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Across Melbourne, a lot of homeowners are asking the same question right now: Can we still afford to build with interest rates where they are? Over the past few years, rising rates have changed how people think about building. Borrowing power isn’t what it used to be, repayments look different on paper, and budgets are being reviewed more carefully. But while the financial landscape has shifted, building hasn’t stopped — it’s simply evolved.

Investor interest is steadily returning to Melbourne’s inner east, with buyers focusing on established suburbs like Richmond, Hawthorn, and Kew. As confidence improves in 2026, location, lifestyle, and limited housing supply are once again shaping long-term property decisions.

Planning to build a home in 2026? The holiday break is the perfect time to get organised. Discover five smart things Melbourne homeowners can sort over the holidays to prepare for a smoother, stress-free home build in the year ahead.