Market outlook: Sellers urged to list early to avoid autumn bottleneck

While spring is traditionally the busiest time for the Australian property market, leading agents are now urging home owners to consider selling during “off-peak” seasons to take advantage of a tight sellers’ market.

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of the Raine & Horne Property Group, says the near-doubling of buyers attending open for inspections indicates the intense competition at present.

“Lack of stock for sale coupled with lower interest rates and the expansion of the Federal Government’s 5% Deposit Scheme is creating a trifecta of factors driving values higher,” he says.

“This is seeing vendors achieve significant premiums for their homes, with the value of settled sales [through the agency] 21 per cent higher year-on-year in November 2025.”

The trend is particularly visible in Canberra. Domain research shows that total supply in December decreased to its lowest since July 2024, although it was the third-highest on record for that time of the year.

According to agent Luke McAuliffe of Raine & Horne Gungahlin, the local market is experiencing robust buyer activity.

“Auction clearance rates have been typically above 60 per cent since August, which is generally considered high for the Canberra market,” he says.

Domain data reveals the ACT’s overall clearance rate reached 60.8 per cent in November 2025, up a significant 14.3 percentage points compared to the same period 12 months prior.

McAuliffe suggests that the common strategy of waiting for spring might actually be a disadvantage.

“Many people wait for traditional selling seasons though this is when stock is generally at its highest level,” he says.

“Marketing [instead] at times such as early January, or outside of traditional periods, gives [sellers] a strong chance of not being lost in the mix.”

McAuliffe adds that owners should bear in mind that buyers stay in the market even when holidaying, viewing homes online anywhere and at any time.

“Not being able to physically inspect if on holidays does not mean they won’t buy,” he says.

“If sellers want a ‘sold’ sticker on their signboard early in 2026, now is the time to start speaking with your agent.”