February 2026 Property Market Update: What Healthcare Workers Need to Know
- Minh Le
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
If you’ve felt unsure about the property market lately, you’re not alone.
Between cost-of-living pressure, interest rate noise, and headlines that swing between panic and hype, it’s become harder than ever to work out what’s actually going on — and what matters for you.
That’s why I’ve spent time going through the latest Cotality Home Value Index (February 2026) and pulling out the parts that genuinely matter for healthcare professionals.
Here’s the calm, plain-English version.
Property prices are still rising — but the pace has slowed
Nationally, home values rose 0.8% in January, with prices up around 9.4% over the past year.
That tells us two important things:
Prices haven’t fallen.
But they’re no longer racing away either.
This is a slower, steadier market — not a runaway one.
In the video below, Domenic Nesci explains what this slower market really means for healthcare professionals.
Sydney and Melbourne aren’t driving the market right now
Sydney and Melbourne recorded very modest monthly growth, and both remain slightly below their recent peak prices.
The stronger growth is happening in mid-sized capitals and regional areas, where affordability is still better.
For many healthcare workers, that’s reassuring — because it validates buying decisions outside the traditional “hot” markets.
Affordability is the real pressure point
The report is clear: Australia is facing the most unaffordable housing conditions on record.
Not because homes don’t exist — but because:
Borrowing power is tighter
Deposits are harder to build
Living costs are higher
And banks are assessing loans more conservatively
Right now, the challenge isn’t finding a property.It’s making the numbers work comfortably and sustainably.
First home buyers are still very active
One of the most important insights from this report is where competition is strongest.
It’s not at the top end of the market.It’s at the lower, more affordable price points.
That’s where first home buyers — including many nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals — are still buying.
This tells us that thoughtful, well-prepared buyers are absolutely still moving forward.
Rental pressure is pushing people towards ownership
Rental vacancy rates remain extremely low, and rents have risen more than 40% over the past five years.
For many households, owning a home is starting to feel more predictable than renting — not because it’s easy, but because it offers certainty.
And certainty matters when life already feels busy and stretched.
This is not a market crash
Importantly, the report does not point to a major downturn.
Cotality expects growth to slow, not reverse — supported by:
Ongoing housing shortages
A resilient labour market
Steady (though modest) economic growth
This is a market cooling, not collapsing.
The real takeaway
This isn’t a moment for rushing or reacting to headlines.
It’s a moment for clarity.
For healthcare professionals especially, the smartest move right now is understanding your own position properly — your borrowing power, your options, and your comfort level — before making any decisions.
If you’d like to read the full report yourself, you can find it here:
Comments