Thinking About Selling Your Home in 2026? Here’s My Honest Take on the Market
If you’re sitting with the idea of selling your home in Maryborough, Avoca, Carisbrook, Dunolly or anywhere across our Central Goldfields region, chances are you have questions. What’s the market doing? Is now a good time? What will my home actually sell for?
I’ve been selling property in this community for nearly 25 years, and these are the questions I’m hearing most right now. Here are my honest answers.
Can I sell my home for a good price right now?
Yes. I mean that as a statement of fact, not a sales pitch.
Maryborough’s median house price is currently $400,000, with annual capital growth of around 6.67% recorded over the past 12 months. That’s a solid result for a regional market, and it reflects something I’ve always believed about this area: it holds real, lasting value.
Something else worth keeping in mind. If you’re selling and buying in the same market, the overall state of the market matters far less than most people think. What matters most is having someone in your corner who knows how to position your property, negotiate with confidence, and get you the right result. That’s what I’ve been doing in this community for a long time, through good markets and harder ones.
Is now a good time to start preparing?
Yes, and the earlier the better.
Getting a home ready for sale takes longer than most people expect. Decluttering, repairs, painting, styling, photography — it all takes time. Even if you’re not ready to list yet, starting now means you won’t feel rushed when you are. I’m always happy to do a walk-through with you, talk through what’s worth doing and what isn’t, and help you put a simple plan together. There’s no obligation in that conversation.
Does styling make a real difference?
It does, and I see it play out with almost every sale.
Most buyers across our region start their search online, whether they’re locals or considering a move from Melbourne. Your home needs to stand out before they’ll ever think about booking an inspection. The better it presents in photographs, the more likely a buyer will feel drawn to it and want to see it in person.
Styling doesn’t always mean hiring a professional, though that can be well worth it. Often it’s about editing what you already have — simplifying a room, improving the light, removing what distracts. Done well, it can add real money to your result. I’ll help you work out what’s worth the effort for your particular property.
How do buyers inspect a property today?
It starts online. Strong photography, a clear floor plan with measurements, and where it’s warranted, a walkthrough video, are what move a buyer from browsing to booking. Once your home captures their attention and they feel it might suit them, they’ll come to an open for inspection or arrange a private viewing.
My job is to make sure every part of your marketing gives buyers a reason to walk through the door.
Should I sell at auction or by private treaty?
For most properties across Maryborough and our surrounding townships, my recommendation is private treaty.
Auctions work well in high-volume city markets. In regional areas like ours, private treaty typically suits both buyers and sellers better. It allows for more considered negotiation and gives you more control over the process and the outcome. That said, every property is different, and I’ll always give you a straight recommendation based on your specific circumstances.
Are people still buying property in our area?
They are, and buyer confidence has improved over the past 12 months. The interest rate cuts we’ve seen have made a genuine difference, and that’s showing up locally. There were 229 house sales in Maryborough over the past 12 months, and with borrowing conditions more favourable than they were 18 months ago, buyers who had been sitting on the sidelines are moving again.
People buy and sell for all kinds of reasons. Downsizing, upsizing, family changes, work, and the lifestyle that this part of regional Victoria genuinely offers to people looking to leave the city. That steady demand doesn’t disappear because a headline says the market is uncertain.
More listings do mean more competition for sellers, which is exactly why strategic, well-executed marketing matters. I won’t put your property on the market and hope for the best. I’ll put a proper plan together.
What if I’d rather rent my property than sell?
That’s a conversation worth having. Rental yields in Maryborough are currently around 5.44% for houses, with median weekly rents sitting at $390. If selling doesn’t feel right at this point in time, holding and leasing may be a sensible alternative while you work out your longer-term plans. I can help you think through both options honestly.
Ready to talk?
Whether you’re ready to sell now, thinking about it for later in 2026, or simply want to know what your property is worth in today’s market, I’d be glad to hear from you.
I’m Kate Ashton. I’ve lived in this community for over 40 years and I’ve been selling property here for nearly 25 of them. This isn’t just what I do for work. It’s how I serve the people and the place I know best.
Get in touch at realestatekate.com.au or give me a call.
