No-reserve auction attracts huge crowd, fierce bidding

There were 35 properties on offer from modest units to multi-million riverside properties.

The most hotly contested auction of the event was the no-reserve auction of 316 Buckland Street, Nundah, which saw 33 registered bidders, the highest number for the day nationally.

Marketed by Ray White Clayfield’s Nick Kourparitsis the auction kicked off with a cheeky $1000 opening bid, which auctioneer Haesley Cush said: “we’re away, we’re on the market”.

The bidding quickly moved up to $1 million and onwards to the final sale price of $1,532,500.

“We had 33 registered bidders, with five on the phone. There were 128 groups of interested parties who came through the property over three weeks. Interest came from all over town, with most buyers being local but from out of the immediate area,” Mr Kourparitsis said.

“The buyers were a mix of both family owner-occupiers and investors.

“Some investors were looking to land bank. The successful buyers are a family who will be moving in. Other interested parties included builders and those looking to do a development, though the character zoning was restrictive.”

The agent used a "no reserve" auction strategy and said he would definitely do it again. “This strategy has its merits and it definitely works to create competition."

The happy buyers Lachlan and Anna Sleeman who won the auction have been living in Bali for the last five years.

“We only moved back to Brisbane for our four year old daughter’s education and a new business opportunity,” Mr Sleeman, who is an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, said.

“We had been looking at a property in Kedron and it was an old Queenslander too. It was very nice and everything but it needed as much work as this property now but the no-reserve auction just felt very clean.

“It was an exciting auction. I was actually sitting next to the underbidder and I showed him how high I would do and then he dropped off!

“This will be our family home and we can add value to this house in Nundah. It's a great spot. We had been looking everywhere from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane which is where we are looking to establish a new business.”

Lachlan Sleeman, originally from Melbourne, said Brisbane had really come of age.

“We were always coming back to Brisbane, as it’s got such a great lifestyle and great food scene. Brisbane is the place to be.”

Ray White Collective CEO Haesley Cush said he was ecstatic to see the seller get such a great result after putting his faith in the market and going with a no-reserve auction.

The top auction for the day, both for Ray White Collective and nationally, went to top prestige agent Matt Lancashire who sold 6 Herbert Street, New Farm under the hammer for $5.625 million at Ray White Collective’s auction event at The Calile Hotel, with five registered bidders and four active bidders.

Another outstanding result went to Ray White Collective’s Brandon Wortley who sold 86 Quay Street, Bulimba, under the hammer for $3.725 million. This was the first time the riverfront home had been offered to the market in four decades. The three bedroom two-bathroom property was owned by 94-year-old Dorothy Cameron, who recently moved to a retirement home.

The property was being sold by Mrs Cameron’s children Ian, Don, and Robyn.

Ian said his parents bought the block of land in 1982, built the house over two years, and moved into it in January 1984.

“It has been a family home for quite some time now,” Ian said.

Ian said his family have great memories living at the property.

“The location made it a great place to congregate, celebrate special occasions or just relax and enjoy the view,” he said.

“Mum and dad always had a pair of binoculars by their side to check each passing boat.

“We had all the toys - we were right on the river so we had kayaks, skis, dinghies, sail boards, and dad kept his yacht at the front of the house,” he recalled.

“I remember the sailing trips we did out onto the bay from Bulimba.”

The Ray White Group scheduled 508 properties to go under the hammer today, with a preliminary clearance rate of 75.7 per cent.

Buyers were out in force today, with Ray White recording an average of 5.0 registered bidders and 3.0 active bidders at its auctions today.

According to NurtureCloud, Ray White conducted 7533 open homes today, with a total of 32,596 attendees. The open home with the highest amount of attendees was for Ray White Judd White Group agents Ryan Zhu and Tracy Tsang’s listing at 26 Wanda Street, Mulgrave, which saw 62 people inspect the property today.

SYDNEY

Ray White NSW head of auctions David McMahon said the Sydney auction market was hot, despite the cooler temperatures felt across the city today.

“We saw strong bidding activity across our 163 auctions today as we averaged an impressive 3.2 active bidders per auction,” Mr McMahon said.

“We’ve seen our auction volume sit around 165 the past weeks as that now appears to be our new baseline compared to 120 in the cooler months.

“With the recent media indicating a November interest cut is likely, we saw big crowds attend our auction most likely assessing the market for their future plans.”

70 Nelson Street, Rozelle

• Sold under the hammer for $3.15 million

• Five registered bidders

• Lead agent: David Meadowcroft - 0412 247 818

• Ray White Rozelle

• Auctioneer: Tim Snell, Ray White

28 Forsyth Street, Glebe

• Sold under the hammer for $2.95 million

• Three registered bidders, two active

• Lead agent: Matt Carvalho - 0404 006 744

• Ray White Surry Hills

• Auctioneer: Tim Snell, Ray White

Mr Carvalho said the home was an icon in Glebe.

