Herald Sun Real Estate auction blog: Live streams and rolling updates from the auction market
A mystery AFL player is moving to Bentleigh East, as reserves were smashed in online auctions. Relive the city’s real estate action from the couch.
Victoria’s dreaded sixth lockdown has forced the weekend’s auctions online, banning in-person sales and inspections once again.
A mystery AFL player was the lucky buyer of a family home in Bentleigh East, while a multi-coloured Fairfield home smashed its reserve by almost $300,000.
Read on for more results from the day’s auction action, with plenty of livestreams via Gavl and rolling updates from across the city.
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2/177 STATION STREET, FAIRFIELD
Nelson Alexander Northcote Tom Alexiadis said the state’s ongoing lockdowns had “scared a few owners from selling”.
“But the ones who do sell, will sell strongly,” Mr Alexiadis said.
He sold a three-bedroom house at 2/177 Station St, Fairfield, where almost every room is painted a different colour.
And the home’s unique styling didn’t deter downsizers from splashing $1.338m to secure the home – smashing the reserve by almost $300,000.
It features a forest green living and kitchen area, red bedroom and a yellow study.
“The buyers loved the feel of the place and that it was only one of two on the block,” Mr Alexiadis said.
“The opens there have been like a Mardi Gras, there’s been so many people through.”
“If I was a vendor, I would be getting my property on the market right away regardless, because the demand is there, but there’s just not enough stock.”
3 MUIR ST, HIGHETT
A brand-new townhouse with an eye-catching pink door notched a $1,677,500 sale, despite slight technical difficulties during its Zoom auction.
Marshall White’s Matthew Pillios had trouble hearing the online bidders at points, but that didn’t stand in the way of the strong sale.
He called 3 Muir St on the market at $1.6m, and a buyers’ advocate and a couple continued to battle it out until the hammer fell to the advocate and their clients.
The townhouse was one of two on “one of the best streets” in the suburb, Mr Pillios said.
“The lifestyle is phenomenal … it’s one of the few streets that doesn’t get traffic and kids can play on the street,” he added.
The agent warned buyers that the market was showing “a projected growth value of about 10 per cent” between now and the end of the year.
21 ADRIAN ST, BENTLEIGH EAST
An AFL player snapped up a four-bedroom house in Bentleigh East, leaving three family buyers to walk away empty-handed.
Woodards Bentleigh’s Ryan Counihan said the “big family home” soared to a massive sale of $1.65m in a fierce bidding war – $150,000 over reserve.
He declined to comment on the identity of the footballer.
“The vendors were in tears of joy, but a few of the (underbidders) family buyers were a bit upset to miss out,” Mr Counihan said.
“The schools and the northern aspect with the pool is an added plus (for buyers),” Mr Counihan said.
“The owners are a really lovely family who have been there for about 30 years – they showed me a photo of them with a sale sticker outside when they bought it, so now we’ll have to recreate it.”
2 COLORADO COURT, FERNTREE GULLY
Meanwhile in Ferntree Gully, a three-bedroom house in need of a makeover changed hands under the hammer for $772,000.
The property on a 731sq m block had attracted 14 registered and six active bidders.
Ray White Ferntree Gully’s James Wilson said the interest was so strong, the vendors began having second thoughts about selling.
“It was in fairly original state and had plenty of potential so you could renovate it, while others were looking to demolish it and build their dream home,” Mr Wilson said.
“Even the owners were thinking ‘hold on, maybe we should hang on to it,” he said.
“Properties like it aren’t coming up as much, so it was a really great entry level price for a full-sized block in the area.”
He said the lucky buyer was an investor, who would need to update the home before it was fit to be leased, due to this year’s new rental minimum standards.
“There has been a few properties (in rundown condition) where tenants have vacated, and landlords have had to put a significant amount of money towards renovating it to meet the legislation – it’s made some people reconsider if they want to keep it, or if it was just easier to sell.”
104 WESTGARTH ST, FITZROY
Another investor won the keys to a Victorian terrace house reimagined for luxury living in Fitzroy.
Nelson Alexander’s Arch Staver said the renovated four-bedroom home sold for an “solid price” of $2.42m, just clearing the vendor’s reserve.
“We had four bidders in the mix, but then two people went back and forth,” Mr Staver said.
He said the investor would likely rent out the property.
“It had off-street parking, which is something that adds enormous value in an area like this,” Mr Staver said.
“And to be so near all the cafes when they eventually reopen, parking is always a struggle, so it really ticked a lot of boxes.”
30 HUME ST, ARMADALE
The charming Victorian in a “premium part of Armadale” proved to be a hot property as five bidders fought it out for the three-bedroom home.
Jellis Craig Stonnington’s Carla Fetter said bidding for the 30 Hume Street pad kicked off at $1.65m, and sold for an undisclosed price in excess of the $1.75m reserve.
“The house was double fronted and was a very attractive proposition for buyers,” Ms Fetter said.
Its quiet street position near High St and Glenferrie Rd, combined with an open plan living area and the “private and tranquil alfresco zone” were among the main drawcards.
“While perfectly liveable now, there is also outstanding potential to update this home with a stylish renovation subject to council approval,” the listing added.
1/5 BELMONT RD WEST, CROYDON SOUTH
A four-bedroom townhouse in Croydon South snagged a strong $897,500 sale in its virtual auction this morning.
About nine bidders had registered with Ray White Ringwood’s Chris Watson, as demand pushed the price past the $800,000-$850,000 asking range.
The “turnkey ready” 364sq m property had young families and a few first-home buyers competing for the brand-new build.
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christina.karras@news.com.au
Originally published as Herald Sun Real Estate auction blog: Live streams and rolling updates from the auction market
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