Increasing stock levels raise buyer activity

AS AUCTION numbers continue to rise for Australasia’s largest real estate group there has been a flurry of buyer interest making June the perfect time to sell.

Continued buyer demand combined with increasing seller confidence has kept prices both strong and consistent against this time last year proving the house market is as resilient as ever.

Last week, Ray White recorded a 62 per cent auction campaign clearance rate marking a 13 per cent growth level on the week before.

The outlook for this weekend is set to follow this trend as 196 homes go under the Ray White hammer across the country.

Winter has set in for Australia’s largest real estate market but Sydney buyer interest is far from cooling, especially for the four bedroom home at 31 Gloucester Ave, West Pymble.

Ray White Upper North Shore Sales Agent Thomas Merriman and Sales Associate Logan Knight are representing the northside family home.

Mr Merriman said the pair have shown the house to more than 90 groups and are giving out a price guide of $1.65 million to $1.8 million.

“The house is on a big block of land in a quiet location close to good schools. It’s a really pretty house and the sellers, who built it 10 years ago, have spent a lot of money on quality fixtures like a $25,000 oven and stove,” Mr Merriman said.

“For these reasons we are mostly seeing families buying their second or third house but we’re also getting a few first home buyers and investor families.”

The Ray White Wetherill Park office has wasted no time getting back into the swing of on-site auctions and confidence is high.

Sales Executive David Perco said the outlook is good for 73a Ligar St, Fairfield Heights (pictured above) with 28 groups inspecting the four bedroom home.

“They’ve all been young couples on this one. They like the modern design, flashy kitchen and low maintenance living the house offers,” Mr Perco said.

“In less than four weeks we’ve had 3000 online views and nine verbal offers prior so it looks like we’ll have a competition on our hands.”

Ray White Surry Hills | Alexandria | Glebe | Erskineville Director Shaun Stoker is also feeling positive about 71 Gowrie St, Newtown going to auction this weekend.

In Victoria, a slice of Black Rock history is scheduled to sell under the hammer this week at 266 Beach Rd (pictured above). The late owner of the eclectic Beach Rd home was a well known local artist who lovingly decorated the bakery turned private home

Ray White Cheltenham Director Kevin Chokshi is selling the property and said he has had plenty of interest in the quirky beach shack which has a price guide of $1.05 million to $1.15 million.

“Even with all the media attention saying the market was going to drop 30 per cent we had over 55 groups inspect the home in its first week,” Mr Chokshi said.

“It has also received interest from a buyer in Hong Kong and another in Belgium.”

The three bedroom home at 27 Shirley St, Fawkner has received interest from across the board throughout the auction campaign.

Ray White Coburg Director Nazih Abbouchi said he’s overseen 37 inspections on the Fawkner home which has a price guide of $640,000 to $700,000.

“We’re getting a mixture of interest - all the perfect ingredients for a great auction. There has been enquiry from first home buyers, investors, developers and families looking to knock it over and rebuild their dream home,” Mr Abbouchi said.

“It’s that price point along with great potential for the land where anything can happen and whoever has the deepest pockets will win on the day.”

In Epping, Ray White Bundoora Director Andrew Mizzi and Sales Executive Walter Orlandi will be auctioning 10 Lapis Chase online through Anywhere Auctions this Saturday.

The family home has received 96 inspections and Mr Mizzi expects the $580,000 to $630,000 price guide to attract strong interest on the day.

“We’ve had a variety of buyers, it’s been really mixed, we’re getting first home buyers, investors, upsizers and downsizers,” Mr Mizzi said.

“The house ticks all the boxes for a lot of different segments of the market. It’s in a great location, well priced and a good size with the bonus being that it’s a really nice house that doesn’t need any work done to it.”

In Brisbane, Ray White New Farm agent Meaghan Bakker is crossing the Brisbane river to sell the magazine-worthy 6 Robinson St, Moorooka (pictured above).

