Secret takeaways February saw the highest level of brand-new listings and auction activity on record, especially in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney, giving purchasers more choice. Strong auction activity and clearance rates, at their highest February levels since 2023, recommend sellers are becoming more positive about listing their properties.
Vacancy rates across many capital cities remain near record lows, highlighting the ongoing shortage of rental accommodation throughout Australia.
Days on market have actually risen in cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as price pressures and increased supply give buyers a little more breathing space.
Despite short-term variations in listings and selling times, limited real estate supply and strong population growth continue to support Australia’s residential or commercial property markets.
Every year the residential or commercial property market follows a familiar rhythm.
January is drowsy. Purchasers are still on vacation, sellers are reluctant, and the market seems like it’s hardly moving.
Then February gets here … and the genuine year starts.
This year has been no exception.
As quickly as the marketplace awakened, activity lifted sharply – more properties hit the marketplace, auction volumes climbed up, and purchaser demand showed signs of enhancing.
It’s still early in the selling season, but the very first data of the year is giving us a crucial clue about the direction of Australia’s residential or commercial property markets in 2026.
And the message is clear: the marketplace might have more momentum than lots of anticipated.
According to Domain’s most current Market Insights February 2026 marked the highest brand-new listing and auction volumes on record, with Melbourne, Canberra and Perth leading the charge in new regular monthly supply.
Domain Chief of Research Study and Economics, Dr. Nicola Powell stated:
“The property market saw a clear uplift in February, with new listings and auction volumes reaching record levels for the month of February.
Clearance rates were likewise at their greatest February level given that 2023, underscoring a noteworthy increase in seller self-confidence.
However, current international instability is creating uncertainty around potential inflationary pressures and the subsequent impact to household budgets.
While Australia’s real estate market has traditionally shown durable during durations of volatility, the prospect of another rate of interest walking might temper momentum in the short term – effects that we will continue to view closely. “
Auction clearance rates
The Domain report reveals that across the combined capitals, auction clearance rates dipped slightly to 67.2%, though this is the highest February clearance rate since 2023.
Capital city highlights Melbourne New supply was the greatest on record for February, according
to the report. Auction volumes were at record highs for the duration, while clearance rates declined to the lowest level because February 2019– though they still showed strong purchaser need at 67.6%.
Days on market for units were at a five-month high, while homes were at a six-month high.
The job rate fell to 1.0% in February, its lowest since May 2024.
Sydney
New supply hit record highs, providing buyers a larger swimming pool of choices and signalling that sellers were increasingly encouraged to list, according to Domain’s data.
However, days on market for homes were at a six-month high, while systems struck an eleven-month high.
The vacancy rate fell to 0.8% in February, a record low.
Brisbane
The information shows that new supply for February hit its third most affordable levels on record, while total supply is still at record lows, preserving a competitive market for buyers.
Job rates reduced to 0.6%, also a record low.
Days on market for houses were at a five-month high, while systems are at an eight-month high.
Adelaide
New supply is at its lowest February levels since 2023, highlighting a constantly competitive environment for purchasers.
This was likewise reflected in the greatest February auction clearance rates on record.
Days on market for homes were the lowest because 2004, while units were the lowest given that December 2024.
Vacancy rates stay at 0.4%, among the lowest in the nation.
Canberra
It was a record-breaking February for new supply, with auction clearance rates likewise at the greatest given that 2022.
The vacancy rate declined to 0.8%, the most affordable figure considering that mid-2022.
Perth
New supply increased to a three-month high after the vacation lull, however for the month of February, brand-new listings are at their least expensive on record.
This underscores the highly competitive conditions for purchasers.
Days on market for houses are at their second-lowest on record, while systems are at record low levels for February.
Job rates was up to 0.3%, among the lowest in the country.
Hobart
New supply for the month of February is at its lowest considering that 2022, while days on market for houses and units are at their reduces in three and four years respectively– suggesting increasingly competitive conditions for purchasers.
The vacancy rate remained at a record low of 0.2%, the country’s least expensive.
Darwin
New listings are at their 2nd least expensive on record for the month of February, while homes are selling at their fastest speed considering that 2008.
The vacancy rate fell to a record low of 0.3%.
Days on market continue to diverge
The reports also highlights that Perth stays the nation’s fastest-moving housing market, with days on market striking record lows.
Adelaide is likewise seeing homes offer especially quickly.
While days on market figures are broadly lower each year, selling times have increased in places like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the last few months as affordability pressures and a little greater supply give purchasers more time to make choices.
Last note
While there’s plainly more stock coming onto the market in some capitals, the bigger photo hasn’t truly altered.
Australia still has a chronic scarcity of well-located real estate, vacancy rates remain near record lows, and population growth continues to underpin long-term demand.
In my mind, this simply enhances an essential lesson: home markets move in cycles, but quality properties in the right locations keep carrying out over time.
Short-term changes in listings, clearance rates or rate of interest expectations might produce a little sound, but the fundamentals driving Australia’s real estate markets stay strongly in location.
Savvy investors will focus less on the headlines and more on the long-lasting opportunities these market conditions produce.
Are you wondering how you should buy this fascinating stage of the residential or commercial property cycle? 
If you’re like numerous property financiers, you’re most likely questioning what’s the right thing to do at
present. Should you purchase, should you offer, or should you simply
wait? You can rely on the team at Metropole to offer you with instructions, guidance, and results.
Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced investor, sometimes like we are presently experiencing you require an advisor who takes a holistic method to your wealth creation and that’s precisely what you obtain from the multi-award-winning group at Metropole.
We assist our customers grow, secure and hand down their wealth through a range of services including:
- Strategic home guidance — Allow us to construct a Strategic Property Prepare For you and your family. Preparation is bringing the future into today so you can do something about it now! Click on this link for more information
- Purchaser’s agency– As Australia’s most trusted buyers’ agents we’ve been involved in over $4Billion worth of deals producing wealth for our clients and we can do the very same for you. Our on the ground teams in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane bring you years of experience and point of view– that’s something money simply can’t buy. We’ll assist you find your next home or an investment-grade home. Click on this link to find out how we can assist you.
- Property Advancement – We enable you to become an “armchair designer” and get all the advantages of residential or commercial property advancement without getting your hands dirty. We take the hassles out of your investment by assisting you with all the knowledge you need, from idea to completion, consisting of building. Click on this link to see if it’s the right way for you to grow your portfolio.
- Wealth Advisory– We can supply you with strategic tailored monetary planning and wealth suggestions. Click on this link for more information about we can help you.
- Property Management– Our trouble-free residential or commercial property management services help you increase your property returns. Click on this link to learn why our clients take pleasure in a vacancy rate substantially below the marketplace average, our renters remain approximately 3 years, and our residential or commercial properties rent 10 days much faster than the market average.
< img alt="Brett Warren" src="https://propertyupdate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Brett-Warren-scaled-148x148.jpg" height="148" width="148"/ > About Brett Warren Brett Warren is National Director of Metropole Residence ensuring we provide the highest quality strategic advice to our clients and assist them buy A-grade homes or investment-grade homes. Brett is an effective home investor and after many years with Metropole is still enthusiastic about getting the best outcomes for his customers as he has actually constantly been.