This week, Australia's national auction clearance rate came in at 40.7% across 2,402 scheduled auctions, with 977 properties sold. That's ↓1.6% compared to last week's 42.3%.

Another week of softening clearance rates confirms this is firmly a buyer's market. With national figures trending lower, those ready to act can find opportunities where vendor expectations are adjusting.

City-by-City Breakdown

City	Clearance Rate	vs Last Week	Scheduled	Sold Prior	At Auction	Sold After	Total Sold
Sydney	31.1%	↑2.6%	881	149	125	25	299
Melbourne	45.28%	↑6.3%	1038	168	302	24	494
Brisbane	22.06%	↓5.9%	204	21	24	5	50
Adelaide	44.69%	↓7.9%	179	21	59	11	91
Canberra	40%	↓8.6%	100	16	24	3	43

What The Numbers Mean

This week's divergence saw the biggest capital and the second-biggest capital both rise, bucking the national downward trend, while a mid-size capital and a smaller southern capital fell sharply. The dispersion reflects post-budget uncertainty around investor tax changes [1], which has hit markets with higher investor exposure harder, while Sydney and Melbourne's deeper buyer pools have provided some resilience. For buyers, this means softer conditions in mid-tier cities like Brisbane and Adelaide present stronger negotiating leverage, but vendors in those markets may hold firm initially. Overall, the national trend remains a buyer's market, with the multi-week decline suggesting further softening ahead.

Tips for This Week's Buyers

Use the setup wizard to define your budget zones before Saturday, so you know your limit zone cold. Set up your auction plan.
During the auction, keep your bid tracker open and stick to your stretch zone—don't chase emotion.
Smart Bid's bid plan helps you execute your strategy live, alerting you when bids approach your comfort zone boundary. Start tracking now.

References

Australia property auction market: Clearance rate weak after budget change to investor taxes

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