Supercharged Super Saturday

AUCTION numbers have skyrocketed with the end of March on the way.

Pre-Easter auction numbers have exploded with the Ray White Group cracking more than 1000 scheduled auctions this week throughout Australia and New Zealand.Across both countries, Ray White has 1042 auctions scheduled this week while Australia’s share comes in at 749. This is the first time in history the leading auction group has hit over 1000 auctions scheduled in a week.Also a record for the group is the 3446 auctions scheduled throughout March which marks the biggest month of auctions on record for Ray White. A massive 2307 of total scheduled auctions in March are through Ray White’s Australian network.Ray White members have been racing to get their auctions in before the Easter break and this weekend is shaping up to be bigger than the normal Super Saturday. Across the country, Ray White Australia has 460 scheduled auctions scheduled - up 20 per cent on the same Saturday last year.New March listing authorities are mirroring growing auction numbers with 5036 coming to the market between March 1 and today. That number is up 9.14 per cent on last year and 24.71 per cent on 2019.In more good news, properties sold prior to auction decreased last week to 18 per cent after hitting a high of 23 per cent the week before. Ray White data continues to show that properties that make it to game day sell on average almost 12 per cent more than the highest offer prior.After last Saturday’s 92 per cent auction clearance rate and nine average registered bidders, this weekend the Ray White Sydney network are expecting some similarly high numbers as 153 properties are scheduled for auction. Buyers looking for something with potential need look no further than2 The Avenue, Petersham. With a little bit of work, the four bedroom Federation property is the perfect home for a family looking to upsize.“The property is great and it offers so much potential. It just needs someone with creativity to come in and do the work,” selling agent Nicholas Arena of Ray White Petersham said.“However, it’s also perfectly liveable now so you could get away with not doing too much.”With a price guide of $1,800,000 to $1,900,000, the Petersham home has been popular with families and is on the market for the first time in 30 years. Ray White NSW Chief Auctioneer Alex Pattaro will conduct the morning auction.In Darlington, buyers have another opportunity at buying a property with potential as 107 Cleveland St goes to auction this weekend through Ray White Touma Group agent Con Fotaras. The inner city Sydney agent said he has seen interest from a whole range of different buyers.“Investors have been coming back to the market, along with owner occupiers who are looking to add value to it,” Mr Fotaras said.“It has a car park option which is actually a very rare thing in the area and has made it really popular.”Over 200 buyer groups have inspected the Darlington unit which has a price guide of $950,000.The freshly renovated Turramurra cottage at 204 Bobbin Head Road (pictured above) doesn’t need so much as a lick of paint and is ready to move in as is. The character home has been extremely popular with buyers after 107 inspections over the three week campaign. Ray White Upper North Shore Partner and selling agent Matt Bolin has given out a $2,000,000 to $2,200,000 price guide.

The auction action won’t peter out in the afternoon with some of the Ray White Group’s biggest auctions taking place after lunch. First on the list is 26 Varna St, Waverley going under the hammer with Ray White Randwick | Bondi Junction agent Justin Bell. Followed by 1/11 Tusculum St, Potts Point selling through Ray White Elizabeth Bay agent Renee Cross and in the early evening Ray White Surry Hills Moira Verheijen’s 1 David St, Earlwood listing.

Things are heating up in Melbourne as well where 186 properties will be going to auction through Ray White for Super Saturday.

The south eastern Melbourne property market has gone from strength to strength since the end of lockdown last year. A trend that vendors Andrea Waymouth and John Horan were keen to take advantage of with their 77 Davey St, Parkdale home.

The move paid off for the couple who have had 80 groups through the home, which is being marketed by Ray White Cheltenham sales manager Alex Pearson. The Parkdale home has a price guide of $1,300,000 to $1,400,000 and has attracted families with young kids looking to be near the local school and parks.

On the other side of Melbourne, in Yarraville, Ray White Seddon director Peter Gindy has had 22 groups on average each weekend inspecting 182 Fogarty Avenue (pictured above). Mr Gindy said first home buyers are loving that the house doesn’t need to be renovated or demolished. The two bedroom home has a price guide of $650,000 to $700,000.

After 18 years in real estate, Ray White Gladstone Park director Phillip Mercieca has never seen a property like 6 Inglewood Court. Mr Mercieca said stock in Gladstone Park is generally smaller than the Inglewood Court home.

“This home, built around 2013, is possibly one of the biggest blocks in Gladstone Park,” he said.

“It’s a big home, on big land and has attracted a lot of buyers. We’ve had 130 groups inspect it and we are expecting more over the coming week.

“The majority have been families who are second and third home buyers.

