If you’ve spent any time at a Perth home open lately, you’ve likely noticed a recurring theme: the “Sold” sticker goes up before you’ve even finished your weekend coffee. At Holdsworth Real Estate, we’re seeing a market that isn’t just fast—it’s historic.
The latest research from REIWA has confirmed what many frustrated buyers and ecstatic sellers have suspected. We have officially entered an era where the “discount” has become a rare relic of the past. In fact, only one in 10 houses in Perth are currently selling for less than their listing price.
Let’s dive into what this “unprecedented” market means for you, whether you’re looking to trade up, cash out, or break into the market.
A Record-Breaking Lack of Discounts
According to REIWA President Suzanne Brown, the level of discounting in Perth is at its lowest point in decades. To put this in perspective, even during the “glory days” of previous mining booms, buyers still had a decent chance of negotiating a price reduction. Not anymore.
In the final quarter of 2025, a staggering 90.1% of houses sold for at or above their listed price. Only 9.9% involved any form of price shaving.
To understand how wild that is, look at how this compares to previous Perth property peaks:
Perth Discounting Levels: Then vs. Now
| Period | % of Houses Sold Below Listing Price | Market Condition |
| Q4 2025 | 9.9% | Current Record Low |
| 2014 | 46.3% | Previous Boom |
| 2013 | 44.3% | Previous Boom |
| 2006 | 49.0% | The “Great” Boom |
| 2019 | ~60.0% | Buyer’s Market |
In short: Even when the market was “booming” in 2006, nearly half of all sellers were still accepting offers below their initial asking price. Today, that number has dwindled to almost nothing.
Is it “Underquoting” or Just High Demand?
With over 90% of homes selling for more than the sticker price, a common question we hear at Holdsworth Real Estate is: “Are agents just underquoting to start a bidding war?”
While underquoting is illegal and should always be reported to Consumer Protection, the REIWA data suggests the current trend is driven by pure market velocity rather than systemic foul play.
The 8-Day Phenomenon: In late 2025, the median time to sell a house in Perth dropped to a record low of just eight days.
When a property sells in a week, it often receives multiple offers within the first 48 hours. In that high-pressure environment, buyers naturally lead with their “best and final” offer to beat the competition. This pushes the final sale price well beyond what was a “fair market value” just days earlier.
The “Plus 6.5%” Rule of Thumb
It isn’t just that houses are selling for more—they are selling for significantly more. On average, the difference between the initial listing price and the final sale price was +6.5% in the final months of last year.
To put that into real-world dollars:
- A home listed at $750,000 is, on average, fetching $798,750.
- A premium home listed at $1,500,000 is seeing an average “bonus” of $97,500.
As Suzanne Brown noted, this is the first time since the 2006 boom (where the average was +3.2%) that we’ve seen the market stay consistently in positive territory. Even in the 2013 peak, houses still sold for slightly less than the asking price on average.
What This Means for You
For Buyers: The “List Price” is the Floor, Not the Ceiling
If you are searching for a home with a budget of $800,000, you should probably be looking at homes listed around $740,000 to $760,000. If you look at homes listed exactly at $800,000, there is a 90% chance you will be outbid.
- Strategy: Get your finance pre-approved, have your deposit ready, and be prepared to make a strong, clean offer immediately.
For Sellers: Accuracy is Still Key
It’s tempting to see these “plus 6.5%” figures and decide to list your home for an eye-watering price. However, the reason these homes are selling for so much is that they are priced correctly to attract multiple buyers. Overpricing your home can still cause it to sit on the market, missing that vital “8-day” momentum window.
For the Community: A Unique Chapter
We are living through a unique moment in Perth’s real estate history. The combination of limited supply and relentless demand has rewritten the rulebook. While this is challenging for those trying to enter the market, it has created a position of incredible equity and wealth for existing homeowners.
