Meet The Market – Lessons from The Block
Here are some important lessons from the recent The Block 2025 season in Daylesford—especially relevant if you’re thinking of selling in regional markets.
Reality Check on Pricing
The homes on The Block 2025 were set with reserve prices of $2.99 million each. Yet in Daylesford, www.pricefinder.com.au shows median house prices at $870,00 in 2024 and $870,000 in 2025 year to date. That means the reserves were well above what the “typical” buyer in Daylesford is paying—by more than $2 million in most cases.
Demand Isn’t Unlimited in Small Markets
Daylesford is a lovely regional town, but it’s also a much smaller market: only 75 houses sold in 2024. With such modest turnover, setting ultra-high reserves means relying on a very limited pool of ultra-high-net-worth buyers. That’s not the same as listing in a high population area where dozens of homes trade each week.
What This Means for Sellers (and Buyers)
Listing at reserve prices far above local median values can leave a property “stuck” and harder to sell. If several homes don’t meet their reserve (as two of The Block homes didn’t) it can weaken momentum and buyer confidence. Matching the market profile—median price, recent sales, local demand—gives a property its best chance for success.
The Takeaway
When dealing with regional markets like Daylesford, the headline of the latest television auction doesn’t always reflect the broader local market. In fact, in any market, the median price matter, sales volume matters, and so does setting a realistic price from the start.
For sellers, it’s better to align with what local buyers are paying, not what you need to make the next move