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Time right to snap up land in popular Eastern Shore suburb

Lot 1-7/100 Skyline Drive, Howrah, is listed with Charlotte Peterswald.

THE chance to buy land and build a dream home in this desirable Hobart Eastern Shore suburb is all too rare — or it usually is.

A well-established, popular suburb like Howrah is rarely the type to have more than a few blocks of land available to purchase.

But right now, property buyers who dream of building in Howrah will find they have a few options to consider.

In elevated Skyline Drive, Charlotte Peterswald for Property has seven lots available with a starting from $375,000+.

The variety on offer here is outstanding with lots ranging from 975sq m up to 24.61ha.

These premium parcels of land bask in those unrivalled views that Howrah is noted for — across the Eastern Shore to the Derwent River, the city and the mountain.

Skyline Dr is also a quiet no-through road immersed in nature and bushland.

Skyline Dr, Howrah.

It is conveniently located just minutes from local shops, schools, services, cafes and beaches.

Across the way at Howrah’s new homes neighbourhood Glebe Hill, the Vineyard Estate development is running hot with multiple stages sold out.

The latest stage offers a prime position alongside a vineyard — that means pretty views and no neighbouring houses on that side of the property.

Position and convenience are in abundance here including easy access to the Glebe Hill Nature Reserve walks.

Alongside all that Howrah offers, the amenities of Hobart are 15 minutes in one direction and the beach at Lauderdale is nine minutes away in the other.

Blocks start at 562sq m up to 882sq m, with prices starting from $200,000 — contact Knight Frank for details.

Vineyard Estate, Glebe Hill in Howrah.

And finally, a new release titled Derwent Ridge in Tunah Street offers those big Hobart views and yet more sizeable, prestige blocks of land.

In a time when some residential developments are opting for smaller, “low maintenance” allotments, Howrah seems to be trending in the opposite direction.

Derwent Ridge has a few lots of about 887sq m size and five more that are well over 1000sq m — one is 1873sq m.

These lots start at “Offers over $400,000”.

They are nestled beside the Toorittya Bushland Reserve and take in a beautiful outlook that frame the river, city and mountain perfectly.

For details head to derwentridge.com.au

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Sellers earn $98K bonus as buyers rush last-minute auctions ahead of Stage 3 restrictions in Geelong

Auction at 17 Brocka Ave, Belmont

Auctioneer David Gray called bids at 17 Brocka Ave, Belmont, on Wednesday. It was one of the last in-person auctions before Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions came into force. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

More than a dozen potential buyers took part in the last in-person auctions in Geelong for at least six weeks as three houses were snapped up on Wednesday night.

Two sold under the hammer — one beating reserve by $98,000 — while the third passed in, but sold immediately after.

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Real estate agents rushed to beat the Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions, which moves auctions online in regional Victoria.

Three online auctions are scheduled in Geelong on Saturday.

Buyers Chaille Breuer and Cam Atkins listened on the phone as Mr Atkins’ Belmont father bid for 17 Brocka Ave, Belmont.

The couple, who have one child, will relocate from a western Melbourne residence (which they now need to sell) to the renovated four-bedroom house after bidding $807,000.

Auction at 17 Brocka Ave, Belmont

There is still inquiry coming through even since Sunday’s announcement, Buxton agent David Gray said. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Ms Breuer said her husband had been working from home during the pandemic, prompting their decision to move to a bigger property closer to his family.

“I think it’s the right time, given he’s not going to work all the time, to move further out and enjoy everything that brings,” she said.

“It’s closer to the coast, closer to family.”

Buxton, Highton agent David Gray said five buyers registered, with two bidding in the lounge room. The reserve price was $790,000, he said.

17 Brocka Ave, Belmont, sold for $807,000.

At 10 Emerald Court, Belmont, seven contested the four-bedroom house, which sold to local buyers for $658,000, smashing the $560,000 reserve, Barry Plant, Highton agent Matthew Constantine said.

“We had 105 groups through that property throughout the campaign. Around that price point is just red hot with activity,” he said.

A local party is set to renovate a three-bedroom house at 2 Desmond St, Highton, after securing the 1003sq m property for $630,000 after it passed in for $610,000.

Five buyers had registered to bid on the newly renovated house.

Buxton, Highton agent Tony Moorfoot said several offers, subject to finance, came after the auction, but the sellers took the unconditional offer tabled by the highest bidder for the Queens Park residence.

Mr Moorfoot said while the property listings were about 15 per cent down on normal, many agents have reported record activity for July with a lot of competition for homes, especially owner-occupiers.

