Morning event sees “cracking” start to 2025’s home auction season

With 15 properties sold before the event even began, millions of dollars flew out of buyers’ hands for new homes all across the city.

February’s first full auction week smashed through home sales across Greater Brisbane, with 20 sales already seen across Place’s first event for 2025.

“The Summer Day” took place at the Calile Hotel on Friday morning, with 15 homes scheduled to be auctioned having been sold before the event even began.

Place's "The Summer Day" auction event, beginning on Friday morning with 15 homes sold prior.

The event continues throughout February 8 and 9, moving from the Calile Hotel to on-site auctions.

More than 60 people attended the event, with Peter Burgin acting as auctioneer for the seven properties for sale that morning.

“There is a transformation taking place in our city,” he said, pointing to a 20 per cent rise in Place home sales across January.

International bidders attended online as bidding went underway, with several houses and units going under the hammer throughout the day.

40/9 Doggett St, Fortitude Valley, which had more than 20 bids before selling for $1.085m.

401 Sandgate Rd, Albion: A fixer-upper on a corner block that sold for $800k.

One of the day’s biggest sales was for a five-bedroom, three-bathroom property. 18 Third St, Camp Hill, sold later in the day for $1.85 million, with agents Anna Dunne and Shane Hicks having run the campaign.

Meanwhile, a 1920s residence in Albion sold for $800,000, advertised as a “character renovation”.

The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 401 Sandgate Rd, Albion, had been with one family for nearly four decades, and featured worn-down walls and overgrown fences in its promotional photos.

However, the home’s corner block in a blue chip suburb made it a valuable prospect for its new buyer.

4/101 Pashen St, Morningside, which sold for $850k after five bids on the day.

18 Third St, Camp Hill – one of the larger sales for the day, at a sale price of $1.85m.

One of the most hectic auctions that day was for 40/9 Doggett St, Fortitude Valley.

After a starting offer of $850,000 for the two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit, offers quickly skyrocketed over a rapid series of bids.

With multiple registered bidders trying to stake their claim on the home, each were outdone by one persistent bidder, who would swoop in with a higher offer seconds after the previous bid.

Whether the bid was another $5,000 or $50,000, this relentless bidder swept the competition. After 22 bids, the home sold to its new owner for $1.195 million.

“First auction I’ve ever attended,” the winning bidder said. “We had to go a bit above what we were totally comfortable with, but I guess when you love a property, you don’t want the opportunity to go floating by.”

The buyer and his partner plan to live in the unit together, after having fallen for it at an open home.

“The [old] owner is an interior and graphic designer,” said Place New Farm agent Aaron Woolard. “She did a meticulous renovation.”

2/45 Riverview Tce, Indooroopilly, a unit that sold for $640,000.

43 Royds St, Carina – owned for 63 years by its old vendors, going to a family who want to leave it unchanged.

Mr Burgin said the event was a “cracking” start to 2025’s auction year.

“The market has come back with a bit more purpose than it had towards the end of the year,” he said.

“It just feels like people weren’t gonna chance their arm on waiting for a decision on interest rates – which might spike a bit more activity.”

Other sales on the day include 2/45 Riverview Tce, Indooroopilly ($640k), 43 Royds St, Carina ($1.065m) and 4/101 Pashen St, Morningside ($850k).

“The Summer Day” event continues through Saturday and Sunday, February 8-9.

The homes for sale also include 26 Landsdowne St, Coorparoo, belonging to Olympian Bronte Campbell.

Originally published as Morning event sees “cracking” start to 2025’s home auction season