainly wasn’t a bad year to sell either. And importantly, houses performed more strongly than units, which matters if you’re a separately titled home owner weighing up your options.

Predictions for 2026

Most commentators and experts broadly agree that 2026 isn’t expected to be a boom year, but it’s not expected to be a downturn either.

The general expectation is:

• Continued stability

• Modest price growth rather than sharp jumps

• Buyers remaining cautious but active

• Good homes selling well; over-ambitious pricing being less tolerated

  
  

Where experts don’t agree is on the exact numbers, and that’s normal.

Forecasts are useful for understanding direction, but they’re rarely precise. They’re based on assumptions about interest rates, employment, lending, migration and supply - all of which don’t always behave as predicted.

This is why trying to “time the peak” almost never works.

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Waiting for "The Right Market"

Many homeowners delay selling because they’re hoping the market will be meaningfully better in six or twelve months’ time. They worry about selling “too early”, but can overlook that whatever they’re buying is also likely to move with the market.

For owner occupiers, the real focus shouldn't be just the price they sell for, it should be the changeover. If your home sells for a little more in six months, the home you want to buy typically also costs more, so the gap between the two often stays much the same.

That’s why, for owner-occupiers especially, the focus should be less on timing the peak and more on selling well in whatever market you’re in.

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So… Should You Sell Now or Wait?

A better question is: What would waiting actually change for you?

Good questions to ask are:

• Will more time enable us to do more to present the home at its best?

• Do we need to sell before we buy?

• What season suits my home best? (cool in summer, warm in winter)

• Are buyers for my type of property more active now than later?

• What timing makes the transition easiest for me?

Whether you sell early in 2026, mid-year, or closer to spring, the biggest drivers of your result will still be:

• How your home is marketed

• How it’s priced

• How buyers are engaged, and

• How the campaign is managed

  
  

Strong outcomes don’t come from guessing the market, they come from good strategy and execution. In a stable market like the one we’re seeing now, those factors matter far more than they do when the market is hot.

If you’re thinking about making a move this year and want to talk through timing, strategy, or simply what makes sense for your situation, a short conversation with us can often bring far more clarity than months of than months of over-thinking it and second-guessing yourself!