The NSW Government says upgrades to all ten stations between Sydenham and Bankstown are now complete, moving Southwest Metro into its final operational-readiness phase. More than 6,150 of the required 9,000 testing hours and about 24,750 of 30,000 kilometres had been completed when the update was released. The upgraded corridor will bring faster and more frequent services, including a planned 28-minute Bankstown-to-Central trip. For owners and buyers along the corridor, the milestone improves visibility on a major transport upgrade that could reshape accessibility and local demand once passenger services open.
Homes NSW is progressing a proposal for around 340 new homes across four residential buildings on former government land in Haberfield and Ashfield, with 30% planned as social housing. Community feedback remains open until 5pm on 28 September, with a drop-in session at Haberfield Centre on 22 September from 4:45pm to 7pm before a State Significant Development Application is lodged. For Inner West owners and buyers, the proposal is a useful signal of how surplus government land and higher-density housing are being used to add supply around established suburbs and transport links.
Sydney asking rents reach $912.52 a week as annual growth holds above 5%
SQM Research's latest weekly asking-rent data shows Sydney combined asking rents at about $912.52 a week for the week ending 20 September 2026, 5.2% higher than a year earlier. House asking rents were about $1,142.71 a week, up 5.3% annually, while unit asking rents were about $755.32, up 5.1%. For landlords, city-wide asking rents are a useful market signal, but individual rent reviews should still be based on current comparable properties, the dwelling's condition and NSW tenancy requirements. A proactive property manager can help assess the market evidence and manage rent reviews appropriately.
NSW’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy is designed to expand housing choice between detached homes and high-rise apartments. The policy applies in eligible residential areas within an 800-metre walk of nominated town centres and transport hubs, with 171 centres and stations selected across metropolitan Sydney and other nominated NSW regions. NSW Planning says the policy is expected to support up to 112,000 homes over five years. For owners, the practical takeaway is that development potential can vary materially by zoning, walking distance and site constraints, so individual sites still need to be checked against the legislation.
The RBA cash rate remains at 4.35%, with the next monetary policy update due on 29 September 2026. The Bank says financial conditions have tightened after three cash-rate increases this year and that inflation remains too high. For property owners and buyers, the immediate implication is that borrowing costs remain elevated and serviceability should be assessed against current rates rather than relying on an early easing in financing conditions.
Sydney auction clearance rate revised to 49% on 19 September
Domain’s later-reported Sydney auction results for Saturday 19 September show 800 properties scheduled for auction, with 577 results reported and 280 sales recorded. The clearance rate is 49%, with 170 withdrawals and 127 properties passed in. Reported sales total $300,679,294 and the median sale price is $1,600,000. Domain updated these figures on 24 September 2026; they replace the earlier reported snapshot for the same auction date.
APRA’s June 2026 property exposure data shows residential mortgage credit at authorised deposit-taking institutions reached $2.5585 trillion, up 7.0% from a year earlier. Investment loans accounted for 31.2% of outstanding residential credit, up from 30.5%, while investors made up 35.6% of new loans funded during the quarter. At the same time, the share of loans 30–89 days past due eased to 0.54% and non-performing loans to 1.01%. For Sydney investors and owners, the figures point to continued credit growth and a larger investor presence, while broad arrears indicators remain contained.
Homes NSW is proposing around 180 new social homes at 311A Forest Road, Hurstville, on a 6,172 sqm former Transport for NSW site identified through the state land audit. The concept includes apartment buildings of up to 10 storeys with parking, gardens and shared spaces, positioned between Hurstville and Penshurst stations. More than 1,500 households are currently on the Housing Register in the Georges River area, including more than 400 priority applicants. Community feedback is open until 5pm on 28 September before a State Significant Development Application is lodged.
