Another weekend of low stock, but the good news is that fresh properties are arriving on the market ready for a spring surge. 81% clearance rate was achieved this weekend from 756 auctions held, with 611 selling and 145 being passed in, 63 of those on a vendor bid. There were also an additional 345 private sales reported.

This being the beginning of the Victorian school holidays, many buyers are holding off on attempting to buy until the new range of properties arrives on the market. In fact, it looks like late October (22 – 23) is fast shaping up to become a booming weekend for auctions in Melbourne.

We expect to see over 1000 auctions held next weekend, before the AFL grand final week.

40 Spensley Street, Clifton Hill. Sold for $1,405,000.
This picturesque terrace with second frontage to George Street, close to Village cafes, station, Spensley Street Primary and Yarra parkland epitomizes the enduring appeal of Clifton Hill. The auction attracted a cross section of buyers including a young couple, downsizers and an investor, who all helped push the sale price well above the reserve. It was the investor who walked away with the keys for this two-bedroom property which was declared on the market at $1.27 million.

52 Dudley Street, Footscray. Sold for $956,000.
A price guide of $775,000 attracted plenty of young couples and families along to this renovated four bedroom property. With six bidders in the mix, it was unlikely that there would be any bargain at this auction. After a vendor bid of $750,000 was followed by a trump bid of $800,000 from a couple, the auction quickly became very serious. The couple outbid every other person who attempted to buy it until no other contenders dared put their hand up. It was sold to the couple for $965,000.

117 Lord Street, Richmond. Sold For $1,088,000.
Filled with light, this 2 bedroom Victorian’s impressive proportions are matched by the outdoor appeal of its open landscaped rear garden. After the opening bid of $900,000 was met with silence, it looked like it might have been a short-lived auction. But after a vendor referral, things started up again with some fresh bids arriving. It was the first bidder at the auction who ended up becoming the new owner in front of a crowd of 50. The price reached $1,088,000 when the auctioneer again referred to the owners before declaring the property on the market. No further bids were received and it was announced as sold to a young man.

This weekend Melbourne’s high clearance rate reflects a market in need of fresh stock. A 79% clearance rate was achieved this weekend from 782 auctions held, with 621 selling and 161 being passed in, 69 of those on a vendor bid. There were also an additional 315 private sales reported.

Buyers who are hungry for new stock on the market are making riskier decisions about their next purchase. Some buyers are willing to push the price well above the reserve in order to get the property they want. Whilst others are willing to purchase before selling their current home.

Auction listings, if they continue on current trends, will be down by about 15 per cent for 2016. While the total of private sales and auctions is expected to be down by 8 per cent.

What does this mean? Buyers need to be sensible and know the worth of a property before entering into a purchase. Poorly researched buying can result in shocking re-sale value in the future, which can come as a shock.

The first 2 weekends of the spring auction season have been very interesting! We look forward to seeing how the market will handle the next few weeks.

There is an expected 800 properties to go under the hammer next weekend.

17 Myrtle Street, Clifton Hill. Sold for $1,435,000.
In a quiet street close to Village cafes, station, Spensley St Primary and parkland, this superbly extended two-bedroom home on a deep block attracted a crowd of 40 to the auction. The first call for bids was met with silence, followed by some dogs barking. The auctioneer tried again to rouse a first bid from the crowd, and received a $1.1 million opening offer. Another bidder joined in and the bidding was fast paced as the price zoomed past the reserve of $1.27 million. The terrace was sold to the second bidder for $1.435 million.

33 Hannan Street, Williamstown. Sold for $2,230,000.
Integral to the story of Williamstown, originally the homestead for Michael Hannan’s 100 acre farm, this evocative Victorian boasting a rare 24 meter frontage, retains significant status today as one of the area’s most outstanding family residences. The land has decreased substantially since those days, yet the renovated home holds plenty of appeal. In front of sixty onlookers, the auctioneer accepted an opening bid of $1.8 million from one man. Another man joined in and the bids were pushing the price close to $2 million when a third man put his hand up. The property was announced on the market, at $2.12 million, and as the price reached $2.185 million a fourth bidder joined in. It was sold to the first bidder for $2.23 million.

7 Robe STreet, St Kilda. Sold For $2,720,000.
Soaring ceilings and magnificent proportions define this refined c1880’s era traditional residence positioned in the heart of St Kilda, only a block from the beach. The auctioneer made a vendor bid of $2 million to commence, and two would-be buyers traded $50,000 bids. The price reached $2.4 million, when a man asked if the house was on the market, and it took only a couple more bids before it was declared selling at $2.45 million. It was three bidders who helped push the price $320,000 above the reserve, when the hammer fell to a young family for $2.72 million.