Australia’s auction market lost further momentum over the week ending Sunday, 19 July 2026. The combined capital-city final clearance rate fell to 45.3%, leaving buyers with greater room to negotiate while vendors faced more pressure to set realistic reserves and respond to campaign feedback.
This Australian Property Market Update 2026 reviews the latest Australian auction results, the Melbourne real estate market, conditions across Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, and the continuing activity within Regional Victoria real estate markets including Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.
National Property Market Overview
Executive Summary
The Australian housing market softened again during the week ending 19 July 2026. Across the combined capital cities, 1,367 auctions were held and the final clearance rate came in at 45.3%. That result was 3.2 percentage points below the previous week’s 48.5% and well below the 69.4% recorded during the same week in 2025.
Auction volumes rose modestly over the week but remained 12.4% lower than a year earlier. Under Cotality’s methodology, fewer than half of the reported properties sold. The four-week average clearance rate settled at 46.2%, while the eight-week average was 46.5%. Together, these figures suggest that the decline may be beginning to stabilise, although at a much softer level than the market experienced through most of 2025.
Melbourne was the strongest of the major auction markets, recording 599 auctions and a final clearance rate of 50.6%. Sydney weakened sharply to 42.4% from 443 auctions. Brisbane remained subdued at 35.4%, Adelaide improved to 48.2%, and Canberra fell to 31.0%. Perth recorded eight auctions, while Tasmania held one unsuccessful auction.
The broader message from this Australian Property Market Update 2026 is not that demand has disappeared. Rather, the market has shifted into a buyer-favourable phase. Correctly priced homes in well-regarded locations are still selling, and exceptional properties can continue to attract competition. However, vendors holding on to outdated price expectations are more likely to face passed-in auctions, extended negotiations and price adjustments.
Weekly Auction Snapshot
Market | Auctions | Final clearance rate | Weekly position |
Combined capital cities | 1,367 | 45.3% | Down from 48.5% |
Melbourne | 599 | 50.6% | Up from 50.3% |
Sydney | 443 | 42.4% | Down from 50.7% |
Brisbane | 164 | 35.4% | Unchanged |
Adelaide | 110 | 48.2% | Up three percentage points |
Canberra | 42 | 31.0% | Down from 51.7% |
Perth | 8 | 50.0% | Four properties sold |
Tasmania | 1 | N/A | The scheduled property did not sell |
These Australian auction results show a market where buyers remain selective and where the quality of pricing, presentation and campaign management has become increasingly important.
National Auction Clearance Rates
Auction clearance rates from Cotality, the REIV, PropTrack, realestate.com.au and other providers should not be treated as directly interchangeable.
Cotality’s final rate compares known sales before, at or after auction with all known outcomes, including passed-in and withdrawn properties. It covers the combined capital cities and continues to update results as more information becomes available.
The REIV uses results reported through Victorian real estate professionals and government records. For the week ending 19 July, it recorded 377 reported auctions, 256 total sales, 121 passed-in properties, 44 withdrawals and 201 properties for which a result had not been reported.
Realestate.com.au reported 672 scheduled NSW auctions and 626 available results. Of those, 105 sold at auction, 136 sold beforehand and 15 sold afterward. A further 139 passed in and 231 were withdrawn, producing a reported NSW clearance rate of 41%.
The gap between these figures matters. A clearance rate calculated only from reported auctions can appear stronger than a rate that includes a larger proportion of withdrawn and unsuccessful campaigns. Preliminary results also tend to fall once late outcomes are collected.
For consistency, this Australian Property Market Update 2026 uses Cotality’s final results as the main national benchmark, with REIV and realestate.com.au figures providing additional state-level context.
Combined Capital City Performance
The combined capital-city result confirms the softer direction of property market trends Australia-wide. Although auction numbers increased slightly, the overall sales conversion rate weakened and remained well below the equivalent period in 2025.
