Auction figures remain steady

CAN Ray White repeat the mammoth numbers recorded in March and April this year?

Twenty days into March 2021, the Ray White Group recorded a 76 per cent auction day clearance rate nationally while average registered bidders sat at 6.3 and active bidders were 3.5. Listing authorities were also way up on the same time last year and 2019 with 4,584 new properties coming to market through Ray White, 4,127 in 2020 and 3,560 in 2019.During the same time period in April 2021, the auction clearance rate was 75 per cent while bidder numbers were almost the same as March. There were 3,914 listing authorities, a massive increase on 2020 with 2,062 while in 2019 Ray White recorded 3,238. How does that stack up against Ray White’s current May metrics?May to date, the Ray White Group has booked a 76 per cent auction clearance rate and recorded 5.3 registered bidders on average at auction while 3.2 were actively bidding. So while bidders attending auctions were down, active bidding was almost on par with March and April. Notably, listing authorities have fallen in May so far and are below figures from 2020 and 2019. Between May 1 and May 20, Ray White listed 2,747 new properties while in 2020 they listed 2,812 and in 2019 the figure was 3,053.The New South Wales and ACT markets have continued strongly this month. Listing authorities also remain up on this time last year and in 2019. Members of Ray White New South Wales | ACT recorded a total of 910 listing authorities this month to date while last year, at the height of the pandemic, the network had 863 listing authorities by this time and 797 two years ago.Conversely, auction metrics in Australia’s largest capital city market have held steady with the May to date auction clearance rate seven per cent up on the same time last year at 77 per cent. Average bidders were on almost on par with last May at 5.9 registered per auction and 3.1 actively participating on average.On the weekend, Ray White NSW chief auctioneer Alex Pattaro said there were still plenty of buyers in the market however he was also seeing a slight sense of cautiousness.“Auction continues to remain the best method of sale to achieve premium prices, we saw countless times today buyers make pre-auction offers and properties selling for a higher amount under the hammer,” he said.“The property prices in the marketplace remain at record highs and sellers within the market are urged to understand the conditions before making decisions.” In New South Wales’ capital of Sydney, Ray White has a further 130 properties going to auction this weekend including a Balmain East apartment overlooking the home of late AC/DC member and Australian rock royalty Malcolm Young.No 4/24A Pearson St, Balmain East looks over the rockstar’s home which is still owned by the Young family while the mansion next door is currently under renovation and when it hits the market is tipped to set a new record for the peninsula.However, this weekend all attention will be on the one bedroom unit being sold by Ray White Balmain agent Chris Williams with a price guide of $750,000.Meanwhile, getting into the Summer Hill school catchment area has been a major drawcard for buyers inspecting 15 Abergeldie St, Dulwich Hill (pictured above). Ray White Petersham selling agent Luke Northcott said the other bonus for buyers has been the well maintained period features.“The seller has put a lot of effort into keeping the original period features of the house in good condition,” Mr Northcott said.“The Victorian style has been a bit of a drawcard, there are a lot of people looking specifically for that kind of grand charm. Particularly established families and young professionals looking to start a family who also love the proximity to good schools.”Also boasting beautifully kept period features is 38 Forest Rd, Arncliffe which will be going to auction this weekend through Ray White Rockdale agent Nicholas Economos. The current owners have recently renovated the bathroom and kitchen but made sure to keep the leadlight windows and ornate ceilings as a nod to the home’s Federation era origins.“Many of the buyers are loving the character of the home. The original features work really well with the modern kitchen and bathroom,” Mr Economos said.“It has a beautiful backyard as well which is really rare in the area. The current sellers have enough room for chickens and native bees out the back.“This along with the entry level price point has attracted a lot of young families looking to buy their first house.”Ray White Surry Hills director Ercan Ersan will also take a stylish semi on one of Alexandria's top streets to auction this weekend. The newly updated 1920s art deco home at 210 Belmont Street has drawn a range of buyers at inspections.

In Melbourne, Ray White Gladstone Park director Phillip Mercieca has moved one of his auctions forward by two weeks. Only listed last week, 23 Arnside Crescent, Westmeadows (pictured above) has been so popular with buyers that the vendors have chosen to pull the trigger early. Mr Mercieca said they’ve already received the same amount of interest they’d get on a standard four week campaign within the first week and a half.“We generally do a four week campaign but the house has attracted such strong interest very early on that we felt it was best to move the auction forward,” Mr Mercieca said.“Within a week we had 55 good quality inspections. Sometimes you could have 40 to 50 people look at a home through a full four week campaign.“In the market in general there are still lots of buyers around and the property has been immaculately kept by the current sellers - it offers a lot in terms of what buyers are after.”For those buyers eager for a treechange still within commuting distance of the city they are in luck as 12 Milleara St in leafy The Basin goes under the hammer this weekend. Ray White Ringwood director Chris Watson will be out the front in his familiar pinstriped auction suit to welcome new owners after more than 60 buyer inspections.

Meanwhile, 10 Nolan Drive, Epping vendors are facing a bittersweet weekend as they let go of their family home of 45 years. The couple will be moving out of Melbourne to be closer to their family. Selling agent Nick Petrovski of Ray White South Morang has overseen almost 50 inspections from mostly first home buyers and the odd investor wanting to develop at the rear.

In Viewbank, Ray White Macleod agent Brett Schembri also has another standout auction at 27 Diane Cres, Viewbank.

In Brisbane, leading principal Matt Lancashire of powerhouse agency Ray White New Farm will be welcoming new owners to 33 Rosina St, Kangaroo Point (pictured above) after almost 100 years in the same family. Mr Lancashire is confident of a great result after receiving 50 inspections from qualified buyers throughout the campaign.

After four generations of the same family, Ray White Springwood agent Tracey Steuart will be auctioning 339 & 341 Springwood Road. The two houses with separate titles were originally built by the vendor’s parents and now houses themselves, their children and grandchildren. Ms Steuart has had over 100 groups through inspections and has said that the family wants to sell both properties together to a similar multigenerational family.

In Adelaide, Ray White is continuing to dominate the auction space and this weekend will be no different.

Ray White Port Adelaide principal Nick Psarros will have two auction highlights with 14 Munro Ave, Sefton Park and 44 Hodgeman Rd, Pennington. While Ray White Norwood agent Ryan Stapleton expects 8 Liberman Rd, Para Hills to fly at auction this weekend.