Housing Pressure Meets Money-Laundering Crackdown

Adelaide’s housing market is likely near the peak of its cycle, but a major fall is not expected. Unlike Sydney and Melbourne, Adelaide typically enters a low-growth plateau rather than a sharp decline, with annual growth around 1–3%. Affordability remains difficult because prices have risen far faster than stamp duty brackets, leaving many buyers paying the highest rate once reserved for luxury homes. A small national fall of 0.4% does little to improve access; the bigger issue is supply. Fewer new homes may be built as government projects pull labour away from private builders, pushing costs higher. New anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules now require real estate agents, conveyancers and accountants to verify identities and report suspicious activity. Red flags include complex ownership structures, unclear funding sources, unusual overseas money flows, or offers far above market value. The rules add workload and privacy tension but aim to stop property being used to clean illegal money.