Melbourne's auction market delivered its strongest result since May on the weekend of 18–19 July 2026, with the Real Estate Institute of Victoria recording a 70% clearance rate from 291 reported auctions — 153 sold under the hammer, 50 sold before auction, 88 passed in. The result narrows from 73% last week, but the volume drop (from 352 to 291 reported auctions) is consistent with mid-winter seasonality: fewer properties listed, more serious buyers competing for them.
Nationally, the combined capitals recorded an average preliminary clearance rate of 48.8% (My Housing Market), up from 47.2% the prior week but well below the 70.2% recorded over the same week last year. The data reflects a market still finding its footing — but Adelaide’s surge and Melbourne’s sustained improvement above 60% are the standout stories for the week ending 18 July 2026.
Key figure: Melbourne’s REIV final clearance rate of 70% reflects 291 reported auctions with 203 confirmed sales. The My Housing Market preliminary count across 587 listed Melbourne auctions gives a 61.5% clearance — its highest reading since mid-May. Both measures point the same direction: steady mid-winter improvement.
National Snapshot — Capital City Auction Results, Week Ending 18 July 2026
Capital city auction markets continued to report tentatively improved results across mid-winter. Volumes are typically low at this time of year, which can compress clearance rate readings, but the trend over the past three weeks is broadly upward across most capitals. Adelaide’s sharp jump is the most notable shift this week.
| Capital City | Auctions (This Week) | Clearance Rate | Last Week | Same Week 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 562 | 54.2% | 58.3% | 75.7% |
| Melbourne | 587 | 61.5% | 60.2% | 76.4% |
| Brisbane | 150 | 29.7% | 27.0% | 54.5% |
| Adelaide | 121 | 54.0% | 45.8% | 76.2% |
| Canberra | 46 | 44.4% | 44.7% | 68.3% |
| National Average | — | 48.8% | 47.2% | 70.2% |
Source: My Housing Market / Dr Andrew Wilson, week to 18 July 2026.
Sydney’s 54.2% is a dip from last week’s 58.3%, reflecting a more cautious buyer attitude in some inner suburbs — the West recorded only 36.4% while the South held at 69.2%. Brisbane remains the weakest auction market nationally at 29.7%, though this represents a slight improvement on the prior week. Adelaide’s jump from 45.8% to 54.0% is the week’s biggest positive shift, driven by strong competition in the $900K–$1.3M price band.
Melbourne in Focus: REIV Auction Results, Week Ending 18 July 2026
The REIV, Melbourne’s primary auction data source, recorded the following final results for the week ending 18 July 2026. These are confirmed sale figures, not preliminary estimates — which explains why the REIV clearance rate of 70% runs above the My Housing Market preliminary of 61.5%, which includes all listed auctions including unreported, postponed and withdrawn.
| Metric | This Week | Last Week | Same Week 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auctions Reported (REIV) | 291 | 352 | 503 |
| Clearance Rate (REIV) | 70% | 73% | 87% |
| Total Sales | 203 | — | — |
| Sold at Auction | 153 | — | — |
| Sold Before Auction | 50 | — | — |
| Passed In | 88 | — | — |
| Total Sales Volume | $189M | — | — |
| Unit Median (93 auctions) | $690,000 | — | — |
Source: REIV (reiv.com.au/market-insights/auction-results), week ending 18 July 2026.
The top residential sale in Melbourne for the week was 155 Park Street, Moonee Ponds — one of IFG’s local service suburbs — which sold for $1,920,000 through Marshall White. That result puts Moonee Ponds firmly in the $1.5M–$2M competition zone for inner-west houses, consistent with the suburb’s trajectory throughout 2026. Other notable results included 53 Weybridge Street, Surrey Hills at $2,370,000 and 110 Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg at $2,085,000.
The 50 pre-auction sales (24.6% of all 203 sales) are worth noting. A high pre-auction sale ratio signals that motivated buyers are bypassing the auction floor to secure properties before competition day. This is a behavioural shift from the passive approach that dominated Q1 2026, when buyers had more leverage to hold back and negotiate post-auction on passed-in stock.
Melbourne Region Breakdown: Where Clearance Rates Are Strongest
| Region | Auctions | Clearance Rate | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 36 | 66.7% | $925,000 |
| North East | 63 | 63.5% | $843,000 |
| West | 59 | 62.7% | $893,000 |
| Inner Urban | 28 | 60.7% | $745,000 |
| Inner South | 39 | 61.5% | $737,500 |
| Northern | 67 | 59.7% | $768,750 |
| Inner East | 41 | 58.5% | $1,405,000 |
| Outer East | 45 | 53.3% | $950,000 |
| Houses (total) | 307 | 59.3% | $940,000 |
| Units (total) | 71 | 67.6% | $687,500 |
Source: My Housing Market, week to 18 July 2026.
The West at 62.7% (median $893,000) covers the corridor that includes IFG’s primary service suburbs — Keilor East, Taylors Lakes, Essendon and Moonee Ponds. This confirms that western Melbourne’s mid-market is holding firm. Units outperforming houses (67.6% vs 59.3%) reflects a structural shift: first home buyers and downsizers are driving strong unit demand at the $600K–$800K price point, where competition is most concentrated.
What Does a 70% Clearance Rate Mean for Buyers?
A clearance rate of 70% (REIV final) indicates that roughly seven in ten auction properties find a buyer on or before auction day. By historical benchmark, 70% sits in the “balanced to vendor-favourable” zone — not the competitive frenzy of 80%+ markets (Melbourne 2021), but well above the buyer’s market territory of sub-55% that dominated the first half of 2026.
For buyers, a 70% market means you are unlikely to be the only bidder on a well-priced property. Competition exists and pre-auction offers are increasingly being accepted — as the 50 pre-auction sales this week confirm. The buyers winning properties are the ones who arrive with pre-approval in place, clear budget certainty and the ability to act within 24–48 hours of an opportunity arising.