“It shows how many people see value in Geelong and regional Victoria,” he said.

Mr Gray said time will tell what impact the restrictions have on buyers and sellers.

10 Emerald Court, Belmont, attracted eight buyers, with seven bidding at auction.

“We had such good momentum there. I’m quite comfortable because we’ve done this before. This time we know how to navigate through it easily,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of private inspections. There is still such a big local market in my opinion.”

Mr Constantine said family, friends, advocates and building inspectors could help Melbourne buyers now unable to physically inspect properties in Geelong under the Stage 4 lockdown.

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Castle Hill home with two freestanding houses comes up for sale with $4.5 million guide

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No. 2-4 Cottonwood Pl at Castle Hill is on the market.

Buyers have the chance to snap up one of the largest residential properties standing in Castle Hill.

The 3504sqm estate has a presence on three different streets and is minutes from the town centre.

Listed with a $4.5 million price guide, CoreLogic reports 2-4 Cottonwood Pl would claim the highest recorded sale in Castle Hill this year by $550,000 if it sells at the guide.

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The swimming pool has a roof over it.

The huge estate has an undercover swimming pool, tennis court, wine cellar and Koi pond. It also features two freestanding houses on the property that have eight bedrooms between them.

Kanebridge Property agent Natalie Dixon said the estate is unlike anything else in Castle Hill.

“There are not many homes in Castle Hill that have two houses, a pool and a tennis court,” she said.

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Get lost in the Japanese garden.

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A $4.5 million guide has been set.

“To find a block of this size, you generally have to look at a handful of older homes in Castle Hill.”

The main residence has five bedrooms across the upper level, including the main that has a walk-in wardrobe, daybed and a marble bathroom and spa. Downstairs has multiple indoor/outdoor spaces, as well as a kitchen finished with marble and stone benchtops, a handmade Italian cooktop and oven. There is also a home theatre with a large screen and a bar.

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There are eight bedrooms between two houses.

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The home theatre has a bar.

The second residence has a lift connecting the ground floor with upstairs, as well as two kingsize bedrooms that share an ensuite and a regular size bedroom.

A sauna, jacuzzi, wine cellar, manicured gardens and a flood lit tennis court are just some of the other resort-style features of 2-4 Cottonwood Pl.

Ms Dixon said the home has been popular so far with locals and even buyers from as far as Newcastle.

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Off the plan sales to continue amid stage four lockdown

The Cascade Bentleigh development by CBG Architects at 27-29 Bent St, Bentleigh - for herald sun real estate (1)

The Cascade Bentleigh development by CBG Architects is under construction and tipped to remain popular with buyers during lockdown.

Technology implemented since Melbourne’s first lockdown is expected to keep househunters’ home dreams alive for the coming six weeks.

The city’s developers and new home builders have embraced virtual reality and online trading and are prepared to soldier on.

Last weekend Villawood Properties used an online ballot to sell 14 super-sized blocks of land worth an average $462,000 in the space of 40 minutes at a new estate in Sunbury.

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The Sherwood Grange launch went “smoothly”, despite then-stage-three restrictions across Melbourne, chief executive Alan Miller said.

While demand had tapered since an initial spike in response to the government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grants across late June and early July, it would continue online despite the city moving to a stage four lockdown, Mr Miller said.

Villawood's Sherwood Grange estate in Sunbury's Emu Bottom precinct - for herald sun real estate

More than a dozen buyers splashed an average $462,000 on blocks of land at Villawood’s Sherwood Grange estate launch online last weekend.

Burbank Group managing director Jarrod Sanfilippo said the home builder would be very busy over the coming six weeks with a web portal needed to lodge applications for HomeBuilder expected to be online mid this month.

They were also seeing significant uptake of digital offerings including electronic document signing and their MyPlace3D software, which allows prospective homebuyers to design a home from their living room.

Castran Gilbert director Michael Lang said the project marketing firm was expecting to keep the market moving after the previous lockdown encouraged many developers to implement virtual tours and electronic contracts.

The Lt Hardiman Lofts at 347 Macaulay Rd, Kensington

The Lt Hardiman Lofts at 347 Macaulay Rd, Kensington are under construction and buyers are pursuing it even without something to inspect.

Buyers, too, were “more comfortable” with the technology and had moved on the Little Hardiman Lofts in Kensington (middle right) and Cascade apartments in Bentleigh (main) with little regard for traditional display suites.

“You were always buying it off the plan, now you are just buying it off the internet,” Mr Lang said.

