While the Gold Coast property market may be showing signs of cooling, having a strong selling strategy has never been more important, says Ray White Queensland auctioneer and COO Gavin Croft.
The Gold Coast property market has always been incredibly dynamic, and as we moved through May, we undoubtedly felt a shift in the atmosphere.
Overall market activity has become more subdued compared to the frenetic pace we’ve seen in recent years.
Ray White Queensland auctioneer and COO Gavin Croft
However, if my time calling auctions across this state has taught me anything, it’s that a transitional market is precisely when the auction method proves its true worth.
Looking at the numbers for May, Ray White scheduled 126 auctions across the Gold Coast, representing a 10.6 per cent decrease year-on-year.
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Ray White Collective auction on May 16, 2026
Correspondingly, our auction day clearance rate landed at 51.4 per cent, down 16.55 per cent from the same time last year.
On the auction floor, we averaged 3.0 registered bidders and 2.2 active bidders per campaign.
While some might look at those adjusting metrics and see a cooling market, I see a landscape where strategy matters more than ever.
Here is the single most critical statistic for sellers to understand from May: properties that sold under the hammer achieved, on average, a premium 8.56 per cent higher than the highest offer received prior to auction.
When the market isn’t booming with unchecked urgency, taking a property all the way to auction day forces buyers to compete transparently. It removes the guesswork and extracts every last dollar for our sellers. Trusting the process pays off.
We saw some spectacular examples of this competitive tension in action last month.
The top result was delivered by Daniel Donovan and Conner Malan of Ray White Malan + Co, who sold 20 Brakes Crescent, Miami under the hammer for an impressive $4.35 million. Attracting four registered and two active bidders, it was a clear testament to the enduring appeal of premium Gold Coast real estate.
20 Brakes Crescent, Miami, sold under the hammer
We also witnessed incredible energy at the more accessible end of the market.
Ray White Advantage agent Max Kenny drew the highest number of bidders for the month at his 33 Sweetgum Street, Ashmore auction.
With eight registered bidders and three active bidders battling it out, the gavel finally fell at $1.31 million, securing a fantastic result and handing the keys to a couple of young investors.
What May has shown us is that while the sheer volume of transactions may have adjusted, genuine buyer intent remains.
When you create the right environment and foster transparent competition, outstanding results inevitably follow.
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