Domain has crunched millions of property searches from June to August 2026 and landed on a finding agents can use in almost every vendor conversation this spring: buyers in each capital city are searching for markedly different things, and flexibility is the common thread.
The search data splits buyers into six distinct personas by city. Sydney’s “Optimiser” ranks pools first, but studies and granny flats follow closely, pointing to buyers chasing utility and potential rental income.
Melbourne’s “Romantic” is drawn to art deco homes, heritage properties and warehouse conversions, though garages still rank among the city’s most-searched features.
Brisbane’s “Multigenerational Buyer” has dual living as the second most-searched attribute, with granny flats and duplexes also featuring prominently.
Adelaide’s “Pragmatist” is searching for sheds, solar, dishwashers and ensuites, with stone homes the nod to local character. Perth’s “Space Seeker” wants granny flats, land and workshops beyond the standard pool search.
Canberra stands apart as the only capital where views outrank pools, with north-facing properties, studies and separate-title homes rounding out its “Fundamentals Buyer” profile.
Alice Stolz, Domain’s National Property Editor, said the six profiles reflect genuine differences in buyer priorities city to city.
“What’s fascinating about this data is that every city has its own homebuyer personality,” she said.
“Melbourne buyers are still falling for an art deco façade, Brisbane buyers are looking for homes that can accommodate family, Perth buyers are chasing space, and Sydney buyers want every square metre to work harder.
“But across the country we’re seeing the same underlying trend emerge: buyers are becoming increasingly practical, prioritising properties that can adapt to their lifestyle, whether that’s working from home, supporting multigenerational living or providing more flexibility for the future.”
The report also points to a split in seller confidence.
New listings fell sharply in parts of Sydney and Melbourne, with the steepest declines in Kogarah-Rockdale (-23.9%), Stonnington-West (-20.0%), Mt Gravatt (-15.8%), Burnside (-6.6%) and Woden Valley (-10.8%).
Perth was the only capital where every region recorded growth in new listings.
Ms Stolz said seller confidence is varying significantly by city.
“What’s becoming clear this spring is that seller confidence varies significantly from city to city,” she said.
In Sydney and Melbourne, she said, some homeowners appear to be waiting for stronger market conditions before listing, while buyers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth are benefiting from greater choice.
Despite the additional stock in some markets, competition remains fiercest in lifestyle pockets. Leichhardt, Yarra, Brisbane Inner East, Burnside, Mundaring and Weston Creek recorded the highest average buyer views per listing in their respective capitals over the same three months.