New figures show that private sales are increasingly pipping auctions at the post.

Melbourne’s property market has put in a decidedly lacklustre performance over the last quarter, with the city’s median house and unit prices dragged down by growing weakness at the top end.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria reports the median metropolitan house price rose just 0.9 per cent to $565,000 in the three months to September. The median apartment/unit price increased by 0.3 per cent to $470,000.

The REIV data shows that the top quarter of the market experienced price falls of 0.6 per cent for houses and 0.8 per cent for units.

Interestingly, one new trend highlighted in the data is the declining importance of auctions, which have long been the engine of price growth for the city.

‘‘The median price for properties sold by auction actually declined by 1.5 per cent in September, while the median price for those sold by private sale increased by 4 per cent,’’ said REIV
spokesman Robert Larocca.

‘‘It’s a sign that the market is now being driven by the more affordable and middle sectors of the market rather than by the upper levels of the market, which are where most auctions are concentrated.’’

But it was a trend that was hard to pinpoint yesterday, when there were some strong sales results in the higher price brackets.

The auction clearance rate was 67 per cent for the 601 properties that were available for sale, according to the REIV. (The results of 105 auctions were not reported.)

In Glen Iris, five bidders pushed the sale price of 26 Summerhill Road to $2.3 million -$450,000 over its reserve.

Hocking Stuart had quoted the six bedroom 1910 period house at $1.7 million to $1.9 million.

The auction of 1/35 Stewart Street in Ormond didn’t really heat up until the three-bedroom townhouse was declared on the market at $831,000. Two bidders had been responsible for getting it to that level from an opening at $750,000 but four new parties then jumped in and the property eventually sold for $997,000.

A three-bedroom Californian bungalowat 2 ElNidoGrove in Carnegie attracted three bidders and sold under the hammer for $842,500 off a reserve of $780,000. Buxton quoted the property at $750,000-plus.

There was a similarly strong result for 21 Bessazile Avenue in Forest Hill, a three bedroom 1960s house that hit its reserve at $735,000 but sold for $801,000. Ray White said five bidders made a play for the property, which had been quoted in the high-$600,000 to low-$700,000 range.

At the top end, a two-storey Victorian terrace at 100 Victoria Avenue in Albert Park sold for $3.27 million after being declared on the market at $3 million. Hocking Stuart had quoted it at $2.7 million to $2.8 million.

But vendors certainly didn’t get it all their own way yesterday.

In Prahran, a double-fronted Victorian at 65 Greville Street passed in without a whisper and is yet to be sold. ‘‘If someone asked me what is the most saleable style of house in Melbourne
I would say a double-fronted Victorian home with a northern aspect at the back and off-street parking, and that’s what that house had,’’ said buyer’s advocate Michael Ramsay.

The property opened and passed in on a vendor bid of $1.4 million without one raised hand from a crowd of about 60 people. ‘‘A house like that in good times would have five bidders but today it couldn’t attract one. [It] would normally be absolutely bulletproof,’’ Mr Ramsay said.

RT Edgar, which quoted the property at $1.4 million-plus, said negotiations were under way. The story was much the same nearby at 6A Aberdeen Road in Prahran, where a three-bedroom townhouse opened and passed in on a vendor bid of $850,000. The reserve is $895,000.

There are 1170 auctions scheduled next weekend, the highest number of properties available on a single weekend sinceMarch 2008.