“It used to be a milk bar and a couple of owners ago they renovated it into a home and painted a cow on the front door and some cow print around parts of the home, It’s well known as ‘The Cow House’,” he said.

“The sellers bought it off me a couple of years ago, the first auction coming out of the second COVID lockdown. They’ve now relocated to Boomerang Beach.

The buyer, Amanda Meares, said she thought the home was really cute from the beginning.

“It’s historic, tall, and has lots of light. I love all the industrial feel to it.

“I’m not sure about the cow, I think I might change the animal to a cat, or maybe a dog or a horse. It could be ‘The Cat House’.”

She said she had been looking for a home in the area.

“I love the area, you feel like you’re in the city. There’s the fish market and the water, we can catch the ferry.”

She said this wasn’t her first time buying via auction.

“We like it better, we like the transparency and feel like we’re getting a fair price. With the other method you never know.

“You also get to meet all the neighbours when they come to watch the auction. Everyone was so friendly and they've already invited us for coffee.”

208 Kiora Road, Yowie Bay

• Sold under the hammer for $2.83 million

• 12 registered bidders, three active

• Lead agent: Wendy Samrani - 0414 554 646

• Ray White Caringbah

• Auctioneer: David McMahon, Ray White

The sellers, Kate and Angus, first bought the property in 1991.

“It was a little three bedroom weatherboard house when we bought it, and that’s where we lived for nine years. In 2000 we knocked it down and built this one,” Angus said.

Kate said the result today exceeded their expectations.

“We had bought at auction before so it wasn't completely foreign to us. We trusted Wendy and her advice and she delivered a fantastic result for us. We’re thrilled by the result, we can’t believe it, it feels a bit like a dream!

“We would definitely recommend Wendy. Wendy and Joe have been very professional, and David the auctioneer was amazing as well.”

4 Portview Place, Burraneer

• Sold under the hammer for $4.21 million

• Five registered bidders, three active

• Lead agent: Wendy Samrani - 0414 554 646

• Ray White Caringbah

Ms Samrani said the home had been in the same family since the 1980s.

“The buyers were local and just lived a few streets away. They were looking for a quiet, blue ribbon location, and were downsizing,” she said.

“All our bidders were local buyers, half were downsizers and half were families looking to upsize.

“The property was dated but all the buyers were happy to do the renovations for the location and the lifestyle.”

The buyer, who is a local, said he was initially attracted to the set up of the home.

“The set up and the layout suits my family better now than my current home. It was really well presented, and the view is really good. It ticked all the right boxes,” he said.

“It needs work to bring it into 2025, but when the opportunity to stay in the same community and have the same neighbours arose, we had to take it.

“Wendy is a class act. I hadn't dealt with her before, but she was amazing. Her communication was amazing, she’s the perfect agent.”

12 Ward St, Yagoona

• Sold under the hammer for $1.306 million

• 10 registered bidders, five active

• Lead agent: Craig Stephenson - 0411 182 621

• Ray White Bankstown

• Auctioneer: Tony Roumanous, Ray White

“It had been the same family for more than 70 years. The sellers, two sisters, were over the moon with the result,” Mr Stephenson said.

“We had a mix of first home buyers, young families, and investors.

“The winning bid went to an investor who is looking to potentially add a granny flat.”

5 Arcadia Road, Chester Hill

• Sold under the hammer for $1.455 million

• Nine registered, five active

• Lead agent: Jordan Le Breux - 0414 585 364

• Ray White Bankstown

• Auctioneer: Tony Roumanous, Ray White

“We had a mix of first home buyers and investors bidding, and a first home buyer landed the winning bid,” Mr Le Breux said.

“He was a young guy who had actually missed out at our 12 Ward Street, Yagoona, auction earlier in the day so he bounced right over from that one to this one where he won the auction.”

MELBOURNE

“As we hit the halfway point of spring selling season, the Melbourne auction market continued its momentum this week, with Ray White scheduling 216 properties to go under the hammer, up 7.5 per cent year-on-year, Ray White Victoria and Tasmania CEO Domenic Belfiore said.

“The increase in volume has been met with strong demand from buyers, with auctions this week seeing an average of 3.4 registered bidders and 2.8 active bidders, with a preliminary clearance rate of 72.1 per cent.”

11a Charles Street, Cheltenham

• Sold under hammer for $1.378 million

• Six registered, four active

• Lead agent/auctioneer: Kevin Chokshi - 0430 195 517

• Ray White The Bayside Group

“The buyers were a young couple from Carnegie purchasing their first home. This was the first auction they’d ever bid at and they won,” Mr Chokshi said.

