Auction wrap from around the grounds

Australasia’s largest auction house, Ray White Group, scheduled 314 auctions this week, with 160 on Saturday alone.

The group was recording a 74 per cent preliminary national clearance late today, with 77 per cent in Melbourne. Crowds swelled to 45 people on average across Australia with a whopping 4.7 registered bidders per property, one of the highest numbers recorded all year which was an encouraging sign.

69 Springbrook Blvd, North Kellyville which sold at auction mid week for Sold for $1,721,000

Before we launch into Saturday's action, let’s not forget what great results were seen during mid-week auctions.

Ray White Castle Hill sold four of five on the night, thanks to a packed and active audience of 60 bidders.

For Ray White Castle Hill Principal Phil Kelly was a pleasant surprise. “We thought it would be good but not to that extent.”

He attributes the 80 per cent clearance rate to great and stringent team work, and also the high quality of the stock. The highest price achieved on the night was $1,721m for a luxury property in North Kellyville.

Congratulations to dynamic agent Sara Perry as 69 Springbrook Blvd, North Kellyville was the second highest house sale price ever recorded in North Kellyville, and the highest sale price since December 2017.

Looking forward to the Spring season, Mr Kelly said, “We are always excited (about Spring), but I would really like to have more listings.”

After a week like that, one imagines more listings will be forthcoming.

The day started off with a good news story and a remarkable result in Victoria. (pictured above)

Ray White Gladstone Park Director Malek Younan described today's auction in Tullamarine as "magic."

The property at 7 Finningley Drive had seen 100 groups through during the campaign, but was overrun with 140 attending the auction.

The large well kept, single level home was being sold by the family following their Mum entering care.

The bidding started at $600,000 and according to Mr Younan went up very quickly.

"The vendors had said they would be happy with $690,000. One of the sons said he was expecting maybe $670,000 - $680,000," Mr Younan said.

However, the bidding was fast and exciting with latecomers entering the fray at the last minute, pushing up the final price to a staggering $782,000.

Although emotional for the family to see the home pass hands, one of the sons of the vendor said the prices were very welcome as it would "give mum a more comfortable life."

The once tourist getaway town of Rosebud had a great sale under the hammer today, when 174 Elizabeth Drive came on show.

Ray White Rosebud sales agent Michelle Bennie was surprised at the turnout of 100 participants. “It is a little unusual for Rosebud,” said the agent. “I think it was mostly first home buyers in the crowd.”

While some do make the commute to the CBD, most buyers here are local, as was the case with this sale when the hammer fell at $578,000.

“It went to a middle aged couple who plan to live in the house while they build a couple of townhouses nearby. Then they plan to renovate this one and sell that,” Ms Bennie said.

Also in Victoria and the team at Ray White Rowville were attracting crowds and kicking goals.

At 13 Damian Place, Wantirna South a crowd of 60 people came to watch as six bidders went at it to secure the five bedroom home. It went to auction with a guide of between $900,000-$990,000 but sold at a substantially higher price of $1.165m.

Over at 40 Seebeck Rd Rowville, the team had 80 attend the auction, which resulted in a tug of war between eight bidders, resulting in a couple buying the property for development at a cost of $720,000. The home had a guide of $630,000 during the campaign.

According to Ray White Victoria's chief auctioneer Matthew Condon there were consistent reports of above average attendance across the auctions today.

"Based on Ray White preliminary data we have also seen a big spike in the average amount of active bidders per auction," Mr Condon said.

"This is evident on the ground with buyers happily engaging in the auction and competing to secure a property. Overall another exceptional week of winter auctions and as a group, Ray White Victoria is expecting a very strong auction campaign clearance rate."

Ray White NSW Chief Auctioneer Alex Pattaro watched close up as crowd numbers of prospective buyers swelled across the state.

"After multiple discussion with our Ray White agents, open for inspection attendance seems to be the flavour of the month," Mr Pattaro said. "We are seeing a rush of buyers looking to purchase before the Spring competition sets in."

Shortage of stock is still an issue, which agents are addressing. "We have seen agents convert older stock to auction and have had great success in doing so," said Mr Pattaro. And his observations on numbers were born out at several hot auctions today.

It was packed to the tasteful rafters at 11 Kelly Close, Baulkham Hills. (picture above)

Ray White Baulkham Hills agent Daniel Sarzano reports a crowd of 210 people at the midday auction. Too many to fit on the pool terrace so the auction was conducted on the front lawn, where the Ray White team touched base with as many of the 88 contract recipients as possible, as well as wrangling the 36 registered bidders.

“The first bid was $1.1m,” said Mr Sarzano, then it quickly got to $1.25m, then went to bids of $10,000, or $15,000.”

It was not long before the year's record was broken when the bidding hit $1.4m.

“That’s the first $1.4m we’ve seen this year, and you could hear it in the crowd, they just went ‘wow’,” Mr Sarzano said.

The vendors had been well involved in the campaign, putting up with three inspections a week and a deluge of questions and second inspections from interested parties - but the pressure paid off today.

The hammer fell at $1.405m, well above the $1.35m reserve price.

“Yep, they are over the moon,” concluded Mr Sarzano.

Inner west Sydney got off to an encouraging start for the Ray White Surry Hills team.

Agent Astrid Joarder sold 11/7-9 Tupper St Enmore in front of a crowd of 50 onlookers and 20 registered bidders.

According to Ms Joarder the bidding was constant and spirited with people jumping in and out of the fray.

It went on the market at $750,000 and finally sold to a young woman who was very excited to have landed this great apartment with a knockout kitchen, for $784,000 well above the $750,000 reserve.

Not far away and Ercan Ersan sold a superbly renovated home at 44 Marian St, Enmore. It sold under the hammer at $1.91m. Architecturally designed, dual level and very glam.(pictured above)

There was a crowd of 50 in attendance, with five active bidders. Proceeding commenced with a first bid of $1.6m.

Enthusiasm for the property never waned, and in a short time they passed the reserve of $1.8m, with the final and successful bid being made by an inner Sydney couple.

"The buyers are a young couple who were renting in Erskineville and this is their first home purchase," commented Mr Ersan, who added that the vendors are ‘over the moon’.

The sentimental favourite this week has been 122 Beaconsfield Terrace, Gordon Park in Queensland. Having been in the one family for 95 years, it had both memories and potential on the line.

Ray White Alderley Director Andrew Cowan in conjunction with Ray White Queensland Chief Auctioneer Mitch Peereboom started the auction at midday with a crowd of 50 gathered on the front lawn, including five registered bidders.

Bidding was consistent up to the $925,000 mark where action stalled as a latecomer rushed to register. It gave those on the front lawn time to think about the wonderful views, and extensive renovations that the property promised.

Not long after the resumption, the home sold at $980,000 to a local couple who are very keen to start the work.

At 12 Currumbin Place, Carindale and Bruce McIntyre of Ray White Coorporoo found the buyer for his ‘entertainer special’ listing.

Having seen more than 60 groups through during the campaign, it was not surprising to see the auction well attended. Ray White Queensland chief auctioneer Mitch Peereboom called the auction “hotly contested, selling at $1,141,000.”

It was just one of many very successful auctions in the state today.

“Certainly, the day just confirmed that time and time again buyers are getting themselves in a position to bid, they are happy to compete for the properties and certainly are walking away with some outstanding outcomes. Congratulations to all our members at auctions today and some excellent results,” reported Mr Peereboom.