The Event fires as 2021 auctions start with a bang

RAY WHITE Surfers Paradise Group has kicked off auctions in 2021 in style with a campaign clearance rate of 79 per cent as a huge 116 residential and commercial properties were scheduled to go under the hammer at the RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast (pictured above).

Each January, The Event is held on the Glitter Strip during the most prolific selling period of the year, and 2021 promised to be one of the most dynamic auction events in its 29-year history.

Preliminary sales across the day have yielded over $35 million in value as more than 310 buyers registered to bid as the momentum from 2020 continued in full force.

The highest sale of the day came courtesy of Ray White Surfers Paradise Group Sales Agent Michael Willems as he sold a block of units at 44 Queens Street in Southport for $2.7 million.

Ray White Surfers Paradise CEO and Chief Auctioneer Andrew Bell (pictured below) hailed the incredible results and described The Event as “the best ever.”

“The Gold Coast is in a golden era. It’s quite unbelievable to think where we have come from in just a few months,” Mr Bell said.

“Local and interstate buyers have come out in force today to reinforce the fact that the post-COVID-19 environment is ushering in a golden era for the Gold Coast.

“People have accelerated their decision making when it comes to buying property – they want to be on the Gold Coast in some way shape or form, whether as owner-occupiers or investors.

“This was clearly reflected today based on the record turnout, the robust nature of bidding, and the strength of sales.”

The day got off to an outstanding start as Noel Hollingworth (pictured above) and his wife were the winning bidders of 1 ‘Chevron Riviera’, 214 Stanhill Drive, on Chevron Island - with the hammer falling for $1.2 million after more than 25 bids.

The property was marketed and sold by Ray White Surfers Paradise Group Sales Agent Glen Williams, with bidding starting at $500,000, and climbing all the way to its final sale price.

“We’ve been coming up to the Gold Coast from Goulburn for years and we also have a couple of units up here so this one is for our retirement,” Mr Hollingworth said.

“COVID-19 and the restrictions had no impact on us and it’s always been in our plans to move to the Gold Coast so we're extremely happy.

“We’ve been looking at a number of properties but this one stood out to us and the fact it was on Chevron Island really appealed to us. We love the Gold Coast because there is plenty of action and just so much to do.”

Ray White Queensland CEO Jason Andrew (pictured above), who successfully called auctions on the day, said The Event was always a landmark date on the group's calendar.

“Ray White Surfers Paradise always delivers a great event for their members and their clients and it acts as the ultimate starting pistol for the auction market to kick off the year,” Mr Andrew said.

“The Gold Coast has seen exponential growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we expect the city to act as a safe haven destination where people from around the country want to live for a long time to come.

“2020 was a year for the true believers of the auction method and we believe that 2021 will be no different - it's the method of sale that works in any market.

“Last year, we scheduled a record 21,827 auctions, and on average welcomed 4.38 registered bidders per auction which were up 1.1 on 2019 and achieved an auction clearance rate of 63.2 per cent - which was up 10 per cent on 2019.

“To see a room that was packed to the socially distanced rafters today with buyers and sellers is a testament to the hard work of the Surfers Paradise team and the sales provide further evidence of the sky-high confidence within the Gold Coast market, and real estate as a whole.”

Dreams were being made throughout the day and that was very much the case for first home buyers Gavin Correa and Olena Khomyakova (pictured above) as they purchased 20 Gurrah Avenue in Southport for $517,500.

The property was marketed and sold by Ray White Surfers Paradise Group Southport Team Leader/Sales Agent Andrew Murray and Sales Agent Joshua Bateman as the three-bedroom home attracted five registered bidders.

“We’re delighted. The property is right by where our friends live and it also backs onto a park which is great for our little one,” Mr Correa said.

“We’ve been looking for about four months and with the interest rates so low, we decided that it was the perfect time for us to buy our first home.

“I moved to Australia from Spain via Blackpool in the UK and we chose the Gold Coast as our place to live because our friends had moved up from Sydney and I got my job there as a videographer a year and a half ago.

“We’ve been saving up for ages and when we first viewed the property just after Christmas, it ticked all of our boxes so we’re over the moon with today’s purchase.”

There was also success within the Ray White Surfers Paradise Group itself as Lisa Crouch (pictured above right), Personal Assistant to CEO and Chief Auctioneer Andrew Bell, sold her property at 29 Bloodwood Crescent in Molendinar for $590,000.

The property was marketed and sold under the hammer by Sales Agent Dylan Foote (pictured above left) and Head of Sales Michael Andrews.

“I’m just so happy. My husband and I have lived in the home for five years and we decided it was time to move on to another Gold Coast suburb,” Ms Crouch said.

“We purchased the home for $445,000 in 2016 and we’re very happy with the sale price – we decided to sell now because it’s such a strong property market.

“I’ve been on the Gold Coast all my life and I never plan on leaving. What’s not to love about it here? It’s a great day.”