Auction wrap from around the grounds

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Ray White NSW Chief Auctioneer Alex Pattaro said there appeared to be increasing auction attendance week on week, and he also highlighted the stock shortage. "Stock levels are in the spotlight, with significantly lower stock levels than this time last year," Mr Pattaro said. Ray White Sydney Metro network booked a 67 per cent preliminary clearance while Sydney Blue cleared 60 per cent. Across Australia Ray White auctions attracted an above average number of registered bidders per auction at 3.8 bidders.

Ray White Parramatta associate director Amit Nayak reported that there was 15 registered bidders for 6 Birtles Ave, Pendle Hill, NSW on Saturday which sold for $781,000. Five of the bidders were active and there was a crowd of more than 110 people at the auction for the three bedroom classic family home with recently refreshed interiors.

And what do you do when you want a chic city apartment, but you’re already on Safari? Well, you get your mum to lift the paddle for you. According to Ray White Surry Hills director Ercan Ersan, the 30 attendees to the auction of 202/6 Applebee Street, St Peters were all keen to see some action, and that’s indeed what they got. “It was a cracker! The first bid was $810,000 and it took off from there. Just as the hammer was about to fall, at the very last minute the winning bidder jumped in with a knockout bid of $10,000, and then, to make absolutely sure it was locked away, she bid against herself with another $10,000 bid. That pretty much scared everyone else off," he said. At the fall of the hammer the price was $950,000 , and the globe-trotting new owner had landed herself a trophy two level sub penthouse with two balconies and lovely district views. When Mr Ersan asked the bidder about her bidding pattern, she told him that was her strategy. “I wait until the hammer is about to go down, and then I bid another $10,000,” said the experienced auction attendee, who asked to remain anonymous but said her daughter, who is in Namibia will be very pleased with the apartment.

Still in Sydney and another big crowd. Upsizers are not a demographic we talk about all that often, however a family with four children bit the bullet in Wakeley and secured a very large four bedroom home for their growing family for a winning bid of $855,000. Ray White Wetherill Park agent Blaz Dejanovic started out with 13 registered bidders, and after a initial greetings knew it was going to be a hotly contested auction. “All those sweaty palms! It’s always a good sign,” said the agent. The auction was onsite at 5 Warren Place, which luckily had a large front garden that set the scene for the event. “There was a mix of first home buyers and upsizers in the crowd. I think one of the draw cards was the fact that this property is big enough for a granny flat to be added – and around this area that can $400 a week income.” After the opening bid of $680,00 it was 10 minutes of quick succession bidding before the family won out. “They have been under-bidders for their last three of four auctions. It got to the point where they had to bid above their comfort zone t be successful,” said Mr Dejanovic of the new owners.

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Ray White Victoria & Tasmania Chief Auctioneer Matt Condon said Winter was proving to be a great time to be selling a property with buyers displaying a high level of activity and confidence in today's market. According to Mr Condon, preliminary data is showing yet another increase in the number of active bidders per auction, some of which were in country areas.

In rainy Victoria, the light shone down upon a big crowd at Drouin (pictured above). Ray White Drouin sales associate Dale Atkin said it was a sure sign of renewed optimism in the market when six developers turned up to his auction in the semi-rural region of Victoria about an hour’s train commute out of Melbourne.“And the rain stopped just before the auction started,” Mr Atkin said. On offer was a large 3ha block at 95 Bunbeal Rd, Drouin, an area that is starting to see subdivisions get a hold in the market.

The auction kicked off with an opening bid of $700,000, and then took off in $50,000 bids. “It was all over in about ten minutes,” said Mr Atkin, who pointed out this was the very first call for new auctioneer Stephen Hodge."It was his first ever auction, and he did a great job," Mr Atkin said.

The crowd included two neighbours to the property, who took great interest in the final price of $1.35 million, however it was not a local who won the day. The winning bidder was in fact a developer who already has plans in place for the subdivision. "I'll be selling them in about five months,” suggested Mr Atkin, who has noted increased interest post the Federal Election. “It’s definitely improving.”

Into Melbourne and a Mount Waverly auction had a big turn out. Ray White Glen Waverley agent Cristine Jones estimated 50 people attended the auction of a well-established brick home which was largely in original condition. "It was a deceased estate, and the vendors had realistic expectations so I was expecting some competition at the auction,” Ms Jones said. With a large block size of 720sqm most everyone thought 317 Waverley Rd would be looking at land value only, however the six bidders in the race had a very different idea and after the initial bid of $800,000 the bidding went fast in varying increments of between $20,000 and $5,000. Auctioneer Andrew Davies earned his keep as the 52^nd bid, at $1,071,000, cinched the deal over the phone. “They really gave him a run for his money,” said Ms Jones who believed the higher than expected price for the two bedroom, one bathroom home reflected an optimism in the market.

A lucky young family have had their eyes on this lovely Queenslander at 27 Morely Street, Toowong since its first day on the market. Ray White Toowong agent Andrew Van Bennekom said the young family of four were keen from start and had to wait in the wings until Saturday. "We had 30 people attend the auction, some of which I think were neighbours looking to see what their property values might be," said Mr Van Bennekom. As it turned out, the bidding was a two horse race, with one couple on the phone from Brisbane, and the other the young family. "The opening bid was $780,000 and it crept along from there in increments of at first $25,000. There was a bit of a pause at around $900,000 and then closed at $920,000," said Mr Van Bennekom.

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Ray White Queensland Chief Auctioneer Mitch Peereboom said it had been a very successful weekend for auctions in the Sunshine State, with a significant rise in active bidders participating in the market.

"It reflects that conversations, the right conversations are taking place with buyers before auction day," Mr Peereboom said.

Getting an early start early were the attendees at an in room auction in Surfers Paradise.

There were 150 present for the auction of the renovators delight, apartment at 50/40 Ferny Avenue which sold under the hammer for $501,000.

Agent Glen Williams of the Ray White Surfers Paradise Group said it was a very popular listing, as the home was deceased estate, in a good building. with absolutely knock out views.

The three bedroom apartment has superb views observed from floor to ceiling windows and an open balcony.

With 10 registered bidders, five bidders actively bid against one another – in what turned out to be a very long auction.

“After the bidding reached $435,000 the bidding slowed, but kept going in 1,000 and 2,000 increments,” Mr Williams said.

The new owners, said to be in their retirement, are a local couple who plan to live in the apartment as they renovate.