How Melbourne buyers can spot an auction showdown

Melbourne’s auction clearance rate is improving, but experts warn buyers should watch for hidden signs that competition is about to erupt. Melbourne’s auction clearance rate is rising again with a final figure at 53.7 per cent last week, the best figure since before the Albanese government’s May budget. But results are still patchy and homebuyers are being warned the biggest clue an auction is about to erupt into a bidding war might not be the price guide, but the people standing beside them. Pre-auction offers, expressions of interest, crowd numbers and even the body language of rival buyers can reveal when competition is about to intensify.RELATED: Vic Underbelly-linked racetrack, yours for $3m+Beetlejuice star Eddie Perfect sells secret ferret hideaway Brighton mansion hides wild $5.7m Batcave The warning comes alongside a sharp drop in properties going under the hammer that is likely part of the reason the clearance rate is rising, with last week’s figure up from 51.5 per cent a week earlier. PropTrack’s latest Property Previews Report shows 625 Melbourne auctions are scheduled this week, 12 per cent fewer than a year ago. Another 599 are expected next week, a whopping 36 per c...