There were some heated auctions around Melbourne on the weekend, with some surprising sales results. For the first weekend of spring, Melbourne achieved a 79% clearance rate. There were 712 auctions held this weekend, with 560 selling and 152 being passed in, 76 of those on a vendor bid. There were also an additional 375 private sales reported.
With less stock on the market, some buyers are finding themselves emotionally attached to a property they want to buy. We have seen a few properties selling well beyond the reserve, in extremely contested auctions. However this trend seems to be more pronounced during periods when auction listings are down.
In the lead up to the AFL grand final, it is unlikely that we will see any 1000+ property auction weekends. Many vendors are holding off their auction campaign until after the finals. Although next weekend there is an expected 850 properties going under the hammer.
18 Linton Street, St Kilda. Sold for $1,819,000.
Fastidiously renovated & extended to designer perfection, this striking four bedroom home close to Carlisle Street cafes became the scene of a fiesty 40 minute auction. The pre-auction price range of $1.35 million to $1.45 million was not even included in the bidding when the first bidder immediately offered $1.5 million. The bids that followed were rising in $10,000 increments until the three bidders began trading $1,000 increases as the price crept past the $1.58 million reserve. The hammer was brought down to a young man who held on for a price of $1.819 million.
83 Tarrengower Street, Yarraville. Sold for $1,165,000.
This renovated three bedroom house double fronted Victorian located close to the vibrant village lifestyle in Yarraville soared to $195,000 above its reserve price. The opening bid was a vendor bid of $900,000 from the auctioneer. From there, it was tough competition as three bidders battled it out wanting to become the new owners. As the bidding came down to the wire, the final bid was placed by a young family who were very pleased to win the keys.
23 Rogers Avenue, Brighton East. Sold For $1,060,000.
Expertly designed to maximise space, this high-gabled 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom villa unit was hotly contested. The single-level property in a quiet bayside street held a reserve of approximately $900,000. It was five bidders who pushed the price well beyond the reserve, after a relatively slow start to the auction. The final two bidders were both keen to live at the property, but one of them eventually had to step down, when a bid of $1.06 million became the winning offer.
The Melbourne auction market had an impressive return to form after the Queens Birthday weekend break. A clearance rate of 72 per cent was achieved from 893 auctions this weekend, with 533 properties selling and 247 being passed in, 98 of those on a vendor bid. There were an additional 275 private sales reported.
This weekend, the competition at auctions was particularly strong, with buyers fiercely bidding for quality properties that are currently in short supply in sought after areas.
Popular with buyers are the “move right in” properties that have been renovated or extended; or even properties that provide potential for redevelopment. Many of the auctions for these properties had three or more bidders, which is always a good indication that there are not enough properties available to meet the demand.
With such high auction volumes for late June, the next couple of weeks in Melbourne will be extremely interesting to watch. Such an influx of high auction numbers would provide strong opportunities for buyers. Melbourne will see one of the biggest ends to the financial year on record, with close to 2,000 auctions scheduled in the next two weeks.
Next weekend there will be an expected 920 auctions held in Melbourne ahead of the Victorian school holidays and the upcoming Federal Election.
658 Lygon Street, Carlton North. Sold for $880,000
This classic single-front Victorian on the edge of the city attracted many admirer’s before the auction. Multiple bidders were involved in the auction for this two large bedroom home with period-inspired bathroom complete with clawfoot bath, central lounge and updated kitchen/meals area. A vendor bid of $750,000 kicked off proceedings, and two parties immediately started trading $10,000 bids, then $5,000 bids until the price reached $800,000. A third bidder then joined in with $1,000 rises until they were eventually beaten by one of the first bidders, who acted on behalf of a contact via a phone.
2 Forrest Street, Yarraville. Sold for$1,224,000
A double-fronted Victorian in the heart of Yarraville with an asking price of $900,000+ attracted some hot competition at the Saturday auction. A vendor bid of $900,000 stirred the serious buyers to put their hands up, and three bidders were in the mix by the time the price reached $940,000. An investor went head to head with another fierce bidder with $5,000 increments helping the price reach the reserve of $1.09 million. But it didn’t stop there. Two new contenders attempted to win the keys, but it was an investor who secured the contract with a final bid of $500 more than his opponents, and $134,000 above the reserve.
5A James Crescent, Hampton. Sold for $1,271,000
Five bidders slogged it out to try and grab their own piece of the family friendly bayside suburb of Hampton. On offer was an enchanting three bedroom, 2 bathroom home fronting a quiet crescent with a high-gabled attic-style design …and located with a frontage on Thomas Street park with a sun-catching north-westerly aspect. With five bidders pushing the price of this weatherboard home up to $171,000 above the reserve, the property sold to a local buyer returning to the area after working overseas.
YARRAVILLE – is a medium sized suburb of around 5.6 square kilometres and is located approximately 8 kilometres west of Melbourne CBD, just off the West Gate Bridge.
Yarraville is well known for the Sun Theatre, a boutique cinema comprising of eight screens which has been operational since 1938 with the neon sign becoming quite the icon of Yarraville.
A large and luscious park called the C.J. Cruickshank Park is found in Yarraville, it is a very popular community park featuring a dinosaur playground, tennis and basketball courts, BMX track and the dogs are allowed to roam around off their leashes, most of the time. The best part is right through the middle is the Stony Creek Trail with walking trails, doggy swimming holes, bridges with plenty of opportunities to stop for a picnic.
With the aforementioned attractions and the ever booming popularity of Yarraville, it is any wonder the next generation are on a purchasing frenzy!