First published 26 Oct 2026, 5:20pm
As the countdown to the hotly anticipated auction day begins, Block insiders have revealed which houses they expect will be hotly contested this year.
The five Mt Eliza homes are set to go under the hammer on Saturday, October 31, and the team whose house sells for the highest profit above the reserve price not only takes home any money above the reserve, but they also get a $100,000 bonus prize .
In a Block first, the $3.45 million auction reserve for all homes - which equates to double Mt Eliza’s median sales price – have been revealed weeks ahead of auction.
Experts say the views on offer could be a game changer for this year's season of The Block. Picture: Channel 9
New Victorian auction laws came into effect earlier this month which require real estate agents to publish the seller’s reserve price at least seven days before an auction, or fixed-date sale.
Prior to the reserve reveal, all five homes had price guides between $3.6-3.9 million.
PropTrack data shows the coastal suburb, located an hour south of the Melbourne CBD, recorded a median house price of $1.72 million over the 12 months to September.
The Block judge Darren Palmer. Picture: Channel 9
Judge Darren Palmer says it's difficult to predict who will win the 22nd season.
“The day, the auctioneer, the wild cards, the sales process, the house and the contestants themselves all have a role to play and with so many variables it’s not something I could call,” he told realestate.com.au said.
Buyer's agent and The Block regular Frank Valentic hopes to be holding a paddle on auction day, and said this year each home had their pros and cons.
According to his buyer feedback, House 4 and 5 offered the most private and largest outdoor pool and entertaining areas, and were the most family friendly.
Buyer’s advocate and frequent Block bidder Frank Valentic said houses 4 and 5 would appeal most to family buyers. Picture: Supplied
“The opinions have been good. They're luxury, nice homes. It’s the first time the Block properties really have the views they have, some have had water, city and Dandenong views, so that's the advantage,” he said.
“I suppose the disadvantage is that these contestants now are going to be selling in a pretty tough market because Melbourne is very, very tough, and there's not a lot of buyers out there.
“There's not a lot of investors…. you've got these good homes, and it's just whether there's going to be enough buyers to go around the five homes, and to get the right prices.”
Buyer’s advocate Nicole Jacobs, who has bid at more than 10 Block auctions over the years, believed the homes would be bought by investors and said with similar floorplans across all five homes, the views on offer might be the decider.
Buyer's advocate Nicole Jacobs said the larger land sizes and favourable floor plans of houses 4 and 5 would be advantageous on auction day. Picture: Rachel Devine.
“For the first time in many years, they've hit the spot as far as location, which is great,” she said.
“If you're looking for land and a natural floor plan flow, then you're going to go down to house 4 and 5.
“I think that if you’re a depreciation schedule and kitchen person, you're going to go for the one the girls have got (House 4) with all those amazing appliances.
“If you are a home buyer, that may sway you because kitchens sell homes, but floor plans do too and you often go down there because you want a view.”
In his 17th season as a Block judge, Mr Palmer said this year was probably the toughest series due to working hour constraints, “the living together curve ball” and the most specific buyer pool brief seen so far on the Block.
“It presented a lot of challenges but those constraints also did result in some exceptional results,” he said.
“The buyer brief was really clear to me from the beginning. The important things for consideration were family living, entertaining outdoors, a palette that was saleable to the market and a design style that was appropriate for the architecture.
“I think they’ve all achieved this to varying degrees and with enough variation between them that they each have a solid buyer pool.”
As to which team impressed Mr Palmer most, he could not go past House 1, Adam and Jolene.
Adam and Jolene were the most impressive team this year, according to judge Darren Palmer. Picture: Channel 9
“Country folk that have made a luxury home that’s really appropriate for the area,” he said.
“All teams have done something impressive this season though. They can all be proud of their results.”
Of all the room reveals across the 12 weeks, Mr Palmer said Courtney and Sev’s rumpus room in House 4 had a lasting impression.
“House 4’s rumpus was specified and constructed at a level that would take weeks into months to complete in real life,” he said.
“That stood out for the effort, attention to detail and sheer determination to achieve the outcome without visible compromises.”
After last year’s devastating auction in Daylesford in regional Victoria where two homes failed to sell under the hammer, which was largely blamed on the "unrealistic" $2.99 million reserve prices, it was anyone’s guess whether history will be repeated.
Mr Valentic said Mt Eliza was a great coastal destination with a lot of attractions such as wineries, beaches and golf courses.
“There's a lot going for it…the one challenge is going to be that they are selling in a much tougher market than the Daylesford properties sold in because we've had three rate increases since then,” he said.
“Fingers crossed for the contestants, because it'd be obviously a disaster for them to put in their blood, sweat, and tears, and get no return on their on their time and investment.”
Han and Can's house was one of two that passed in at last year's The Block auctions. Picture: Channel 9
Ms Jacobs believed auction order will play a crucial role in success.
“The lower you get in auction order, if there are fewer buyers, or if the buyer depth is not there, you're going to see the first few be okay, and then after that, you're going to have a disaster on your hands,” she said.
“At the end of the day for the show, that disaster is PR. For the actual contestants who slaved away for 12 weeks you have to feel for them, but I think you don't go into this competition to make a profit, you go into this because you want exposure probably for a business.”
Ms Jacobs said contestants ultimately had to realise being on The Block was an opportunity not many people get, with the publicity offering a springboard into other ventures beyond the show.
“You are bloody lucky to be on the show in that respect. Utilise that. Take that to another level with your socials."
“Be smart like other contestants that have utilised it. Be humble. Be likable. Be all the things that Australians love.”
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