Leading real estate auctioneer Luke Banitsiotis says Melbourne’s housing market gained early momentum following a surge in Boxing Day property listings, helping drive strong activity through January.
The chief auctioneer for Ray White said the festive-period influx of new listings brought buyers and sellers back into the market earlier than usual, contributing to a busier-than-expected start to the year.
Ray White ran around 10 per cent more auctions in January compared to last year, with roughly 300 properties testing the market.
“The idea is to bring together buyers who missed out late last year with those who have decided to act while they have time off over summer,” Banitsiotis said.
He said early signs were encouraging, with strong attendance at open homes for newly listed properties.
“Our open homes for new stock have been quite strong,” he said. “That gives us confidence January auctions will perform well.”
New property data shows Melbourne listings in December rose by more than 10 per cent compared to the same period last year, a trend Banitsiotis says reflects renewed confidence among sellers after firmer market conditions through much of 2025, when prices grew across much of the year following softer conditions in 2024.
Suburbs to watch
Banitsiotis said buyer demand was already evident in established suburbs such as Ferntree Gully and Glen Waverley, where competition has remained solid.
Other major agencies have also reported an increase in December listings, suggesting the Boxing Day surge was part of a broader market reset ahead of the traditional autumn selling season.
With buyer engagement holding firm and more sellers entering the market earlier than usual, Melbourne’s property market appears to have entered the year with renewed momentum.
