Sydney, where the number of homes for sale hit a six-year high in December, will lead the country into a buyers’ market this autumn as more owners – many of whom bought in the COVID-19 boom – try to offload homes, sales and buyers’ agents say.

Increased stock gave prospective buyers more time to make decisions and strengthened them in negotiations, buyers’ agent Chris Clarke said as new numbers from Domain showed listings in the NSW capital jumped 19 per cent year-on-year in December to their highest level since 2018.