Each Monday, national auction data gives us a useful snapshot of momentum across Australia’s property market.

This week’s release from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) shows auction activity across the combined capitals rising sharply, with 2,831 homes taken to auction, the busiest week since mid-December. As volumes increase nationally, clearance rates have eased slightly. The weighted average across the combined capitals has softened to 68%.

But here in South Australia, the story is notably different.

Adelaide: The Strongest Clearance Rate in the Country

Last week, 142 homes went under the hammer in Adelaide.

82.6% reported a successful result, the highest preliminary clearance rate of any capital city

To put that into perspective:

• Sydney recorded 67.1%

• Melbourne 68.1%

• Brisbane 66.7%

• Canberra 58.6%

While eastern capitals are experiencing rising volumes and easing clearance rates, Adelaide is holding firm, and leading.

This isn’t an anomaly. It reflects structural conditions that continue to underpin our market:

• Balanced supply

• Deep local buyer pools

• Ongoing interstate interest

• Consistent pricing confidence

Auction Activity Is Rising Nationally — But SA Is Converting?

Across the combined capitals, auction volumes are set to increase again this week to approximately 3,400 homes.

When volumes rise quickly, clearance rates often ease. More supply naturally diffuses competition.

What’s notable in South Australia is that even with healthy auction volumes, competition remains strong.

This suggests:

• Buyers are still actively engaged.

• Financing conditions are not materially constraining participation.

• Well-positioned properties are being absorbed confidently.

Price Growth Remains Measured and Sustainable

The same report highlights that Adelaide’s home values remain in positive territory:

• 2.2% year-to-date growth

• 10.8% growth over the past 12 months

• 1.2% monthly change

This is not speculative acceleration. It is steady, controlled performance, which tends to be far more sustainable for vendors and buyers alike.

What We’re Seeing On the Ground at TOOP+TOOP

Data is important. But interpretation matters more.

Last week, 545 buyer groups attended 89 inspections. Notably, 79.4% were already active within our buyer database, while 20.6% were new entrants, a clear indication of fresh demand continuing to enter the South Australian market

Across South Australia, the reported clearance rate was 84%.

At TOOP+TOOP, we achieved a 100% clearance rate.

One sale in particular stood out:

42 Alma Terrace, Seaton — SOLD under the hammer for $1,270,000.

The vendor, himself in real estate interstate, commented he was considering flying to Adelaide for the sole purpose of giving our agent a hug.

Results matter, but so does the experience behind them.

What This Means for South Australian Sellers

When national headlines focus on softening clearance rates, it is easy to assume uniform conditions.

The reality is more nuanced.

Adelaide is not Sydney. It is not Melbourne. It operates on different supply dynamics, different buyer composition, and different price sensitivity.

Right now:

• Auction clearance rates remain exceptionally strong.

• Buyer attendance is consistent.

• Price growth is steady.

• Stock levels remain controlled.

For homeowners considering selling in 2026, this suggests a market that is active, but not overheated.

Competitive, but not volatile.

Strategic positioning and campaign execution remain critical. But the underlying conditions remain supportive.

A Final Perspective

Auction data is a weekly indicator, not a prediction tool.

What matters most is how your property sits within your suburb’s supply levels and buyer demand.

National momentum may fluctuate.

South Australia continues to demonstrate resilience.

For sellers, the question isn’t “What’s happening nationally?”

It’s: “How strong is demand for my type of property, in my location, right now?”

That is where informed interpretation, not headlines, makes the difference. Every home sits within its own micro-market, and understanding that nuance brings clarity. If you’re reflecting on what this means for your property, we’re always here to talk it through and help you make sense of it in the context of your own situation.