Illawarra Property Market Snapshot: W/E February 22 2026 Trends & Buyer Insights

Auction activity in the Illawarra remains limited while median prices for houses and units hold firm, inventory is modest, and buyers who are prepared and informed are still transacting efficiently.

Key Stats (Latest Public Data)

Auction Activity (Wollongong)

• Wollongong recorded 1 auction result in the most recent reported week, with broader NSW clearance around 55%.

Median Sale Price (Rolling or Most Recent Year)

• Wollongong houses: ~$1,300,000

• Wollongong units: ~$720,000–$790,000

• Shellharbour houses: ~ $1,289,000

• Shellharbour units: ~ $1,000,000

• Kiama & Coastal Markets: Demand and price points tend to sit above regional averages, with moderate growth pressure (e.g., house prices growing ~3% annually regionally).

Inventory & Days on Market

• SQM Research asking prices signal strong underlying price points for Wollongong stock.

• Realestate.com.au suburb profiles show modest listings (e.g., 3 houses available in the past month) and a median time on market of 37–51 days for recent transactions.

Vendor Discounting

• Not published weekly; longer-term local analyses suggest modest discounting on out‑of‑line listings rather than widespread price reductions.

What This Means for Buyers

1) Auctions aren't the main battleground. With very low reported auction counts locally, most decisions happen through private treaty or pre‑auction negotiation. This shifts the advantage to buyers who understand recent sale comparables and come prepared with finance and offer strategies.

2) Medians are holding - not collapsing. Wollongong house prices around ~$1.3M and Shellharbour house and unit values near ~$1M point to a market that is steady rather than sharply declining or surging. Well-priced, well-presented properties continue to transact.

3) Limited supply sustains price resilience. Sparse listings and modest new stock tend to keep buyers competing in narrow buyer windows. Days on market remain in typical ranges, and even where stock is small, properties that meet buyer expectations are absorbed quickly.

4) Quality still wins negotiation leverage. Where sellers are motivated - for example, when stock has languished due to pricing misalignment - buyers with clear valuation evidence have the greatest chance to influence outcomes.

🔭 4–6 Week Outlook (Illawarra)

• Listings: Expect a mild seasonal uptick in early autumn — not a flood, but a bit more choice than mid‑summer.

• Auction Activity: Still likely to stay light with private treaty dominating.

• Pricing: Stable overall, with local variation continuing (coastal lifestyle pockets may slightly outperform broader averages).

• Buyer Focus: Prepared buyers with evidence‑based bids and finance clarity will continue to secure transactions over reactive buyers.

Bottom line: The Illawarra market in early 2026 remains balanced but competitive — not overheated, not collapsed. Buyers achieve the best outcomes when they rely on real, local data rather than national headlines.