Early clearance rates sink to lowest in 4 years over Easter

According to Cotality’s Property Market Indicator Summary, the clearance rate was down from 60.9 per cent the previous week, later revised lower to 52.7 per cent on final numbers.

Cotality said the early clearance rate was the lowest since July 2022 and the first time the figure had fallen below 60 per cent since December 2022.

Across the capitals, a total of 694 auctions were held last week, with the number of homes taken under the hammer up 7.8 per cent compared to the Easter weekend last year.

Sydney saw the most houses go to auction last week, with 389 homes, 8.4 per cent higher than the Easter week last year.

Around 53.4 per cent of homes reported a successful result, marking Sydney’s lowest preliminary clearance rate since the first week of July 2022.

Meanwhile, Melbourne saw just 152 homes auctioned, 2.7 per cent higher than Easter week a year ago.

The preliminary clearance rate was 58.3 per cent, the lowest since September 2024, and down from 63.5 per cent the previous week, later revised down to 54.2 per cent.

In Brisbane, 66 homes went under the hammer, 10 per cent more than last year’s figure of 55.7 per cent, and up from 58.9 per cent the previous week.

Adelaide saw 53 houses go to auction, 10 per cent more than Easter a year ago, with the clearance rate dropping to 57.7 per cent, the lowest level since the week ending June last year.

In the ACT, 31 homes were auctioned, recording a preliminary clearance rate of 61.3 per cent, up from 51.3 per cent the previous week.

This week, Cotality predicted auction volumes will bounce back, with approximately 1,990 homes scheduled to go under the hammer.