Australian Property Market Update: Auctions Surge to Highest Since June

Australia’s property market recorded its busiest week of auctions since early June, with 2,675 capital city homes taken to auction, up 11.4% from the previous week (2,402). The surge in listings coincided with a sharp rise in buyer activity, driving the preliminary clearance rate to 77.9% — the strongest early result since October 2021.

Melbourne Leads with Strong Clearance

Melbourne was the busiest city, hosting 1,322 auctions, the highest since June. The city’s clearance rate rose to 78.6%, its best result in nearly four years. Sydney followed closely with 925 homes under the hammer, up 11.6% week-on-week, achieving a clearance rate of 77.9%, its fourth-highest of 2025.

Smaller Capitals Mixed

• Adelaide saw a 37.8% rise in volumes, recording 135 auctions and a clearance rate of 85.5%, its second-highest this year.
• Brisbane hosted 174 auctions, its fifth busiest week in 2025, though its clearance rate slipped to 65.6%.
• Canberra reached its busiest auction week since April with 105 homes, achieving a healthy 81.3% clearance rate.
• Perth (11 auctions) and Tasmania (3 auctions) remained quiet, though all Tasmanian auctions reported successful results.

Listings and Market Trends

Despite the recent surge in auction activity, new listings remain subdued compared to 2024. Across the combined capitals, new listings are down nearly 10% year-on-year, with total listings also lower, highlighting ongoing supply pressures.

Meanwhile, rental markets continue to feel the squeeze. The national median rent reached $669 per week in August 2025, with annual growth of 4.1%, led by Brisbane, Perth, and Hobart, which all posted increases above 5%. Vacancy rates remain tight across most capitals.

Looking Ahead

Auction volumes are expected to dip to around 1,875 this week, largely due to Melbourne’s AFL Grand Final weekend, which traditionally sees fewer scheduled auctions. Sydney, however, is set to buck the trend, with around 1,300 homes scheduled — likely its busiest week since the Easter period.