Auction volumes improve but don't get too excited

AUCTION volumes had a modest rise last week nationally but were still well down on the corresponding time last year.

There were 1734 auctions held across the combined capital cities last week, rising by 1.2 per cent from the previous week.

But, according to data firm Cotality, activity was down 43.5 per cent compared with the same week last year, which had 3068 properties up for grabs.

Auction activity has remained more than 40 per cent below year-ago levels in three of the past four weeks, Cotality said.

"Melbourne has recorded a particularly pronounced reduction, with auction numbers approximately 55 per cent below the corresponding 2025 levels since reserve price transparency rules came into effect in mid-October," Cotality said.

The combined capital cities recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 51.5 per cent, up 4.3 percentage points from 47.2 per cent in the previous week.

This was only marginally above the spring-to-date average of 51.1 per cent and remained below the winter average of 52.3 per cent.

The improvement in the headline rate was largely driven by Melbourne, with its preliminary clearance rate increasing by almost 10 percentage points, while Sydney recorded a modest decline.

§ Sydney clearance rate declines

Sydney had 709 homes taken to auction, down 40.2 per cent from the corresponding week last year.

Activity was virtually unchanged from the previous week, when 710 auctions were held.

Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate declined by 1.5 percentage points, from 53.8 per cent in the previous week to 52.3 per cent.

The city’s preliminary clearance rate has averaged 54.3 per cent through spring to date, slightly above the winter average of 52.9 per cent.

§ Melbourne clearance rate reaches eight-week high

Cotality said Melbourne’s preliminary clearance rate rose to 59.1 per cent, the highest result in eight weeks and above the spring-to-date average of 55.1 per cent.

The city hosted 612 auctions, representing an 18.4 per cent increase from the previous week, although volumes remained 55.9 per cent below the corresponding level last year.

Auction activity in Brisbane was 14.8 per cent lower than a year earlier, with 178 homes taken to auction.

This was the highest volume among the smaller capital cities, despite representing a 24.9 per cent decline from the previous week.

Brisbane’s preliminary clearance rate increased to 31.2 per cent, following results in the mid-20 percentile range over the preceding two weeks.

Adelaide recorded its highest auction volume since the final week of March, with 149 homes under the hammer.

The preliminary clearance rate was 43.5 per cent, down 2.9 percentage points from 46.5 per cent in the previous week and below the spring-to-date average of 44.5 per cent.

The ACT’s preliminary clearance rate increased by 8.3 percentage points to 47.2 per cent.

There were 68 auctions held across the territory, 12.8 per cent fewer than in the previous week and 50 per cent below the corresponding week last year.

There were 17 auctions held in Perth, with a preliminary clearance rate of 36.4 per cent. Tasmania hosted one auction, which returned a successful result.