Auction insights
The auction market concluded 2024 with moderating clearance rates, though notably closing the gap with 2023’s performance in December. January 2025 has marked a robust start to the year, with clearance rates achieving an impressive 71.8 per cent - substantially outperforming both the January 2024 result of 65.4 per cent and the 2023 figure of 60.2 per cent.
This strong opening to 2025 reflects renewed market optimism, largely driven by expectations of upcoming interest rate reductions. The marked improvement in clearance rates suggests buyers are moving decisively, potentially seeking to secure properties before any significant market shifts driven by changing finance conditions.
The auction market concluded 2024 with moderating clearance rates, though notably closing the gap with 2023’s performance in December. January 2025 has marked a robust start to the year, with clearance rates achieving an impressive 71.8 per cent - substantially outperforming both the January 2024 result of 65.4 per cent and the 2023 figure of 60.2 per cent.
This strong opening to 2025 reflects renewed market optimism, largely driven by expectations of upcoming interest rate reductions. The marked improvement in clearance rates suggests buyers are moving decisively, potentially seeking to secure properties before any significant market shifts driven by changing finance conditions.
Bidder participation at Ray White auctions has started 2025 with notable vigour, demonstrating significant improvement in market engagement. January saw registered bidder numbers reach 5.1 per property, matching levels from January 2024, while active bidder participation increased to 3.1 per auction.
These robust participation rates, while encouraging, should be viewed within the context of January’s typically limited auction volumes. The concentrated nature of early-year auctions often results in heightened competition and stronger clearance rates, as motivated buyers compete for the restricted selection of available properties.
Ray White’s unconditional sales figures reflect typical seasonal patterns as we transition into 2025. Following December’s record-breaking performance, which exceeded $9 billion and set a new benchmark for the group, January’s preliminary results have settled at under $4.5 billion. This month-to-month variation aligns with established yearly patterns, where December typically sees a surge in settlement activity before the holiday slowdown. The January figures, while showing the expected seasonal dip, provide a stable foundation for the year ahead.
