Why a slow construction market is your best opportunity — and why it will not last

If the rate rises have you holding off, there is a first step that doesn't commit you to building anything. Design and council approval usually take twelve to eighteen months, and the big banks expect cuts to begin around the second half of 2027, so the time spent waiting can be the time you spend getting ready.

Got a mortgage? Get the design and council approval done now. It usually takes 12 to 18 months, and the big banks expect rate cuts to start around August 2027, so you'd be ready to build as they arrive.

Thinking of selling to buy bigger? Top‑end Sydney house values are down 10.7%, and transfer duty on a $2.5 million home is over $100,000 before you've paid the agent.