Darwin Home Listings Hit Decade Low

Download IPFS

Darwin’s housing market has entered a new phase, with the number of homes listed for sale falling to the lowest level in a decade, even as buyer demand continues to rise.

The REA Group Listings Report showed that while new Darwin listings on realestate.com.au rose 18.8 percent month-on-month in July, they were still down 9.9 percent compared with July 2024. Overall stock for sale dropped 3.5 percent from June and 40.7 percent year-on-year, leaving buyers with fewer options and sellers in a stronger position.

Darren Hunt, director of Real Estate Central Projects, described the shortage as unprecedented.
“This is the lightest amount of listings we’ve seen in 10 years,” Hunt said. “Listings-wise, we’d normally have 1,300 to 1,400 properties advertised, but as of Monday, there were just 630, and a significant share were already under contract or offer.”

Despite the reduced number of listings, market activity remains strong, with investors, particularly from interstate, driving demand. Hunt noted that six out of every ten homes sold in Darwin are now purchased by buyers from other states, attracted by relative value compared with Sydney and Melbourne.

The tight supply has also pushed many transactions off-market, with deals finalised privately between agents and buyers rather than through major listing platforms.

Property values continue to climb. According to the PropTrack Home Price Index, Darwin property values reached a new peak in July, rising 6.6 percent year-on-year to a median of $531,000. Median house prices were $604,000, while units averaged $410,000. Hunt said the city’s property market has now fully recovered from the downturn linked to the Inpex construction boom more than a decade ago.

Across regional Northern Territory markets, new listings rose 20 percent month-on-month and 27.3 percent year-on-year. Even so, total stock remained largely unchanged, suggesting that strong demand continues to absorb available properties quickly.

Nationally, the trend is similar. REA Group senior economist Angus Moore reported that new listings were down 8 percent between July 2024 and July 2025, with consistent declines across both metro and regional areas. Melbourne recorded a 10.5 percent annual drop, while Sydney fell 5 percent. Listing volumes increased slightly between June and July, defying usual winter slowdowns.

Other capitals, including Canberra (+1.1%), Sydney (+2.2%), Adelaide (+5.1%), and Perth (+6.6%), saw modest rises in total stock. Meanwhile, Melbourne, Hobart, and Brisbane recorded annual declines.

Darwin’s housing market remains highly competitive. With limited supply and rising prices, buyers face increased competition, while sellers continue to benefit from favorable conditions.