- Richard
- May 20, 2025
Every time the Reserve Bank of Australia changes or holds the cash rate, it ripples through the property market, and through the moving market too. Whether you are a first-home buyer, an investor, a family planning a sea change or a renter, here is how rate shifts affect a move in Wollongong, Kiama, Shellharbour and the Illawarra, and how to plan around them.
This is general information, not financial advice. Talk to your bank or a mortgage broker about your own situation.
How interest rates affect buyers and sellers
Changes to the cash rate flow through to mortgage repayments and how much people can borrow:
- When rates fall or hold steady, buyers often feel more confident, competition picks up and properties sell faster.
- When rates rise, borrowing power shrinks, some buyers wait, and others look for more affordable suburbs.
- Upgraders often use quieter periods to move from a unit to a house in growth suburbs such as Dapto, Albion Park or Bulli.
The move to regional living continues
The Illawarra keeps attracting people from Sydney: families chasing space in the northern beaches suburbs like Thirroul and Austinmer, retirees downsizing to Kiama or Bowral, and professionals who work partly from home. When the market is busy, settlement dates bunch up and removalists book out, especially at the end of the month.
Timing your move with your settlement
- Book your removalist as soon as you exchange contracts. End-of-month settlements are the busiest days of the year.
- Plan for delays. Settlements can move by a day or two. Ask whether your removalist can shift the date, and consider short-term storage as a backup.
- Keys and timing: on a same-day settlement, the new home may not be yours until the afternoon. Read our settlement day moving guide.
Budgeting for the move
Moving costs are easy to underestimate when you are focused on the deposit and stamp duty. Local moves are charged by the hour, from $171 per hour + GST for two removalists and a 4.5 tonne truck, with a 2 hour minimum plus travel time. Interstate moves are a fixed price based on volume. See our removalist prices and our guide to removalist quotes and costs.
To keep the cost down:
- Declutter before you pack: sell, donate or give away what you do not need.
- Pack yourself and have everything labelled before the crew arrives.
- Choose a mid-week, mid-month date if your settlement allows.
Renters
Rate changes affect renters too, through rents and how often investors sell. If your lease ends because the property is sold, start looking early, keep your bond paperwork in order, and book your removalist as soon as you have a new lease.
Plan your move with 777 World Removals
Whatever the market is doing, we move families and businesses across Wollongong, the Illawarra, the Southern Highlands and interstate, with our own trucks and trained crews since 2014. Get a quote as soon as you know your date.
Frequently asked questions
Do interest rates affect the cost of moving house?
Not directly. Removalist rates do not change with the cash rate, but busy property markets mean busier moving dates, so book early.
When should I book removalists after buying a house?
As soon as you exchange contracts. End-of-month settlement dates are the busiest days of the year and book out first.
What if my settlement is delayed?
Ask your removalist whether the date can move, and consider short-term storage so your furniture is safe until you get the keys.
How much does a local move cost in Wollongong?
Local moves are charged by the hour, from $171 per hour + GST for two removalists and a 4.5 tonne truck, with a 2 hour minimum plus travel time.
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