Auction Clearance Rates This Week: 42.2% National (24 May 2026)
National auction clearance rate hit 42.2% this week. City-by-city results for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra.
This week, Australia's national auction clearance rate came in at 42.2% across 2,839 scheduled auctions, with 1,197 properties sold. That's ↑1.5% compared to last week's 40.7%.
A sharp lift in Sydney's clearance rate gave the national figure a much-needed boost this week, but the gains were far from uniform. For buyers, the message is clear: conditions remain fragmented, and knowing which suburbs favour your hand is half the battle before auction day.
City-by-City Breakdown
| City | Clearance Rate | vs Last Week | Scheduled | Sold Prior | At Auction | Sold After | Total Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 36.51% | ↑5.4% | 1123 | 217 | 193 | 27 | 437 |
| Melbourne | 42.78% | ↓2.5% | 1171 | 165 | 336 | 45 | 546 |
| Brisbane | 22.12% | ↑0.1% | 217 | 17 | 31 | 5 | 53 |
| Adelaide | 45.3% | ↑0.6% | 181 | 29 | 53 | 11 | 93 |
| Canberra | 44.22% | ↑4.2% | 147 | 30 | 35 | 3 | 68 |
What The Numbers Mean
Sydney, the biggest capital, led the charge with a sharp rise, while the second-biggest capital, Melbourne, bucked the national trend with a moderate fall. This divergence reflects a market still recalibrating after the post-Easter lull, with buyer demand concentrating in pockets of strength [1]. The recent multi-week trajectory shows a volatile recovery from the prior week's low, suggesting that confidence is building unevenly. For buyers, the softer conditions in Melbourne open up post-auction negotiation opportunities, especially in mid-tier suburbs where vendor expectations are adjusting. Overall, the national picture remains a buyer's market, but the window is narrowing as spring approaches.
Tips for This Week's Buyers
- Use Smart Bid's setup wizard to define your budget zones — comfort, stretch, and limit — before you arrive on the day. Set up your auction plan.
- During the auction, keep your bid plan visible with the bid tracker to avoid getting swept into emotional bidding.
- Let Smart Bid's real-time bid alerts notify you the moment a property passes in, so you can negotiate immediately with the agent. Start tracking now.
References
Ready to bid with confidence? Set up your next auction with Smart Bid.