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New research has identified ten Australian regions set to deliver 11,442 apartment approvals in 2025, a 373% surge from 2024, accounting for nearly a quarter of the nation's overall 40% jump in approvals. The wave is uneven and, in some cases, dramatic: Castle Hill Central went from three approvals in 2024 to 2,034 in 2025, while Pagewood and Mermaid Waters went from zero to nearly 1,000 each. For buyers and investors in these corridors, the incoming supply is a critical variable — one that could weigh heavily on prices and rental yields in the years ahead. Houses, by contrast, are becoming a rare commodity in the same areas, with just 88 house approvals recorded across all ten regions combined. As the Federal Government pushes toward its 1.2 million homes target, these hotspots offer a preview of where density is arriving fastest and where the risks and opportunities are most concentrated.
New research reveals 10 regions will account for 11,442 of Australia's apartment approvals in 2025, a 373% surge from 2024 that will significantly reshape supply dynamics for buyers and investors.
For property buyers considering apartments in these areas, understanding the incoming supply is crucial for making informed decisions. Meanwhile, houses, where they exist, are set to become an increasingly rare commodity.
Incoming supply varies dramatically by area
Already apartment-established markets will see substantial additions. Docklands approvals increased from 1,010 to 1,950, Zetland grew from 325 to 1,236, and Albert Park rose from 590 to 791, building on existing apartment stock in these established precincts.
Areas with minimal apartment history show the most dramatic shifts. Castle Hill Central jumped from three approvals in 2024 to 2,034 in 2025. Pagewood increased from zero to 941 approvals. Mermaid Waters rose from zero to 999, though it recorded approvals in previous years.
House supply remains stagnant as apartment towers rise
Houses present a contrasting picture. Across these 10 regions, just 88 house approvals were recorded in 2025, compared to 11,442 apartments. In areas where houses exist, they represent a finite and increasingly scarce supply option.
The concentration reflects the federal government's National Housing Accord, targeting 1.2 million well-located homes over five years through initiatives like the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund and $1.5 billion Housing Support Program.
View.com.au Data Reveals 74% Listing Surge Looming as Approval Pipeline Floods Market
View.com.au's listing data reveals a significant supply transformation underway, with apartment listings in these 10 hotspots projected to surge 74% in 2026 based on historical approval-to-listing ratios. In 2024, 2,421 apartments were approved across these 10 regions. The following year, View.com.au recorded 4,277 listings, a 19% increase on the previous year. The 672 additional listings represent 28% of the 2,421 approvals from 2024, establishing a clear ratio between approvals and subsequent listings.
Applying this 28% ratio to 2025's approvals projects an additional 3,176 listings flooding the market in 2026, fundamentally altering the supply-demand balance for buyers and investors navigating these hotspots.
Castle Hill Central leads the supply explosion
Castle Hill Central exemplifies the trend set to unfold across these hotspots, recording a 246% increase in listings to reach 1,155 apartments in 2025. This surge suggests accelerated construction completion, offering a preview of the supply dynamics other areas will face.
Albert Park's supply imbalance reaches extreme levels
Albert Park presents the most striking supply transformation. The area recorded just 80 apartment listings over the past two years, yet received 1,380 approvals in 2024 and 2025 combined. This influx will dramatically tip the market dynamics towards a supply-driven environment as these developments progress to completion.
Five Dock/Abbotsford faces four-fold supply increase
In Sydney, Five Dock/Abbotsford is poised for similar supply overload, with 295 apartment listings recorded over two years split between the areas, compared against 1,239 apartments approved in the last two years. This represents four times the number currently listed, signalling significant supply increases as developments reach completion and enter the market.
