Buyers have more choice

Since January 1, Ray White had booked 1900 auctions, a 28 per cent lift on the same time last year. This week alone the group had 705 auctions, and 380 auctions today, boasting a 73 per cent preliminary clearance rate on the day, with a few late results to come.

The top auction sale of the day was achieved early in Sydney’s leafy Upper North Shore where the unstoppable Jessica Cao from Ray White Upper North Shore sold 12 Duntroon Ave, Roseville under the hammer for $3.86 million.

In Melbourne, there were 15 registered bidders vying to compete for 60 Griffiths Road, Upwey which Austen Kosasih and Cristine Jones from Ray White Ferntree Gully sold for $1.280 million.

Data from the cutting edge prop tech tool called NurtureCloud, owned by Ray White, shows there were a whopping 30,000 people checked in to open homes across Australia today. The busiest open home today across the country was at 88 Mackellar Cres, Cook where Phyllis Tidmarsh of Ray White Canberra met 70 would-be buyers at the renovated contemporary home in the Capital.

Ray White NSW & ACT Head of Auctions Perry Edmondson-Clark said there was just a small degree of hesitation from both buyers and sellers today, with some uncertainty around what might happen with interest rates. The Sydney clearance rate was 76 per cent today on a preliminary basis.

“We expect a rate cut will support prices but no-one really knows what the impact will be on the Sydney property market, we just know that Sydney is the most sensitive to changes in rates. Today though, both buyers and sellers were eager to participate and have the opportunity to transact. We continue to see more stock come on the market each week and volume is building into late February and March. We expect the market to only get busier from here.”

12 Duntroon Ave, Roseville

• Sold under the hammer for $3.86 million (reserve $3.5 million)

• 9 registered bidders

• Lead agent: Jessica Cao - 0466 877 260

• Ray White Upper North Shore

Ms Cao said a local family from the Lower North Shore bought the house that her seller’s family had owned for more than 85 years. The family had owned this five bedroom home since the 1940s. It’s a solid brick c1920s bungalow in a coveted, tightly held location. Pictured with Jessica Cao is the owner’s daughter on her left and her co agent Stephanie Hearne on the right.

54 Rawson Street, Wiley Park

• Sold under the hammer for $1.2 million (reserve $970,000)

• 10 registered bidders

• Lead agent: John Yatman - 0423 344 868

• Ray White Punchbowl

• Auctioneer: Alex Pattaro, Ray White

The opening bid was $700,000 for this original three bedroom home that had been owned by the same family for more than 100 years.

Mr Yatman’s sellers said the family had lived in the area since before Canterbury Road was even a road, and the seller’s father used to ride into town on horse and cart; and it would take a day!

“The auction was furiously contested with 100 bids. A lot of people came out to try and buy below the market price but competition pushed it up. The winning buyer wants to rebuild the home as it has great potential. Lots of people are also trying to capitalise before rates drop. Most of the buyers here today were from the local area but some are moving out here especially with the upcoming metro line.”

The seller’s husband (pictured above) said he was so impressed with John Yatman and Alex Pattaro. “The level of skill that these two have is so impressive. They worked so hard and we cannot speak more highly of them. My wife and I are thrilled with the result. It's a bittersweet sale as it’s the end of an era but my father-in- law would be thrilled too.”

20 Bouvardia St, Russell Lea

• Sold under the hammer $2.630 million

• 9 registered bidders, 6 active bidders

• Lead agent: Fiona Hellams - 0419 264 474

• Ray White Inner West Group

Mr Campbell said the market has turned strongly so far in 2025. “Things are firing, we have sold six properties in the last week. There’s confidence everywhere. All three bidders here had a bid, it was a good auction. It opened at $1.4 million and it jumped up in $25,000 increments. The sellers are happy with the result, and the new buyers are from the country looking for a city base.” The happy buyer is pictured with Toby Campbell above putting on the sold sticker.

17 Jennifer St, Cheltenham

• Sold under the hammer $1.065 million (Reserve $950,000)

• 5 registered bidders, 4 active bidders

• Lead agent: Trevor Bowen - 0417 501 327

• Ray White Cheltenham

• Auctioneer: Greg Bryden, Ray White

Mr Bowen said the happy buyers, pictured above, were locals and they will renovate the neat three bedroom brick home. “The sellers are very happy, I have worked with them before, they are past clients and they are thrilled with the result. We had a crowd of 67 watching on. There’s good confidence so far in 2025, I have sold 8/8 so far this year with strong numbers.”

