Explore Rentvesting Perth with Strawberry Finance and learn how the strategy can help you rent where you want to live while investing in property, with tailored guidance on borrowing capacity, loan options and finance structure.
For much of the past decade, buying an apartment in Perth was treated as the compromise option – what you settled for when a house was out of reach. That framing no longer matches the data. REIWA reported the Perth median unit sale price rising 7.0 per cent in the March 2026 quarter and a further 4.7 per cent in the June quarter to reach $675,000, with unit growth outpacing house growth over the year. With the Perth median house price sitting near $938,000 at the end of June and tracking toward $1 million, the gap between the two has become the central affordability story in this city. Buying an apartment in Perth in 2026 also brings you inside the thresholds for the WA stamp duty concessions and the federal 5 per cent deposit scheme, which increasingly exclude houses at the Perth median. This article covers the market picture, the lending differences, and where apartments genuinely make sense.
The case for Perth unit prices 2026 deserving a second look rests on measurable movement rather than sentiment. Drawing on REIWA and Cotality reporting through the year:
The Perth unit market growth of the past two years is largely a story about affordability redirecting demand. As the house median climbed through $800,000 and then toward $1 million, a growing share of buyers who would previously have bought a house found themselves priced out of the suburbs they wanted. Rather than move further out, many chose to stay in the same area and buy a unit, townhouse or villa instead. REIWA has pointed to precisely this redirection as the reason unit price growth overtook house price growth. Supply has reinforced it. New home completions have declined for several quarters and established listings sat below long-run averages through much of 2025, so the stock available to absorb that redirected demand was limited. The result is a segment where prices have risen quickly from a lower base. What follows from this for a buyer is not that Perth unit market growth will continue at the same pace – REIWA itself noted demand easing in the June quarter – but that units are now competing for buyers on their merits rather than serving purely as a fallback.
The apartment home loan Perth deposit conversation involves policy that does not apply to houses, and this is where buyers most often get an unwelcome surprise late in the process:
The townhouse vs apartment Perth question sits underneath most unit purchases in this city, and the two are treated quite differently by lenders and by the market. A townhouse or villa usually carries a land component, which matters in Perth where land has historically driven capital growth, and it generally attracts fewer lender restrictions than an apartment in a large complex. Strata levies are typically lower because there is less common property to maintain. Against that, townhouses cost more than comparable apartments and are concentrated in middle ring suburbs rather than the inner city. An apartment offers a lower entry price, positions you closer to the CBD or the coast for the same money, and in a well-run building can produce a strong rental return. The trade is land content and lender flexibility. For a first home buyer using the 5 per cent deposit scheme or the WA duty concession, both options can work within the thresholds, and the townhouse vs apartment Perth decision usually comes down to whether you are optimising for location today or land content over the long term. It is worth resolving that question before you start inspecting, because the two paths lead to different suburbs.
Because lender policy on units varies so much, pre-approval carries more weight when buying an apartment in Perth than it does on a house. A pre-approval from a lender that later declines the specific building leaves you without finance in the middle of a purchase, and the restrictions that cause this – minimum floor area, postcode limits, building defect history – are rarely published. Working across more than 40 lenders means we can check policy against the actual property type and location you are targeting before you make an offer, rather than discovering the problem at valuation. It also means we can tell you plainly if a particular building is going to be difficult to finance, which is information worth having before you fall in love with it. If you are a first home buyer, the same conversation covers whether the property sits within the WA stamp duty exemption threshold of $600,000, the concession range to $800,000, and the federal 5 per cent deposit scheme caps. Those thresholds now cover a large share of the Perth unit market and a shrinking share of the house market, which is a practical reason units deserve consideration.
On REIWA figures the median unit sale price reached $675,000 at the end of June 2026, after 7.0 per cent growth in the March quarter and a preliminary 4.7 per cent in the June quarter, with REIWA forecasting the median could exceed $750,000 by year end. REIWA also noted demand easing in the June quarter, so growth through the second half was expected to be slower. These are REIWA’s figures and forecasts, not predictions by Strawberry Finance, and past growth does not indicate future performance.
Most lenders become cautious below 50 square metres of internal living area, and some decline outright. A handful will consider smaller apartments at a reduced LVR, meaning a larger deposit. This is one of the most common reasons an apartment purchase runs into finance trouble, and it is worth checking the specific property against specific lender policy before making an offer. We can do that check for you before you commit.
Yes, subject to the scheme’s eligibility criteria and price caps, and provided the property and applicant qualify. Units frequently sit comfortably within the caps where houses at the Perth median no longer do, which has made apartments a practical route for scheme users. Eligibility depends on your circumstances – see our 5 per cent deposit page or call us to check your position.
From 7 May 2026, eligible WA first home buyers pay no transfer duty on a new or established home valued up to $600,000, with a concessional rate applying between $600,000 and $800,000. Since the Perth median unit price sits below the concession ceiling, a large share of apartments fall within relief. Eligibility rules are specific, so confirm your position with your settlement agent or RevenueWA.
Yes. Strata levies form part of the ongoing property costs a lender factors into serviceability, which is one reason an apartment and a house at the same price can produce different borrowing outcomes. High levies in buildings with extensive facilities – pools, gyms, lifts, concierge – can materially affect both your assessment and your actual monthly cost. It is worth obtaining the strata information early.
We check lender policy against the specific building and postcode before you make an offer, so you are not relying on a pre-approval that may not hold for that property. We work across more than 40 lenders, which matters more on units than on houses because policy differs so widely. Director Sahil Saini brings a commerce background alongside his finance broking accreditation. Call 0457 133 453 for a free consultation.
The information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Market figures are sourced from the organisations named and were correct at the time of writing. Property forecasts are the views of the parties quoted, not predictions by Strawberry Finance, and past growth is not an indicator of future performance. Lending is subject to lender credit criteria, terms, conditions and fees. For advice about your own tax position, please consult your accountant or a registered tax agent. Correct as at September 2026.
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