Auction Clearance Rates Slump Across Capitals
Combined capitals clearance rate fell to 43.6 per cent last week, the weakest result since late June.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Residential
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Auction clearance rates across Australia's combined capitals dropped to 43.6 per cent last week, the weakest since late June. Every capital that held auctions recorded a lower rate than a year earlier.
Why it matters
The softer result comes as the Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to announce a fifth rate rise for the year on Tuesday. Falling clearance rates signal weakening buyer demand in the housing market.
Brisbane recorded the lowest clearance rate of the capitals at 26.3 per cent, while Melbourne held strongest at 50.2 per cent. Whether the gap between markets will narrow after the rate decision has not yet been established.
The players
Reserve Bank of Australia
The Reserve Bank of Australia is the nation's central bank, responsible for monetary policy and setting the cash rate that influences home loan costs.
Cotality
Cotality is a property data and analytics provider that tracks auction volumes and results across Australia's housing market.
The details
Sydney's clearance rate fell to 41.7 per cent, while Adelaide recorded 35.3 per cent. A 45-minute auction in Mount Druitt failed to sell, and some owners are refusing offers $20,000 to $30,000 short of their targets.
Timeline
Late June: last weekly clearance result stronger than the current figure.
Last week: combined capitals clearance rate dropped to 43.6 per cent.
Tuesday: the Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to announce a fifth rate rise.
This week: about 1,793 homes are expected to go under the hammer, according to Cotality.
Market Context
Cotality's weekly auction tracking shows the 43.6 per cent result is the weakest since late June, extending a slide in buyer demand across the capitals. Property prices are falling faster than in any previous downturn over the past 40 years.
Buyers in softening markets may find more room to negotiate, as some sellers are refusing offers well below their targets. Higher interest rates would also raise repayments for households with variable-rate home loans.
The takeaway
Buyers weighing a purchase should factor in both the current softness in auction results and the possibility of higher borrowing costs before committing.
What happens next
The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to announce its rate decision on Tuesday, which will shape the next round of auction results.
Further reading
Explore more on Residential property trends across Australia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News24.
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