35 Lincoln Drv, Cheltenham

• Sold under the $1.065 million

• 5 registered bidders, 4 active bidders

• Lead agent: Genevieve Hill - 0423 094 639

• Ray White Patterson Lakes

• Auctioneer: Stephen Hill, Ray White Patterson Lakes

3/24 White St, Mordialloc

• Sold under the hammer for $690,000 ($640,000)

• 5 registered bidders and 5 sellers

• Lead agent: Genevieve Hill - 0423 094 639

• Ray White Patterson Lakes

• Auctioneer: Stephen Hill, Ray White Patterson Lakes

“We had two great auctions for the same family. Two sisters who had moved into care needed to sell and we achieved great results for them both. The seller (pictured above) of 35 Lincoln Drv, Cheltenham attended the auction, she’s 86 and very sharp. She remembers how the house was built in 1968, what timbers were used and so on. Her nephew was helping her with the sale. And in fact it was bought by a lady whose own sister lives next door too. Then we sold 3/24 White St, Mordialloc for her sister. The family all came, they had a mini party. Everyone is happy. We had 61 groups through at 3/24 White St, Mordialloc, we are seeing a lot more buyers at the moment."

17 Merrett Ave, Hoppers Crossing

• Sold after auction $530,000

• 3 registered bidders, 1 active bidder

• Lead agent - Petar Krnjeta - 0406 912 320

• Ray White Werribee

• Auctioneer: Jeremy Tyrell

Mr Krnjeta said his sellers were happy with the result, and the winning buyer is a first home buyer. “We had a crowd of more than 45 people and everyone was happy with the result.”

Ray White Queensland chief auctioneer Gavin Croft said there were a few gaps in the market today.

“There was good energy, and good bidding but I think some vendors were anticipating that the market was stronger than what it is. But by taking their property to market though they get to make informed decisions. Some sellers needed more time to consider their position today.” One highlight for Mr Croft was Ray White Asset Management at Shailer Park taking 13 Crocus St, Dairy Hill to auction with five registered bidders. The house sold for $860,000.

34 Armentieres St, Kedron

• Sold under the hammer for $1.5 million.

• 15 registered bidders

• Lead agent/auctioneer: Alistair Macmillan - 0410 636 221

Mr Macmillan dusted off his gavel to call his first auction in a few years, prompted by such huge demand for this Kedron beauty.

“I moved the auction forward by a week as we had so much interest so we had an 8am auction with 15 registered bidders and a big crowd,” Mr Macmillan said.

“I have sold this house three times now and no-one has done any work to it but it is legal height and you could certainly add value by building underneath. The sellers are moving around the corner, and their house was only on the market for 21 days.

“The entry level market is absolutely on fire as people have the confidence that rates have peaked and the next move will be down. Many people are also seeking to escape the rental market where prices remain strong. This house is perfect for a young couple, it’s easy living, all on one level. Anything up to $2 million is moving very fast.”

56 North St, Kedron

• Sold under the hammer for $1.115 million

• 15 registered bidders

• Lead agent: Killian Jeffrey with Andy Flanagan - 0412 318 086

• Ray White Ascot

• Auctioneer: Phil Parker, Ray White

Ray White South Australia Chief Auctioneer John Morris said 2025 is looking like it's still going to be an extremely strong market across the state when it comes to auctions.

“If you are a Ray White agent, we have close to 50 per cent of all auctions so far this year scheduled throughout the state. Some 220 Ray White auctions, and 185 of those conducted up until yesterday are by a Ray White agent,” Mr Morris said.

“Average registered bidders at about 5.1 per auction for the year so far, with 2.9 of those participating, which is stronger than the usual. We have an 80 per cent preliminary clearance rate, what we've seen is our clearance rates outstripping the clearance rates of the other reports from Domain and realestate.com who are reporting a 65 per cent clearance rate.

“We're not seeing any slowdown in the market at all and I don't think it will be happening anytime soon.“

141 Sherriff St, Underdale

• Sold under the hammer $1.2 million

• 5 registered and 1 active bidder

• Lead agent: Peter Kiritsis - 0411 501 520

• Ray White Woodville

5 Gordon Ave, Rostrevor

• Sold under the hammer for $1.08 million (reserve $1m)

• 9 registered bidders and 4 active bidders.

• Lead agent: Jaya Prageeth 0430 397 878 and Brijesh Mishra

• Ray White Para Hills

• Auctioneer: John Morris, Ray White

Mr Prageeth said the campaign had actually been quiet and the highest offer before the auction was $800,000. He said the seller was so thrilled with the sale of their home, and the new buyer is going to build their dream home on the block.

1 Gulnare Grove, Lightsview

• Sold under the hammer for $850,000

• 5 registered bidders

• Lead agent: Sumit Khatri - 0433 577 970

• Ray White Adelaide City

• Auctioneer: John Morris

131 East Parkway, Lightsview

• Sold under the hammer for $730,000

• 5 registered bidders

• Lead agent: Chris Xu - 0433 770 616

• Auctioneer: John Morris

26 Circe Circle, Dalkeith

• Sold under auctions conditions for $3.3 million

• 8 registered bidders, and 3 active bidders

• Lead agent: Vivien Yap - 0433 258 818

• Ray White Dalkeith | Claremont

• Auctioneer: Mark Whiteman, Ray White