Canberra auction clearance rates hit four-month high

The capital’s property market has hit the ground running in 2026, defying typical seasonal slumps with a tale of two markets characterised by high supply and a tightening squeeze for renters. 

According to Domain data, auction volumes fell to a one-year low but are at their highest on record for this time of the year.

The city-wide clearance rate jumped to a four-month high of 63.3 per cent, the strongest start to a year since 2024. This represents a four percentage point monthly increase and a 4.6 percentage point annual gain.

However, Canberra’s market is proving to be anything but uniform. While some suburbs are seeing bidding wars, others are cooling.

In January, the Gungahlin region led the charge with a 70.8 per cent clearance rate, while the Tuggeranong region recorded a solid 66.7 per cent clearance rate, down just 1.5 percentage points annually. Belconnen followed close behind, achieving a 64.3 per cent clearance rate.

The cooling zones included the regions of South Canberra (35.7 per cent) and North Canberra (42.9 per cent), while Woden Valley fell to 47.4 per cent, down 9.2 percentage points year-on-year. 

Domain data shows that days-on-market metrics reveal seller challenges. Houses are lingering on the market, reaching a three-month high and the longest for this season since 2023. Units face even stiffer headwinds, with days on market at levels unseen since August 2020.

For those not looking to buy, the news is less optimistic. The rental market has tightened, with vacancy rates dropping to just 1.1 per cent – the lowest January reading in four years.