Domain’s June-quarter reporting added further context. Combined capital-city house prices fell by 1.4%, while unit prices declined by 1.2%. Sydney house prices fell by 3.3%, Melbourne by 3.1% and Canberra by 2.5% over the quarter. This was the first quarterly national decline since early 2023. Adelaide, Perth and selected regional markets continued to show greater resilience, while Sydney and Melbourne experienced a more pronounced adjustment. These figures are important when considering any property market forecast Australia-wide.
The current Australian housing market is giving buyers more choice, less urgency and greater opportunity to negotiate, particularly when a property passes in. For vendors, campaign quality and reserve realism are now central to the final outcome. Online enquiry alone is no longer enough to indicate genuine demand; contract requests, repeat inspections, building inspections and registered bidders provide a clearer picture of buyer commitment.
Melbourne Property Market Analysis
Melbourne Auction Clearance Rates
The latest Melbourne auction clearance rates showed a modest improvement despite the broader national decline. Cotality recorded 599 auctions and a final clearance rate of 50.6%, up from 50.3% the previous week. Auction volume increased by 4.0%, and the clearance rate improved for a fourth consecutive week.
A rate just above 50% does not indicate a strong seller’s market. However, it does suggest that the Melbourne housing market may be stabilising after the particularly weak conditions recorded through June.
The REIV reported a stronger Victorian clearance rate of 68% from 377 reported auctions. It recorded 256 sales, including 186 properties sold under the hammer, 69 sold before auction and one sold afterward. A total of 121 properties passed in.
The difference between Cotality’s 50.6% Melbourne figure and the REIV’s 68% Victorian result reflects differences in coverage and methodology. The REIV also recorded 201 auctions without a reported result, along with 44 withdrawals and 40 postponed campaigns. Direct comparison therefore requires caution.
Melbourne Buyer Behaviour
Buyer behaviour within the Melbourne real estate market has become more disciplined. Many buyers are arriving at auction with firm limits, a clearer understanding of comparable sales and a greater willingness to let a property pass in rather than bid beyond their preferred range.
Competition has not disappeared. Well-renovated homes, single-level townhouses, family properties in school zones and homes close to established transport and shopping precincts can still attract multiple bidders. At the same time, buyers are applying a larger discount to properties requiring structural repairs, energy-efficiency upgrades or substantial renovation.
Open-home attendance has also weakened nationally. Ray White analysis reported an average of approximately 2.1 attendees per open home during the four weeks ending 11 July, down from 3.6 a year earlier. Sydney and Melbourne averaged around two attendees per inspection. This suggests that the active buyer pool has narrowed, even though serious purchasers remain engaged.
Melbourne Vendor Behaviour
As this Melbourne Property Market Report shows, vendors are gradually adjusting to the softer environment, but a gap between seller expectations and buyer price limits remains visible.
The strongest campaigns are those where vendors respond to feedback before auction day rather than treating the original appraisal or preferred sale price as fixed. Reserve discussions should consider contract requests, building inspections, second viewings and genuine bidder registrations, not simply the total number of online enquiries.
A passed-in result is not necessarily the end of the campaign. With more than 120 Victorian properties reported as passed in by the REIV, immediate post-auction negotiation remains a critical part of the selling process. Vendors considering Melbourne Property Sales need a strategy that covers both auction day and the negotiations that may follow.
Melbourne Market Performance
The REIV reported approximately $237 million in Victorian auction sales for the week. The median auction sale price was $978,000 for houses and $705,000 for units. Houses recorded a reported clearance rate of 67%, compared with 71% for units.
These figures relate only to reported auction sales and should not be treated as full-market medians. Even so, they add useful context to the wider Victoria property market update and show that transactions are still occurring across a broad range of price points. The Victorian property market remains active, but performance varies sharply by location, property type and condition.
Broader indicators are softer. Domain’s June-quarter figures showed Melbourne house prices falling by 3.1% over the quarter. This reflects the combined effect of higher mortgage rates, reduced borrowing capacity, cost-of-living pressure and weaker confidence.
The Melbourne Property Market Report therefore points to a highly segmented market. Quality homes in desirable locations can still perform strongly, while overpricing, renovation risk and compromised property features are being penalised more heavily.
