Navigating the 2026 property market: A fresh start for your finances
- Jaime Bedoya
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
Perth continues to lead the nation with remarkable resilience. According to the latest REIWA market forecast, median house prices in the city have officially surpassed the $1 million mark and are expected to rise by more than 10% in 2026. This follows a record-breaking 2025 where 126 local suburbs joined the "million-dollar club".
However, the broader landscape is shifting. On February 3, 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia increased the official cash rate to 3.85%. This decision takes effect immediately for the banking system, with major retail banks like ANZ and CBA adjusting customer accounts starting from February 13, 2026.
What this means for a Perth homeowner
For a homeowner with a mortgage on a median-priced Perth home (currently $1,003,804), this 0.25% hike adds approximately $160 per month to repayments. While this shift is cooling other hubs with PropTrack showing Sydney and Melbourne values softening by 0.2% and 0.6% Perth remains a standout performer.
At Aspire2Wealth, we believe a changing market is a reason to plan, not panic. Success in 2026 is about ensuring your financial structure is strong enough to handle this new rate environment.
A new reality for homeowners
While home values surged 8.6% in 2025, momentum is fading. The RBA is now targeting "capacity pressures" as private demand grows faster than expected. For many families, the pressure is real: a typical household now spends 45% of their pre-tax income just to service a mortgage, pushing many to look for more affordable options in the mid-tier market.
Building confidence through a reset
Ignoring the numbers allows stress to linger, but a proactive reset creates momentum. We help families focus on three simple foundations:
Stabilising Cash Flow: Adjusting your budget for the 3.85% rate.
Rebuilding Savings: Restoring your buffer despite cost-of-living pressures.
Realigning Goals: Ensuring your plan reflects your family’s actual priorities.
Plan with intention
Whether you are facing a cooling market in the major cities or the massive 15.9% annual growth in Perth reported by PropTrack, the best move is a deliberate one. With the RBA noting that previous rate cuts are still impacting the economy, now is the time to review your home loan and ensure your debt is managed effectively.
As financial planners and mortgage and finance specialists, we know there is no single “right” approach. The best decision is the one that suits your income, responsibilities, and stage of life, not someone else’s timeline. Having calm, trusted guidance can help ensure your reset becomes a strong foundation for the year ahead. If you aren't sure where to begin, you can learn more about what a financial adviser does to help families navigate these choices.
How to stress-test your plan for 3.85%
With the cash rate now at 3.85%, a financial reset means looking at how this change ripples through your life. Here is how we help you find that clarity:
Check Your Repayments: For a $600,000 mortgage, this latest hike adds about $90–$100 to your monthly payments. We help you figure out how to cover that gap whether it’s by tweaking your spending or using your offset account better.
Audit Your Safety Net: This move proves rates can still go up. Now is the time to make sure your emergency savings can cover 3–6 months of these higher costs.
Review Your Investments: Higher rates change how your super and investments perform. We check your portfolio to make sure inflation isn't eating away at your long-term wealth.
Update Your Protection: As mortgage costs rise, there’s less room for error. We check that your insurance, like income protection, is enough to keep your family safe in 2026.
At Aspire2Wealth, we help families bring together their cash flow, debts, home loans, superannuation, protection, and long-term goals into one clear plan. When finances are connected, people stop reacting and start making confident choices.
We often remind clients that the greatest outcome of a reset isn’t just improved numbers, it’s peace of mind. If you’d like support creating your own financial plan for the year, you’re warmly invited to book a complimentary consultation with our team.
Sources:
Aspire2 Wealth Advisers Pty Ltd ABN 42 125 897 903 is an authorised representative and credit representative of Charter Financial Planning Limited ABN 35 002 976 294, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 234665.
This website contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information.
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