Despite the Australian housing market experiencing a downturn, most sellers are still reporting massive profits.
95.4% of residential properties resold in June quarter of 2026 according to Cotality’s latest Pain and Gain report. The median gain was $371,000 while median loss was $45,000.
This is not to say that everything is fine. Prices are still predicted to fall which will result in weaker profits in the coming quarters.
The 2026 March quarter recorded a 21-year high of 96.1% of profitable resales, so June’s 95.4% is down on that figure, but it shows just how much equity sellers have built up over the years.
National home values have actually been going backwards. The index sits 3.6% below its March peak and annual growth has slowed to 2.7%, worth around $24,600 to the median dwelling value over 12 months. That is what makes the resale figures so striking. The gains being banked today were built long before this downturn started, and in some markets they were monumental. Chittering, north-east of Perth, recorded the highest median gain in the country at $872,500 after values rose more than 180% from their pre-pandemic lows in 2019.
Regardless of falling values, the floor has been raised so high that it would take several years for the majority of resales to achieve a loss.
Profitable house resales had been held for a median 9.3 years, compared with just 4.4 years for loss-making ones, placing many of those loss-making purchases around the 2022 peak. Across all property types the gap is narrower, at 9.1 years against 8.1 years.
Cotality analysed 94,000 residential resales across the June quarter and measured the latest sale price of a property minus the previous sale price. However, it doesn’t adjust for inflation, stamp duty, agents’ fees, renovations, and other holding expenses.
Units Slightly Weaker Than Houses
It probably isn’t much of a shock to find that units were less profitable than houses, but even the majority of units sold at a profit (90.5%), with a median gain of $251,000. In comparison, 97.8% of house resales made a profit with median gains of $435,500.
The weaker result for units is thanks to Sydney and Melbourne. Both cities accounted for 83.3% of the dollar value of unit resale losses nationally.
20.8% of unit resales made a loss in Melbourne while it was 11.4% in Sydney. Only 1.5% of houses in Sydney sold for a loss, while it was as much as 4.3% in Melbourne. Still, house losses were far smaller than units.
Mid-Sized Capitals Taking the Cake
Brisbane has retained the title of Australia’s most profitable city since June 2024 and with 99.8% of resales delivering a profit, it’s not hard to see why. Median gains were $525,000!
Adelaide was a close second with 98.9% of profitable resales and a record gain of $480,400. Perth was next with 98.8% with median gains of $470,000.
Melbourne sits at the other end of the table. Just 89.0% of resales there delivered a profit, the lowest of any capital and down from 90.7% in March, with the median gain falling to $278,000. That is roughly half what a Brisbane seller pocketed. It is a useful reminder that the national headline figure hides a very wide spread, and that where you bought matters as much as when.
The Regions More Profitable Than the Cities
97.5% of regional resales made a profit in comparison to the 94.1% across the combined capitals. However, the actual dollar returns are smaller in regional markets with a median gain of $324,500 compared to $415,000 in the cities.
Whether you are selling, refinancing or weighing up your next purchase, the equity position you have built changes what is possible. Our team can walk you through how much you have available, what you could borrow, and what it means for your next move. No pressure, no jargon, just simple guidance.
This article is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not property, investment or financial advice, and you should consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances before acting on it. Market data is sourced from Cotality’s Pain and Gain report, June quarter 2026, and Cotality’s Home Value Index.