But for those not comfortable buying without meeting with an agent or visiting a display, it would be possible to get 90 per cent of the way through the purchase process, he said.

Following Melbourne’s first lockdown, developer Caydon commissioned virtual tours of all its apartment projects.

Buyers can tour the HOME by Caydon display suite without leaving their living room.

Throughout April and May, virtual appointments with prospective buyers outnumbered all other forms of connection, according to Caydon international sales and marketing director Steve Williams.

“Technology will continue to be a significant solution to the problems COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions of movement,” Mr Williams said.

“Technology is helping bridge any physical gaps between us and our clients during COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, Pace Development Group sales and marketing director Ashley Bramich said 360-degree video tours of townhouses at their Pace of Sunshine North development were viewed more than 100 times a week.

Renders and images showing plans for the Pace of Sunshine North's Lakeside release, opened to buyers over the Queen's Birthday long weekend 2020 - for herald sun real estate

More than 100 buyers a week are taking 360-degree video tours of the Pace of Sunshine North townhouses.

“In the past, 360-degree video tours helped get people to the display, but now buyers are actually buying from them,” Mr Bramich said.

“The quality and technology is now of a standard that educated buyers feel they have the information to proceed with confidence.”

This had helped drive digital sales from about 5 per cent of their market a year ago to 35 per cent today, with the figure expected to rise as more projects enabled electronic contracts — something that would have long-term benefits to efficiency and the environment.

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Architecturally transformed Griffith cottage with a ‘fernery’

No. 17 Bremer St in Griffith goes to auction on August 15.

Recently transformed by renowned Canberra architect Tony Trobe, this spacious Griffith home showcases a seamless blend of classic and contemporary design.

“It’s the best extension of an original Canberra cottage that I’ve seen,” said agent and auctioneer Robert Westropp-Evans of Blackshaw – Manuka.

“The home has been tastefully renovated and would very much appeal to downsizers looking for a low-maintenance property where all the hard work has been done.

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Stylish.

“It’s a great alternative to a townhouse or top-end apartment and is all on one level, which is what people want. The current owners were downsizers so they’ve thought of everything.”

Among the floorplan’s clever modern functionality is a touch of flair – most notably, in the showpiece ensuite with its own ‘fernery’ atrium, nestled beside a large, luxurious walk-in robe.

The stylish open-plan living area has high ceilings that draw in ample sunlight, with an easy indoor-outdoor flow to the large courtyard and tranquil water feature.

A classic facade.

The well-appointed kitchen is part of this central hub, complete with Caesarstone benchtops, high-quality cabinetry, a gas cooktop and a breakfast bar.

Following the extension, the home features three bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms, a formal lounge room and a double garage with storage capacity and internal access.

The kitchen.

Mr Westropp-Evans said the location is “very convenient in the prestigious inner south”, just a 10-minute walk to Manuka Village, and close to good schools and the lake.

“It has a price guide in the vicinity of $1.7 million,” he said.

No. 17 Bremer St, Griffith will go to auction on Saturday 15 August at 1pm.

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Buying habits: the new areas property investors are targeting due to COVID-19

Supplied Editorial Wagga Romano's

Property in regional locations such as Wagga Wagga are becoming more popular.

COVID-19 has encouraged property investors to cast a wider net in their search for deals and a third are seeking properties more than 200km from where they live.

Investors are also increasingly shunning their home suburbs, with only 6.9 per cent buying property in the streets near where they lived, according to a MCG Quantity Surveyors study.

The research analysed the details of 1000 investors who commissioned depreciation reports in the year to May 2020 to get a picture of their buying habits.

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About 36 per cent bought within 10km of their primary residence, while about 30 per cent bought more than 200km away. Investors in the latter category purchased an average of 293km away.

MCG director Mike Mortlock said the proportion of investors buying locally was well down from 10-20 years ago and was a sign many were putting aside familiarity in the pursuit of “potential”.

Buyer’s agent Cate Bakos said investors were embracing technology.

“There’s been a tradition among Aussie investors to buy where they know and, in general, they know where we live,” he said.

“The idea of wandering too far from your ‘locality of comfort’ frightened investors in the past so an average distance of 293km is substantial.”

The trend of investors buying in further flung areas would rise as COVID-19 driven work from home arrangements sped up people’s embrace of remote technology, Mr Mortlock added.

“Online information, combined with easy access to independent professionals like buyer’s agents, has made it a cinch to confidently buy in national hotspots regardless of where you reside.”

Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia president Cate Bakos said investors were using tools like Google Earth and Street View to suss out properties and were more comfortable viewing properties without physically being there.

