Herald Sun Real Estate auction blog: Live streams and rolling updates from the auction market
One of West Footscray’s last freestanding homes priced under $1m has drawn fierce competition under the hammer in a heart racing sale. Catch up on all of this week’s auction action here.
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Melbourne is shaping up for its second biggest auction week this year with 1271 homes scheduled to go under the hammer.
But it won’t hold the second place medal for long, with 1474 auctions scheduled across the state next week and 1866 to take place the following week.
Melbourne’s busiest auction week to date was in March, when 1451 auctions were held.
Public auctions are a chance of returning as soon as next week, with Melbourne’s lockdown due to end when 70 per cent of eligible Victorians have had two vaccinations.
When that happens, on-site auctions will be allowed outside with up to 50 fully vaccinated attendees.
Read all about the results achieved in and around your neighbourhood this week in our auction blog below.
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26 GWELO ST WEST FOOTSCRAY
Fierce competition for a white weatherboard in Footscray West has resulted in it smashing price expectations by more than $100,000.
Rounding out our auction coverage for the day was the exciting sale at 26 Gwelo St.
Greg Hocking auctioneer Anthony Molinaro told those tuned in to the online auction the suburb was going “bonkers” post the onset of Covid-19.
The neat but dated two-bedroom residence was one of the last freestanding homes available in the area priced under $1m, he said.
Bidding came thick and fast from two bidders following an opening offer of $755,000.
A total of 65 bids were entered before the property sold for $951,000.
It had been advertised for $750,000-$800,000 and was called on the market at $835,000.
The abode occupies a 300sq m block within walking distance of Tottenham train station
It also has large bedrooms, a revamped kitchen and separate dining and living rooms.
“You’ve got very much a townhouse price today but you’ve got the freedom of a full-sized home,” Mr Molinaro said.
5 BRAZIER GROVE, KEW
Former Essendon and St Kilda great Max Crow has given his Kew pad the boot.
He and his wife, Sue, an open-water swimming champion, sold their 5 Brazier Grove home under the hammer on Saturday.
Bidding kicked off with a $1.9m vendor bid before two bidders battled it out for the keys.
A total of 30 bids were placed, with the four-bedroom home ultimately sold for $2.115m.
Jellis Craig auctioneer Damien Davis called the property on the market at $2.06m.
It was advertised for $1.8m-$1.98m.
Speaking to the Herald Sun when the property was listed last month, Mr Davis said the two-storey abode, which sits within the former Kew cottages asylum site, was “so peaceful, all you hear is birdsong”.
Crow played 136 games for Essendon, 40 for St Kilda and a dozen for Footscray between 1974 and 1986.
The couple are selling up to downsize and plan to buy a property in Queensland.
4 HAVELOCK AVE, BUNDOORA
A young family has snapped up a four-bedroom brick abode in Bundoora $150,000 over reserve.
The dated residence at 4 Havelock Ave attracted 27 registered buyers, nine of which made bids before it sold for $1.03m.
Competition for the keys kicked off with a strong $900,000 opening bid, which outstripped the $880,000 reserve.
A total 34 bids carried the sale to its result.
Barry Plant’s Michael Egan said the home, which was listed for $820,000-$860,000, attracted big buyer interest throughout the sale campaign.
The auction was brought forward and it sold after just 15 days on the market.
“(It is a) high quality townhouse in a central location with a desired floorplan, choice of upstairs or downstairs master bedroom, fixtures and fittings of a superior standard to others of a similar size,” he said.
139 SPENSLEY ST, CLIFTON HILL
A Victorian-style terrace in Clifton Hill has shattered price expectations after it transacted $430,000 beyond the top of its advertised range.
The three-bedroom brick residence at 139 Spensley St drew 11 registered bidders comprised primarily of downsizers and families.
Nelson Alexander Northcote agent Luke Sacco said it was one of the few period homes in the area that had a floorplan that included a third bedroom.
This helped propel the bidding past the property’s $1.8m on the market figure and sell for a jaw dropping $2.23m.
It was advertised with a $1.7m-$1.8m guide.
“With the lack of stock currently on the market, particularly in Clifton Hill, we are finding that a vast majority of the buyers are locals who have been in the market to buy for a number of months and aren’t usually looking outside the Clifton Hill and Fitzroy North postcode,” Mr Sacco said.
“We are seeing a lot of our auctions play out very quickly. Buyers are very aware of what their budgets are and the bidding is consistently in $5000 or $10,000 increments for the majority of the auction.”
James McCulloch was the co-listing agent.
26 LISTON ST, GLEN IRIS
A Glen Iris family home has scored an incredible $405,000 over reserve under the hammer.
Fierce competition by six bidders drove the result for 26 Liston St to $2.275m.
It was advertised for $1.72m-$1.89m.
Jellis Craig agent Lachie Fraser-Smith said the vendors had lived there for almost 20 years and the auction was brought forward a week due to strong interest.
