Seller, 80, auctions Carindale home for $2.2 million before his wedding
By Sarah Webb
A five-bedroom Carindale house has resold for $2.2 million just 12 months after its last sale, delivering a $220,000 windfall for its 80-year-old owner and closing the loop on a love story that began with a break-up.
Newly single after the end of his marriage, the vendor bought 64 Oakley Street for $1.975 million last March. But after finding love again he decided it was time to sell, listing the property ahead of his upcoming wedding.
The house at 64 Oakley Street in Carindale has sold at auction in Brisbane.Credit: Place Bulimba
Set on an 864-square-metre block, the home features a heated inground pool, pool house and media room, while sitting within the coveted Mansfield State School and Mansfield State High catchments.
Described as move-in ready but still featuring its original kitchen, the property drew interest from both local and interstate buyers keen to break into the fast-growing Carindale market.
Two bidders – an investor and a local family – went head-to-head at the Friday auction, which opened at $1.8 million. The price quickly jumped before pausing at $2.17 million.
A short negotiation followed before the investor, who inspected the home just 30 minutes before the auction, sealed the deal.
Selling agent Anna Dunne of Place Estate Agents Bulimba said the result was a testament to the suburb’s soaring growth and a heartwarming one for the vendor.
The house at 64 Oakley Street still features its original kitchen.Credit: Place Bulimba
“I actually sold this home to him just over a year ago when he had just come out of a marriage,” she said.
“But he’s since found love and sold his home for a great price … and I’m actually going to his wedding.”
Dunne said the buyer planned to rent the home before moving in later and had since purchased another property nearby.
She said improved infrastructure and quality schools had all contributed to Carindale’s soaring demand, with local house prices climbing 88 per cent over the past five years.
An investor who inspected the home just 30 minutes before the auction sealed the deal.Credit: Place Bulimba
“When I started selling here in 2017, houses were going for around $900,000 to $1 million,” she said.
“Then during COVID they jumped to $1.5 million – and now to get in, you’re looking at $2 million.”
The Carindale sale was among 125 scheduled auctions across Brisbane last week. By Saturday evening, Domain recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 42 per cent from 101 reported results, with 13 auctions withdrawn.
In Runcorn, a unique five-bedroom home sold under the hammer for $1.982 million – almost $200,000 above the reserve – in front of a crowd of more than 100.
The double-storey brick house at 18 Islington Street had never changed hands before, custom-built by the sellers two decades ago.
Known for the patches of blue wood across its facade, the home sits in one of the suburb’s most tightly held pockets and attracted 16 registered bidders, of which nine were active.
Bidding opened at $1.3 million and surged to $1.75 million in minutes. By the $1.8 million mark, just two buyers remained – a local family and a doctor from a neighbouring suburb – who duked it out in $10,000 and $5000 rises until the family claimed the keys.
Co-selling agent Benny Liu, of Ray White Rochedale, said the buyers had spotted the home while out walking and were among the first to inspect it.
“This part of the suburb isn’t like the rest of Runcorn. Its blue-chip and homes are very tightly held,” Liu said.
“It’s a massive home perfect for multi-generational living … and it’s right behind the shopping centre.”
Liu said the vendors, who were downsizing, had initially planned to sell via private treaty but changed course after strong early interest.
“At the first open home we had 25 groups through. We also had offers of $1.8 million. So I advised the sellers to take it to auction to get fair market value,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Nundah, a one-bedroom unit at 502/7 Union Street sold for $540,000 after a first-home buyer outbid an investor and an owner-occupier.
Bidding for the home opened at $400,000 and jumped to $475,000 before pausing at $530,000. The young buyer then negotiated on the floor until it sold under the hammer.
Selling agent Angela Duncan, of Ray White Nundah, said most of the buyer pool were owner-occupiers.
“We had a few parents looking to purchase for their kids, first-home buyers, and only a couple of investors – and that really surprised me,” she said.
The apartment, which is currently tenanted for $460 a week, had a revised rental appraisal of $500 to $550. Duncan said despite rising prices in recent years, the suburb still flew under the radar.
LJ Hooker’s head of research and economics, Matthew Tiller, said the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold interest rates was already influencing buyer behaviour – but it was sellers who were playing the longer game.
“From a listing point of view, what we’re seeing across the market is appraisal numbers are picking up – but sellers are holding off until the expected August rate cut. That means we could see an early start to the spring selling season.”