Preliminary clearance rate edges higher, to 68.9 percent from 67.7 percent last week: CoreLogic RP Data's Shana Miller

Preliminary clearance rate edges higher, to 68.9 percent from 67.7 percent last week: CoreLogic RP Data's Shana Miller
Shana MillerDecember 17, 2020

Auction activity has eased slightly this week, with 1,824 capital city auctions held, down from 2,230 last week and also lower relative to the same week last year when 2,232 residential homes were taken to auction.

The preliminary clearance rate across the combined capital cities strengthened slightly this week, from 67.7 percent the previous week to 68.9 percent. One year ago, along with the higher volume of auctions, the clearance rate was also stronger at 77.5 percent.

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After Melbourne was host to 1,404 auctions over the final week in April, and 1,150 last week, the number of Melbourne auctions this week has fallen to 859. The clearance rate, on the other hand, has remained relatively steady, with preliminary results showing 70.6 per cent of Melbourne auctions clearing this week, compared to 73.2 per cent last week. At the same time last year, 78.3 per cent of Melbourne auctions were successful. The busiest Melbourne sub-region this week was the Inner region, with 160 auctions and a preliminary clearance rate of 76.3 per cent. In terms of clearance rates, the most successful sub-region this week was the West region (80.3 per cent).

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Preliminary results for Sydney show a 75.6 percent clearance rate across 517 results this week. Over the week there were 614 Sydney homes taken to auction, down from 676 last week and significantly lower relative to last year (885). Sydney’s clearance rate last week was lower in comparison, at 71.8 per cent, while one year ago it was 85.0 percent. Across the individual regions of Sydney there was some varied performance this week with clearance rates ranging from as high as 93.1 percent in Ryde and as low as 26.3 percent in the Outer South West region where just 22 auctions were held.

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Brisbane had 153 auctions last week, down from 195 the previous week, which was the busiest for the city in seven weeks. The preliminary clearance rate rose to 51.2 per cent from 41.2 percent the previous week, while last year half of the 136 homes taken to auction were sold. Across the Gold Coast, 34 results have been reported so far with a preliminary clearance of 41.2 per cent.

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The preliminary clearance rate for Adelaide this week is 67.9 per cent, up from 59.8 per cent last week and also higher than one year ago (63.8 per cent). Despite the fall in auction activity on an aggregate level, there were more auctions in Adelaide this week (100) compared with last week (94). One year ago, 106 Adelaide auctions were held.

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Across Perth, 41 auctions were held this week with 20.0 per cent selling, based on the 15 reported results. Last week showed 23.5 per cent of auctions were sold and 41.9 per cent last year, noting that the cities clearance rate tends to move around a fair bit on a week-on-week basis.

Canberra’s preliminary clearance rate was 58.6 this week, compared to 54.3 per cent last week and 70.3 per cent at the same time last year.  Auction volumes were relatively steady over the week, at 49 compared to 50 over the previous week.

In Tasmania 8 auctions were held over the week and of the 7 reported results, 2 sales have been recorded.

 

Shana Miller

Shana Miller is a research analyst with RP Data.

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