Whether you’re curious about the market, reviewing your loan, or planning your next move, understanding your property’s value is essential. This guide brings together national data and local insights to explain how value is determined, and how you can interpret it with confidence.
How much is my property worth?
Most homeowners wonder “how much is my property worth?”, at some point. The question often comes up when refinancing, releasing equity, planning a renovation, or after seeing a nearby sale. The answer changes over time, shaped by the economy, local demand, and the features that make your property unique.
Understanding your property’s value helps you make informed decisions about refinancing, selling or long-term planning. Cotality analyses millions of property records each year to help Australians understand what their home is worth with confidence. This guide explains the key factors that influence property value and how to interpret the numbers accurately.
What really drives your property’s value
To understand what your property is worth, it helps to look at both the market forces you cannot control and the individual attributes you can.
The market forces shaping how much your property is worth
A property’s value reflects its environment and the wider economy.
- Location and demand
Proximity to schools, transport and employment hubs continues to drive long-term premiums. Homes on quieter streets, close to daily amenities such as transport, shopping precincts can often be better long-term performers.
For example: Families are paying six-figure premiums for homes inside top public school catchment zones, according to Cotality’s research on school catchment pricing.
- Economic Climate
When the Reserve Bank of Australia adjusts the cash rate, it directly affects what buyers can borrow. Since the RBA began cutting rates in late 2024, borrowing costs have eased, creating short-term stability in prices.
For context: The RBA cut the official cash rate three times in 2025, as Australia’s inflation targets were met. Yet, as Cotality’s August analysis notes, stretched affordability is likely to keep demand in check even as rates fall. Despite these conditions, Cotality’s Pain and Gain report found that more than 90 per cent of resales in mid-2025 still achieved a profit, highlighting the market’s underlying resilience.
- Supply and demand
Fewer listings typically mean stronger competition among buyers. Throughout 2025, national stock levels have remained below the five-year average, keeping upward pressure on prices.
Recent figures: Cotality’s spring listings analysis found that property values gained pace heading into spring, supported by record-low levels of homes for sale. At the same time, ABS dwelling approvals data continues to show constrained new-housing supply, reinforcing the imbalance between demand and available stock.
- Population and infrastructure
New transport projects, hospitals and precinct redevelopments bring jobs and improve connectivity, often strengthening surrounding property values.
Example:Capital cities have overtaken regional markets after a nine-month lag, according to Cotality’s capital city comparison report, reflecting renewed population and investment flows into metropolitan areas.
Inside your home and the details that define your property value
While broader trends set the tone, the physical details of your home determine how much your property is worth in comparison with others.
- Capital cities compared to regional Australia
Performance also depends on where your property is located. After nine months of regional dominance,Cotality’s capital city comparison report shows that metro markets have regained the lead, with capital city values now outpacing regional areas. This reflects stronger employment hubs, tighter supply, and renewed migration back to major cities. - Property type and condition
Well-maintained homes with updated kitchens, bathrooms and neutral interiors tend to attract stronger offers than those needing major work. Buyers often pay more for a property they can move into immediately. - House versus unit
The performance gap between houses and units has widened. As of August 2025, the national median house price sits around 32 per cent higher than the median unit. Units remain an affordable entry point for first-home buyers and investors, particularly following the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme that’s opening new opportunities for buyers in this segment. - Renovations and upgrades
Renovations can lift your property value when improvements add genuine function or appeal. Kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor areas typically deliver the best returns because they influence a buyer’s lifestyle and everyday use as well as providing an emotional connection. With construction cost growth now at its lowest level in a decade, according to Cotality’s national construction cost update, many home owners are finding an upgrade or substantial renovation has become more financially more achievable.
Three ways to find your property’s true value
Understanding the factors is one step; measuring them is another. There are several reliable ways to estimate how much your property is worth. Each method suits a different purpose and offers varying levels of accuracy.
Automated valuation models (AVMs)
Automated Valuation Models provide an instant estimate of how much your property is worth. They use algorithms to analyse sales of comparable homes and produce a statistical range.
How it works
An AVM reviews millions of property records, matching features such as land size, number of bedrooms and location to recent sales. It then calculates an estimated value.
Benefits
AVMs are quick, free and available at any time. They are an efficient way to monitor what your property value might be. Platforms such as www.propertyvalue.com.au use Cotality data to provide these reports.
Limitations
An AVM cannot account for a newly renovated kitchen, a view, or unusual design elements. It relies on publicly available data, so use it as a guide, not a final figure.
Real estate agent appraisals
If you are preparing to sell or refinance, a real estate agent’s appraisal adds local context.
How it works
An agent inspects your home, reviews recent sales nearby, and provides an estimated selling price supported by comparable transactions and a custom marketing plan.
Benefits
Agents understand buyer sentiment and can recognise value that a data model might miss. They can highlight features such as street position, outlooks, school catchments or renovations.
Limitations
Appraisals are opinions. To balance perspective, it’s recommended homeowners request more than one appraisal and compare results.
Professional valuations
A professional valuation offers an independent, legally recognised assessment that shows what your property is worth.
When to use it
Lenders, courts and government agencies require formal valuations for refinancing, family law, taxation and estate matters.
How it works
A certified valuer inspects the property, records its condition and measurements, analyses comparable sales and market trends, and produces a detailed report.
Benefits
Professional valuations are impartial and trusted by financial institutions. They provide the most accurate measure of how much your property is worth at a specific point in time.
Limitations
They involve a fee and reflect conditions at the date of inspection, so values may shift as markets change.
How to use your property valuation to make better decisions
Once you understand your property’s value and how it was calculated, the next step is to put that insight to work. The following process can help you confirm how much your property is worth and prepare for decisions around refinancing or selling.
Step 1 – Get an instant estimate
Start with an AVM to establish a benchmark.
- Visit propertyvalue.com.au and enter your address to receive a value range and key suburb data such as median prices and recent growth.
- Review comparable sales on onthehouse.com.au to see how similar properties performed. Look for homes with similar features and land size to better understand your property’s value in the context of recent local sales.
Step 2 – Prepare for a physical assessment
If you plan to sell or refinance, ensure your property is presented well.
- Declutter and clean to make rooms feel larger and brighter.
- Repair small issues such as dripping taps, cracked tiles or peeling paint.
- Gather documents showing renovations, approvals or upgrades. These details support a stronger assessment of how much is your property worth.
Step 3 – Get an agent appraisal
Invite a few local agents to provide appraisals.
- Meet multiple agentsto compare opinions, experience and strategy.
- Highlight your property’s strengths, including new features or sustainability upgrades that add value beyond standard metrics.
This gives you both a market perspective and a professional comparison against the AVM figure.
Start tracking what your property is worth
Asking how much your property is worth shouldn’t be a one-off exercise. Property values change as interest rates, buyer demand and local trends shift. Regularly checking your property’s value helps you stay informed and confident when making financial choices.
Cotality’s data powers Australia’s leading valuation platforms, providing independent, evidence-based insights into what your property value really means. Whether you use an instant AVM estimate or a professional valuation, the most important step is understanding how the figure is formed.
To explore your current estimate, visit www.propertyvalue.com.au or www.onthehouse.com.au. Reliable data is the foundation for sound decisions about your home, your mortgage, and your financial future.
