If your rent keeps rising, it may be time to run the numbers on owning.
The national vacancy rate was 1.2% in January, according to SQM Research. For context:
- 2–3% is considered balanced.
- Above 3% favours tenants.
- Below 2% favours landlords
Vacancy has been extremely low for four years. With homebuilding activity still below demand, there’s no clear sign of that changing soon.
Why this changes the rent vs buy equation
In a tight market:
- Rents tend to rise faster.
- Lease renewals come with less negotiating power.
- Moving costs stack up more often.
For some renters, that’s the moment buying becomes realistic.
If you’re paying $600–$800 per week, that’s $31,000–$41,000 per year with no equity building. In some cases, repayments aren’t dramatically higher.
The key question isn’t “Is buying cheaper?” It’s “How close am I, really?”
I run side-by-side comparisons so you can see exactly how far off you are – or how close.
If rising rent has you thinking about your next move, let’s test your numbers properly. Contact me and I’ll compare your borrowing power against what you’re paying in rent.
