According to the latest realestate.com.au Property Seeker Survey, 83 per cent of prospective buyers are now willing to compromise on their criteria to secure a home, up 3 per cent from last year.
This trend, dubbed “COMO” (compromise or miss out), has emerged as home prices rose 8.7 per cent over the past year.
The survey, which captured insights from over 15,000 buyers and sellers across Australia, revealed that the number of Australians intending to buy a home increased to 19 per cent in 2025, up 4 per cent year-on-year.
Serge Petrichenko, Head of Market Research and Insights at REA Group, said that buyers are making significant concessions to enter the market sooner.
“By sacrificing an extra bedroom or the walk-in wardrobe that was previously a requirement, buyers are able to enter the market sooner,” Mr Petrichenko said.
The top compromises buyers are willing to make include reducing the number of bedrooms (11 per cent), forgoing solar energy/water features (10 per cent), and giving up access to a walk-in wardrobe (9 per cent).
The survey also highlighted a shift in buying mindset, with more Australians focusing on long-term wealth creation rather than immediate lifestyle benefits.
The percentage of buyers motivated by wealth creation increased to 28 per cent, up from 24 per cent a year prior, while the need to reduce debt declined to 6 per cent.
The property buying journey has also become more efficient, with the average time from market monitoring to settlement taking around 40 weeks in 2025, down 4 weeks compared to the previous year.
Investor activity has notably increased as interest rates have decreased, with investors moving more quickly than before.
The time it takes investors to purchase property has fallen by six weeks, indicating their eagerness to capitalise on current market conditions.
The survey found that 10 per cent of buyers are now using buyer’s agents to help find properties that match their requirements, suggesting a growing reliance on professional assistance to navigate the competitive market.
Mr Petrichenko believes the current trends will continue into the near future as market conditions remain tight.
“With rental conditions tight and home prices likely to continue rising into 2026, investor activity is set to stay strong. At the same time, buyers will likely continue to compromise to make the dream of homeownership a reality,” he said.
