This week, Australia's national auction clearance rate came in at 42.3% across 1,052 scheduled auctions, with 445 properties sold. That's ↓0.6% compared to last week's 42.9%.

A buyer's market is now firmly entrenched, with the national clearance rate edging lower and sharp divergence across the capitals. For buyers, this week's data signals a window of opportunity — but only if you know where to look.

City-by-City Breakdown

City	Clearance Rate	vs Last Week	Scheduled	Sold Prior	At Auction	Sold After	Total Sold
Sydney	28.54%	↓9.3%	403	64	51	23	138
Melbourne	39.01%	↓4.7%	323	42	84	21	147
Brisbane	27.97%	↑5.2%	118	13	20	5	38
Adelaide	52.6%	↑9.0%	173	22	69	14	105
Canberra	48.57%	↑2.2%	35	8	9	0	17

What The Numbers Mean

The biggest capital, Sydney, saw a sharp fall, and the second-biggest capital, Melbourne, also declined moderately, dragging the national rate down. Yet three capitals — including a mid-size capital and a smaller southern capital — rose sharply against the trend. This dispersion reflects a post-Easter market where buyers in the largest cities are holding out amid uncertainty over interest rates and geopolitical jitters [1], while smaller capitals benefit from stronger demand relative to supply [2]. The result is a buyer's market nationally, but with localised pockets of competition. For buyers this week, the softer conditions in Sydney and Melbourne favour those who negotiate post-auction, while in Brisbane and Adelaide, acting decisively before the hammer falls is key.

Tips for This Week's Buyers

Set up your budget zones in the setup wizard to know your comfort and stretch limits before bidding. Set up your auction plan.
Use the bid tracker to monitor live bid increments and stay disciplined during the auction.
Let Smart Bid's real-time bid alerts keep you on track with your pre-set bid plan. Start tracking now.

References

Ready to bid with confidence? Set up your next auction with Smart Bid.