A practical financial reset for Sydney property owners in 2026
As February comes to a close, most property owners shift back into routine.
Mortgage payments are normal again after the holidays. Council and strata notices begin arriving. Insurance renewals appear in inboxes.
It’s also one of the most overlooked times to review your property’s financial position.
You don’t need a full portfolio review or complex analysis.
Just three numbers can tell you whether your property is tracking well — or quietly becoming more expensive to hold in 2026.
Here are the three figures worth checking before February ends.
1. Your latest insurance premium
Across NSW, property insurance premiums have continued rising through 2025 and into 2026.
Industry data shows building insurance costs across Australia have increased significantly over recent years due to:
* Higher construction and repair costs
* Extreme weather events
* Reinsurance pricing increases
* Building valuation adjustments
Many Sydney owners are seeing annual premium increases even without making claims.
Why this matters:
Insurance is often paid annually or automatically renewed, which means small increases can go unnoticed. But over 2–3 years, these increases can materially change your holding costs.
Before February ends, check:
* Your most recent renewal premium
* How it compares with last year
* Whether building valuation changes were applied
* If excess levels or coverage changed
Even a few hundred dollars more per year impacts long-term property performance — particularly for investors holding multiple properties.
2. Strata or maintenance costs
February is typically when the year’s first strata notices, maintenance quotes, or repair plans become clearer.
Across Greater Sydney, owners are continuing to experience rising building-related costs due to:
* Higher trade and labour costs
* Increased compliance requirements
* Insurance impacts on strata schemes
* Ageing building infrastructure
For apartment and townhouse owners especially, recurring “minor” maintenance can slowly increase annual outgoings.
Before February ends, review:
* Any recent strata levy changes
* Upcoming special levies or planned works
* Maintenance patterns over the past 12 months
* Whether the same issues are recurring
Even standalone homeowners should review general maintenance spending compared with early 2025.
The goal isn’t to eliminate costs — it’s to stay aware of trends before they compound.
3. Your current loan repayment
While interest rates stabilised through parts of 2025, many borrowers are still adjusting to higher repayment levels compared with previous years.
Some fixed-rate periods have expired.
Variable rates have fluctuated.
And borrowing costs remain a key consideration for property owners in 2026.
Before February ends, confirm:
* Your current monthly repayment
* Whether it has changed in the past 6–12 months
* If your loan structure still suits your situation
* How repayments fit within your overall property costs
Many owners continue paying updated rates without reviewing how they impact long-term plans or cash flow.
Why February is the ideal time to check
February sits in a unique position in the property calendar.
It’s far enough from the December–January period to reflect real annual costs, but early enough to make adjustments before the year accelerates.
From March onward, market activity typically increases across Sydney:
* More listings enter the market
* Buyers become more active
* Financial commitments for the year become clearer
* Owners make longer-term decisions
A simple February review provides clarity before those decisions arise.
What this means for Sydney property owners in 2026
Property ownership in NSW has always involved ongoing costs.
But in the current environment, those costs are shifting more frequently than in previous years.
Insurance, maintenance, and lending expenses rarely jump dramatically all at once.
Instead, they rise gradually — and often quietly.
Owners who review these figures early in the year tend to feel more in control of their property decisions later on.
Conclusion
You don’t need a major reason to review your property.
Sometimes the most valuable step is simply confirming that everything still makes sense financially.
Before February ends, take a few minutes to review your three key numbers:
Insurance
Maintenance or strata
Loan repayment
If you’d like a clearer picture of how your property is currently performing — or whether your holding costs still align with today’s Sydney market — a professional review can provide useful perspective.
RnJ Realty regularly works with Sydney property owners to assess current positioning, costs, and next-step options in a practical, confidential way.
To arrange a property check-in or discuss your situation:
📧 info@RnJrealty.com.au
🌐 www.RnJrealty.com.au
📞 0433 22 888 1
