Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Enter your details below and create a login
Send me exclusive tips, early access to new launches, and special offers. I can change my mind at any time.
By clicking Get started now you agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
The HIA New Home Sales report is a monthly survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states and is a leading indicator of future detached home construction.
“The recent decline in sales reflects households becoming more cautious in response to higher borrowing costs and increased uncertainty, rather than a reduction in Australia’s underlying need for new homes,” added Mr Devitt.
“Sales of new homes in the three months to July were 13.5 per cent lower than in the previous quarter but remained 17.1 per cent higher over the last 12 months compared to the previous year, supported by the momentum built earlier in the year.
“Households continue to face the cumulative impact of three interest rate increases this year. At the same time, uncertainty surrounding recent housing policy changes has encouraged many prospective purchasers to delay, or cancel, major financial decisions.
“In the three months to July, house prices nationally declined by 2.0 per cent, the largest quarterly fall since 2022. Because the new and established home markets are linked, a decline in established prices will lead a decline in new home sales and a slowing in home building.
“The adverse shock to established home prices, due to the Federal Budget, is likely to be one factor slowing sales of new homes.
“Despite this, the structural drivers of housing demand remain firmly in place. Unemployment remains very low, migration remains elevated, household formation continues, and Australia’s shortage of homes will continue to support underlying demand.
“The goal of building 1.2 million homes will become increasingly unachievable if governments continue to restrict who can build, invest in, or finance new homes.
“Policies that add uncertainty, reduce investor participation, or constrain finance will only make it harder to deliver the homes Australians need,” concluded Mr Devitt.
By state, New South Wales was the only state to record a monthly increase, rising by 2.1 per cent. The largest decline was seen in Queensland (-10.9 per cent), followed by South Australia (-7.6 per cent), Victoria (-2.0 per cent), and Western Australia remaining relatively unchanged (-0.4 per cent).
In the year to July 2026, new home sales in Victoria were 27.6 per cent higher compared to the previous year, followed by South Australia (+26.3 per cent), New South Wales (+16.6 per cent), Queensland (+10.0 per cent) and Western Australia (+3.3 per cent).
The HIA has been advised that due to an increase of plumbing audit inspection failures, from the 1st of September, the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) will be further policing non-compliance in the installation of sanitary plumbing and drainage pipework, namely the bedding of sanitary drainage pipes.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the establishment of the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into social housing, describing it as an important opportunity to identify the reforms needed to deliver more housing of all forms at scale and address the bottlenecks holding back housing supply broadly.
“Sales of new homes declined for a third consecutive month in July, falling by 3.7 per cent as higher interest rates and policy uncertainty continued to weigh on consumer confidence,” stated HIA Senior Economist, Tom Devitt.
HIA is proudly supporting National Skills Week this year by highlighting the construction industry’s many and diverse career opportunities.