This page describes some types of property data and lists provider websites. You can also find information about property sales and prices on some estate agency websites.
On this page:
Data types and providers
Property data websites provide information that can assist you to research locations and estimate a selling price.
Consumer Affairs Victoria provides the following information as a resource for buyers and sellers. We do not endorse the providers, the websites or their services. You should do your own research to establish the most suitable data for your needs.
Weekly auction results
This information is useful if you are a seller or a buyer and want to check an auction result for a particular sale, or compare property prices.
Latest auction results may be listed in a single report that covers all suburbs, or at the end of a suburb listing.
Along with the sale price and property address, you will usually get information about the:
- type of property (house or unit)
- size of the property - number of bedrooms and/or bathrooms
- result of the auction (passed in or sold before or at auction)
- auction date
- agent.
Weekly auction results do not give a full picture of property prices, as not all are reported and private sales are not included.
Providers:
Tips for buyers
Before you bid at auction, attend other auctions. Find out which auctioneer will be selling the property that interests you and attend their auctions. This will give you an insight into their style and tactics.
Take the emotion out of the process – research comparable property prices, know how much you are willing to pay for that particular property and stick to your limit.
For more information, view Buying property at auction.
Tips for sellers
To estimate the market value of your property, check newspaper sales reports and search the internet for recent sale prices of similar properties.
Before you decide to sell by auction or private sale, think carefully about the features of your property and its location, as well as your timeframe and personal preference.
For more information, view Property sales method and price.
Suburb sales data
This information can help you set an asking price for a property you are selling, or to decide how much to offer for a property you are interested in buying, based on the selling price of similar properties in the same suburb or surrounding area.
Suburb sales reports generally provide historical sale prices for an area for the last 12 months, although some reports have up to five years of sales data.
There are two types of reports:
- suburb reports listing sales for a single suburb
- postcode reports listing sales for all suburbs in a postcode.
Suburb sales reports list auction and private sale prices for houses and units, along with addresses and sale dates. A report may also have information about the:
- size of the house or unit - number of bedrooms and/or bathrooms
- land size, use and zoning
- capital growth and current price estimates
- median prices and trends.
Reports may not be available for all suburbs or postcodes and there may be a limit on the number of properties included.
Providers:
Tips for buyers
Make a realistic offer based on your understanding of the value of the property. Be careful that your offer is not too low – if another keen buyer makes a higher offer, the seller may accept it and enter into a contract with the other buyer.
Try to make your offer as attractive as possible to the seller in terms of price, settlement period and conditions.
For more information view Buying property by private sale.
Tips for sellers
Get a number of agents to assess your property and consider all aspects of their service. Do not choose an agent only because they offer the highest estimated selling price for your property.
Before you sign an authority to sell, the agent must advise you that all commissions and other outgoings are negotiable.
For more information, view Selling property with or without an agent.
Street sales data
This information provides a history of sale prices for properties in a street. Considering the price of properties in the street and recent price trends can help you estimate a sale price for a property.
Some reports have information going back 10 to 15 years, including:
- sale prices
- property addresses
- dates of sale
- median prices
- changes in street prices over time.
Reports may not be available for all streets and there may be a limit on the number of properties included in a report.
Providers:
Tips for buyers
Do not make an offer until you have researched recent comparable property sales.
Do not make a bid that is more than you can afford.
For more information, view Planning to buy property.
Tips for sellers
If you give your agent an asking price, it must be realistic because the agent cannot advertise your property for less than that price. If your asking price is too high, you risk the property remaining on the market too long.
If you do not give an asking price, the agent will advertise your property using their current estimate. You cannot influence the agent when they set their estimated selling price, so make sure that you understand how the agent has arrived at their estimate before you sign the authority to sell.
For more information, view Selling property with or without an agent.
Property sales data
This information is useful if you need a detailed report on a property that shows past sales and estimates the current market price.
A property sales data report will give you an estimate of the current market value of a property based on past sales and sales of similar properties. A current price estimate can help you set a realistic selling price or decide whether a property you want to buy is within your budget.
These reports may also provide:
- a description of the property
- local price changes
- comparable sales
- a market snapshot for the suburb and surrounding area
- a price forecast.
Providers:
Tips for buyers
You can make an offer before auction but a seller does not have to consider it.
Be prepared to miss out in a competitive market. Other bidders at an auction may have more money to spend on the property. Don’t be tempted to go beyond your limit and buy a property you cannot afford.
For more information view Buying property at auction.
Tips for sellers
If your property is passed in at auction your agent will negotiate first with the highest bidder and then with other bidders.
Be aware of the consequences if your property does not sell. For example, you will be liable for the cost of the marketing you authorised unless otherwise agreed with the agent.
For more information, view Selling property by auction.
Sales history data
This is useful information for buyers trying to work out a property's real value or calculating the owner’s potential growth on investment.
A sales history report contains:
- a property’s most recent sale price
- the date of settlement
- the date of contract
- a land use description
- the land area.
Note: the report does not include vendor and purchaser names.
Providers:
Price estimators
Price estimators use sales of matching properties to give you an estimate of the current market price of a property.
Use the price quoted by a price estimator cautiously; it is just a guide to the current market price of a property.
Price estimators do not consider the features of a property that a visual inspection would show, although some make adjustments for the property’s condition.
Some estimators rate the reliability of the estimate.
Providers:
Tips for buyers
Put a deadline on your offer – but be prepared to walk away if the seller does not accept this price.
Be aware that you may not be the only buyer negotiating for a private sale property. A seller can accept an offer without notifying you, and does not have to accept the highest offer.
For more information view Buying property by private sale.
Tips for sellers
An agent must advise you of all offers unless you have instructed them in writing not to do so.
If you reject an offer at or above your asking price, you may still be liable to pay commission to the agent.
For more information, view Selling property by private sale.
Market trends
These reports will keep you up to date with the factors affecting property prices and market trends and forecasts. This information can help you to decide the best time to sell or buy property.
Providers:
Tips for buyers
The advertised price is not always the price at which a property will sell. The sale price is what the highest bidder is prepared to pay for the property.
Check newspapers and online advertisements to see whether the advertised price for a property you are interested in has changed closer to the auction date.
For more information, view our Understanding property prices page.
Tips for sellers
Your agent may ask you to authorise in writing the advertised price for your property and that you are prepared to consider offers at that price or price range. Discuss any changes in market prices during the advertising campaign with your agent.
If you reject an offer because you think you could get more for your property, you must ensure that the agent updates the advertised price. Advertising may be updated several times during a campaign to reflect buyer interest.
For more information, view Selling property with or without an agent.