Almost 20 first-home buyers and downsizers were knocked out of the running for a simple two-bedroom Marrickville apartment after it sold on the weekend for more than 30 per cent higher than its original auction guide.

The 1970s inner west Sydney apartment with a lock-up garage, located across the street from family-friendly pub The Henson, sold for $870,000. Its original auction guide was $650,000 and the reserve was set at $710,000.