Property Profits Continue

While property price growth may have eased in recent months, overwhelmingly the vast majority of sellers are still achieving a solid profit.

The latest Pain and Gain data from Cotality shows that nationally 96% of property sales during the first quarter of 2026 achieved a nominal profit – a slight increase from 95.9% in the previous quarter and the strongest result since March 2025.

The median gain was $377,000 – $12,000 higher than the previous quarter. For the 4% of sellers who sold at a loss, the median loss was $45,000.

Brisbane remains Australia’s most profitable capital city with 99.8% of dwelling resales recording a profit.

Adelaide is the next most profitable city (99.3%), then Perth (98.8%), Hobart (97.0%) and the ACT (94.2%).

In Sydney 93.7% of sales achieved a profit and 90.5% in Melbourne. Darwin is the least profitable with only 87.8% of sales during the quarter achieving a higher price than the owner originally paid for the property.