“The sellers were a young couple who were upsizing and hoping to get settled somewhere before the new year.”

The seller, Tess, said she was really happy with the result.

“You’d be crazy if you lived in that area not to sell with Kevin and the team,” she said.

“Any time I needed anything they got back to me promptly. I trusted Kevin would do anything to get me the best result, and he did!

“We have owned the home since 2020 and rented it out through Ray White. We decided to sell as we bought another house from Kevin just around the corner.”

21 Canterbury Street, Hughesdale

• Sold under the hammer for $1.64 million

• Seven bidders

• Lead agent/auctioneer: Jonathan Eaves - 0411 051 571

• Ray White Clayton

Bidding opened at $1.1 million with competitive bidding before selling under the hammer to a family relocating from New Zealand.

“We had a good relationship with Ray White in New Zealand. Our first purchase in New Zealand in 2010 was through Ray White and through Ray White in 2015, and now we’ve purchased through Ray White here in Australia,” the buyer, Maria, said.

“For me, Canterbury Street was all about location. It’s easy to commute and for access to schools. The second thing is the land, it has good potential.

“We had been in New Zealand for 18 years, but we have lots of friends and some family here in Australia as well. We also moved here for our daughter's education, there’s more options for universities here.”

49 Lechte Road, Mount Waverley

• Sold under the hammer $920,000

• Six bidders

• Lead agent: Sim Gandhi - 0419 991 390

• Ray White Judd White Group

• Auctioneer: Daniel Galea, Ray White

“The winning bid went to a first home buyer who had been in the market for some time,” Mr Gandhi said.

11 Olinda Avenue, Springvale

• Sold under the hammer for $1.312 million

• Seven registered bidders, seven active

• Lead agent: Peter Liu - 0451 367 278

• Ray White Clayton

The sellers (pictured above) were investors.

13 Berry Place, Seaford

• Sold under the hammer for $751,000

• Five bidders

• Lead agent/auctioneer: Shane O’Sughrue

• Ray White Chelsea

“Bidding was from a mix of buyers including three first home buyers and two investors,” Mr O’Sughrue said.

“The winning bid went to a first home buyer who bought with the help of their dad.

“The seller was a family who I helped with the renovations prior to listing, as well as helping them move.”

BRISBANE

Ray White Queensland chief auctioneer Gavin Croft said Brisbane’s auction market performed incredibly well today.

“There were two major auction events in Brisbane today, with Ray White Collective’s auction event at the Calile, and Ray White Mt Gravatt’s auction event at Mansfield State High School,” Mr Croft said.

“These results at these auction events were a wonderful example of the strength being shown across the Brisbane auction market in the north, south, east and west, with strong bidding and clearance rates.”

Ray White Mt Gravatt saw an incredible 100 per cent clearance rate at its latest in-room auction event at Mansfield State High School today, selling an incredible $32,133,500 in real estate

With 28 properties sent under the hammer, and 28 sold, Ray White Mt Gravatt principal and auctioneer Grant Boman said the event was a huge success.

"Another amazing result at Mansfield State High School with an unheard of 100 per cent of properties selling under the hammer!” Mr Boman said.

“Congratulations to all buyers and sellers on the day.

“We’re looking forward to another great event in early 2026!"

The top sale for the event went to listing agents Chander Singh and Morgan Tickner who sold 79 Kempsie Road, Upper Mount Gravatt, under the hammer for $1.903 million.

Top auction for number of bidders went to agents Grant Boman and Tom Agmon who sold 133 Wanda Road, Upper Mount Gravatt for $1.47 million with 24 registered bidders.

ADELAIDE

Ray White South Australia chief auctioneer John Morris said Adelaide and South Australia continued to be one of the country's most resilient real estate markets.

“The numbers tell a powerful story - and they are painted in yellow,” Mr Morris said.

“Last week, 96 auctions were scheduled across the state with 75 making it through to auction day.

“Of those, 50 of them flew the ray white flag and the results were nothing short of dominant. 41 of those Ray White auctions sold, representing an 82 percent success rate.

“Compare that to the rest of the field, which managed a modest 64 percent, and it is clear who continues to lead the charge. 


“This week, the pace ramps up - 135 auctions on the calendar across South Australia with more than half of those being called by Ray White agents.

“It's an incredible show of strength from a group that already holds a commanding 44 percent share of all auctions for the financial year to date, with our next nearest competitor barely touching 7 percent.

“But the confidence isn't just in the clearance rates, 
it's in the competition. We averaged almost eight registered bidders per auction last week with around four of them raising their paddles in pursuit of home ownership. That level of engagement speaks volumes about both market health and buyer urgency.

“Ray White entered this weekend with a remarkable 94 per cent clearance right from the 36 auctions scheduled so far this, and with 41 going under the hammer this Saturday and Sunday, it proves that results matter, and Ray White continues to prove that no one understands the South Australian auction market or delivers better outcomes for their clients quite like the team in yellow.”

