This Week in Property: Key Dates and Events You Can’t Afford to Miss!

Joel Hynes
Feb 17
5 min read

The property market is like a reality TV show—you never know what's coming next, but it's always entertaining. Whether you're a buyer, seller, investor, or someone who enjoys scrolling through million-dollar listings while eating takeaway, staying updated with key property events can give you an edge.

This week is jam-packed with important dates, significant announcements, and industry updates that could shake up the market. From interest rate decisions to auction showdowns and rental market updates, here's everything you need to mark in your calendar for the week ahead.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, 18 February – The Reserve Bank's First Big Move of 2025

📢 RBA Monetary Policy Meeting.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is meeting this Tuesday to make a crucial decision that could significantly impact the property market. They will cut interest rates, potentially providing a financial lifeline or maintaining the current rates, keeping home loans expensive. This decision is a key event you should be aware of, as it could shape your future property decisions.

💰 Why This Matters:

If rates drop, expect buyers to flood the market, potentially driving prices up again.
If rates stay the same, investors and mortgage holders will keep holding their breath.
If rates increase (highly unlikely, but never say never), prepare for widespread panic and a new surge in "Why I Left Australia" YouTube videos.

Prediction? Experts are betting on a rate hold, but all eyes are on the RBA to see if they hint at future cuts later this year.

Wednesday, 19 February – The Truth About Housing Finance

📊 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Housing Finance Data Release

The ABS will be dropping fresh housing finance data, which means we'll find out:

✔ How many people are still borrowing to buy homes?

✔ Whether investors are making a comeback or still licking their wounds from recent interest rate hikes.

✔ If first-home buyers are finally getting a fair go or cashed up, investors are still pricing them out.

💡 Why You Should Care:

If loan approvals are high, it signals strong demand and potential price increases.
If approvals drop, buyers are cautious, and we could see prices stagnate or fall.

For anyone considering buying or refinancing, this data is a crystal ball into what's next for mortgages.

Thursday, 20 February – The Property Market's Weekly Report Card

Thursday, February 20-The Property Market's Weekly Report Card

Think of this as the property market's weekly performance review. CoreLogic will crunch the numbers on:

🏡 Which suburbs are booming, and which ones are busting?

📉 Whether house prices are going up, down, or standing still.

🏦 How the rental market is performing across different cities.

💰 Why It's a Big Deal:

If prices are climbing, sellers will get excited and raise asking prices.
If prices are falling, buyers will have more bargaining power.
Investors might jump back in if the rental market tightens, pushing demand.

This update gives buyers, sellers, and investors a snapshot of the market's direction, making it a must-read every Thursday. It's a comprehensive overview of the property market's performance, providing you with the latest insights and trends.

Friday, 21 February – The Rental Market's Latest Gossip

🏠 SQM Research's Residential Vacancy Rates Release

This is the number to watch for renters desperately searching for a place and investors wondering if their property will sit empty. SQM Research will tell us if vacancy rates are rising (good news for renters) or falling (great news for landlords, not so much for tenants).

🔥 Key Insights to Watch:

If vacancy rates are super low, expect rents to keep climbing.
If vacancy rates jump, landlords might finally stop charging an arm and a leg for a shoebox apartment.

With rental prices already at record highs, this data could signal whether relief is in sight—or whether renters should keep practising their "Can I sleep on your couch?" pitch.

Saturday, 22 February – The Auction Action

🔨 Sydney's Mega Property Auction Weekend

Sydney is hosting one of its biggest auction weekends of the year, and with buyer confidence shifting, this could be a significant test for the market.

🏡 Why This Auction Weekend Matters:

High clearance rates? The market is still hot.
Low clearance rates? Buyers are playing hard to get.
Crazy bidding wars? Get ready for prices to start rising again.

Expect real estate agents to use every trick to hype up demand and for buyers to either go all-in or hold back, waiting for better deals later in the year.

Throughout the Week – Government & Industry Updates

🏗 New Development Projects Launching

Melbourne and Brisbane are seeing several major development launches this week, with new residential and commercial projects hitting the market.

💡 Why This Matters:

More new apartments = possible relief for renters.
More infrastructure spending = higher property values nearby.
More supply = potentially lower property prices in those areas.

📢 Upcoming Policy Announcements

The NSW Planning Portal has hinted at potential zoning changes and infrastructure developments being announced this week. These updates could affect where new homes can be built, how fast suburbs grow, and where investors should look next.

🚦 Biggest potential impacts:

✔ Changes to rezoning laws (meaning some areas could become more valuable).

✔ New transport projects that boost property prices nearby.

✔ Updates to first-home buyer incentives or investor regulations.

Friday, 21 February – Must-Read for Property Investors

📖 Your Investment Property Magazine's March Issue

If you're an investor, you'll want to grab a copy of the latest issue of Your Investment Property Magazine, which is dropping this Friday.

🔥 What's inside?

Emerging hotspots – Where to buy before prices take off.
Investor strategies – How pros make money in today's market.
Market predictions – What's next for Aussie property?

If you're serious about building wealth through real estate, this magazine is your monthly cheat sheet.

Monday, 17 February – The Home Loan Rate Shuffle

💸 Finder.com.au Home Loan Rate Comparison Update

Lenders update their interest rates every week, and Finder does the hard work of tracking who's offering the best (and worst) deals. If the RBA hints at future rate cuts, banks might offer more competitive loans to win over borrowers.

Thursday, 20 February – What Aussies Think About Property Right Now

📊 Canstar Property Market Sentiment Survey Results

Canstar is releasing its latest property market sentiment survey, which tells us:

✔ Are Aussies feeling confident about buying property in 2025?

✔ Do most people think prices will go up, down, or stay the same?

✔ Are investors planning to jump back into the market?

This is the survey to watch if you want to know where public confidence is heading.

Final Thoughts: Stay Ahead of the Market

This week is shaping up to be a big one for Australian property. From interest rate decisions to auction results and rental market updates, these events will shape the market's movement in the weeks ahead.

📢 What do you think will happen? Are you buying, selling, or waiting it out? Comment below!