This week, Australia's national auction clearance rate came in at 36.8% across 2,306 scheduled auctions, with 848 properties sold. That's ↓3.9% compared to last week's 40.7%.

Another week, another step deeper into buyer territory. With clearance rates continuing to slide and sentiment souring, this weekend favours those who come prepared to negotiate, not just to bid.

City-by-City Breakdown

City	Clearance Rate	vs Last Week	Scheduled	Sold Prior	At Auction	Sold After	Total Sold
Sydney	31.92%	↓2.5%	943	177	124	21	322
Melbourne	37.6%	↓5.7%	1000	118	258	35	411
Brisbane	17.26%	↓6.5%	168	5	24	6	35
Adelaide	37.3%	↓7.2%	126	10	37	10	57
Canberra	33.33%	↓5.2%	69	9	14	0	23

What The Numbers Mean

The national clearance rate fell again this week, with every major capital recording a decline. The biggest capital saw a moderate drop, while the second-biggest capital and a mid-size capital both fell sharply, reflecting broad-based weakness [1]. This uniform softening is unusual; typically some cities diverge. The culprit is a toxic mix of three recent rate rises and the government's proposed negative gearing and capital gains tax changes, which have rattled buyer confidence and pushed many to the sidelines [2][1]. With sentiment deeply pessimistic and cost-of-living pressures biting, the market has decisively shifted into a buyer's market. For buyers, the takeaway is clear: softer conditions mean less competition and more room to negotiate post-auction, especially for properties that fail to sell on the day.

Tips for This Week's Buyers

Use the setup wizard to define your budget zones before auction day. Set up your auction plan.
Stay within your limit zone and let the bid tracker guide your live decisions.
Smart Bid's auction setup helps you plan your maximum bid and stick to it. Start tracking now.

References

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