This week, Australia's national auction clearance rate came in at 36.6% across 1,780 scheduled auctions, with 652 properties sold. That's ↓0.5% compared to last week's 37.1%.

Another week of softening clearance rates confirms this is firmly a buyer's market. With national figures drifting lower and two capitals bucking the trend, the picture is increasingly localised—worth studying suburb-level data before Saturday.

City-by-City Breakdown

City	Clearance Rate	vs Last Week	Scheduled	Sold Prior	At Auction	Sold After	Total Sold
Sydney	33.97%	↑1.5%	780	146	119	11	276
Melbourne	38.13%	↑0.7%	653	85	164	23	272
Brisbane	14.73%	↓2.9%	129	5	14	2	21
Adelaide	30.41%	↓8.4%	148	13	32	7	52
Canberra	41.43%	↓0.1%	70	14	15	2	31

What The Numbers Mean

The biggest capital, Sydney, rose moderately this week, while the second-biggest capital, Melbourne, saw a marginal uptick—both moving against the national downward trend. In contrast, a smaller southern capital, Adelaide, fell sharply, and a mid-size capital, Brisbane, also dropped moderately. This divergence reflects the post-Easter slowdown and the multi-week trajectory of falling clearance rates, as buyers remain cautious amid falling prices and rising listings [1]. Analysts note that vendors are increasingly realistic, but many properties are still being withdrawn rather than sold under the hammer [2]. In a buyer's market, the message is clear: buyers should target suburbs where clearance rates have dipped sharply, as competition is lower and negotiation leverage is higher. Focusing on areas with softer demand—like Adelaide and Brisbane this week—can yield better outcomes for those with pre-approval ready.

Tips for This Week's Buyers

Use the setup wizard to define your budget zones—comfort, stretch, and limit—before auction day. Set up your auction plan.
During the auction, rely on your bid plan and let the bid tracker pace your bids, avoiding emotional overreach.
Smart Bid's real-time bid feature keeps you disciplined, alerting you when you hit your limit zone. Start tracking now.

References

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