Pre-approval matters more than ever: In a 70% clearance market, unconditional pre-approval — not just an online estimate — is the minimum preparation. Contact IFG and we assess your position against real lender policies before you inspect a single property. Use our borrowing power calculator for a quick starting point.
Units clearing at 67.6% are the competitive standout this week. At a $687,500 median, Melbourne units are within reach of the First Home Guarantee and attracting strong buyer depth. If you are a first home buyer watching the unit market, the window between now and the RBA’s August 11 decision is the most predictable buying environment you are likely to see for the next three months. Refer to our previous week’s auction breakdown for the longer trend context.
What’s Driving Melbourne’s Mid-Winter Recovery?
Three structural factors are underpinning the tentative improvement in Melbourne’s clearance rates over the past six weeks:
1. RBA on hold. The Reserve Bank held the cash rate at its June 2026 meeting following three earlier increases, providing borrowers with a period of payment certainty. The next meeting is August 10–11. Three of the four major banks are forecasting a hold; Westpac remains an outlier tipping another increase. Read IFG’s RBA August 2026 preview for a full breakdown of what each outcome means for your mortgage.
2. Yield compression in the unit market. Rental vacancy across Melbourne’s inner suburbs remains historically tight. For investors, the combination of a stable cash rate, strong rental demand and softened purchase prices relative to 2021 peaks has re-opened the investment calculus. The Northern region’s median of $768,750 — covering suburbs like Essendon and Moonee Ponds — represents genuine value relative to replacement cost. If you are considering using equity to fund an investment purchase, commercial property finance and residential investment structures work differently — a conversation worth having with a broker before you commit to either.
3. Pre-winter stock depletion. Total auctions this week (291 reported) are down 17.3% from the prior week’s 352 and a significant 42.1% below the same week in 2025 (503 auctions). Fewer listings concentrates buyer activity on available stock, which mechanically lifts clearance rates even when overall buyer confidence is only modestly improved. When spring stock arrives in September–October, the test will be whether improved buyer confidence translates to genuine broad-market demand.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy in Melbourne?
The data supports a considered case for buying now — particularly for first home buyers and unit-focused investors — rather than a blanket recommendation to wait for spring.
Winter is traditionally Melbourne’s most buyer-favourable period: fewer competitors at each auction, vendors more motivated after months on the market, and agent appetite to negotiate more acute. The current clearance rate of 70% sits below the psychological pressure point of 75%, meaning patient buyers can still secure well-priced properties without the frantic bid escalation that characterises a hot market.
The risk is the August RBA decision. If the Board lifts rates again, borrowing capacity contracts further and refinancers currently rolling off fixed rates may face payment shock that cools demand. For buyers already holding pre-approval, the message is to move before August 11 where possible, or ensure your pre-approval accounts for a potential rate increase in the serviceability calculation. IFG’s calculators give you an initial read; our brokers refine that against live lender policies for your specific income type and deposit situation.
IFG’s Take: What We’re Seeing on the Ground
“The improvement in Melbourne’s clearance rate over the past month isn’t driven by new buyers flooding the market — it’s driven by the buyers who were already engaged finally having enough certainty to act,” says Brian Hermosilla, director of Integrated Finance Group. “The RBA hold in June gave people the confidence to pull the trigger on pre-approved decisions they’d been sitting on since April.”
“What we’re seeing in our northern and western suburbs — Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Taylors Lakes, Keilor East — is competitive but not irrational. Buyers are doing their due diligence, vendors are pricing to the market rather than to wishful thinking, and deals are getting done. The window before the August RBA meeting is a genuine opportunity for buyers who are already preparation-ready.”
We work with a deliberately broad panel of bank, non-bank and specialist lenders. Every enquiry is answered the same business day — by a director. Contact IFG or call 0401 333 636.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a 70% auction clearance rate mean for Melbourne buyers?
- A 70% REIV clearance rate means approximately seven in ten Melbourne properties sold at or before auction day for the week ending 18 July 2026. This sits in “balanced to vendor-favourable” territory — competition exists but is not extreme. Buyers still have negotiating room, particularly on properties that pass in. Pre-approval is essential to move quickly on opportunities in this market.
- Is the Melbourne property market improving in mid-winter 2026?
- The data shows a tentative improvement. Melbourne’s My Housing Market preliminary clearance of 61.5% is its highest reading since mid-May 2026, and the REIV final rate of 70% reflects strong buyer follow-through on reported auctions. The Northern and Western regions are holding above 60% clearance, with the South East the strongest at 66.7%. Whether this improvement is sustained depends significantly on the RBA’s August 10–11 rate decision.
- Why is Melbourne’s clearance rate different between REIV and CoreLogic/Domain?
- REIV counts only results that agents have formally reported, giving a higher clearance rate from a smaller confirmed sample (291 reported this week). My Housing Market tracks all listed auctions including unreported, postponed and withdrawn, giving a larger sample (587 Melbourne auctions) but a lower headline rate (61.5%). Both are legitimate measures. REIV is considered the most accurate final figure for Victorian results.
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IFG’s directors — former NAB business bankers with 45+ years combined experience — work with a deliberately broad panel of bank, non-bank and specialist lenders. Every enquiry answered the same business day. By a director.
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or investment advice. Auction clearance data sourced from REIV (reiv.com.au/market-insights/auction-results) for Victorian figures and My Housing Market for national comparative data, both for the week ending 18 July 2026. Property market conditions change rapidly — all figures are current as at 20 July 2026 and subject to subsequent revision. Borrowing capacity depends on individual circumstances; please speak with a qualified mortgage broker before making any property or finance decision.