Australia’s auction market has shown surprising resilience during the traditionally quieter winter months, with clearance rates remaining consistently strong.

 

Data from Cotality shows that the preliminary national clearance rate has remained above 70% for eight consecutive weeks, reaching 72.3% last week, just shy of the year’s highest result (74.7%).

 

Leading the charge is Sydney, with a clearance rate of 74.9%, followed by:

 

* Melbourne: 71.8%

* Brisbane: 71.1%

* ACT: 65.8%

* Adelaide: 65.1%

 

SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher says the strength is partly due to limited listings, though activity is expected to rise with the Spring Selling Season approaching. “We’re in a better place than this time last year,” Christopher says. “If interest rates fall again, we’ll likely see more first-home buyers enter the market. Many renters are watching closely for their chance to buy.”