Some investors were buying in regional locations to limit their land tax bills.

“It’s easier to make informed decisions without being there and the experience with online technology because of COVID-19 has made investors more comfortable with that,” she said.

Ms Bakos added some investors were looking interstate to lessen their land tax burden – many states charge higher land tax on investors who own more than a stipulated number of properties.

“Various regional markets in different states are becoming more popular,” she said.

Investors once dominated inner city sales across Melbourne and Sydney, with investor buyers behind nearly 60 per cent of purchases in the NSW capital over 2016.

Buying activity from investors dropped in the years after as banks tightened their lending policies and, with rents plummeting in some inner city areas, investor activity has been largely subdued during COVID-19.

Lending restrictions were also driving investors to cheaper regional markets, Ms Bakos said. “The limitations scaled down what you can borrow and this meant many investors started going for regional properties.”

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Cate Blanchett’s home a haunted English manor house

The Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett and husband Andrew Upton have bought a house with a sordid past – and it’s not just any haunted house. The manor was once a squalid drug den painted with witchcraft symbols.

No, you did not read that wrong. Cate has shacked up in a famously haunted house that has been a drug den, a meeting place for pagans and a hide-out for criminals. And she paid $6.25m for the privilege.

Cate Blanchett home

Prior to its renovation, Highwell House was squalid and run down. Picture: Knight Frank

Previously known as Potters Manor or Steep Park, in 2016 the English manor, located in Crowborough 90 minutes from London, is now named Highwell House.

The Victorian manor was built on the sprawling estate in 1890 and began to fall into disrepair in the early 2000s before it was extensively refurbished in 2015. 

Cate Blanchett

Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett weren’t put off by the spooky past of this English home. Picture: Getty

The place was literally falling apart and looked like some kind of squat straight out of a movie set.

While the home today is light, airy and has been restored to its palatial-like glory, before it was refurbed it was listed as Britain’s 13th most creepy abandoned house in 2015.

A Facebook page dedicated to Potters Manor House is said to feature pictures from people who visited the home and claimed to have captured images of ghosts or spirits.

Potters Manor House

The house was previously dilapidated and in need of love. Picture: Potters Manor House / Facebook

There are even photographs that show a pagan pentagram, commonly used for seances or wicca magic, painted on the floor at the time. 

Local residents are said to be very happy that Cate, Andrew and their four children have moved into the home thinking that by them being there the area is made safer. 

The home itself is exactly the picturesque manor home you’d expect to find in England. The exterior has been lovingly restored to its Victorian-style glory and looks beautiful set against the surrounding greenery.

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Huge number of bidders line up for Gold Coast apartment

COVID-19 is not deterring house hunters on the Gold Coast with 33 bidders battling for a Broadbeach apartment at auction, with the hammer coming down just shy of $1 million.

The property, a “neat and tidy” two-bedroom residence at 3/17 Broadbeach Blvd, sold for a building record of $960,000.

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

“The response to this property over the last three weeks has been nothing short of record breaking,” marketing agent Tolemy Stevens of Harcourts Coastal said.

“We had over 70 inspections which led to 33 cash bidders.

“The auction started at $500,000 and eventually sold under the hammer for a record price of $960,000.

“It sold well in excess of the reserve.”

The block is tightly-held – the last sale in the building was $652,500 in 2015.

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

Mr Stevens said the apartment’s appeal was widespread.

“It’s just such a nice all round opportunity,” he said.

“It appeals to all buyer demographics including first home buyers, renovators, owner-occupier, as a holiday home, a returning investment or potential for a landhold for redevelopment down the track.

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

The unit block, named Pacific Sound, is a block of only six apartments – apartment 3 is on the second floor and has an easterly aspect with spectacular ocean views.

It was built in the 1960s with units well-maintained but in mostly original condition.

“The building is very sought after and ticks a lot of boxes so I always knew it would attract a lot of interest however I certainly wasn’t prepared for the sheer volume and active number of cash buyers that were trying to secure the property.”

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

Mr Stevens said he believed Queensland’s low numbers of COVID-19 when compared to NSW and Victoria was only fuelling demand for property.

“A result like this is a testament to Queensland’s low numbers of COVID-19,” he said.

“A lot of interstate buyers are seeing the Gold Coast as a bit of a safe haven and seeing the Gold Coast as secure spot to invest their money.

“Of the nine registered phone bidders we had at Wednesday’s auction, five of them were from Sydney and Melbourne.”

