How long does it take to sell a house in Australia?

From the first appraisal to money in your account, selling a house in Australia usually takes three to five months. The part people worry about, the time the property is advertised, is often the shortest stage. This guide sets out the whole timeline, explains the days-on-market figures you will see quoted, and shows what actually moves them.

The full timeline

| Stage | Typical duration | What happens | |---|---|---| | Preparation | 2 to 6 weeks | Appraisals, choosing an agent, signing the agreement, conveyancer engaged, repairs, styling, photography | | Campaign (days on market) | 3 to 6 weeks | Listing live, open homes, offers or auction | | Contract to unconditional | 0 to 3 weeks | Cooling-off, finance and building and pest conditions (private treaty); immediate at auction | | Settlement | 30 to 90 days after contract | Conveyancing, discharge of mortgage, funds transferred |

Add the stages up and a well-run sale is about three months from the first appraisal to settlement, with four to five months common. The settlement period is set in the contract; 30 days is typical in Queensland, 42 days in New South Wales and 30 to 90 days in Victoria, and it is negotiable either way.

What "days on market" measures

Days on market is the number of days between a property's first appearance as a listing and the date it is recorded as sold (contract date for most published series). Published medians exclude withdrawn listings, so the figures are kinder than a vendor's experience: a property that sits for 90 days, is withdrawn and relisted later does not appear as 90 days in most series.

In mid-2026 the national median time on market was 31 days, with Perth the fastest at 13 days and Brisbane at 22, according to Cotality data reported in NAB's July 2026 Housing Monitor. By October 2026, Cotality was reporting that median days on market had lifted across all major markets as demand weakened and listings rose, with total listings across the combined capitals up about 22 per cent over the year (MacroBusiness, citing Cotality). Ray White's economics team reported a sharper rise in its own data, from 34 days in May to 47 days three months later, with Brisbane at 46 days. The series differ in method, so compare a figure only with others from the same source.

On our suburb pages the market snapshot shows the suburb's median days on market with the date it was computed and the source, and each agent's "why ranked here" line compares their listings with that suburb median. That comparison is one of the four ranking inputs.

What slows a sale down

Price. Almost every slow sale is a pricing problem. A property listed 5 to 10 per cent above the comparable sales attracts fewer enquiries, and the buyers who do come are using it to justify offers on cheaper homes. Buyer interest peaks in the first two weeks of a campaign. Reduce the price in week six and you are selling to a smaller audience that has already seen the listing twice and knows it has been reduced.

Method of sale in the wrong market. An auction with one registered bidder passes in and restarts the campaign with a public result attached. In late 2026 Brisbane auctions were clearing under 25 per cent (Cotality), which is a strong argument for private treaty in that market. Our auction versus private treaty guide covers the decision.

Presentation. Buyers decide in the first minute whether a property is "the one". Deferred maintenance, clutter and poor photography turn away buyers who would have paid full price for the same house cleaned and styled.

Seasonality. Spring (September to November) has the most listings and the most buyers; late autumn and winter have fewer of both. Fewer competing listings in winter can work in a vendor's favour. The weeks between mid-December and late January are slow everywhere except holiday markets.

Conditions and finance. A private treaty contract subject to finance can take two to three weeks to go unconditional, and some fall over. An agent who qualifies buyers before accepting an offer, and who presents offers together rather than one at a time, shortens this stage.

The agent. An agent who is slow to return enquiries, runs one open home a week and sends a report every fortnight sells slower than one who calls every enquiry back within the hour. On our pages the days-on-market comparison in each agent's "why ranked here" line is the quickest way to see who prices and runs campaigns well in your suburb.

How to shorten it

1. Price from evidence. Ask each of three agents for the three most comparable sales, and list within the range they support. Our guide to what a property appraisal is explains how to read the estimates.
2. Prepare before you list, not during. Styling, repairs, a pre-sale building and pest report in states where buyers expect one, and the conveyancer engaged so the contract is ready for the first open.
3. Pick the method for the market. Check last month's clearance rate for your city before agreeing to an auction.
4. Set a deadline. Even in a private treaty campaign, an offers-by date in week three or four concentrates buyer interest.
5. Agree the response plan. If there are no offers by the deadline, what changes: the price, the method or the agent? Settle this before the campaign, when it is a plan, not during it, when it is a fight.
6. Choose the agent on days-on-market evidence. An agent whose listings in your suburb sell faster than the median is pricing accurately. That is the strongest predictor of a short campaign.

After the contract

Settlement is largely in the conveyancers' hands. Your tasks are to keep the property in the condition it was sold, allow the pre-settlement inspection, discharge the mortgage through your lender (allow at least two weeks for the paperwork), and have the keys ready. Delays at this stage are usually the buyer's finance or a missed document on either side. A good conveyancer keeps a checklist and chases it.

Compare agents near you

Our suburb pages show the suburb's median days on market and compare each ranked agent's campaigns with it. Choosing an agent whose listings sell faster than the suburb median is the most reliable way to avoid a long campaign.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a typical sales campaign?+

Three to six weeks on the market is typical. In mid-2026 the national median time on market was 31 days, with Brisbane at 22 days, and medians rose through the second half of the year as demand softened.

How long does settlement take?+

Settlement is set in the contract, usually 30 to 90 days after it is signed. Thirty days is common in Queensland, 42 in New South Wales and 30 to 90 in Victoria.

Why is my house taking longer to sell than the suburb median?+

The most common reason is price. If the property has been listed for twice the suburb median with few enquiries, the advertised price is above what the comparable sales support. Presentation and method of sale are the next most common causes.

Is winter a bad time to sell?+

Not necessarily. There are fewer buyers but also fewer competing listings. The period from mid-December to late January is the slowest in most markets.