Notable Melbourne Property Sales
Property | Reported sale price |
53 Weybridge Street, Surrey Hills | $2.37 million |
110 Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg | $2.085 million |
155 Park Street, Moonee Ponds | $1.92 million |
29 Williamson Avenue, Strathmore | $1.83 million |
23 Charles Street, Brighton East | $1.8 million |
20 Second Avenue, Melton South | $420,000 |
1 and 2/30 Alexandra Street, South Yarra | $2.1208 million |
7/177 North Road, Gardenvale | $261,000 |
Other lower-priced house sales were recorded in Donnybrook, Hoppers Crossing and Craigieburn, showing that activity continues across first-home buyer and outer-suburban segments.
The spread between the highest and lowest reported results highlights the diversity of the Melbourne housing market. Premium-quality properties with desirable addresses can still achieve strong prices, but the wider clearance rate confirms that buyers are not competing indiscriminately.
Sydney Property Market Analysis
Sydney Auction Results
The Sydney property market recorded one of the week’s sharpest deteriorations. Cotality reported 443 auctions and a final clearance rate of 42.4%, down 8.3 percentage points from the previous week’s 50.7%. Auction volumes were broadly unchanged, but the sales conversion rate fell to its lowest level in four weeks.
Realestate.com.au’s broader NSW results told a similar story. It recorded a 41% clearance rate from 626 available results, with 672 auctions scheduled. There were 256 reported sales before, at or after auction, while 139 properties passed in and 231 were withdrawn.
NSW Market Conditions
Total listing stock in Sydney remained relatively elevated even though fewer new properties were entering the market. Cotality commentary indicated that total Sydney listings were almost 13% above the five-year average during the four weeks ending 19 July.
This level of choice reduces the urgency that often drives strong auction competition. Premium homes can still sell well, but buyers have become increasingly sensitive to overpricing, renovation risk and high debt exposure.
The wider Sydney property market is therefore being influenced by both supply and affordability. Fewer new listings do not automatically create stronger competition when existing stock remains high and buyers are participating more cautiously.
Buyer Activity
Sydney buyers are taking more time to compare properties, examine contracts and assess the full cost of ownership. They are less inclined to stretch beyond a comfortable limit simply because an auction campaign creates urgency.
This more selective buyer activity is consistent with broader property market trends Australia-wide. Homes with strong locations, good condition and clear value can still generate interest, while properties requiring major expenditure or carrying aggressive price expectations face more resistance.
Vendor Challenges
Withdrawals were a major component of unsuccessful NSW auction outcomes. In many cases, a withdrawal can indicate that the vendor or agent reviewed buyer interest before auction day and decided not to proceed under the hammer.
Sydney vendors need to recognise that lower auction volumes do not guarantee stronger competition. A high price base, elevated listing stock and reduced borrowing capacity continue to make the market more sensitive to reserve setting and campaign execution.
Brisbane, Adelaide & Canberra Market Update
Brisbane Property Market
The Brisbane property market recorded 164 auctions and a final clearance rate of 35.4%, unchanged from the previous week despite a 26.2% increase in volume. It remained the weakest of the larger auction markets.
Brisbane is primarily a private treaty market, which means auction outcomes represent only a limited part of overall sales activity. Even so, a clearance rate in the mid-30s indicates that auction campaigns require careful property selection and realistic vendor expectations.
Population growth, constrained housing supply and interstate migration continue to support the market. However, after several years of rapid value growth, affordability has become a more significant concern. Auctions may still suit scarce, highly desirable or architecturally distinctive homes, while more conventional properties with extensive comparable evidence may attract stronger engagement through transparent private treaty pricing.
Adelaide Auction Performance
The Adelaide property market improved to a final clearance rate of 48.2% from 110 auctions, three percentage points above the previous week. Auction volume also increased by 31%.
Adelaide continues to benefit from relatively strong supply-and-demand conditions compared with Sydney and Melbourne, but it is not immune to higher borrowing costs or weaker confidence. Relative affordability and limited stock remain supportive, although buyers are distinguishing more carefully between owner-occupier-quality homes and investor-oriented properties with maintenance, holding-cost or rental-compliance concerns.