“It’s shaping up to be a popular, high demand auction.”

The $700,000 to $750,000 price guide has also been attracting buyers who see the area as good value for money.

In Bayswater, investors and developers are returning to the market to bid on 4 Wilhelma Avenue going to auction this Saturday through Ray White Bayswater agent Philip Chacko.

Developers have also been looking at 8 Mountain Cres, Mulgrave but so have determined owner occupiers looking to build their dream home. Ray White Noble Park | Springvale selling agent Alan Tran said buyer enquiry in the area has significantly increased over the past year.

“Twelve months ago you would spend most of your time approaching buyers but at the moment, buyers are finding property organically because demand is so high,” Mr Tran said.

“You can never have enough stock but sellers are beginning to come back to the market to meet the demand and I think that is testament to the work we have been doing over the past six months.”

In the afternoon, Ray White Mernda director John Metaxas has a family home that has garnered some huge interest, set to go to auction. The 10 Geranium Grove home is perfectly situated in the ever popular renaissance Rise estate of Mernda.

The rain is starting to clear in south east Queensland, just in time for Super Saturday and a no reserve auction at 9/145 Government Rd, Labrador from Ray White Surfers Paradise agent Simon Finlayson.

Meanwhile, in Brisbane over 100 groups have inspected 74 Gordon St, Gordon Park which will go to auction on Saturday. Ray White Sherwood | Graceville agent Douglas May said he has received interest from a mix of buyers.

“Young couples and established families have been showing interest but in particular young executive couples have been flocking to open homes,” he said.

“There’s so much momentum, particularly from these buyer groups. It’s the best market conditions I’ve seen in my career.

“Massive enquiry numbers are translating to a lot of foot traffic and the ratio of offers is exceptional. There is a lot of consumer confidence and fear of missing out.”

Ray White QLD Chief Auctioneer Mitch Peereboom will conduct the auction.

In nearby Wilston, a family is offloading their 78 Carberry St, Grange property at auction this weekend. Inspections have almost reached triple digits with 85 groups attending open homes. Ray White Wilston principal Alistair Macmillan and sales associate Sam Hagen have overseen the campaign and Ray White auctioneer Phil Parker will conduct the auction.

“The majority of interest is from either young families or couples thinking about starting a family,” Mr Hagen said.

“The market is performing exceptionally well and we are seeing a lot of buyers who have probably been out there for quite some time.

“I think a lot have waited to see if the market will go up or down and have become very motivated now they’ve seen that the market is going to continue rising.”

There have been a huge 164 buyers through 37 Cavillon St, Holland Park which is going to auction through Ray White Annerley selling principal Geoff Sellars. Mr Sellars said there are two reasons why buyers have been lining up to inspect the home.

“Firstly, there’s not a lot of genuinely good stock like this in the area. It’s a family home on a big block and it really ticks a lot of boxes,” he said.

“Secondly, it’s within the sought-after Cavendish Road High School catchment area which is one of the reasons the market is doing so phenomenally in Holland Park.”

The suburb of Wooloowin has seen an impressive level of growth over the past six months and the vendors of 34 Isedale St (pictured above) hope to use that to their advantage at auction this weekend. Ray White Ascot principal Dwight Ferguson has managed the four week campaign.

While in Stretton this weekend, Ray White Sunnybank Hills agent Martin Ma said there is also sure to be no shortage of buyers at the auction of 20 Snowbell Close.

In Adelaide, there will be opportunities for developers and owner occupiers alike at Ray White auctions with plenty of great properties set to go under the hammer.Auction powerhouse office, Ray White Norwood, has three standouts on Saturday beginning with agent Nick Borrelli’s 49 Galway Ave, Broadview listing. Mr Borrelli said the location is a big drawcard for the block.“Broadview is a highly sought after suburb and Galway Avenue is a prestigious street,” Mr Borrelli said.“There are a mix of interested buyers - some are looking to build one big home on the block while others are looking to develop the land.”In the afternoon, Mr Borrelli is also expected to sell 8 Hutchinson Ave, Athelstone (pictured above) which features stained glass windows and coastal views.Fellow Ray White Norwood agent Ryan Stapleton has had strong interest from developers, investors and first home buyers on 11 Armstrong Ave, Parafield Gardens and is expecting a crowd come auction day. Ray White SA Chief Auctioneer John Morris will call the afternoon auction.Ray White Henley Beach selling principal Anthony Fahey will have another big weekend of auctions to add to the office’s auction success. Mr Fahey will take 11 Thanet St, Brooklyn Park and 9 Cambridge Ave, West Beach to auction and is ready for some serious bidder competition.