Melbourne's auction market delivered its strongest official clearance reading in more than a month in the week ending Saturday 25 July 2026, with the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) recording a 75% clearance rate from 345 reported auctions — up sharply from 68% the previous week. Meanwhile, the broader national picture remains cautious, with Cotality's preliminary data for the weekend of 26 July pointing to ongoing buyer hesitancy across most capitals. Here is what the numbers mean — and what Melbourne borrowers should do about it.
National Auction Snapshot: Markets Searching for a Seasonal Turning Point
Australia's capital city auction markets continue to search for footing in mid-winter 2026. The national preliminary clearance rate for the weekend of 26 July 2026 rose to 52.4% (Cotality), up from 50.0% the previous weekend — though that figure was subsequently revised down to 45.3% once all results were finalised. The improvement was partly driven by a fall in the withdrawal rate, which dropped to 17.4% of all scheduled auctions after peaking at 24% in late June. Final clearance rates have sat below 50% nationally for eight consecutive weeks, the weakest sustained run since the COVID-19 pandemic period.
| Capital City | Auctions Listed | Clearance Rate | Prior Week | Same Week 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 564 | 59.5% | 54.2% | 77.4% |
| Melbourne | 692 | 58.3% | 61.5% | 78.1% |
| Brisbane | 139 | 16.6% | 29.7% | 61.4% |
| Adelaide | 114 | 45.2% | 54.0% | 77.2% |
| Canberra | 44 | 59.9% | 44.4% | 65.2% |
Source: My Housing Market (all listed auctions). Figures for week ending Saturday 25 July 2026.
Melbourne in Focus: What REIV's 75% Clearance Rate Really Tells Us
Melbourne's REIV clearance rate of 75% for the week ending 25 July means that approximately three in four properties where a result was formally reported sold — either at auction, before auction, or shortly after. From 345 reported auctions, 259 sold (172 under the hammer, 87 sold before auction day), while 86 were passed in. A further 34 were withdrawn and 27 postponed before the day.
Units continue to outperform houses in Melbourne's current market, recording an 84% clearance rate from 115 reported auctions, with a median unit price of $850,000. Private sale activity also remained solid: 412 reported sales, 70% clearance, and a median house price of $946,000.
Total sales volume for the week reached $245 million at auction and $339 million through private treaty — a combined $584 million of Melbourne property exchanged hands in a single winter week.
Melbourne's Top Auction Sales — Week Ending 25 July 2026
- 14-16 Minter Ct, Park Orchards — $2,306,000
- 55 Maple St, Blackburn — $2,120,000
- 146 Simpson St, East Melbourne — $2,000,000
- 82 Herriotts Blvd, Glen Waverley — $1,900,000
- 38 Salisbury Gr, Northcote — $1,800,000
For buyers active in IFG's core areas — Coburg, Pascoe Vale, Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Keilor East, and Taylors Lakes — the Northern region's 55.1% My Housing Market clearance rate (692 total listed) provides useful context: competition exists but is not extreme. Properties are still being negotiated on, particularly those that pass in or are taken to market mid-week.
Why Does Melbourne's Clearance Rate Look Different Depending on Where You Read It?
Melbourne's official REIV clearance rate of 75% and My Housing Market's figure of 58.3% cover the same week and the same city — so why the gap? The answer lies in what each organisation counts. REIV records results formally reported by agents (345 this week, from an estimated 698 total scheduled auctions). My Housing Market tracks all listed auctions including those where no result was reported, withdrawn, or postponed. Both measures are legitimate; REIV is generally considered the most accurate final figure for Victorian results, while My Housing Market provides a broader picture of market conditions including seller confidence (reflected in withdrawal rates).
What's Driving Melbourne's Market in July 2026?
Three forces are shaping Melbourne auction conditions right now.
Rate sensitivity is high. The RBA held the cash rate at 4.35% following three increases earlier in 2026. The next decision falls on 11 August 2026. Cotality's monthly data shows national dwelling values fell 0.4% in June — the largest monthly decline in over three years. Buyers are moving carefully, and borrowing capacities have been compressed by the rate cycle. Our clients across northern and western Melbourne are qualifying for less than they were 18 months ago, and that is directly influencing their auction bidding limits.