The weekly improvement was positive, but a clearance rate below 50% still means vendors need to price carefully and prepare for negotiation. The Adelaide property market remains comparatively resilient, but it is not operating without buyer resistance.
Canberra Property Market
The Canberra property market recorded 42 auctions and a final clearance rate of 31.0%, down from 51.7% the previous week. It was Canberra’s weakest result of 2026.
Weekly results can be volatile because of the city’s smaller auction volumes. Nevertheless, the scale of the decline shows that buyers were particularly cautious during the reporting period.
Government and professional-sector employment continue to provide longer-term stability. However, high prices and borrowing costs are limiting purchasing power, while energy efficiency, property condition and access to employment centres remain important points of difference.
Comparison Across Smaller Capital Cities
Among the smaller capital-city auction markets, Adelaide delivered the strongest result at 48.2%, while Canberra fell to 31.0%. Perth recorded eight auctions, four of which sold, producing a 50% clearance rate. Tasmania held one auction, which did not sell.
The Perth and Tasmania samples are too small to support reliable week-to-week analysis. Perth remains predominantly a private treaty market, so its broader performance is better assessed through listing stock, days on market, price growth and rental conditions.
Regional Victoria Property Market Update
Regional Victoria continues to tell a different story from metropolitan Melbourne. While the capital has experienced weaker prices and auction conditions, affordability and lifestyle demand continue to support selected regional centres.
Earlier REIV quarterly analysis showed regional Victorian median house prices rising to approximately $650,000, with annual growth outperforming metropolitan Melbourne. Regional unit markets also remained comparatively resilient. This strength is not uniform, but it remains an important part of the Victorian property market.
Geelong Property Market Trends
The Geelong property market remains highly segmented between affordable northern suburbs, established inner areas and premium coastal locations.
Corio and Norlane continue to attract first-home buyers and investors seeking lower entry prices, while turnkey homes priced below approximately $800,000 remain among the more active segments.
At the premium end, a substantially renovated East Geelong home was recently listed with expectations between $2.8 million and $3.08 million. Its extensive transformation, heritage character and location show that high-quality homes can still be positioned confidently despite softer broader conditions.
A Geelong property market analysis should therefore look beyond citywide averages. Price sensitivity varies considerably by suburb, property type and condition, and buyers are particularly cautious about homes requiring major renovation because building and holding costs remain elevated.
Ballarat Property Market
The Ballarat property market continues to benefit from affordability, rail access, education and healthcare employment.
Local reporting identified Redan as one of the most active areas during the week, with seven property sales recorded. This shows that established, affordable suburbs can continue to transact even when auction volumes are limited.
Demand remains strongest for homes close to services and for properties that can be occupied without immediate major expenditure. Investors are also examining rental demand more carefully rather than purchasing solely because of a lower entry price.
These Ballarat property market trends reinforce the importance of selecting the right property rather than relying on broad regional growth assumptions.
Bendigo Property Market
The Bendigo property market recorded 21 property sales and 79 new listings during the week ending 19 July. This indicates an active market with both ongoing supply and continued transactional demand.
Bendigo’s employment base across health, education, government and professional services supports longer-term housing demand. However, the additional listings give buyers greater choice and place more importance on correct pricing.
As in Geelong and Ballarat, the strongest Bendigo property investment opportunities remain property-specific. Proximity to employment, transport, schools and established retail services is likely to matter more than a broad regional growth narrative.
Regional Victoria Investment Opportunities
Regional Victoria real estate continues to attract buyers and investors seeking affordability, rental demand and lifestyle appeal. However, performance remains highly localised.
The Victoria property market update shows that Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo each have different demand drivers and different levels of buyer sensitivity. Investors considering Melbourne property investment alternatives in regional centres should assess local employment, transport, services, maintenance requirements and rental demand before making a decision.
For tailored guidance, Ham Kerr’s Investment Property Services can help buyers assess opportunities using market evidence, due diligence and a clear long-term strategy.
