Top strategies for winning at auction
Buying a property on your 2023 to-do list? Make sure the keys to that dream home are yours with these winning ways
3 min
Always part of the crowd but never the winning bidder? It can be frustrating to keep missing out on securing your slice of Sydney.
When you have your heart set on a property, you’re buying not just a home but a lifestyle that will champion your dreams and ambitions. So no wonder auctions are a nerve-racking affair. Put yourself on the front foot with these winning strategies.
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1
Put in a pre-auction offer
Actually, there may be no need to go to auction at all. In today’s market, you have a good chance of calmly negotiating a winning deal ahead of time. Of all properties intended for auction, the proportion sold prior has roughly doubled since last year, now accounting for about half of all sales. So if you’ve done your research and don’t want to wait it out, make a solid pre-auction offer that reflects current market values.Conversely, in a strong market, you may be better advised to wait it out. Vendors are unlikely to take an early offer if they know there are other buyers waiting in the wings.
2
Own it to win it
Show up at the auction dressed to impress and stand in a prominent position where you can eyeball other bidders. When people bid against you, respond quickly and decisively. Play your cards right and you’ll give your competitors the impression that you’re not going to stop – which may be enough to convince them to give up.
3
Bidding anonymously
Bidding remotely via a live auction app could be the solution to staying calm and clear-headed. The future-forward UrbaneLIVE app enables you to participate in live-streamed auctions from wherever you feel most comfortable. If you’d rather be on site, but feel uneasy about bidding publicly, you could use the app to bid anonymously. The app will also ensure you don’t miss out on the chance to bid if you’re out of town on auction day.
4
Use the professionals
Your agent is there to help. They offer advice and support as well as practical information about the auction, so take advantage of their expertise and ask as many questions as you can. Worried you might get caught up in the emotion on the day? Asking a seasoned auction goer to bid on your behalf will make you less vulnerable to auction day pressure. (If you’ve recently sold and have a good relationship with your agent, you could ask them to help you bid for your next home, provided the property is listed with another agency.) Alternatively, a buyer’s agent will bid on your behalf for a fee and help research the market and work with you to determine a reasonable limit.
5
Top-and-tail approach
Beyond the comical awkwardness, there’s little benefit in holding out on an opening bid. Before the crickets chirp and tumbleweed rolls, make your presence known with a reasonable low-end bid. You can then hang back and get a feel for your competitors, before boldly re-joining the bidding at the pointy end of the auction. If nobody else bids after your opening offer, even better. You’ll be first in line to negotiate a deal.
6
Hit them with your best shot
When bidding slows, hopeful purchasers often settle in for a lengthy back-and-forth of $1000 increments. With amounts this small, it’s tempting for bidders to keep pushing that little bit further. If you still have some room in your budget, try knocking them out with an offer of $15,000 or $20,000 more. In the context of Sydney or Melbourne property, it’s a small price to pay to secure a purchase. There’s no better place to pick up tips than at an auction. Onlookers are always welcome so check out our auction listings and drop by to watch the show.
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Melbourne’s lifestyle appeal is driving record population growth — and rising rents. Here are the six most expensive suburbs to rent a house in right now.
5 min
Melbourne is considered Australia’s most liveable city. In fact, Melbourne competes on the global stage, consistently ranking among Time Out’s top cities to live in the world and ranking fourth in 2025. Melbourne is a cultural mecca filled with arts, x, and the country’s best sporting events.
It’s the lifestyle factor that has seen Melbourne’s population grow by over 142,000 people over the 23/24 financial year, largely driven by overseas migration. With increased population comes increased demand for properties, particularly in the rental market.
Akin to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Melbourne’s South Eastern suburbs, towards Bayside and the water, dominate the most expensive suburbs listed to rent across the Victorian capital.
In this article, we’ve examined the six most expensive suburbs to rent a house in Melbourne right now, according to property data analytics firm Cotality (formerly CoreLogic).
Brighton
Median purchase: $3.15m
Median rent: $1,353
Brighton is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to rent a house, and it’s easy to see why. A blend of grand period homes and modern architectural builds line the wide, tree-filled streets. The suburb is synonymous with luxury, and rental properties—especially those close to the famed Brighton Beach and its iconic bathing boxes—are snapped up quickly. Vacancy rates sit at a tight 0.9 per cent.
