The Efficiency Edge: New Cotality and REIA report links energy-efficiency to higher sale prices and rental returns
As mandatory energy disclosure is changing how Australians buy, sell and rent homes, upfront property performance metrics are becoming central to how listings are marketed and valued.
In response, a new partnered report by Cotality and the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), The Efficiency Edge, outlines state-by-state disclosure rules and showcases how heightened demand for energy-efficient features may contribute to higher sale prices and rental returns.
The report delivers practical steps to help agents build early capability, lead client conversations, and gain a competitive edge as disclosure becomes the standard.
The Efficiency Edge features real-world case studies illustrating how energy performance design influences property outcomes. Featured examples observed sale prices up to 66% above local suburb medians, with high energy efficiency noted as a contributing factor, alongside rental return uplifts of up to 35%.
REIA President, Jacob Caine, said energy efficiency is becoming another important factor that buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants were considering when making property decisions.
"Consumers are increasingly interested in understanding how a home will perform, not just what it looks like or where it's located.
"Comfort, running costs and energy performance are becoming part of the property conversation, and real estate professionals have an important role to play in helping consumers understand what that means in practical terms," Mr Caine said.
Cotality Head of Sustainability Solutions, Richard Griffiths, said improving access to home performance information would help consumers make better-informed property decisions.
"For most Australians, energy performance isn't primarily about sustainability. It's about living in a home that is comfortable and affordable to run.
We're used to comparing star ratings of appliances yet currently can't do the same for our biggest lifetime purchase - our homes. Putting them in buyers' hands will give added choice and transparency and make energy efficiency part of the conversation in the same way as land size or the number of bedrooms." Mr Griffiths said.
The Efficiency Edge: How energy efficiency in real estate is influencing property value and buyer demand is available to download here.
ENDS
Media contacts:
For more information and questions, reach out to:
Cotality
Senior PR and Content Manager
Santi Arya, media@cotality.com
REIA
Media and Communications Manager
Cody Vella, Cody.Vella@reia.com.au
