{{ propApi.searchIcon }}
{{ propApi.closeIcon }}
Our industry
Our industry $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Housing industry insights
Economics Insights Data & forecasts Tailored research & analysis
Advocacy & policy
Advocacy Policy priorities Position statements Submissions
News & inspiration
Industry news Member alerts Media releases HOUSING Online
Business support
Business support $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Support & guidance
Ask an expert Contracts & compliance support Building & planning services Australian Standards
Member perks
Toyota vehicles The Good Guys Commercial Ampol fuel savings See all
Industry insurance
HIA Insurance Services Construction works insurance Home warranty insurance Tradies & tool insurance
For your business
Contracts Online Safety systems & solutions HIA SafeScan
Apprentices
Why host a HIA apprentice? Hire an apprentice Value for money
Resources & advice
Resources & advice $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Building it right
Building codes National Construction Code Australian standards See all
Managing your business
Dealing with contracts Handling disputes Managing your employees See all
Managing your safety
Safety rules Working with silica See all
Building your business
Growing your business Communication for your business See all
Other subjects
Getting approval to build Sustainable homes See all
Careers & learning
Careers & learning $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
A rewarding career
Become an apprentice Apprenticeships on offer How do I apply? Frequently asked questions
Study with us
Find a course to suit you Qualification courses Learning on demand Professional development courses
A job in the industry
Get your builder's licence Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Further your career
HIA community
HIA community $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Grow with us
Sign me up Become a member Member benefits Mates rates
Our podcasts
Made To Build Built Different HIA Building Australia Building the Hunter
Our initiatives
HIA Building Women Charitable Foundation GreenSmart Kitchen, bathroom & design hub
Get involved
Become an award judge Join a committee Meet our members Partner with us
Awards & events
Awards & events $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards
Awards program People & Business Awards GreenSmart Australian Housing Awards
Awards winners
Regional Award winners Australian Housing Award winners 2026 Australian Home of the Year
Industry events
Events in the next month Economic outlook HIA Made Events calendar
HIA shop
HIA shop $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Most popular products
National Construction Code Vol 1 & 2 Waterproofing wet areas AS 3740:2021 HIA Guide to Waterproofing HIA Guide to NCC Livable Housing Provisions
Top categories
Building codes & standards Contracts & documents Guides & manuals Safety products Signage
For your business
Contracts Online Digital Australian Standards Digital Resource Library Forecasts & data
About Contact Newsroom
$vuetify.icons.faTimes
$vuetify.icons.faMapMarker Set my location Use the field below to update your location
Address
Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location

$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Infrastructure remains the barrier to increased housing supply

Media release

Infrastructure remains the barrier to increased housing supply

Media release
“Residential land prices increased by 1.5 per cent in the final quarter of 2025 to be 9.4 per cent higher over the year, increasing almost three times faster than consumer prices over the same period,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.

The HIA-Cotality Residential Land Report provides updated information on sales activity in 52 housing markets across Australia, including the six state capital cities.

“The median price of residential land sold nationally reached a new record high in the December quarter 2025, at $397,840,” added Mr Devitt.

“Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide have been producing new record high prices for a number of years on the back of their leading of the national home building recovery. Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart have just recently produced their own record highs.

“There are also signs in a number of these markets that land shortages are limiting the number of lots being sold and threatening to constrain home building recoveries all over again.

“A lack of shovel-ready land and associated infrastructure has been by far the number one constraint on home building over the last few decades, even with more recent material price shocks and acute labour shortages.

“There are tens of thousands of homes that could commence construction around the country if the essential transport and utilities infrastructure was in place.

“The problem is that local and state governments face financial constraints that often impede the timely delivery of such infrastructure and subsequent housing.

“The recent Australian Government Budget makes progress on a number of these fronts, including $2 billion worth of ‘enabling infrastructure’.

“The reacceleration of lot prices in recent quarters highlights the importance of addressing the constraints to the delivery of more shovel-ready land and infrastructure.

“The Australian government’s commitment is a positive medium-term step in the right direction,” concluded Mr Devitt.

Cotality research director, Tim Lawless, noted higher land prices were coming at a time when established markets were losing steam. “We have seen Sydney and Melbourne home values gradually falling since December last year, while the smaller capitals are clearly losing steam as higher interest rates and affordability pressures bite.”

“While we may see some affordability improvements as established markets navigate softer conditions, an ongoing scarcity of new housing remains an offsetting factor. It’s hard to see a material improvement in the affordability of Australian housing until we see a broad-based and sustained supply response underway.”

Download our latest HIA-Cotality Residential Land Report

For more information please contact:

Thomas Devitt

Senior Economist
Latest articles
View all news $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
15 Oct
Workers' compensation shake-up puts costs in focus

This week, the Queensland Government introduced legislation into Parliament to reform the state's workers' compensation scheme by specifically addressing the rising impact of psychological injury claims and fraud on the Scheme's long-term financial sustainability.

15 Oct
New home shortfall costs Tasmania the equivalent of 2,800 nurses for two years

Tasmania’s failure to build enough homes has cost the state budget an estimated $642 million in stamp duty and GST over the past two years, which is enough to pay the salaries of 2,807 registered nurses for two years, according to new analysis by the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

15 Oct
Housing industry backs scope 3 rollback to ease growing compliance burden

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the Federal Opposition's announcement that it would remove Scope 3 emissions reporting requirements, describing the move as a practical step towards reducing growing compliance burdens across Australia's residential building supply chain.

14 Oct
Labor’s Absentee Owner Surcharge ‘cut’ won’t deliver affordable housing

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) acknowledges the Victorian Labor government’s announcement today that it will cut the Absentee Owner Surcharge (AOS) for its preferred projects.