Listings are rising. For-sale stock has grown strongly across Melbourne in winter 2026 — more choice for buyers generally means less competition per property. The West region's 46.5% My Housing Market clearance rate and the South East's 41.9% are clear signals that in some pockets, buyers are in a strong negotiating position.
Winter listing numbers are lower than usual. REIV's 345 reported auctions compares to 551 for the same week in 2025 — a 37% drop year-on-year. Fewer sellers are choosing to go to auction in this environment, which concentrates demand on those properties that do hit the market and helps support clearance rates on the reported sample. The upcoming spring season (September onwards) is expected to bring a significant lift in listings, which will test current price levels.
What This Means for Melbourne Buyers and Investors Right Now
If you are a first home buyer or upgrader targeting Melbourne's inner and middle ring suburbs, the current market offers a genuine window. Clearance rates above 70% (REIV measure) signal that vendor expectations are being met — but they are not being wildly exceeded. You are not buying into a frenzy, but you do need to be ready to act.
That means unconditional finance pre-approval, not just a conditional indication. At auction, your bid is unconditional. If your borrowing capacity has not been formally validated against current lender assessment rates — which have shifted repeatedly this year — you may find on the day that your approved limit is lower than you expected. We have seen buyers miss properties because their pre-approval was out of date by as little as six weeks.
For property investors, the unit market's 84% REIV clearance rate is worth noting. Strong demand for units in Melbourne's established suburbs reflects ongoing rental market pressure. Investors considering their next acquisition should also review whether their existing portfolio loans are still at competitive rates — refinancing one property to release equity for a deposit on another remains one of the most efficient strategies we are currently structuring for clients.
If you are considering commercial property — including retail, office or industrial assets — the auction market dynamics are entirely different from residential. Speak with us directly; commercial transactions require a different financing structure and lender approach.
IFG's Take: What We're Telling Our Melbourne Clients This Week
Frank and I have been in business banking since 2003, and we have worked through rate cycles that looked far more dramatic than this one. The current environment — 4.35% cash rate, modest price softness nationally, Melbourne outperforming most capitals — is not a signal to freeze. It is a signal to be strategic.
What we are seeing in practice: buyers who come to auction with a formal, unconditional pre-approval are competing more confidently and winning more properties. Buyers who are still shopping on a lender's indicative number are consistently being caught out. The difference between a conditional and unconditional pre-approval can be the difference between owning a home and watching someone else buy it.
For our clients looking at Essendon, Moonee Ponds, or Coburg — suburbs where the Northern region clearance remains healthy — the message is: don't wait for the August RBA decision to start your finance work. If the RBA holds again on 11 August (the consensus expectation), the spring market will open with strong buyer competition and you will be competing against a much larger field. Starting your pre-approval now means you are ready when the market opens up.
We answer every enquiry the same business day — by a director. If you want to talk through what your borrowing capacity looks like in the current rate environment, start with our calculator, then call 0401 333 636 or get in touch and we will walk you through your options.
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial or mortgage advice. Individual circumstances vary; speak with a licensed broker before making any property finance decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Melbourne's 75% REIV auction clearance rate mean for buyers in July 2026?
- A 75% REIV clearance rate means approximately three in four reported Melbourne auction results ended in a sale during the week ending 25 July 2026. This sits in vendor-favourable territory but is not an extreme seller's market. Buyers can still find properties that pass in or negotiate pre-auction — provided they hold unconditional finance pre-approval before bidding.
- Why is Melbourne's clearance rate higher than the national figures I see published online?
- Melbourne's REIV clearance rate (75%) and national measures from Cotality or My Housing Market (58.3% for Melbourne) use different methodologies. REIV counts only formally reported results — a smaller confirmed sample. National platforms count all listed auctions, including withdrawals and postponements, producing a lower headline rate. Both figures are accurate; they measure different things. REIV is the benchmark for Victoria.
- Should I wait until after the August RBA decision before buying in Melbourne?
- Waiting for the 11 August 2026 RBA meeting before starting your finance process is unlikely to give you an advantage — it takes two to four weeks to formalise a pre-approval, and spring listings typically surge in September. If the RBA holds (consensus expectation), buyer competition will rise sharply from September. Starting your finance now means you are ready to act when opportunity emerges, not scrambling to catch up.
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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, My Housing Market for national comparative data, and Cotality (Macrobusiness) for preliminary figures, all for periods ending 25–26 July 2026. Property market conditions change rapidly — all figures are current as at 27 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.