The 2025 wrap up at LINK Project Marketing

This year asked a lot from everyone in our industry.

High construction costs, tightening finance, supply constraints and shifting buyer sentiment reshaped the landscape again and forced all of us to rethink timing, strategy and delivery. Yet through it all, quality projects continued to move, communities continued to grow, and the fundamentals behind well-conceived development remained strong.

What shaped the market in 2025

Construction pressure and supply constraints

The cost pressures that have dogged the construction sector for several years didn’t disappear, but they did begin to show signs of easing in 2025. According to the latest sector data, residential construction prices grew by only a modest 0.4% in the June quarter after a period of volatility.

Still, high energy and materials costs, along with labour shortages and imported-material pressures, kept margins tight for many builders.

This dynamic, along with delayed approvals, has continued to significantly impact supply. For many developments in 2025, getting from approval to construction to completion required more careful planning, disciplined cost management and realistic timelines.

At the same time, demand remained resilient. Recent data shows national home values rose, underscoring the continued imbalance between supply and demand.

What price growth and demand looked like

Across Australia, home values increased, indicating that well-positioned and well-executed developments remain highly sought after. The Global Property Guide, via Cotality, put the nationwide median dwelling value at roughly AUD $848,858 by August 2025, up ~4.1% over the prior year.

Elsewhere, rising demand from both owner-occupiers and investors has pushed auction activity higher, with strong participation through Spring 2025.

Forecasts from market analysts suggest that 2026 is shaping up for further moderate-to-strong growth.

As supply continues to lag demand, properties that offer quality, location, design and certainty, completed or near-completed, remain especially attractive.

At the core of demand: a persistent national undersupply, constrained by construction pressures, labour shortages and cautious financing.

That makes now a particularly strategic time for developers who can deliver certainty.

Our 2025 highlights

Amid the turbulence, we had plenty to celebrate. The strength and vision of our partners, and the resilience of our sales networks all combined to deliver several key milestones this year:

- Settlement day at Florence & Capri and Treacys Place, along with completion of 76 The Borough: bringing dream homes and modern workspaces over the line and marking the transition from vision to reality. Congratulations to The One Collection, Masscon and team, and Wynn Construction Group and team, for these amazing contributions to Australia's property landscape.

- Completion of MADE: Marrickville’s newest commercial, creative and industrial space, adding vibrant mixed-use supply to a precinct that continues to evolve. Congratulations to the dynamic team that is TOGA Group, Rebel Property Group, and Braxton for a project that is really changing the concept of the workplace in the inner west.

- Progress on Vortex Property Group and team's Duncan House: we watched it edge steadily toward its settlement milestone, as construction progressed and the building transformed into a genuinely impressive set of new residences.

- Ongoing delivery at First Quadrant Property, DASCO and team's Willoughby Grounds: seeing this network of residences rise up and the latest buildings visually create the space and opportunity for what will become a thriving community, has been incredibly exciting.

- Continued progress, with the end in sight for Riva Como in Perth: nestled along the serene Swan River, it is a testament to the vision of PRD Developments and their team.

- Launch of The One Collection's Horizon Hurstville: a standout event that reinforced how powerful results can be when development expertise, partnership alignment and planning rigour come together.

Each of these outcomes reflects the hard work, coordination and commitment of every team involved, from developers and builders, to sales partners, brokers and the LINK marketing team.

2026 outlook: what we expect next year

Looking ahead, several industry forecasts point toward continued strength in the property market, albeit tempered by economic headwinds and lingering supply constraints:

- National dwelling prices are forecast to grow by 6–10% in 2026 according to SQM Research, supported by steadier interest rates, strong demand and tight supply.

- In capital cities and inner-ring suburbs where infrastructure, amenity and lifestyle converge, demand for quality apartments and mixed-use developments is expected to stay strong.

- On the supply side, while construction costs appear more stable now than in recent peaks, the backlog of approvals and labour constraints mean completions will come through gradually.

What this means for developers and buyers: projects that are either completed or near-completion, those with certainty, solid design and location, will continue to carry premium value. Timing, quality and delivery certainty will matter as much as ever.

The people behind the scenes

None of the outcomes and achievements listed above happens without the people around us.
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To every development team and collaborator who trusted us with their vision, thank you. Your resilience and commitment through a complex year made all the difference.

We also extend our gratitude to our network of talented, committed sales partners. The way you support project buyers with openness and genuineness helps them feel confident making their off plan purchase.

And to our own LINK team: thank you. For the long days, the late calls, the constant problem-solving and the way you show up for our clients and each other. This year demanded dedication, you delivered it round the clock.

There are still a few weeks left of 2025, and we’re looking forward to them being busy and full of the best kind of hustle.

Here’s to more strong partnerships, smart strategy and great project outcomes ahead in 2026.