On Thursday 21 August 2025, TOOP+TOOP hosted the first Adelaide Hills Property Night at The Stirling Hotel, bringing together homeowners, buyers, and property professionals for an evening of insight, analysis, and open conversation about the Hills market.

Bronte Manuel, TOOP+TOOP Owner and Director, opened the night by welcoming guests and sharing why the Adelaide Hills is such a distinctive and resilient property market, and why events like this are an important space to share ideas and knowledge.

Keynote speaker David McMillan, Co-Founder and Director – Investment & Advice at Performance Property, delivered a data-rich analysis of where the Adelaide and Hills markets sit today. Drawing on more than 25 years of investment and valuation experience, his presentation examined long-term trends, current conditions, and what could be ahead.

Key takeaways included:

• Affordability at historic limits – Adelaide’s housing affordability index is at its highest point since the late 1980s, matching previous peaks in 1989 and 2008.

• Price growth beyond expectations – Since May 2020, Adelaide’s median house price has risen from $433,000 to $850,000 — a 96% increase, far above the original forecast of 60% growth.

• Adelaide Hills’ premium position – Demand remains strong from both local and interstate buyers, driven by lifestyle, schools, and community appeal.

• Mount Barker as a growth example – Prices have climbed 33% in three years despite a surge in new housing, demonstrating how infrastructure and location underpin values.

• Market timing considerations – While supply constraints could support short-term growth, affordability pressures and record price-to-income ratios suggest the market is close to the peak of this cycle.

Adding another layer to the discussion, Dom Cassisi, Director at Funding Options, spoke on the finance landscape and how lending conditions are influencing buyer activity in the Hills. Dom outlined current interest rate settings, trends in loan approvals, and strategies buyers are using to secure finance in a competitive market, a timely topic given the broader economic environment.

The evening concluded with a Q&A session featuring our speaking panel and our Hills specialists James and Bronwyn Lindsay and Anita Hardingham, sharing their on-the-ground perspective.

Topics included:

• Downsizing trends – Many long-term Hills residents want to remain in the area but are searching for smaller, low-maintenance homes.

• Lifestyle drivers – Acreage, scenic views, and proximity to villages and schools remain top priorities for buyers.

• Off-market transactions – Privacy and discretion are significant factors in the prestige sector, with many high-value sales occurring quietly.

The combination of national data, finance insights, and local market knowledge made for a lively and thought-provoking evening. The depth of questions from the room reflected how engaged the Hills community is when it comes to property decisions.

We’ll be hosting our next Adelaide Hills Property Night early in the new year, bringing fresh insights, practical advice, and the same open discussion that made this first event such a success.