Buying in the Great Southern: What to Know About Albany and the Region
Albany and the Great Southern are growing. Here are the latest prices, what is changing, and what to check with your loan before you buy.
The short version
- Albany’s median house price was $830,000 in the June quarter, up 16.1% on a year earlier but down 2.4% on the quarter (REIWA).
- Other dwellings in Albany had a median of $515,000.
- About 67,150 people lived in the Great Southern region, and the WA Government expects it to reach about 75,300 by 2036 on its middle forecast.
- The $225 million Albany Ring Road opened in May 2024.
- Check price caps and lender rules for the exact location before you make an offer.
Albany and the Great Southern attract people who want space, coast and a slower pace. Some are moving from Perth, some are buying a first home close to family, and some are looking at investment. Here is what the latest figures say, and what to check before you commit.
What the latest figures say
- Albany median house price: $830,000 in the June 2026 quarter. That is down 2.4% on the March quarter and up 16.1% on a year ago.
- Albany other dwellings (units, townhouses and the like): median of $515,000.
- Population: the Great Southern region had an estimated 67,150 residents, and the City of Albany about 42,300 (ABS estimated resident population).
- Outlook: WA Tomorrow, the state’s population forecast, has the region reaching about 75,300 people by 2036 on its middle forecast. Forecasts are estimates and can change.
What is changing
The Albany Ring Road opened on 18 May 2024. It is an 11 kilometre, $225 million road that links Albany’s north-east with the south and takes heavy traffic out of the town centre. Projects like this can change how people use a town and what they are willing to pay to live in it. They do not guarantee prices will rise.
What to check with your loan
Price caps and schemes
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme has different price caps for Perth and for regional areas. Check the cap for the exact location on the official First Home Buyers website before you start looking. Our first home buyer page has the current WA details.
Valuations and lender rules
In smaller regional markets there are fewer recent sales for a valuer to compare. That can make valuations harder to predict. Some lenders also have tighter rules on certain postcodes, on larger blocks and on rural-style properties. It is better to find that out before you make an offer than after.
Moving from Perth
If you are selling in Perth to buy in the Great Southern, think about the order. Our article on usable equity shows how much you may be able to take from your current home, and our article on using equity to buy your next home explains the sell-first and buy-first options.
If you are buying as an investor
Look at rental demand, rents and vacancy for the specific town, not just the region. Our investment page explains how lenders look at investment loans.
Questions to ask yourself
- Is the price cap for my scheme right for this location?
- How will I get to work, family and services?
- Is this a home I want to live in for years?
- Have I had my borrowing power checked, including the rate rises this year?
Get the Pre-Approval Ready Pack
A simple checklist of what lenders ask for, so you can get your paperwork in order before you start looking.
Send me the packWe will email it straight to you.Sources and when we checked
Checked on 21 October 2026. Sources: REIWA, June 2026 quarter market report (published 22 September 2026); Australian Bureau of Statistics, estimated resident population, Great Southern region and City of Albany (released April 2026); WA Tomorrow population forecasts (Western Australian Planning Commission); Main Roads Western Australia, Albany Ring Road project information. Rules, prices and rates can change, so confirm with the official sources and your lender before you buy. This article is general information only and is not personal advice. Past growth does not predict future prices.
Want to talk it through?
Book a chat with Richard. He will listen first, then explain your options clearly. No pressure, no jargon.
This article is general information only and does not take into account your personal financial situation, needs or objectives. Consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it. Figures and rules can change, so always check the latest details with the relevant authority.
Richard Morris is a Credit Representative (CRN 570376) of Strategic Mortgages Perth (ACR 570592), authorised under Connective Broker Services Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence 389328). This is not tax or legal advice. Please speak to your accountant or solicitor about your own situation.