Look beyond the headlines. Perth record price gains aren’t all the same.
Perth has been making national property headlines all year. With 12 consecutive quarters of price rises, the overall median house price is and at record highs, and surging toward the $1 million milestone
While the market has strong fundamentals, momentum is slowing, and relying on the broad 'Perth' average is the fastest way to miss out or, worse, buy in a slowing area.
The biggest mistake a buyer can make in this market is assuming that a general rise in the Perth median translates into guaranteed growth for every postcode - even one’s next door to each other.
The Ladder Lowdown
Perth prices at record levels - Up 6% year on year to $950k m to Sept 2025
Some regions growing 5x faster than others - uneven competition
Know your market before you act - the right knowledge helps you move forward with confidence
Deconstructing the "Perth" Median Pricepeer
A median price is simply the middle point of all property sales across a vast area. It’s an average that smooths out the peaks and troughs, effectively hiding the enormous variations that determine whether your investment succeeds or fails.
The cold hard numbers: A tale of two neighbours
Take a look at the data below, when we break down the growth rates by specific suburbs, the true picture emerges. The difference between -2.9% and 33% growth is the difference between a declining asset and an accelerating portfolio. These figures demonstrate one clear truth: You aren't buying 'Perth'—you're buying a suburb.
The Risk of Generalisation for Buyers
Relying on the overall Perth median price carries several critical risks for both investors and owner-occupiers:
Risk of Overpaying: You might purchase a property in an area performing at the 6% level while paying a premium driven by the frenzy of the 33% suburbs. You end up with a high entry price and poor immediate growth.
Missing Out on the Opportunity: Conversely, you might dismiss the entire Perth market as "too expensive" or "too competitive," missing out on high-growth pockets that are being driven by specific local demand factors.
Poor Portfolio Planning: For investors, a market with low variation is safe, but a market with large variation demands precision. You need to target specific growth zones to achieve the cash flow and capital gains required to "step up faster," as outlined in our recent guide.
How to Find Your Market Advantage
Savvy buyers we speak to are adopting a local data strategy. This means digging deeper than postcodes and understanding the drivers of an area:
Supply vs. Demand: What is the actual volume of properties for sale versus the number of serious buyers? This impacts price more than any city-wide median.
Rental Yields: For investors, the median price is meaningless if the rent can't cover the mortgage. Focus on yields and vacancy rates for cash flow certainty.
Future Infrastructure: Where is the government spending money? New transport links or upgrades are local drivers that create predictable future growth, regardless of the Perth median.
How we help
Don’t buy blind. We offer a complimentary, tailored property and suburb Report that breaks down the local data so you can move forward with confidence.
Our role is to help you get a step up the property ladder by providing considered lending advice. Whether small actions like saving on repayments, or strategic restructuring of your lending.
Knowing your realistic property price means we can recalculate your true borrowing potential whether to refinance, renovate or invest.
Request your free suburb report.
Click here to request your FREE Suburb Report here.
You can always call Will on 0414 877 724 or will@ladderfs.com.au, and he’s always open for a chat.