Q1 2026 Property Auctions Hit 148 Listings With Nearly 70 Percent Mortgagee Sales

According to Knight Frank’s Q1 auction market report, there were 148 property auction listings in the first quarter of 2026, with the majority being residential properties. Of these, 103 listings or nearly 70 per cent were mortgagee sales, while 30 listings or about 20 per cent were owner sales.

Five transactions were successfully completed, yielding a success rate of 3.4 per cent and a total transaction value of S$10.3 million. The largest transaction was a freehold terraced house in Geylang, which was auctioned off for S$3.5 million.

By property type, residential properties topped the auction listings at 66 or 44.6 per cent of the total. Industrial properties came in second at 42 listings or 28.4 per cent, followed by retail units at 31 listings or 20.9 per cent.

Knight Frank noted that office and shop property auctions also increased. Mortgagee sales rose 28.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter in Q1, while owner sales fell by two compared to the previous quarter. The decline in owner sales was driven largely by retail units, which Knight Frank said reflects the operating cost pressures facing the retail sector, compounded by the Middle East conflict adding further strain.

Looking ahead, Knight Frank expects the auction market to remain active throughout the year, driven by increasing mortgagee sales. However, the market will be influenced by cautious buyer sentiment and relatively moderate interest rates and financing conditions.

Knight Frank’s auction and sales head Chen Zhiqun said that as listing numbers continue to rise and buyers have expectations for property quality, whether transactions succeed depends on asset quality and reasonable pricing. He added that with the rapid development of digital technology, remote and hybrid auction models are becoming increasingly popular.

For a highly digitised society like Singapore, this trend is expected to boost participation from younger groups and attract overseas and non-traditional buyers, thereby increasing public awareness of and interest in the auction market. Overall, Knight Frank expects the 2026 auction success rate to hold at around 5 per cent, reflecting stable but relatively moderate trading momentum. Key drivers include a favourable interest rate environment and digital platforms enhancing market participation.

Lianhe Zaobao, 28 May 2026: “Q1 property auctions reach 148 listings, nearly 70% are mortgagee sales” by Xiao Weichang