Auction volumes were down across the nation on the weekend, with public holidays in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, and Hobart.

Sydney's preliminary auction clearance rate was 66.6 per cent from 936 auctions, according to CoreLogic data.

"It is worth noting that there was an increase in properties put to auction of almost 17 per cent over the same time last year," Leanne Pilkington, president of the REINSW, told WILLIAMS MEDIA.

The strong numbers are "confirming expectations that 2018 would start to see increased properties coming on to the market," she said. 

"Unit auctions were stronger than houses, with just over 70 per cent (of units) selling on the weekend," said Pilkington.

Source: CoreLogic.

Tony Chen, agent with Ray White St Ives / Gordon, told WILLIAMS MEDIA that the market is slow.

"I had three open homes last week and only one person came to each," he said.

"The trend started in September / October last year, and it has been quiet for some time," said Chen.

Chen attributed the slow down to tighter bank lending, but also to buyers not being prepared to lower their asking prices.

Chen said he bought a house for $2.5 million recently, that had earlier been passed in at auction for $2.8 million.

The slowdown in demand from China was also causing listing numbers to dwindle, he said. "A lot of the overseas buyers from China can't get loans and are selling for losses," he said.

But on a more positive note, people are still bidding at auction, and bidding quite strongly, said Chen.

Read more about auction markets:

It pays to work closely with buyers in the current market: Chris Hassall, Buxton Bentleigh

Adelaide auction market achieves the nation's top clearance rate

Sydney buyers "empowered" as cycle turns: Glenn Curran, McGrath