Buyer and Vendor Sentiment Across Australia
Buyer Negotiation Power
Buyer sentiment is cautious, but buyers are increasingly confident in their negotiating position. They are less likely to believe that missing one property will immediately leave them priced out of the market.
They are spending more time reviewing contracts, building reports, owners corporation costs, insurance expenses and renovation budgets. This is producing fewer impulsive bids and more disciplined negotiation.
The current Australian Property Market Update 2026 shows that buyers have the greatest leverage where a property passes in, requires substantial work or has been positioned above comparable sales evidence.
Vendor Pricing Strategies
Vendor sentiment remains mixed. Some sellers are accepting current market conditions and setting realistic reserves. Others remain anchored to results achieved during stronger periods.
Auction volumes were 12.4% lower than during the same week last year, indicating that many potential vendors have chosen to postpone their campaign or use a different sales method.
Waiting until spring may bring more buyers into the market, but it is also likely to mean competing against more listings. The right timing depends on the property, the local supply pipeline and the vendor’s circumstances, not the season alone.
Passed-In Properties
The national clearance rate of 45.3% means more than half of collected auction outcomes did not result in a reported sale. These unsuccessful outcomes include both passed-in and withdrawn campaigns.
The REIV recorded 121 Victorian pass-ins from 377 reported auctions, while realestate.com.au recorded 139 NSW pass-ins.
For buyers, a passed-in property may create an opportunity. The highest bidder usually receives the first chance to negotiate, and the absence of public bidding pressure can lead to a more measured discussion.
For vendors, the lesson is to prepare a post-auction strategy before bidding begins. Minimum acceptable terms, settlement preferences and negotiable conditions should be clear in advance.
Withdrawn Auctions
Realestate.com.au recorded 231 withdrawn NSW auctions, while the REIV recorded 44 Victorian withdrawals.
A high withdrawal count can indicate that vendors received insufficient interest or that the likely auction result was below expectations. Where campaign feedback consistently supports a lower range than the vendor expects, repeating the same strategy is unlikely to produce a different result.
Economic Factors Shaping the Property Market
Interest Rates
The Reserve Bank’s interest-rate increases remain the most significant constraint on purchasing power. Each increase reduces the amount many buyers can borrow and raises the monthly repayment associated with a given purchase price.
Higher rates are affecting the Australian housing market through lower bidding limits, more cautious decision-making and reduced vendor confidence.
Cost of Living
Cost-of-living pressure is placing further strain on household budgets. Buyers are retaining larger financial buffers and examining ongoing expenses more closely, including insurance, owners corporation charges, maintenance and renovation costs.
This pressure is contributing to the softer winter property market Australia is now experiencing, particularly in higher-priced markets where mortgage commitments are already substantial.
Housing Supply
Long-term housing supply constraints continue to provide a counterweight to weaker short-term conditions. Australia still faces a shortage of established and newly constructed homes, while population growth remains supportive of underlying demand.
The current market is therefore being pulled in two directions: affordability pressure is limiting what buyers can pay today, while constrained supply continues to support longer-term housing demand.
Global Economic Conditions
Cotality linked weaker auction conditions to stretched affordability, the cumulative effect of rate increases, pressure on household incomes, reduced confidence associated with the Iran conflict and policy changes announced in the Federal Budget.
Global uncertainty affects property indirectly through consumer confidence, inflation expectations, financial markets and assumptions about future interest rates. When uncertainty rises, buyers are more likely to retain cash buffers and less likely to bid aggressively.
Borrowing Capacity
Reduced borrowing capacity is one of the clearest forces shaping property market trends Australia-wide. Buyers may still want to purchase, but the amount they can comfortably finance has fallen.
This explains why quality homes can continue to attract interest while final sale prices and clearance rates remain under pressure. Demand has not disappeared; purchasing power has changed.
Australian Property Market Outlook 2026
Winter Market Outlook
The winter property market Australia is likely to remain cautious and uneven. Final clearance rates may continue to move around the mid-40% range, with weekly volatility driven by changes in stock quality, auction volumes and reporting outcomes.
