Just kidding, what 2026 actually has in store is anyone’s educated guess. I don’t typically turn to horoscopes or astrology for market forecasts – I prefer cold, hard facts (of which I’ve got plenty for you below). I just needed a catchy intro to grab your attention.
According to ChatGPT, we have a high-execution team: two fire oxen, a metal snake, a wood monkey and a wood dog. I am quite the opposite of woo-woo, but I will admit, the individual descriptions were scarily accurate – the bots must be eavesdropping on our office banter. If you’d like to take a stab at figuring out who is who, shoot me an email. If you get all five of us right, we’ll shout you a coffee at Kin.
How did we make this discovery you wonder? I asked the team to do a spot of research on the Year of the Horse, and after going down the rabbit hole, this is the summary I received (citing Vogue as their source, so please take this with a grain of salt as well!):
“In Eastern culture, the horse represents action, freedom, speed, and breakthrough.”
If the Year of the Horse is characterised by energy, independence and a galloping pace, the start of 2026 for the Brisbane property market has aligned perfectly with this spirit. This year has indeed burst out of the gates at a full sprint.
We aren’t just seeing interest; we are seeing decisive action from buyers. In the unit market, the “wait and see” approach has well and truly been replaced by a “first past the post” mentality, with the sub-$1 million market leading the way. As the Brisbane median unit price continues to hit record highs, sellers are experiencing tremendous gains in short time periods, however the barrier to entry has reached eye-watering levels for first-time buyers.
51/36 Vernon Terrace is one such property. The moment we teased this property on our Instagram, it garnered a lot of interest and within the first week of open homes, this property was under contract, selling for $880,000.
The “galloping pace” too isn’t just a metaphor – it’s in the data. Days on market for well-located units in sought-after locations have tightened significantly since we’ve come back from the Christmas break. We noticed an overwhelming wave of interest from both owner-occupiers and investors throughout the first open homes of the year – pawing at the gate after the Christmas break: keen, decisive and prepared, if you will.
The campaign for 58/139 Commercial Road, for example, carried from late 2025 into the new year. In the first month of 2026, the property came onto the radar of buyers we had only just met, selling last week for $1,500,000.Finally, the “freedom” associated with the Horse reflects the shift in how Brisbanites want to live. More people are trading the bridle of high-maintenance suburban backyards for the lock-and-leave freedom of inner-city apartments.
As the improving infrastructure (anyone else stoked that they can run past Eagle Street to the Botanic Gardens without stopping at 17 pedestrian crossings again?!) begins to take physical shape around us, that sense of momentum is palpable.
At a time when the new unit pipeline is as thin as ever and the construction of one- and two-bedroom apartments has drastically declined, these configurations are highly sought-after. When paired with elegant, versatile interiors and that inimitable Woolstore charm, it is no surprise that units such as 233/64 Macquarie Street are secured within days of hitting the market
I’ve seen the value in units for the past decade, and now that buyers are cottoning on to their lifestyle appeal – be that out of necessity or by choice – we’re proud to be representing a wide range of exciting new listings.
20/22 Florence Street could not have launched at a better time. As we head into the final days of summer, the lucky buyer of this immaculate Winchcombe Carson Woolstore apartment can look forward to balmy evenings with friends and crisp mornings with a coffee in hand on the spacious, sheltered balcony.
After being tightly held for the past decade, this immaculately maintained unit is ready for its next chapter.
“They don’t make’em like this anymore” could not apply to one-bedroom apartments more if it tried. Since the changes to the First Home Guarantee in October 2025, the competition and demand for this configuration has drastically increased. Supply continues to dwindle, so opportunities such as 5/7 Roche Avenue are quick to be snapped up.
After a rather drizzly weekend of open homes, we’re looking forward to another big Saturday of inspections, hopefully in the sunshine again.
We hope to see you there!
Ben
