Australia's auction market displayed signs of cooling last week, with a preliminary clearance rate of 68.7% across the combined capitals, according to CoreLogic data.
This marks a slight dip from the previous week's 69.1% rate and reflects the lowest preliminary clearance rate since February 2025.
A total of 2,435 homes were auctioned, slightly fewer than the 2,472 homes auctioned a week prior. This is well below last year's pre-Easter spike of 3,519 homes.
Melbourne showed resilience as the largest auction market, hosting 1,249 auctions, up from 1,192 the previous week.
The city's preliminary clearance rate edged higher to 70.6%, while Sydney experienced a decline. This was due to 837 homes going under the hammer compared to 893 the week before.
Sydney's clearance rate dropped below the 70% threshold to 69.1%, breaking its six-week streak of high results and signalling potential headwinds for the market.
Brisbane recorded the strongest performance among the smaller capitals, with a preliminary clearance rate of 61.5%, its highest so far this year.
Adelaide reported a preliminary rate of 60.8%, its weakest showing year-to-date, while the ACT saw improvement, climbing to 60.8% from the previous week's 57.4%.
Perth and Tasmania remain fringe players, with limited auction activity and marginal success rates.
For investors, cooling clearance rates may indicate shifting market dynamics amid broader economic factors.
The lower auction volumes reflect seasonal trends and provide early hints of buyer hesitation across key markets.
However, Melbourne's stability and Brisbane's strengthening performance suggest opportunities for strategic investment in resilient areas.
Australia's auction data continues to serve as a vital indicator of real estate market health and investor sentiment.
