Longer to sell: why the method of sale matters more than ever
Brisbane’s more balanced market has entered its next chapter. Buyers have more choice and no longer feel the pressure to rush, and they’re rewarding properties that are well prepared and sensibly priced.
The clearest sign is time. Across Greater Brisbane, median days on market for private treaty sales have more than doubled over the past year.* Homes sold by private treaty that once found a buyer within weeks are now taking well over a month, and with no fixed end point to the campaign, that timeline can keep stretching.
Owner-occupier demand remains the foundation of the market. Buyers are still active, but they’re taking their time, comparing options and negotiating. In that environment, how you sell is as important as when you sell.
Auction: the right process in any market
A private treaty campaign has no fixed end point, so when the market slows, days on market can keep stretching. Auction works differently. Its timeline is set in advance and barely changes with the market, which is why it holds up when conditions shift.
That makes auction valuable in both directions. In a strong market, it gives competition time to form so vendors don’t sell too early. In a more balanced market like today’s, it creates urgency and a set date for buyers to compete, protecting the vendor’s time on market.
Different market. Same process. Different benefit.
It’s also the thinking behind Days of Summer, Place’s group-wide auction event, which officially launched on 2 November and runs 28–31 January 2027. For vendors who want a defined timeline and a set moment for the market to compete, speak to your local Place agent or find out more about Days of Summer.
Place records $408.2 million in October sales
Place delivered $408.2 million in combined sales value across Greater Brisbane and the surrounding regions in October, reflecting the confidence of vendors who are choosing to move and the buyer demand our agents are activating across the network.
Buyers are searching before properties reach the market
Demand through Only on ePlace, our exclusive pre-market platform, remains strong. Over 26,000 buyers subscribe to the weekly alert service, and the platform generates an average of 123,180 unique visits per month, from buyers who are actively looking, not just browsing. For vendors, that’s a substantial pool of motivated buyers who can be reached before a property ever appears on the real estate portals.
What does the current market mean for Brisbane sellers?
Buyers are still there, but they’re more deliberate. What this market rewards is quality preparation, considered pricing and a process that keeps the campaign moving. Auction gives vendors all three, with a clear timeline and a defined moment for buyers to compete.
To discuss your property with a local Place agent, contact your nearest office or request a complimentary appraisal at eplace.com.au.
*Source: Cotality, Median Days on Market for Private Treaty Sales, Greater Brisbane, October 2026 compared with October 2025. Only on ePlace audience figures reflect a 12-month rolling average, correct as at 31 October 2026.