Australia’s Home Build Times Still Far Slower Than a Decade Ago

New figures from Master Builders Australia (MBA) show that while construction times improved slightly in 2024–25, productivity across the building sector remains well below historical levels.

Source: Master Builders Australia (MBA); Australian Financial Review, October 2025

• Houses: 11.5 months to complete (down from 12.7 months in 2023–24)

• Townhouses: 14.8 months (7% faster year-on-year)

• Apartments: 32.9 months (down slightly from 33.1 months)

Despite modest gains over the past year, construction remains 35–50% slower than ten years ago due to labour shortages, higher material costs, and lengthy approval processes.

According to the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC), Australia is on track to fall short of its national housing target by about 262,000 homes by 2029, underscoring how limited new supply will continue to fuel price pressure.

For investors, these delays make off-plan property opportunities increasingly attractive — allowing buyers to secure today’s prices ahead of future demand.

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