Matt Hayson

15/10/2026

Buyer fatigue. It's real. But what exactly is it?

Every year as we move towards Christmas, the property market experiences a shift in buyer behaviour.

This year, with the economic backdrop, changing property values and relentless headlines, could that shift be arriving earlier than usual?

In this week's The Word, we explore the numbers, the conversations our team are having with buyers and what the next six weeks could mean for Sydney's property market.

Plenty to unpack, and some important considerations for anyone thinking of making a move before 2027.

Thanks for watching.

WTF is buyer fatigue?Every year, as we head towards Christmas, som...

08/10/2026

Higher rates or lower prices - who is actually better off?

That’s one of the questions we put to the test in this week’s episode of The Word.

First, the mid-spring report card. Sydney’s auction clearance rate has fallen to 26.87%, the weakest result of the year. Sales volumes are down 25%, and more than a quarter of listed homes have now been sitting on the market for over six months.

Buyers are adjusting quickly to these conditions, and sellers need to do the same. But there’s another side to the story. Falling prices are starting to change the equation for buyers.

Last year, buyers were dealing with lower interest rates but higher property prices. Today, rates are higher, but prices are lower.

We run the numbers on a $3 million purchase to see who is actually better off.

Higher rates hurt, but the price you pay matters enormously.

Watch The Word below.

Higher rates. Lower property prices.Which buyer is actually better...

08/10/2026

95/10 Pyrmont Bridge Road, Camperdown – For sale
High up. North-east facing. City views.
A bright one-bed apartment with a big entertainer’s balcony, secure parking and full access to City Quarter’s resort-style facilities.
1 bed | 1 bath | 1 car | 80sqm
• 14sqm NE-facing balcony
• City skyline outlook
• Indoor + outdoor pools
• Two gyms
• Secure parking
• RPA + Sydney Uni nearby
95/10 Pyrmont Bridge Road, Camperdown



https://www.ch.com.au/100P44764?token=430b190b6304f224369d0a8c66da6f9bbc07629d&utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6ac7381a5035eeb7226aa73f

01/10/2026

JUST LISTED | 17 Edward Street, Balmain East
This is a special pocket of Balmain East.
Fronting Illoura Reserve on Peacock Point, this beautifully rebuilt 1870s terrace sits at the very tip of the peninsula, surrounded by greenery with filtered harbour views towards both the Harbour Bridge and Anzac Bridge.
An end-of-row position with only one common wall gives the home a wonderful sense of privacy, while inside, three levels of contemporary living open to balconies and a private entertainer’s courtyard.
Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, beautiful Blackbutt floors and the harbour literally at your doorstep.
A rare home in one of Balmain East’s most tightly held settings.
3 bed | 2 bath
Auction Thursday 5 November
Buyer’s Guide $2.75m
First open Saturday 3 October, 10:00–10:30am




https://www.ch.com.au/property/17-edward-street-balmain-east-100p448003?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6abe190fe00c9c632cfe811d

01/10/2026

JUST LISTED | 25 Short Street, Balmain
This is a cracker.
Tucked away on a quiet street right on the cusp of Birchgrove, this beautiful home is full of natural light, warmth and character — with magical city skyline views that come alive from dawn through to after dark.
Freestanding to the north, with polished Blackbutt floors, huge bedrooms, cathedral ceilings and a wisteria-framed entertaining deck, it’s one of those homes that just feels good the moment you walk in.
And the location is hard to beat — 150m to Darling Street, an easy walk to Mort Bay Park, Elkington Park and Dawn Fraser Baths.
2 bed | 2.5 bath
Auction Thursday 5 November
Buyer’s Guide $2.3m
Open Saturday 3 October | 1:00–1:30pm



https://www.ch.com.au/property/25-short-street-balmain-100p441513?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6abe17a244740a4cad76e2be

01/10/2026

Rates went up again.
The fourth increase this year.
Sydney property is already down 8.6%, September alone fell another 1.45%, and last weekend’s 1,105 scheduled auctions produced a clearance rate of just 29.77%.
These aren’t separate events.
In this week’s The Word, we look at what’s happening to the cost of money globally, why inflation and rates remain such a problem, and then bring it back to what we’re seeing inside actual Sydney campaigns.
The biggest change?
Auction dates aren’t creating urgency.
Price is. Value is.
If you’re buying or selling in Sydney right now, this is worth understanding.

Sydney property is repricing quickly.The RBA lifted rates for the...

29/09/2026

9 Cove Street, Birchgrove
Guide $2.6m
This is a seriously good terrace.
Beautifully reimagined over three levels, with loads of natural light, a stunning kitchen and one of those lush, private north-east gardens that completely changes the way the house lives.
Three bedrooms, multiple living spaces, great indoor/outdoor flow and a brilliant position just moments from Birchgrove Park, the harbour foreshore and village life.
A gorgeous home in one of the peninsula’s best pockets.

24/09/2026

SOLD | 29 Nicholson Street, Balmain East
$3.55m — sold prior to auction after just one week on the market.
A beautiful home, wonderful clients and a strong campaign that created the competition needed to get an excellent result before auction.
Really pleased with this one.
Congratulations to our vendors and the very happy new owners.



https://www.ch.com.au/property/29-nicholson-street-balmain-east-100p445823?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6ab4d92b9d61523ce2e77350

24/09/2026

“We’ll just hold.”

Maybe that's exactly the right call, but in a changing Sydney property market, it's worth understanding what holding actually means.

Values are down, buyers have changed, and rate pressure remains. History tells us property cycles can take time.

This week on The Word, we look at the numbers, previous corrections, and what we're seeing from buyers and sellers every day, because what you want and what the market will pay can be two very different things.

“We’ll just hold.”It's one of the most common conversations we're...

17/09/2026

Sydney property just recorded its strongest preliminary auction clearance rate in 19 weeks.
Sounds like the market is turning.
But is it?

On the streets, buyers remain cautious, sellers are still adjusting and negotiations remain tough.

This week on The Word, we look beyond the improving headlines at what’s actually happening, including buyer and seller behaviour, inflation, the economic squeeze and where we really sit in the property cycle.

Are we seeing green shoots or celebrating mediocrity?

Watch The Word.

The headlines say Sydney property may finally be turning.But is th...