Ms Bakker has had 70 groups through inspections and she’s expecting a great auction on Saturday.

“This beautiful five bedroom Queenslander was built in 1918 but has since been immaculately renovated by the current owners as well as being featured in Queensland Homes Magazine,” Ms Bakker said.

“There’s been some amazing interest in the house from lots of local people who are looking to upsize and lots of buyers who have never considered Moorooka but this house is so just so special that it caught their eye.”

On the northside, the three bedroom home at 49 Manson Rd, Hendra will be on the auction block this weekend.

Ray White Albion Sales Executive Jon Finney first sold the house to the current sellers 11 years ago and is back again to help sell it on to the next owners.

Mr Finney said the 86 inspections he’s overseen will translate to some strong interest on Saturday.

“It’s mainly been younger demographics through the house, families with young kids and couples who are yet to have kids but are looking to the future with a view to renovate by lifting it up and increasing the size,” Mr Finney said.

“The real standout of the house is the land size and the fact that it’s a character home that has been renovated but has still retained its character.”

South Australian office Ray White Tea Tree Gully will be auctioning off a piece of Adelaide history this weekend at 1419 Lower North East Rd, Houghton (pictured above).

Being sold by Principal Sam Doman and Sales Agent Callum Kennedy, the turn of the century homestead was bought in 1978 by the current owners because of an accidental nose scratch.

“The owner accidentally bought the house at auction when a scratch of the nose was mistaken for a bid and we plan to do the auction right on the very same spot where he made that accidental bid,” Mr Doman said.

In three weeks, Mr Doman has had 80 inspections and has six building inspections already lined up. He said the big draw cards are the location and history of the property.

“The house is in one of the oldest areas of Adelaide and has always been really tightly held. People also want to be able to renovate houses of that bygone era,” Mr Doman said.

“It’s on just under 2ha of land but only five minutes from the suburbs - it’s acreage but still so close to everything.

“There is a real drive for houses in what I call ‘The Esplanade’ of the hills, it’s the first suburb as you come from Tea Tree Gully and I think it’s that dream to head up the hill that’s attracting buyers.”

For everyone but the bidders, Mr Doman said there will be an opportunity to watch the auction at the local Inglewood Inn pub where they will be streaming it live with a bar tab set up for the new owners.

Ray White Norwood Sales Executive Ryan Stapleton said he has had 35 groups through 19 Lamorna Parade, Parafield Gardens and also expects a competitive online auction come Saturday.

“The numbers are really strong for an auction in that area,” Mr Stapleton said.

“The house is getting a lot of interest from investors as well as developers looking to rebuild and a small portion of first home buyers.”

Western Australia will be joining the auction action this weekend with the one to watch 20 Kemp Rd, Mt Pleasant.

Ray White Applecross Sales Executive Noel Rogers said he’s gearing up for a good auction after seeing 30 groups through the house and several private inspections.

“I’m getting buyers who are immediately close by in Mt Pleasant and are looking for a smaller site with tree top views,” Mr Rogers said.

“I’m also seeing some young couples who wish to take a leap up into their first Mt Pleasant home.

“There have also been a few country enquiries from farmers with teenage students at university and it would make a good Perth base for them because it’s so central to many of the campuses.”

In the rural space, Ray White Rural Canberra | Yass' George Southwell said he has had both overseas and local interest on 16 Walgrove Rd (pictured above) going to auction this Saturday.

“We’ve had 75 per cent of interest come from Sydney and the Southern Highlands but the rest are coming from Canberra and we’ve even had enquiry from the UK, Japan, far north Queensland and Perth,” Mr Southwell said.

“The property is an extremely rare offering due to its history, privacy and location on the Yass River.

“The house was built in 1905 and this is someone’s chase to own a beautifully renovated piece of Yass history.”

The auction will be live streamed through the Ray White Rural Canberra | Yass Facebook page.