BUYERS were out in force over the last week, with more than 17,000 people attending Ray White’s auctions across Australasia, a jump of 75 per cent on the previous week.
The leading group’s auction numbers are really starting to heat up, with 585 auctions scheduled last week compared to 374 auctions the previous week. There’s 505 scheduled for the current week.
Bookings for auctions were increasing as many look to transact this side of the Federal Election, Easter and the traditional winter hiatus.
There is a later Easter this year which will see a clear run through to late April.
Ray White NSW Blue CEO Jason Andrew said interest was high in property, despite inclement weather up and down the east coast, nearly 40 people attending each Ray White auction yesterday, compared to the group average of 30.
Ray White NSW was the standout state with a 57 per cent preliminary auction clearance in the week with results still coming in.
“Clearance rates are, for the second consecutive week, exceptionally strong given the dire climate portrayed by the media, closing Saturday afternoon at more than 53 per cent (with many results unaccounted for),” Mr Andrew said.
“What is clear though is that most auctions arrive at vendors prices through fierce negotiation, often one on one on the floor, in contrast to the boom when expectations were either met or exceeded through spirited bidding.”
Ray White NSW Chief Auctioneer Alex Pattaro said vendors expectations appear to be shifting quicker.
“On the weekend we saw either tough one on one negotiations or auctions that sold well with competitive bidding. We saw many one on one negotiations that eventually sold under the hammer.”
But it was the kiwis who had the most successful week with a 57 per cent clearance rate across their 191 auctions scheduled.
The top sale of the week in the Ray White Group was 76 Bramley Drive, Farm Cove, Manukau City in Auckland’s eastern bays.
Offered to the market for the first time, the home built in the 1970 sat on a substantial 1485sqm block with wide views across the Tamaki Strait and out to Browns Island.
Ray White Mission Bay agents Mel Evans, Jackie Dragicevich, Anna Stephenson sold the four bedroom waterfront property under the hammer for $3.250M on Sunday afternoon.
Ray White Mission Bay principal and chief auctioneer Wayne Maguire said it was a great auction with seven registered bidders, and four of them active in the auction.
“Everyone is happy - both buyers and sellers. We had 80 people through - mostly local and the majority were families wanting to renovate,” Ms Evans said.
“It was bought by a local husband and wife who actually just sold on the same road and say they never want to leave the area.”
In Wellington, there was 20 registered bidders vying to the right to own this modest home at 46 Parkway, Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt which ending up selling for $411,000.
Ray White Kemeys Brothers managing director Rupert Kemeys said it was a mortgagee sale and no-one was allowed access to the property to view it during the campaign.
“Ryan Baker ran a fantastic campaign which drew a lot of interest in the property. We actually didn’t have one person through the property so it was a great result to have so many bidders at the auction.
“The buyer bought it, sight unseen, however it was in the first home buyers market and in the booming suburb on Wainuiomata.”
In Brisbane. Ray White Paddington agent Judi O’Dea sold 34 Coopers Camp Road, Bardon for a street record price of $1.240M.
“The buyers and sellers were were so happy that they ended up having dinner together on Saturday night to celebrate,” Ms O’Dea said.
