Sydney home prices have risen almost 25 per cent in the last two years but growth is now beginning to ease to more sustainable levels.
Capital city home prices have risen 10.2 per cent in the 12 months to July, having trended higher since June 2012, according to the RP Data-Rismark home value index for July.
The top performer for capital gains has been Sydney where prices were up almost 25 per cent in the last two years, while Darwin and Melbourne have recorded rises of 20.4 and 18.5 per cent respectively.
Despite the continued rise, the growth trend had eased from last year's peak to a more sustainable level, said RP Data research director Tim Lawless.
He said growth in mortgage demand had started to ease, suggesting buyers were being put off by the rising home prices as well as low rental yields.
Rental yields fell in July, with capital gains continuing to outpace rental growth, the report said.
"Despite the low yielding environment, the total returns on housing have been strong thanks to the level of capital gains," Mr Lawless said.
"With interest rates remaining low and fixed rates seeing further downwards pressure, we are expecting that capital gains will continue into the foreseeable future.
"What is likely though is that the rate of capital gain will continue to reduce, particularly in those cities where affordability constraints are the most significant and rental yields are the lowest."
Low rental yields in Sydney and Melbourne would act as a disincentive to investors, Mr Lawless said, while affordability issues in Sydney would drive buyers towards apartments and townhouses close to the city rather than detached houses.
Any slowdown in the property market would be gradual, he said, with auction clearance rates still holding firm and homes still selling quickly.
"The real litmus test for the market will be how much buyer demand is apparent during the spring selling season," Mr Lawless said.
"Winter has seen above average auction clearance rates however, as listings inevitably rise sharply over the coming months this will create the greatest test for the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets in terms of how strong value growth will be."