Should The Block go back to basics?

After The Block 2025 auctions saw two homes go unsold and only one team walk away with a major profit, viewers are calling for the show to return to its roots with more affordable builds — a move that winners Britt and Taz back.

However, with The Block 2026 heading to Melbourne’s affluent seaside suburb of Mount Eliza, the couple doubt ‘mum-and-dad buyers’ will be competing at the next auctions.

“It would probably be a great direction if it did go a little bit towards the more neutral buyers. Like, we were lucky enough to, yesterday, we sold to a beautiful Melbourne family, which is great,” Taz told Chattr.

“But, you look to next year and it’s a Mount Eliza on the beach with views of the ocean and the city. I don’t think it’s going to be in the reach of your everyday, sort of people, certainly not for the people that we are.”

While Taz predicts next year’s reserves will be sky-high, he says it would be a good move for future seasons to have contestants work on homes that sell at a more affordable price point, one that’s within reach of everyday buyers.

“[The Mount Eliza houses are] going to be monster reserves and monster auctions. But, you know, looking past that, there’s every chance it could, but I just don’t see it going in that direction [next year].”
Han and Can with their real estate agents at The Block 2025 auctions. Image: Nine.

The Block fans call for a season aimed at everyday buyers

Britt and Taz were the only team to walk away from The Block 2025 auction with a huge profit, bagging $420,000 for their house sale and an additional $100,000 for winning. Sonny and Alicia made $120,000 while Robby and Mat made $110,000. Neither Emma and Ben’s nor Han and Can’s houses sold and were passed in.

The results were a stark contrast to the 2024 auctions, when billionaire Adrian Portelli bought all five houses and every team walked away with between $650,000 and $1.65 million. With Adrian sitting out this year’s auctions and everyday buyers priced out by multi-million-dollar house prices, viewers are now calling for a more affordable season.

“Go back to basics-build normal family homes so more people can bid!” One fan wrote on The Block Facebook group.

“Just finished watching the final auction and what a disappointment…feel so bad for all of the contestants this year. The last couple of years have ruined it for this season. Adrian and Danny [Wallis] have also ruined the show. Please [Channel 9], can you go back to the full budget given out at the start and more affordable houses… back to basics, please.”

A third person added that while it’s enjoyable to watch the contestants build mansions, it doesn’t make for an interesting auction.

“Stop creating 2 and 3-million-dollar homes. They look amazing, don’t get me wrong. I love seeing people’s creative ideas. Maybe build what us non-rich people can afford,” they penned.

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The climate of Mount Eliza’s current housing market

Channel 9 officially confirmed that Mount Eliza will be the site of The Block’s 22nd season. The seaside suburb is home to luxurious mansions, and it’s nestled on Victoria’s Morning Peninsula, which is located a one-hour drive from Melbourne’s CBD.

According to Real Estate, next season of the hit show will see teams of two transform a prime Old Mornington Rd property into five multimillion-dollar family homes with bay views, with insiders touting that it will be one of the show’s most ambitious builds yet.

According to the same website, the median house price in Mount Eliza is $1,615,000, and four-bedroom houses have a median price of $1,775,000.

While the area is considerably upmarket, it hasn’t seen any growth since May 2021, when median house prices peaked at $1,775,000 and has experienced a -0.9% growth in the past year.