Auction clearance rate hits 12-week high but lags well behind 2025 levels

The weighted average clearance rate across Australia's capital cities reached 51.4% in the week ending 9 August 2026, its strongest result in three months, according to data from Cotality.

The result was up 2.5 percentage points from 48.9% the prior week, even as auction volumes rose in most cities.

A total of 1,382 auctions were held across the capitals, up 9.9% on the 1,257 recorded the previous week. However, volumes remained 12.9% below the 1,587 auctions conducted in the corresponding week of 2025.

"The weighted average clearance rate finalised at 51.4%, its highest result in 12 weeks," said Annabelle Mezieres, economist at Cotality. "Additionally, clearance rates improved even though more homes went to auction in most of the capital cities."

Melbourne recorded the most significant volume increase among the major markets, with auctions rising 17.9% from 559 to 659. Its clearance rate climbed to 56.8%, the highest since 3 May, from 54.7% the prior week. Sydney saw 412 homes go to auction, up marginally from 406, while its clearance rate jumped 5.9 percentage points to 51.5% from 45.6% — the largest single-week gain among the capitals.

Brisbane recorded the most auctions among the smaller markets, with 161 — up 18.4% from 136 — though its clearance rate slipped to 35.4% from 37.5%, the lowest of any capital with sufficient volume. Adelaide held 94 auctions, up from 92, with its clearance rate edging up to 46.8% from 45.7%.

Canberra's volume fell 11.3% to 47, but its clearance rate improved to 46.8% from 43.4%. Perth recorded only nine auctions, with two selling for a clearance rate of 22.2%, compared with 70% the prior week when 10 auctions were held. No auctions took place in Tasmania.

Year-on-year comparisons remain unfavourable. The weighted average clearance rate is down 17.3 percentage points from 68.7% at the same point in 2025. Sydney's rate has fallen 19.0 percentage points from 70.5%, while Melbourne's has declined 11.8 percentage points from 68.6%.

The smaller capitals recorded steeper drops: Canberra fell 28.6 percentage points, Adelaide 23.9, and Brisbane 23.5. Brisbane was the only capital to record higher auction volumes than a year earlier, with activity up 29.8% from 124 auctions.

Approximately 1,323 auctions are scheduled across the capital cities in the week to 16 August, 4.3% fewer than the 1,382 held the previous week and 31.1% below the 1,921 conducted in the same week in 2025.

"Apart from Adelaide and Brisbane, every capital has fewer auctions scheduled than it did last August, and most of the shortfall is in Melbourne and Sydney, pointing to lower vendor activity in the two largest markets, rather than a one-week change," Mezieres said.

Melbourne remains the busiest market with around 565 auctions scheduled, down 14.3% on last week and 39.4% below the 932 held a year ago. Sydney has 474 scheduled auctions, up 15% on last week's 412 but 32.8% below the 705 recorded in the same week of 2025.

Among the smaller markets, Brisbane has 146 auctions scheduled, down 9.3% from last week but 7.4% above the 136 held a year ago. Adelaide has 87 auctions, down 7.4% from the prior week though 2.4% above last year's 85.

Canberra has 42 homes scheduled, a decline of 10.6% from 47 last week and 17.6% below last year's 51. Perth is unchanged at nine auctions, 18.2% below last year's 11. Tasmania has no auctions listed.

"Cotality expects auction volumes to rise over the next fortnight, with about 1,390 homes scheduled in each of the next two weeks, around 5% above this week's volume," Mezieres said. "The subtle rise in volume suggests vendors are bringing more stock to market as spring approaches, even if volumes stay below where they were a year ago."

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