Under the hammer this Saturday

MORE than 280 Ray White properties are scheduled to go under the hammer this Saturday, which is a huge rise in last Saturday’s volume when football finals and school holidays had an impact.

There’s been excellent interest in the auction of a two-bedroom unit at 3/23 Pacific St, Bronte which is going under the hammer at 11.30am.

Ray White Bondi Junction’s Sam Capra said the unrenovated sea-facing home (above) was a blank canvas.

“People are all over it because it’s 300m from the sand and has a garage,” he said.

“It’s in a small block of five and it’s a ripper renovator property. I’ve had close to 100 groups through and it’s been a mix of buyers looking.”

Mr Capra said the same family had held the property since 1992 and there hadn’t been a sale in the building for more than 20 years.

The two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment has a price guide of $950,000 to $1 million.

Buyers have the chance to purchase a city fringe property rich in South Australian history when 59a Green Street, Brompton goes under the hammer at 10am local time.

The circa 1875 bluestone cottage (above) is photographed in the limited-edition book called ‘Voice from the Past’ as the childhood home of Joseph William Blumson.

The home was also his father’s bootmaking shop, aptly named ‘The Joseph R.A. Blumson Green Street Bootmakers’.

During restoration, a beautifully preserved Victorian boot was uncovered in the floors; the boot and book have been on display in the home.

Ray White Port Adelaide principal Nick Psarros said it was a significant property which had attracted plenty of interest.

“We’ve had around 62 groups come through which has been made up of a good mix of younger families, professionals and downsizers,” Mr Psarros said.

Meantime there’s a couple of cracking Brisbane auctions scheduled across Brisbane on Saturday.

Spencer Routh, OAM, moved into his Queenslander house (above) at 172 Empress Tce, Bardon in 1953 when he was 18.

Sixty-five years later, Dr Routh’s classic timber-and-tin Queenslander on an elevated 776sq m block is going under the hammer at 10am.

Ray White Toowong’s Julie Tancred is managing the auction of the two-bedroom, one-bathroom house which “offers enormous potential for renovators and builders”.

At midday, a Highgate Hill home (above) will be available to buy for the first time in more than 40 years.

"The cottage itself is 120 years old,” Ray White West End’s Luke O’Kelly said of 7 Glen St.

“The owners have had the property in the family for 43 years and are only the second owners. They have the original title which dates back to 1878 and has all the mortgages and transfers stamped on the back.”

Mr O’Kelly said buyers were keen on the location, which is within the revised Brisbane State High School catchment.

“It’s also just metres to St Laurence's College, Somerville House and the Mater and Lady Cilento Children’s hospitals."

Further north on the Sunshine Coast, Ray White Peregian’s Robbie Neller is taking 12 Martin St, Peregian Beach to auction at 1pm.

Owners Trish and John Ruwald, based in Sydney’s Double Bay, purchased the property (above) near-new eleven years ago as their holiday home.

Showcasing Mediterranean and Asian design influences, the residence is 150m to the beach and a few minutes to Peregian Beach Village cafes, shops and the popular surf club.

“What attracted us to the house was its ‘wow’ factor,” Mr Ruwald said.

“Having lived in Thailand for six years, we felt very much at home. It always feels like holidays with great space, openness, uniqueness, fresh air and natural light. Plus it’s a great family home as it can sleep nine, and there’s a guest house for visitors.”

Mr Neller said interest in the property had been received from far and wide.

“We’ve had some expat interest out of Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as enquiries from Brisbane and Sydney holiday buyers,” he said.

“When you’re there, you feel like you can be anywhere as there’s such a relaxing atmosphere and it’s wonderfully private.”

In Melbourne at 2pm is the auction of a freestanding brick townhouse (above) at 2/28 Ovando St, Preston.

Ray White Preston’s Chris Vlahos has listed the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home with a price guide of $635,000 to $695,000.

“There’s a lot of interest here in Preston where you just get a little bit more for your money as opposed to other areas, and you’re still within 10kms of the CBD,” Mr Vlahos said.

If you’re keen for more auction action on Sunday, check out ‘Moon Cottage’ at 1334 Landsborough Maleny Rd, Maleny which is going under the hammer at 9.30am.

The 1,974sq m property (above), within walking distance of the village, includes Moon Cottage which is comprised of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home upstairs and four self-contained suites with separate entry on the lower level.

There are also two freestanding separate cottages which are currently tenanted.

Ray White Maleny principal Melinda Martin said Moon Cottage represented a massive income opportunity.

“Even with a manager in place, the property offers an exceptional return on investment for a perfect lifestyle business,” she said.

“It’s low maintenance and an easy to manage set up with every suite and cottage having its own entry making the property extremely flexible. There is only one other guesthouse as close to town as Moon Cottage and Maleny is a wedding and celebration hotspot that generates a huge income for hospitality operators, that is growing every year.”