Inner West Auction Data to 17th October Copy

Inner West Auction Results: Week Ending 17 October 2026

The Inner West stayed ahead of Sydney for a sixth week in a row as the wider market bounced back from a weak result the week before. For the week ending Saturday 17 October 2026, 62.9% of reported auctions across the suburbs I track each week sold, compared with 57.5% across Sydney on a like-for-like basis (Domain’s headline Sydney rate was 51%). That’s a gap of about 5 percentage points.

What “like-for-like” means. Domain’s headline Sydney rate includes some auction results that it counts but never publishes the property address, and most of those are passed-in or withdrawn auctions. My Inner West rate can only be worked out from the addressesDomain does publish, so comparing it with Domain’s headline wouldn’t be fair. Instead, I work out both rates the same way, using only the results Domain publishes and the same clearance rate method. That’s what I call the like-for-like rate. Domain’s official headline figure is shown alongside for reference.

Here’s a full breakdown of the weekend’s Inner West auction results, and a peek into what the numbers mean if you’re planning on buying in the Inner West soon.

Inner West holds its lead as Sydney bounces back from a weak week

Domain’s headline Sydney clearance dropped to 46% in the week ending 10 October, matching its weakest result of the year, before lifting back to 51% this week. That is in line with recent weeks rather than a recovery, and still well below the 70% recorded this time last year. Like for like, Sydney cleared 59.5% in the week ending 3 October, fell to 51.6% the following week and lifted to 57.5% this week. The Inner West was steadier, moving from 65.9% to 60.9% and now 62.9%.

The Inner West’s lead over Sydney has now held for six straight weeks, which tells me local buyer demand is holding firm even when the wider market wobbles. Low stock levels, tightly held pockets and strong owner-occupier demand close to the CBD continue to support Inner West results.

Volumes stayed high. There were 109 auctions listed across my tracked Inner West suburbs, almost matching last week’s 111, with 89 reporting a result. Of those, 56 sold under the hammer or before auction, 3 sold after auction, 12 passed in and 18 were withdrawn, while 20 were postponed.

These figures reflect Domain’s latest update of 27 October and may still shift slightly.

Inner West vs Sydney: the last eight weeks

Over the past eight weeks, my tracked Inner West suburbs cleared 60.3% (327 of 542 reported auctions), against 56.7% for Sydney like for like and 51.5% on Domain’s headline figures. The Inner West came out ahead in seven of the eight weeks.

What happened to the postponed auctions?

Twenty auctions were postponed this week, almost one in five scheduled. Postponements usually mean an agent wants more time to build buyer interest because the campaign hasn’t created the competition they hoped for.

Five earlier postponements went on to sell:

• 7 Raglan Street, Drummoyne was postponed on 19 September and sold prior to auction.
• 16 Macquarie Terrace, Balmain was postponed on 26 September and sold at auction this week.
• 11/19-23 Stewart Street, Glebe was postponed on 3 October and sold prior to auction.
• 102/63-71 Enmore Road, Newtown was postponed on 3 October and sold prior to auction for $920,000.
• 2 Yabsley Avenue, Ashfield was postponed last week and sold prior to auction.

Five others were postponed earlier and then withdrawn this week: 121 Terry Street, Tempe (postponed twice), 245 Enmore Road, Enmore, 10/12 Marlborough Street, Drummoyne, 14/8 Orpington Street, Ashfield and G01/71-91 Euston Road, Alexandria. Three went to auction after being postponed and all passed in: 31 Vine Street, Darlington (postponed twice) and two Forest Lodge houses, 18A Upper Road and 29A Charles Street. 18/11 Tupper Street, Enmore has now been postponed three times since 19 September.

For buyers, a postponed auction is worth watching closely. If you’re interested, it can be a good moment to make a post-auction offer, as the vendor may be more open to negotiating than they were at the start of the campaign. The 18 withdrawals are also worth following up. A withdrawal often means the property will move to a private sale, sometimes with revised price expectations.

Nearly three in four sales happened before auction day

Of the 56 Inner West auction sales, 41 (73.2%) sold prior to auction. That is up sharply from 57.1% last week and 51.9% in the week ending 3 October.

When most sales happen before auction day, the buyer who is organised early often secures the property. Having finance approved, a building and pest report done and your contract reviewed well before auction puts you in a position to be ready to negotiate if another buyer puts an offer forward, or if the vendor is eager for a pre-auction sale and there’s a reasonable deal to be done.

Houses vs units

Houses and units performed almost identically this week. Inner West house clearance was 62.5% (30 of 48 reported house auctions) against 61.8% for units (21 of 34). Townhouses sold 4 of 6, and the one duplex that went to auction sold, although those are very small samples.

The unit market is steady but selective. Ashfield was a good example, with five units selling prior to auction, including 19/5 Benalla Avenue at $846,000. In Summer Hill, two two-bedroom units sold before auction at $1.075m and $1.2m. Well-located units with good layouts are selling, while those with compromises on layout, parking or strata are more likely to pass in or be withdrawn.

