property
Investor Re-entry Intensifies Competition in Perth CBD Market
Fresh capital from returning buyers is pushing up prices and shortening listing times on apartments and commercial spaces in the central business district.
How we reported this
Investor groups have re-entered the Perth CBD market in the past six weeks, lifting the number of multiple-offer situations on apartments by 22 percent compared with April 2026 figures.
The shift follows a quiet first quarter when stock sat longer on the books after higher interest rates cooled some activity. Local agents now report that renewed demand is tightening supply on established buildings and pushing median prices higher on units under 100 square metres.
Price Movements Accelerate
Median apartment prices in the CBD reached $612,000 in the June quarter, up from $585,000 three months earlier, according to figures compiled by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia. On St Georges Terrace, two one-bedroom units in the 2009-built QV1 tower sold within four days of listing last month at $595,000 and $610,000 respectively. Further north on William Street, a 78-square-metre office suite inside the Central Park complex changed hands for $428,000 on 24 June, $18,000 above its reserve.
These sales sit inside the City of Perth’s 2025-2027 revitalisation program, which offers rate rebates for owners who convert upper-floor offices into residential use. The rebates have drawn renewed attention from interstate funds that paused activity in 2025.
Competition Dynamics Shift
Buyers are now facing shorter inspection windows and tighter settlement terms. At the Northbridge end of Roe Street, a converted warehouse apartment received five bids in a single weekend auction on 4 July, finishing $47,000 above the guide. Agents say the pattern repeats on listings near the Perth Arena precinct, where investor interest has lifted clearance rates to 68 percent in the latest four-week period.
Practical steps for buyers include securing pre-approval before viewing and submitting offers with shorter finance clauses. Those targeting the next wave of stock should monitor listings released after the July council rate notices, when several owners on Murray Street are expected to test the strengthened market.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.