Cairns Property News - June 2026

It will be interesting to see how the property market holds up in the second half of 2026, as the recent federal budget tax policy changes around capital gains tax and negative gearing have softened market conditions, this will influence future property decisions.

See where Cairns sits on the HTW June National Property Clock.

Keep in mind, activity is traditionally stronger in the "spring selling season", before we have the property lull in our monsoonal Cairns wet-season from about November on.

1. Whats currently going on in Cairns?

In Cairns the slow down is being felt in the sales market, we’re seeing sellers put the sale on pause and people taking  a lot longer to make decisions. The rental front is strong, there’s been some good annual increases that has brought some older leases up to market value. A strong 7-8% return for investors. Apartments in particular are flying out the door.

Affordability is a concern. It’s hard to compute that a first home buyer now needs to spend $700k-800k, it’s a scary reality. First-home buyers don't need a tax refund - they need a time machine.

2. Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terror Financing

From 1 July 2026, real estate agents will officially become "reporting entities" under Australia’s new AML &CTF legislation.

That means real estate agents will soon have obligations around:
✔ Client identification
✔ Record keeping
✔ Risk assessments
✔ Suspicious matter reporting
✔ Ongoing compliance systems

So be prepared when you're looking to buy or sell property from now on, to answer some probing privacy questions from your agent (or agent's digital software), to get the deal done.

3. On the lighter side.

I had some buyers just put in an offer on a two-story house:
one story before the offer, another story after the offer.

My accountant told me to start investing in real estate,
now my bank account is also a 'fixer-upper'.

I had some buyers wanting to buy a sports stadium,
but I could only give them a ballpark estimate.

My broker told me my borrowing capacity is great,
assuming I plan to live in a cardboard box.

4. Interesting fact #179: Bedroom colour can effect your sales price.

According to Zillow's 2026 Paint Colour Analysis, buyers were willing to offer "up to $2,277 more" for homes with a chocolate brown bedroom compared to the same room painted white. The specific shade was Sherwin-Williams Turkish Coffee, which researchers said created a cosy. warm and luxurious feel that resonated with buyers.

The article also mentions which colours to avoid. For example, a bold red bathroom could have offers come in about $7,971 lower than if the room was white — the single largest impact they found in any room for any color.

Thank you for being part of these monthly updates — I genuinely enjoy helping Cairns homeowners stay informed and confident about the market.

If you need advice on timing, value, market trends, or preparing your home for sale, I’m always happy to help, whether you’re planning for now or the future.

Helping with your real estate journey.

Daniel Sheehan
0409 262 326