This week, Australia's national auction clearance rate came in at 40.7% across 3,252 scheduled auctions, with 1,325 properties sold. That's ↓1.5% compared to last week's 42.2%.

Another week of softening clearance rates signals a buyer's market is firmly taking hold. With the national rate edging lower and more homes failing to sell, buyers can afford to be selective and negotiate hard this weekend.

City-by-City Breakdown

City	Clearance Rate	vs Last Week	Scheduled	Sold Prior	At Auction	Sold After	Total Sold
Sydney	34.4%	↓2.1%	1372	252	220	37	509
Melbourne	43.27%	↑0.5%	1396	195	409	33	637
Brisbane	23.72%	↑1.6%	215	26	25	1	52
Adelaide	44.51%	↓0.8%	173	22	55	12	89
Canberra	38.54%	↓5.7%	96	19	18	1	38

What The Numbers Mean

The biggest capital, Sydney, saw a moderate decline, while the smallest capital, Canberra, dropped sharply, pulling the national rate lower. This divergence reflects a post-Easter cooldown and the cumulative effect of recent rate rises [1], which have made buyers more cautious. In contrast, Melbourne and Brisbane both rose marginally, suggesting pockets of resilience where stock remains tightly held. For buyers, this means softer markets like Sydney and Canberra offer stronger negotiating power, while in Melbourne and Brisbane, acting quickly on well-priced homes is key. Overall, it's a buyer's market, but conditions vary street by street.

Tips for This Week's Buyers

Use the setup wizard to define your budget zones before auction day. Set up your auction plan.
During the auction, rely on your bid tracker to stay disciplined and avoid emotional overshooting.
Smart Bid's live bid feature lets you adjust your strategy in real time as the pace changes. Start tracking now.

References

Breaking: RBA increases interest rates - realestate.com.au

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