Melbourne tops the leader board – Auction bidder numbers remain strong

Australasia’s largest real estate group continues to see auction metrics rise week on week. Last week, Ray White auctions across Australia attracted 4.6 average registered bidders. Of capital cities, Melbourne topped the leader board with a massive six bidders registering for the 32 auctions held in the locked down city. Sydney came in with 4.5 average registered bidders and 2.4 actively bidding on average.

Not only this but the number of buyers heading to raywhite.com and Ray White office websites to check out what’s on offer is up 44 per cent on this time last year.

With live listings up nationally 11 per cent across Ray White, fierce competition among buyers has resulted in premium prices being achieved at auction and a strong month to date clearance rate of 59.6 per cent.

Ray White offices are gearing up for a huge weekend in Australia’s largest auction market. Beginning early in the morning and running right throughout the day, there are 60 auctions scheduled in the New South Wales’ capital.

In the morning, Ray White Drummoyne Agent Angela Saidi will be auctioning the sought after 2/69 Tranmere St, Drummoyne (pictured above) unit.

The two bedroom unit has already had 90 groups through inspections and has a price guide of about $800,000. Ms Saidi said prospective buyers have been mostly made up of first home buyers along with a couple of investors. “The apartment has been completely renovated and I think it’s attracting more interest because of that,” Ms Saidi said.

“Properties that are completely done are getting good numbers at the moment which is in complete opposition to what we were seeing last year.”

Also in the morning, Caringbah townhouse at 1/5 Oleander Parade (pictured above) is scheduled for auction, capping off an impressive three and a half week campaign that saw 62 groups through the property. Ray White Caringbah Principal Wendy Samrani said with a price guide of $900,000 to $1 million the three bedroom home represents good value in the area. “It’s been popular with young couples and first home buyers wanting to get out of an apartment and start a family,” Ms Samrani said.

“Many want to get into the area but can’t find a house in Caringbah for under $1.15 to $1.2 million – especially with stock levels so low and hardly anything similar on the market.”

Ms Samrani sold a similar neighbouring townhouse in the same development six weeks ago for $907,500.

With a price guide of $1.85 million, 4 Tristania Place, West Pymble is heading to auction this Saturday through Ray White Upper North Shore Agent Thomas Merriman.

Mr Merriman said real estate in West Pymble is driven by families coming in and is usually very tightly held. “We’ve had about 60 groups through and they’ve mostly been families,” Mr Merriman said. “The street is a cul de sac with a cut through to the local school so that’s been really popular for buyers.”

In the afternoon, 16 Clarence Road will go under the hammer to a new family through Ray White Rockdale Agent Nicholas Economos with New South Wales Chief Auctioneer Alex Pattaro calling the auction.

Ray White Surry Hills, Alexandria, Glebe and Erskineville Associate Director Matthew Carvalho will also be auctioning 127 Denison St, Camperdown later in the afternoon. The two bedroom terrace home has seen strong interest from young buyers and has a price guide of $1.1 million.

As Stage 4 lockdown continues for Melbourne residents, Ray White auctioneers across the city are continuing to broadcast online auctions from the safety of their own homes. Proving that buyer confidence is hard to shake, Ray White Ringwood Director and Auctioneer Chris Watson is expecting multiple bidders for the auction of 9/3 Gordon Court.

Mr Watson said the house has been popular with first home buyers and downsizers. “When the lockdown was announced we scrambled to get as many people through the house as possible,” Mr Watson said.

“We ended up getting 18 groups in two days but have also had serious interest from buyers who have only seen the property through virtual inspections. “It just goes to show that no matter what’s happening, there will always be people needing to buy.”

Brisbane buyers are in luck with some high quality homes going under the hammer this weekend. Like this three bedroom home at 160 Eildon Rd, Windsor (pictured above) that has undergone a full renovation. The Windsor home is being sold by Ray White West End Agent Matt Sale and auctioned by Ray White Queensland Chief Auctioneer Mitch Peereboom.

The West End agent said he has overseen more than 50 inspections of the property. “Interest is mainly coming from young families but we have seen a couple of first home buyers and some downsizers as well,” Mr Sale said.

“The house has been completely renovated by the sellers who have lived there for 15 years. “There is just not a lot of property on the market in Windsor so we’ve had a huge amount of enquiries with lots of people mentioning low stock.”

On the southside of Brisbane, Ray White Annerley Selling Principal Geoff Sellars has a four bedroom Queenslander at 9 Jubilee St going under the hammer on Saturday. Mr Sellars said the proximity to the city and larger than average land size have been the main draw cards for the 60 buyers inspecting the Greenslopes home. “Renovated Queenslanders are highly sought after and always do really well in the market, especially with families,” Mr Sellars said.

In Adelaide, Ray White Norwood Agent Ryan Stapleton is quietly confident about the afternoon auction of 22 Farnham Tce, Dernancourt. Mr Stapleton said the three bedroom home has received interest from across the board from buyers. “We’ve had mixed interest including from first home buyers, people wanting to renovate and even a few developers looking to subdivide the block,” Mr Stapleton said. “They all love the location, size of the block and strong community feel of the neighbourhood.”

Ray White South Australia Chief Auctioneer John Morris will be calling the 3pm auction.

Meanwhile in Perth, Ray White Cottesloe and Mosman Park Director Deborah Brady will be selling a slice of Perth history at 12 Venn St, Peppermint Grove (pictured above).

The former Presbyterian manse was saved from demolition three decades ago by its current sellers who swapped their family home for the Peppermint Grove cottage which was then owned by the church.

The Cottesloe and Mosman Park Director said she has had huge interest in the heritage home. “We have had all types of buyers through the property,” Ms Brady said. “There is lots of potential to renovate or extend. Most buyers love the character and could probably extend the home to add an additional bathroom and modernise the interior. Ray White Western Australia CEO Mark Whiteman will be calling the auction.