Spring buyers gain negotiating power as Brisbane clearance hits 18%

What's happening

Buyers active this spring are finding more room to negotiate across South East Queensland, though vendors face a tougher auction market. Domain's preliminary figures for Brisbane, covering Sunday 4 to Saturday 10 October 2026, show a clearance rate of 18%, with just 23 of the 125 reported auctions selling.

The result compares with a 74% clearance rate in the same week last year. It extends a run of soft results since the Reserve Bank lifted the cash rate to 4.60% on 29 September, which has reduced borrowing capacity for many buyers.

The key details

Domain's Brisbane results page includes auctions on the Gold Coast, listed by suburb, but it does not publish a separate Gold Coast clearance rate. Its figures are preliminary and current at the time of publication.

• Clearance rate: 18%, down from 74% a year earlier
• Auctions scheduled: 178
• Results reported: 125, including 23 sold, 87 passed in and 15 withdrawn
• Total reported sales value: $19,245,000
• Median reported price: $1,920,000

On the Gold Coast, Domain's list shows a number of homes selling before auction, including properties at Mermaid Waters, Broadbeach, Carrara, Coomera Waters, Ormeau Hills and Palm Beach, with reported prices from $1.085 million to $2.05 million. Sales under the hammer included homes in Molendinar, Ormeau and Mermaid Waters, while many other Gold Coast listings passed in or were withdrawn or rescheduled.

Timeline and next steps

Domain's figures are preliminary and can change as more results are reported. Cotality's weekly Property Market Indicator Summary, which includes a Gold Coast figure in its regional table, is due this week and will give a second read. Auction volumes typically build through late October and November.

What it means for Gold Coast property owners and developers

A clearance rate below 20% means the large majority of homes taken to auction did not sell on the day. That points to a gap between vendor reserves and what buyers can borrow or are willing to pay after the latest rate rise, rather than a lack of interest altogether. Many passed-in homes go on to sell through negotiation afterwards.

The Gold Coast sales recorded before auction suggest motivated buyers are still active at the right price. Sellers may want to weigh private treaty against auction, set reserves using recent comparable sales and plan for longer campaigns. Weekly results can swing sharply on small samples, so trends across several weeks are more reliable.

Frequently asked questions

What was Brisbane's auction clearance rate for the week to 10 October 2026?

Domain's preliminary Brisbane clearance rate was 18%, with 23 of 125 reported auctions selling.

Is there a Gold Coast clearance rate for this week?

Domain did not publish a separate Gold Coast rate. Cotality's weekly summary, which includes the Gold Coast, is a useful cross-check once released.

Why are clearance rates so low?

The figures follow the RBA's 29 September rate increase to 4.60%, which reduced borrowing capacity. Rising stock levels have also given buyers more choice.

Source: Domain Brisbane Auction Results (4 to 10 October 2026), published 10 October 2026. This article is an independent summary and commentary by GC Prestige based on the original report — read the source for full details.