Performance by suburb

Cleared every reported auction: Balmain and Stanmore (3 of 3, with another 3 Balmain auctions postponed), Abbotsford, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park and Newtown (2 of 2).

Busiest: Leichhardt sold 7 of 9 and Ashfield 6 of 9, with all six Ashfield sales happening before auction.

Single sales: Annandale, Balmain East, Camperdown, Erskineville, Haberfield and Sydenham each sold their one reported auction.

Softer: Alexandria (2 of 6, three withdrawn), Petersham (1 of 4), Drummoyne and Marrickville (2 of 5 each) and Forest Lodge (0 of 2, both passed in). Earlwood had no clearances, although 27 Flinders Road sold after auction for $3.31m. Darlington had one pass-in and Lewisham one withdrawal.

Most suburbs had only a handful of auctions, so single-week results are directional. I track an eight-week rolling window for a more reliable read.

Top Inner West auction sales

• 14 Annandale Street, Annandale: $4.25m (prior to auction)
• 58 Cecily Street, Lilyfield: $3.5m (at auction)
• 27 Flinders Road, Earlwood: $3.31m (after auction)
• 17 Bay Street, Croydon: $2.855m (at auction)
• 11C Campbell Street, Abbotsford: $2.825m (prior to auction)
• 18 Smith Street, Rozelle: $2.69m (prior to auction)

Passed in opportunities

Twelve properties passed in last weekend: 34/20-34 Wyndham Street, Alexandria, 8/3-5 Loftus Street, Ashfield, 156 Burwood Road, Croydon Park, 31 Vine Street, Darlington, 25 Gears Avenue, Drummoyne, 18A Upper Road and 29A Charles Street in Forest Lodge, 3 Roseby Street, Leichhardt, 5/22 Glen Street and 61 Wemyss Street in Marrickville, 101/305 Trafalgar Street, Petersham and 36 Rosser Street, Rozelle. Three properties sold after auction: 27 Flinders Road, Earlwood, 134 Catherine Street, Leichhardt ($2.2m) and 3/28 Railway Street, Petersham.

When a property passes in, the highest bidder gets the first chance to negotiate, but other buyers can still make an offer. With Domain’s headline Sydney clearance around 50%, many vendors are open to post-auction negotiation, which can give well-prepared buyers some leverage.

What this means for Inner West buyers

Quality homes in suburbs like Balmain, Stanmore, Leichhardt and Ashfield are still selling well, and increasingly before auction day. At the same time, 20 postponements, 18 withdrawals and a Sydney-wide market that is still well below last year mean there is room to negotiate on properties that don’t attract strong competition.

For buyers, that means being ready to act quickly on the best properties while staying patient and strategic on the rest. Know your numbers, understand recent comparable sales and keep an eye on postponed and passed-in listings.

The stats

• Inner West clearance: 62.9% (vs 57.5% Sydney like-for-like, 51% Domain headline)
• Listed: 109 across tracked suburbs (89 reported)
• Sold: 56 | Sold after auction: 3 | Passed in: 12 | Withdrawn: 18 | Postponed: 20
• Sold prior to auction: 73.2% (41 of 56 sales)
• House clearance: 62.5% | Unit clearance: 61.8%

Frequently asked questions

What is a good auction clearance rate?

Above 70% generally indicates a strong sellers’ market with competitive bidding. Between 60% and 70% suggests balanced conditions, and below 60% points to a buyers’ market. At 62.9%, the Inner West is sitting in balanced territory, while Sydney (51% on Domain’s headline figure, 57.5% like for like) is leaning towards buyers.

Why does the Inner West clear higher than Sydney overall?

Limited stock, tightly held pockets, strong owner-occupier demand and proximity to the CBD all help the Inner West outperform the wider Sydney market. Over the past eight weeks the lead has averaged about 3.3 percentage points like for like.

Why are so many auctions being postponed?

They usually happen when an agent wants more time to build interest, the campaign hasn’t attracted enough competition, or a key buyer is unavailable. This week, five previously postponed properties sold, five were withdrawn and three passed in.

What does “sold prior to auction” mean, and why does it matter?

It means the property sold before auction day, usually because one buyer made a strong offer or the vendor wanted certainty. When nearly three in four sales happen this way, waiting until auction day can mean missing out.

What happens when a property passes in?

If the reserve is not met, the property passes in. The highest bidder gets the first right to negotiate with the vendor, but other buyers can still make offers.

Which Inner West suburbs are most competitive right now?

Balmain and Stanmore cleared every reported auction last week, while Leichhardt and Ashfield were the busiest markets, selling 7 and 6 of 9 respectively.

Is now a good time to buy in the Inner West?

Conditions are balanced. The best properties still sell quickly, often before auction, but a softer Sydney-wide market, postponed auctions and withdrawals are giving buyers more room to negotiate on everything else.

Are auction price guides reliable?

Price guides are a starting point only. Comparable sales, current market conditions and real buyer demand give a much more accurate picture of what a property will sell for.

Can you represent me at auction or after a property passes in?

Yes. I offer auction bidding representation and post-pass-in negotiation for buyers who want an experienced advocate on their side.

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