The Truth About How Long It Takes for Property Values to Double

Have you ever wondered how long it takes for property prices to double?

Many people believe that real estate values increase twofold every 7 to 10 years, but that’s not entirely accurate.

Different markets perform at different rates—some grow faster than others. Additionally, there are times when property prices stagnate for years, sometimes even a decade.

To get a sense of where the market might be headed, it’s helpful to examine historical trends.

Property analyst John Lindeman studied housing price trends dating back to 1901, revealing how unpredictable growth can be. In some cases, prices doubled in just six years, while at other times, it took several decades.

For instance, Australian home values surged within six years during periods like 1968–1973, 1974–1979, and 1998–2003. However, there were also stretches where prices took significantly longer to reach that milestone.

Looking closer, rapid price increases were typically driven by economic booms, strong population growth, or high inflation. Conversely, sluggish growth often coincided with economic downturns, recessions, or tight lending conditions.