Baton change? Melbourne records 82% auction clearance rate and Sydney's 79% falls short of recent highs

Melbourne's clearance rate was 82% this weekend, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.

It compared to 74% last weekend and 57% this weekend last year.

There were 540 auctions reported to the REIV on Saturday, with a preliminary 82% and upped to 573 auctions by Sunday afternoon, also reflecting 82% success.

There were some 700 scheduled auctions, so 127 results yet to be tallied.

Next weekend the REIV expects around 850 auctions.

Australian Property Monitors reported the Sydney clearance rate was 79% today, the first time in seven weeks when the preliminary result dipped below 80%.

It was based on 286 results with 415 results scheduled so 129 more results to be tallied.

Last's week's 81.6% initial Sydney result was actually adjusted during the course of later result collection to 76.4%. 

There are around 538 auctions scheduled for next weekend in Sydney.

Auction listings on the day of the federal election are down 44% in Sydney, but just 15% in Melbourne compared to last year, according to Australia Property Monitors.

There are 199 scheduled auctions in Sydney on September 7 and 414 in Melbourne.