There’s a concerning trend emerging where people are relying TOO much on the monthly property price data - from one high-profile source - as an accurate indication of what is happening in property markets – and what WILL happen in property markets. Too many people take this short-term price data as the gospel truth and allow it to dictate their decisions on WHETHER they will buy real estate and WHERE they will buy it. Australian consumers need to understand this simple truth – all real estate data is, to some extent at least, dodgy data. They’re all rubbery figures and you cannot take them too literally. You certainly should not make big assumptions – or big decisions - based on one month’s figures from one source.

And you need to be aware that the emphasis featured in news media is quite different from what the actual figures show.