Australia’s auction market has taken another turn for the worse, with the national preliminary auction clearance rate falling again to only 52.4%, down from 56.5% the previous weekend (revised lower to 48.9% on final numbers):
Source: Cotality
At the same time last year, 70.0% of auctions reported a successful result.
Auction numbers also remain well below last year’s levels, down 32.3% compared with the same week a year ago. “The softer trend has persisted throughout winter, with capital city auction volumes finishing the season 18% lower than winter 2025 levels”, Cotality research director Tim Lawless noted.
“The annual decline has been concentrated in the largest auction markets, with winter auction numbers down 25% in Sydney, 19% in Melbourne and 14% in the ACT”, he added.
Meanwhile, Cotality’s daily dwelling values index continues to weaken, with values at the 5-city aggregate level down by 1.1% over the past 28 days, with all major markets recording heavy declines:
Australia’s housing correction is clearly steepening and broadening amid deteriorating buyer sentiment.
Expectations that the Reserve Bank will likely hike interest rates further will inevitably add to the gloom across the market.