“The park opposite was the huge drawcard. Plus having an office for working from home,” Mr Fraser-Smith said.
“The position close to High St shops and Ashburton trains station were also features.”
Glossy polished timber floors, a family room filled with natural light and a large rear garden with a deck were all inclusions.
The garage also has an adjacent studio that could function as a gym or home office.
Ashburton train station and shops are also within walking distance, and the residence is zoned for Ashburton Primary School.
16 PULLAR ST, MAIDSTONE
An unusually large Maidstone home drew seven registered bidders on Saturday before it sold for seven figures.
The four-bedroom home at 16 Pullar St snuck past its reserve by $20,000 when it sold for $1.045m.
Ray White agent Pat Jamroz said families looking to upsize were drawn to the spacious floorplan and 544sq m block.
It had been priced at $1.05m-$1.1m.
“The house is quite large for the area which has attracted buyers coming from outer suburbs looking for a big block close to the city,” Mr Jamroz said.
44 WITCHWOOD CRESCENT, BURWOOD EAST
A four-bedroom family pad has sold $80,000 beyond the top of its advertised range in Burwood East.
Ray White auctioneer Allan Smith said inner city buyers looking for a larger home with more space had shown particular interest in 44 Witchwood Crescent.
About 13 bids were made by five bidders for the pad, including one vendor bid.
The competition kicked off with a buyer bid of $1.15m before climbing to $1.49m, when the hammer fell.
Mr Smith called the property on the market at $1.485m.
It had been advertised for $1.29m-$1.41m
Mr Smith told those gathered at the auction it was “no secret” Melbourne’s market was rising.
“If you’re going to buy something in this market today, there’s a good chance if the market continues as it is, (the home) will be worth another five to 10 per cent in 12 months. Which is a bit of money in the bank.”
25 BOX HILL CRESCENT, MONT ALBERT NORTH
Five bidders have pushed the sale of a pretty two-bedroom Mont Albert North weatherboard well beyond price expectations.
No. 25 Box Hill Crescent sold for $1.405m this week – more than $200,000 beyond the top of the price guide.
Woodards agent Luke Banitsiotis said young couples and downsizers threw their hats in the ring for the property, which was called on the market at $1.23m before the hammer fell.
“The home oozed charm from the moment you stepped foot on the block,” Mr Banitsiotis said.
“A stunning landscaped garden was the hero. It really grabbed the attention of our buyers and created an emotional connection.
“Our owners have loved the home for two decades and they know the new owners will love it just as much.”
The residence was listed with a $1.1m-$1.2m guide.
93 FLANAGAN AVE, OFFICER
No. 93 Flanagan Ave, Officer, sold this week for $821,000 – more than 70,000 beyond the top of the advertised range.
All proceeds will be donated to the My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.
It was priced at $690,000-$750,000.
Barry Plant Berwick agent Gabriel Nigro said 22 registered bidders tuned in to the online auction, with nine making bids.
Satterley’s donated the block while Porter Davis built the four-bedroom residence.
Mr Nigro said Barry Plant’s services were also provided free of charge, and the fundraiser was a great “team effort” to support a good cause.
Primarily young families and second home buyers hoping to relocate to the outer southeast suburb were attracted to the home, which came with $42,000 worth of furniture.
“It’s quite humbling to be involved and I’m proud to be able to give back to the community,” Mr Nigro said.
5 BOWERY COURT, WERRIBEE
A family pad nestled in a quiet court in Melbourne’s outer west has flown $105,000 past its reserve.
No. 5 Bowery Court, Werribee, drew 10 registered bidders and sold for an impressive $1.055m earlier this week – crushing its $950,000 reserve.
Ray White director Michelle Chick said young families and buyers looking for a block with space to store a boat had inspected the property.
Other drawcards included its position near schools.
The residence has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, parking for four cars and is set on a 613sq m block.
A granite bench, stainless steel appliances and a walk-in pantry are attractive inclusions in the kitchen.
The home is also surrounded by low-maintenance gardens.
It was advertised with a $890,000-$970,000 guide.
15 KNEEN ST, FITZROY NORTH
The sellers of a three-bedroom Hawthorn-brick abode in Fitzroy North were celebrating this week after watching it smash their reserve by $230,000.
Six bidders pushed the sale of 15 Kneen St to a huge $2.08m.
It was listed for $1.75m-$1.85m.
Jellis Craig Fitzroy agent Simon Shrimpton said each of the bidders, all of who were owner-occupiers, were drawn by the pad’s position in a picturesque tree-lined street.
The 252sq m block was also unusually large for a single fronted home.
“(The) home was in great order, very liveable, great scope for further renovation or extension, very accessible double width laneway at the rear and close to the ever popular Edinburgh Gardens,” Mr Shrimpton said.
The vendors tuned into the online auction and were “ecstatic” with the result, he said.
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