A genuine recovery would require several consecutive weeks of stronger final results, not simply higher preliminary clearance rates.
Expected Auction Volumes
Cotality expected 1,455 capital-city auctions for the week ending 26 July, an increase of 6.4% from the week ending 19 July but 14.9% below the corresponding week in 2025.
Melbourne was expected to lead with approximately 680 auctions, while Sydney was forecast to approach 500. Auction volumes were then expected to decline to around 1,200 for the week ending 2 August and approximately 1,190 for the week ending 9 August.
Melbourne Forecast
The Melbourne property market may continue its gradual improvement if vendors adjust reserves and available stock remains relatively low. The latest Melbourne auction clearance rates have improved for four consecutive weeks, but conditions remain buyer-favourable rather than strongly competitive.
The Melbourne real estate market will continue to reward well-presented, correctly priced homes, while properties requiring major work or carrying unrealistic expectations may take longer to sell.
Sydney Forecast
The Sydney property market is likely to remain more vulnerable because of its higher price base, elevated listing stock and greater sensitivity to changes in borrowing capacity.
Premium properties may continue to sell well, but the wider market will need more realistic vendor pricing and improved buyer confidence before a sustained recovery becomes visible.
Regional Victoria Outlook
The Regional Victoria real estate outlook remains comparatively resilient, supported by affordability and local lifestyle demand. However, performance will stay highly localised.
The property market forecast Australia-wide should not be applied evenly to every regional centre. Geelong property market conditions, Ballarat property market activity and Bendigo property market opportunities each need to be assessed at suburb and property level.
Overall, this Australian Property Market Update 2026 points to a softer but still active market, with negotiation and property selection becoming more important than broad market momentum. Any property market forecast Australia-wide must therefore account for significant differences between capitals, regional centres and individual property segments.
Property Market Strategies for Buyers, Sellers and Investors
Advice for Home Buyers
Secure finance approval before bidding and understand the repayment impact at different purchase prices. Review recent comparable sales and include renovation, insurance and owners corporation costs when setting your maximum figure.
Remain engaged after a property passes in. In the current Australian housing market, the most productive negotiation may occur after the crowd has dispersed.
Tips for Sellers
Base the price guide and reserve on current comparable evidence. Treat buyer feedback as useful market information rather than simply an attempt to negotiate.
Presentation still matters. Where relatively small improvements can strengthen perceived value, address them before the campaign begins. Just as importantly, establish a clear post-auction negotiation strategy before auction day.
Owners seeking experienced Property Management Melbourne support or planning a sale can benefit from advice that reflects current local market conditions rather than outdated expectations.
Investment Opportunities
Investors should assess net yield after land tax, maintenance, insurance, compliance and vacancy costs. Broad suburb-growth headlines are not enough on their own.
Properties with consistent rental demand, lower ongoing maintenance and good access to employment and transport remain better positioned in a slower market. The same principle applies to both Melbourne property investment and Regional Victoria real estate opportunities.
For investors focused on long-term asset performance, professional Melbourne Property Management and Rental Property Management can help protect rental income, maintain compliance and support the property’s condition over time.
Auction Strategy
Buyers should enter the auction with a firm limit and avoid allowing public competition to override their due diligence. Vendors should set reserves using live campaign evidence and prepare for post-auction negotiation if the property passes in.
The Australian auction results for the week show that strategy now matters as much as sentiment. Buyers have more room to negotiate, while sellers need a realistic and flexible approach to secure a result.
Key Takeaways
- Australia’s combined capital-city clearance rate fell to 45.3%, compared with 48.5% the previous week.
- Melbourne was the strongest major auction market, clearing 50.6% from 599 auctions.
- Sydney weakened to 42.4%, while realestate.com.au reported a 41% NSW clearance rate and a high number of withdrawals.
- Brisbane remained soft at 35.4%, Adelaide improved to 48.2%, and Canberra fell to 31.0%.
- The REIV reported Victorian median auction prices of $978,000 for houses and $705,000 for units.
- More than half of collected national auction results were unsuccessful, giving buyers continued negotiating leverage.
