Home Auctions Take a Hit With Price Disclosure Rules

A billboard advertises a home for sale in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 6, 2022 WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images

Auction rates have taken another hit after the introduction of reserve price transparency rates in one state combined with a sluggish property market.

The rules, which applied to auctions held in Victoria from Friday, make it mandatory for reserve prices to be published a week ahead of auction dates in an effort to tackle underquoting.

Melbourne led a national drop in the number of homes going under the hammer throughout the week, data from financial services firm Cotality revealed on Sunday.

It follows a broader national trend with the 1,423 capital city homes auctioned during the week, down 18.6 percent from the previous week and almost 46 percent lower than the same time in 2025.

Melbourne experienced the biggest reduction, with 500 homes hitting auction, down 29 percent on the previous week and 56 percent lower than the same week a year earlier.

Cotality research director Tim Lawless said the steep national decline in auctions was driven by a “sharp reduction” in sales under the hammer in the Victorian capital, coinciding with the introduction of the price-disclosure rules.

Clearance rates across the capital cities were the highest in four weeks at 51 percent, based on preliminarily available data.

Melbourne had the highest preliminary clearance rate at 56.2 percent, while Sydney, which had the most homes go to auction, had a rate of 54.6 percent.

Auction clearance rates are considered a strong leading indicator for future price movements with any result below 60 percent pointing to a falling market.

National house prices have declined 5.2 percent since March, according to Cotality.

Auction activity was set to further ease heading in the coming week, when 1,240 homes were scheduled to go under the hammer, the research firm said.

Melbourne volumes were particularly low, with 489 homes scheduled for auction, 70 percent fewer than the same time in 2025.

Ray White’s chief executive of performance and value Thomas McGlynn said buyer confidence and activity could vary considerably from city to city.

“What’s encouraging is that buyers are continuing to engage with the market, although we’re seeing them become more considered in their decisions,” he said.

“For sellers, there are still opportunities to achieve good outcomes, but understanding local conditions, setting realistic expectations, and having the right strategy from the outset are more important than ever.”

By Duncan Murray in Melbourne