Comfort and thermal performance influence home and apartment pricing more than buyers realize, as impressions of temperature, lighting, and energy use shape buying decisions.

A joint report from Cotality and the Real Estate Institute of Australia shows every added National House Energy Rating Scheme star boosts property value by about 1.3%, while homes with solar panels command roughly a 2.7% premium.

Concrete construction and multi-storey design provide thermal mass and shared walls that help stabilize temperatures and cut reliance on heating and cooling, with these benefits reflected in property values.

The comfort-focused design advantages scale in multi-residential projects, where design choices impact many dwellings rather than a single home.

A Mount Hawthorn three-bedroom example illustrates how natural light, cross-ventilation, and passive-solar design can push prices 14–24% above nearby properties and rents about 32% above local medians.

Survey data show 86% of Australians consider a home's energy rating important when buying, signaling a consumer preference for comfort and cost efficiency beyond technical jargon.

As summer approaches, buyers and renters increasingly seek comfortable, low-running-cost homes, making thermally efficient design a market differentiator.