- Quality properties are still selling, but overpricing and renovation risk are being penalised more heavily.
- Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo continue to record activity, although regional performance remains highly suburb- and property-specific.
This Australian Property Market Update 2026 confirms that the market remains active, but success now depends more heavily on realistic pricing, careful property selection and disciplined negotiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Australian Property Auction Market Report?
The Australian Property Auction Market Report provides a weekly overview of auction clearance rates, buyer demand, seller activity, auction volumes and property market trends across Australia’s major capital cities and regional markets.
2. What was Australia’s auction clearance rate for the week ending 19 July 2026?
Australia recorded a final combined capital-city auction clearance rate of 45.3%, down from 48.5% the previous week. The result was also well below the 69.4% recorded during the corresponding week in 2025.
3. How did Melbourne perform during the week ending 19 July 2026?
Melbourne recorded 599 auctions and a final clearance rate of 50.6%. It was the strongest of the major auction markets and improved for a fourth consecutive week, although conditions remained buyer-favourable.
4. How did Sydney’s auction market perform?
Sydney held 443 auctions and achieved a final clearance rate of 42.4%, down from 50.7% the previous week. Realestate.com.au separately reported a 41% NSW clearance rate from 626 available results.
5. Which Regional Victoria markets remained active?
Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo continued to record activity. Their appeal was supported by affordability, employment, services and lifestyle demand, although performance varied significantly by suburb, property type and condition.
6. Why are auction clearance rates revised after the weekend?
Preliminary clearance rates are based on early reported results. Final rates are updated as additional sold, passed-in and withdrawn outcomes are collected, providing a more complete measure of market performance.
7. How are interest rates affecting Australia’s property market?
Higher interest rates are reducing borrowing capacity, increasing mortgage repayments and encouraging buyers to negotiate more carefully. They are also influencing vendor confidence, reserve expectations and auction activity.
8. Is Melbourne currently a buyer’s market?
Melbourne remains largely buyer-favourable, particularly for properties that pass in, require renovation or are priced above comparable evidence. Quality homes in desirable locations can still attract strong competition.
9. Is Regional Victoria still a good place to invest?
Selected Regional Victoria locations continue to attract buyers and investors because of affordability, rental demand, employment and lifestyle appeal. However, results vary by suburb and property, so detailed due diligence remains essential.
10. How can Ham Kerr Property help buyers, sellers and investors?
Ham Kerr Property provides experienced guidance across buying, selling, property investment and property management, with strong local expertise across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Learn more about Ham Kerr Property or contact the team for advice based on current market conditions and your property goals.
Make Your Next Property Decision with Greater Confidence
Whether you are buying, selling, investing or reviewing the management of a rental property, the right strategy starts with current market evidence and experienced local guidance. Use this Australian Property Market Update 2026 as a starting point for a more informed property decision.
Visit Ham Kerr Property to explore its property services, request an appraisal or Contact Ham Kerr Property to discuss your next move.

Australia Weekly Property Market Report – Week Ending 2 August 2026
Melbourne recorded a 59% Domain clearance rate from 373 reported auctions, with 221 sales, 87 properties passing in and 65 withdrawals. The median auction price was $910,500.
While this represented an improvement on some of Melbourne’s weaker winter weekends, the result remained below the 66% recorded at the same time last year.

Australia Weekly Property Market Report – Week Ending 26 July 2026
The Australia Weekly Property Market Report for the week ending Sunday, 26 July 2026 shows a modest improvement in preliminary auction results. However, buyer caution, reduced investor participation, elevated pass-ins and subdued vendor confidence continued to shape the winter market.

Australian Property Auction Market Report – First Week of July 2026
The Australian Property Auction Market Report for the first week of July 2026 shows a market that has moved firmly into buyer-sensitive territory. The Melbourne auction market remained under pressure, while the wider Victoria property market reflected cautious buyer sentiment, softer auction clearance rates and a measured market outlook. Across Australia’s winter property market, buyers remain active, but they are carefully comparing market evidence and avoiding emotional overbidding.

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