9 Yorke Street, Northfield

• Sold under the hammer for $785,500

• Five registered, two active

• Lead agent: Adam Humzy - 0488 586 552

• Ray White Prospect

• Auctioneer: John Morris, Ray White

The sellers, John and David, had lived in the home for 20 years, but were relocating to Ballarat to help a friend with health issues.

“My best mate has some health issues and so we had a discussion in March where we decided we would all buy a property where we could live together. David is from Ballarat originally, so we’re going to move back to Ballarat and live the rest of our twilight years taking care of my best mate.

“We’re going to try and buy a home where we can live together but independently. So we can live our own lives, but be there to take care of him when he needs it.

“We got more than we hoped for our place today, and my best mate got more than he’d hoped for for his place, so it will certainly make the transition a lot easier.

“We had no hesitation going with Adam as he and Ray White had sold a strip of five houses in our street.

“He was always checking up with us and helped us organise any renovations we needed to get done. His communication was excellent, and we’re very happy we went with him.”

5 Ayr Avenue, Seaton

• Sold under the hammer for $1.45 million

• 20 registered bidders, three active

• Lead agent: John Eglezos - 0413 835 213

• Ray White Prospect

• Auctioneer: John Morris, Ray White

Mr Egleos was a close family friend of the sellers, Dom and his siblings.

“I had been here a few times growing up,” he said.

“It was a bit nerve wracking to sell the home for them, but it was great to get a really good result.

“We had a mix of owner occupiers and developers bidding, but a developer landed the winning bid.”

The home has been in the sellers’ family for 30 years, and after their parents passed away, Dom and his brother and sister decided it was time to sell the home.

“We grew up at Henley Beach but I was about 17 when we moved here,” Dom said.

“We know John, our agent, very well as his parents are good family friends of ours. He had spent time in the home as well.”

Dom said he had bought via auction before, but this was his first experience selling via auction.

“I felt confident going to auction as it's a property that appeals to quite a few different people, including developers, as it was a big block of land.

“We are very happy with the result. John was very professional and he was fantastic throughout the whole process.”

9 Cadna Ave, Felixstow

• Sold under the hammer for $1.612 million

• 17 registered bidders, six active

• Lead agent: Linda Clemente

• Ray White Norwood

• Auctioneer: John Morris, Ray White

The buyers, Victoria and Jeff (pictured above), are developers who have bought from Linda Clemente three times now. This time they plan to build townhouses.

“Linda’s voice is like magic. When she talks to me I can’t help but listen,” Victoria said.

“She is always very respectful and professional and does everything she can to help us.

“Whenever Linda is selling a house with land we will be there.”

5a Bond Street, West Hindmarsh

• Sold under the hammer for $1.32 million

• Six registered bidders

• Lead agent: Peter Kiritsis - 0411 501 520

• Ray White Woodville

PERTH

“The WA market continues its run with low supply available for sale and demand at all times high levels,” Ray White Western Australia CEO Mark Whiteman said.

“We are finding that sellers are being rewarded for a full campaign of marketing and the competitive bidding process that auctions provide.

“As tempting as it may seem to sell quickly or off-market, the reality often is that the seller is selling for less than they could have achieved via auction.”

12 Onslow Street, Fremantle

Sold under the hammer for $1.536 million

10 registered bidders, five active

Lead agent: Noel Rogers - 0409 300 600

Ray White Cottesloe | Mosman Park

Auctioneer: Patrick Derrig, Ray White

The seller, Kavita, had lived in the home for 28 years.

“It was so convenient and quiet. I loved that it was a historic home built in 1917, but it stood the test of time and it was easy to look after,” she said.

“When I first bought it I was with my daughter, who’s with me today, and we hadn't even walked through the front door and we said ‘yes!’ - we just knew.

“I am an artist and a retired school teacher and a JP. I’ve been very active in the community and now I'm downsizing into an apartment in central Fremantle.

“It's a bittersweet sale as I’ve loved living here, but I’m getting older and it was time to downsize.”

4/15 Mountjoy Road, Nedlands

• Sold under the hammer for $2.05 million

• Six registered bidders, two active

• Lead agent: Vivien Yap

• Ray White Dalkeith | Claremont

• Auctioneer: Mark Whiteman, Ray White

Xiaomeng, whose parents bought the home at auction today, said they were very happy to have purchased a home.

“They had been looking since last year, they’ve been going to open homes every weekend,” she said.

“They are very happy to buy this one today. It’s a double storey building and it has privacy as it's not on the street. It also has high ceilings and it’s quite new which was a big thing for them.

“They had never bought via auction before. The moment the hammer came down and they told us it was ours was an amazing feeling.”