Australia investment sales market reaches turning point in 1H 2026

Prime assets draw strongest demand as Australia investment market recovers.

Australia's investment sales market gathered momentum in the first half of 2026 as improving confidence and greater pricing certainty encouraged investors to deploy capital, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

The property consultancy said the market has shifted from a period of price discovery to execution, with investors becoming increasingly selective and targeting assets with strong fundamentals, development potential and long-term scarcity. Planning reforms, housing policy changes and changing capital allocations have also intensified competition for quality metropolitan and infill opportunities.

Daniel Wolman, International Director and Co-Head of Investment Sales Australia at Cushman & Wakefield, said the first half of the year marked a "clear turning point" for the market, supported by stabilising debt markets and a meaningful increase in transaction activity across Australia's major capital cities.

"Capital that spent much of the past two years on the sidelines is now actively pursuing opportunities, particularly where assets offer strong underlying fundamentals, development flexibility or the ability to create value through repositioning," Wolman said.

Oliver Hay, International Director and Co-Head of Investment Sales Australia at Cushman & Wakefield, said investor demand is increasingly concentrated on prime assets, while secondary properties continue to face greater scrutiny.

Looking ahead, Cushman & Wakefield expects transaction volumes to strengthen further in the second half of 2026 as capital deployment accelerates. The consultancy said markets offering limited supply, planning upside and strong long-term population growth are expected to attract the greatest investor interest.