The Neighbourhood
Brighton offers an enviable mix of a beachside lifestyle and convenient shopping and dining. With access to top schools like Brighton Grammar and Firbank, plus Church Street’s boutiques and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, the Bayside suburb is the complete package for Melbourne’s high-end renters.
Malvern
Median purchase: $2.8m
Median rent: $1,313
Long known for its timeless Victorian and Edwardian homes, Malvern is a leafy inner suburb with prestige appeal. Many properties here are fully renovated period homes, featuring extensive gardens and original features that appeal to families and executives.
The Neighbourhood
Malvern boasts a refined atmosphere with a strong community feel. Glenferrie Road and High Street offer upscale cafes, boutiques, and grocers, while schools like De La Salle and St Joseph’s make the suburb particularly attractive to families.
Black Rock
Median purchase: $2.29m
Median rent: $1,253
Nestled along the Bayside coast, Black Rock has seen steady growth in both house prices and rents in recent years. Larger blocks and a quieter, more laid-back vibe than neighbouring suburbs make this a coveted spot for renters seeking both space and lifestyle.
The Neighbourhood
Black Rock is home to the picturesque Half Moon Bay and scenic cliffside walks. The suburb blends beachside charm with village convenience, offering local cafés, golf courses, and direct access to some of Melbourne’s best coastal trails.
Sandringham
Median purchase: $2.21m
Median rent: $1,199
Sandringham, next door to Black Rock, offers more of the same as its neighbouring suburb, at similar prices. Sandringham too ticks the box for laid-back waterside recreation, with the majority of homes in walking distance to the sand and charming village shops.
The Neighbourhood
This is a family-friendly suburb with a strong community vibe. Sandringham Village, with its mix of cafes, wine bars, and boutiques, sits just a short walk from the train station and beach. The area also offers excellent sporting facilities and parks. Sandringham Harbour is the local landmark, a popular destination for boating, fishing, and waterfront views from Sandringham Yacht Club.
Canterbury
Median purchase: $3.15m
Median rent: $1,179
Canterbury is the innermost Melbourne suburb on this list. It is considered one of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs, defined by grand family homes, generally over-the-top opulent new builds with French Provincial façades behind gated entries.
The Neighbourhood
Canterbury is anchored by the exclusive “Golden Mile” precinct and is surrounded by elite private schools such as Camberwell Grammar and Strathcona. Maling Road provides a quaint village feel, while the area’s lush green spaces complete the picture of prestige.
Hampton
Median purchase: $2.3m
Median rent: $1,171
It’s back to Bayside for the sixth and final suburb on the priciest rental areas in Melbourne. Hampton is not too dissimilar to Brighton, with a main High Street providing convenience and the beach rounding out the relaxed lifestyle found on the bay. The suburb has undergone significant gentrification, with many original homes replaced by contemporary builds.
The Neighbourhood
With a stretch of clean, family-friendly beach and the bustling Hampton Street shopping strip, Hampton has everything renters could want—from stylish cafes to gourmet grocers and boutique fitness studios. Its proximity to Brighton and Sandringham only adds to its appeal.
Melbourne’s Cheapest Suburb: Melton South
Median purchase: $460,000
Median rent: $430
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Melton South—roughly 40km west of the CBD—offers the most affordable rental market. With a median rent of under $450 a week, it’s less than a third of the weekly rent in Brighton. The suburb attracts families and first-home renters seeking value and larger land lots.
Melbourne’s Best Suburb: Toorak
Toorak is considered the Point Piper of Melbourne. Boasting even more billionaires than Sydney’s harbourside hotspot, Toorak is home to Melbourne’s most expensive houses, and reportedly Australia’s most expensive house sale if the 1860s Italianate mansion Coonac settles at over $130 million.
The suburb has some of the best educational institutions in Melbourne, as well as luxury homes on the Yarra, two train stations, and a central shopping precinct undergoing a full transformation with several mixed-use retail and residential developments. It is definitely the place to be.
Where is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to rent a house?
As of May 2025, Brighton is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to rent a house.
Where is Melbourne’s cheapest suburb to rent a unit?
As of May 2025, Melton South is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to rent a house.
Where is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to buy a house?
As of May 2025, Toorak is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to buy a house.
Where is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to buy a unit?
As of May 2025, Beaumaris is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to buy a unit
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