Illawarra Property Market Update: Clearance Slows, Prices Steady — Week Ending 18 January 2026

Auction clearances softened in the Illawarra this week while stock remains limited and price benchmarks hold firm through mid‑January.

Key Stats — Week Ending 18 January 2026

Indicator	Latest (Where Available)
Auction Clearance (Wollongong)	~34%* (32 results)
Median House Price (Wollongong)	~$1.30 M (annual)
Median Unit Price (Wollongong)	~$740 K (annual)
Total Listings (Wollongong)	Constrained / limited trend
Sales > $1M (Illawarra)	14+ last week

*Realestate.com.au clearance rate is a preliminary compiled figure; Shellharbour & Kiama aren’t separately broken out in the free feed.

What This Means For Buyers

Mid‑January in the Illawarra traditionally sees a seasonal lull after the holiday period.

Over recent weeks, this pattern has shown in lighter auction schedules and lower clearance rates, as a proportion of available listings goes to formal auction.

Despite this, demand remains evident, with private treaty sales dominating and a cluster of higher‑value transactions ($1 M+) continuing in suburbs where quality stock is available.

Prices have held up, with median house values around ~$1.30 million and units ~$740 thousand when viewed on a broader annual lens — an indicator that buyers pricing into the market are transacting at levels near recent benchmarks rather than drifting downward.

Low stock levels remain a defining feature: constrained supply means that when well‑presented homes hit the market, buyer activity often accelerates quickly.

For buyers, this means being strategically ready rather than waiting for dramatic discounts. Auction clearances may soften, but purchase activity through private sales has not dried up, signalling that motivated sellers and committed buyers are still meeting in transactions.

4–6 Week Outlook

Looking forward to late January and February, the Illawarra is likely to see a gradual increase in new listings as owners return from summer breaks and refresh their marketing. This could offer buyers slightly more choice, but the fundamental supply constraint — particularly in desirable areas — is expected to persist.

Interest rate expectations, seasonal buying patterns, and relative affordability compared to Sydney will continue to underpin activity.

Well‑prepared buyers with clear budgets and finances in place will be positioned to act when high-quality, fresh stock becomes available.

Short‑term bargaining leverage is possible in select segments, but broadly expect prices to remain stable with differentiated outcomes by suburb and property type.