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Demand for home office space growing among Aussie buyers during COVID-19

With the COVID-19 pandemic making many Aussies rethink their home priorities, a new survey has revealed what features are in growing demand among new home seekers.

Research conducted by the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association has revealed the nation’s top 10 property features on buyer wish lists.

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Auction pic/social distancing at auctions

Since COVID hit, buyers home priorities are shifting. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Not surprisingly, office space is a growing consideration as a new consciousness of the need for separating work and living areas in the home is evolving quickly.

The top 10 property features on buyer wish lists include:

1. Kitchen

2. Outdoor entertaining area

3. Home Office

4. Multiple living areas (minimum two)

5. Bedrooms

6. Flat level backyard

7. Ensuite

8. Natural light

9. Views

10. Large land footprint

AGENT and BUYER

Demand for home offices is spiking. (Picture: Troy Snook/AAP)

By collating answers from Australia’s leading accredited buyer’s agents from across Australia, the results give a topical insight into how COVID-19 is changing buyer wish lists.

It marks quite a sharp change in behaviour, as two years ago the home office did not even make the top 10, according to REBAA president Cate Bakos.

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Hillside Crescent, Hamilton, Brisbane
Lochiel (1858), on the lower slopes of Hamilton Hill overlooking the river, is set on a 2344sqm block in a lovely garden with century-old trees. The six-bedroom mansion boasts gold-leaf cathedral ceilings, original 1850s fireplaces and Juliette balconies. As well as the pool, there's a putting green. Havig & Jackson, 0418 721 467. $8 million plus Picture: Captioned As

Homes with outdoor entertaining areas continue to rank highly in what Aussie buyers want.

She said demand for properties that could accommodate workspaces had grown significantly since the onset of COVID-19 restrictions and believed it would be a permanent trend.

“Buyers are looking for a quiet space to work from home, specifically a space away

from the family living area, whether this be a separate office or an extra bedroom that can accommodate this,” said Ms Bakos.

Home office spaces don’t have to be large.

“No longer is a study nook, or a small allocated space for a desk a suitable alternative for a professional and/or creative worker.

“We are now seeing a heightened demand for second study spaces, more generously proportioned co-working spaces in the home and a sharp focus on internet connectivity.

Buyer’s agent and Real Estate Buyers Association of Australia president Cate Bakos.

“The direct impact for buyers who desire additional bedrooms or second living spaces for their work from home requirements comes down to budget and where affordability leads them.

“Unchanged budget and increased internal floor areas spells a location change for some, or a switch from small house to generous apartment for others.”

The survey also revealed a keen desire for larger kitchen layouts with more people cooking at home.

Views and outdoor entertaining areas are among the top 10 things on buyers wish lists.

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“Kitchens have always been high on buyer wish lists but we’re definitely seeing a trend in demand for much larger kitchen spaces,” said Ms Bakos.

“A renewed interest in cooking, including a self-sufficient lifestyle for some, is stronger now than it has been in past years.

PROP SAT

Real estate agent Catherine Murphy (left) and potential buyer Helen at an open house. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

“You only need to look at the isolation photos on social media which are showcasing home-cooked meals from baked bread to impressive breakfasts and dinners to understand why there is increased demand.”

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Melbourne stage four restrictions: Online auction flurry as full lockdown hits

Auctions are rolling out across Melbourne as real estate agents fast-track sales campaigns and stage four restrictions kick in.

More than 60 auctions were brought forward to Wednesday night before further coronavirus restrictions began, which have forced the industry almost entirely online.

Properties are going under the hammer every day this week, including more than 130 still scheduled for Saturday, according to realestate.com.au.

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Ray White auctioneer Arthur Mitsinkis selling 1091 High St, Reservoir.

Online auctions are rolling out every day this week.

Last-minute sales on Wednesday night produced strong results across the city, including for a two-bedroom unit at 1A Elizabeth Street in Bulleen.

Phillip Webb auctioneer Anthony Webb said the property soared $171,000 above reserve to sell for $771,000 as nine bidders competed for the keys.

“It almost felt like panic buying,” Mr Webb said.

“With the uncertainty of the property market looming, the buyer indicated they were going to keep bidding almost irrespective of the price.

“The bidders seemed determined to get something before the next six weeks, which are full of uncertainty for real estate.”

1A Elizabeth Street, Bulleen sold for $771,000.

There were nine bidders for the home.

The low-maintenance home sold $171,000 above reserve.

A three-bedroom Reservoir house sold $42,500 above reserve at an auction held on Google Hangouts an hour before the 8pm curfew kicked in.

Ray White Preston agent Ian Dempsey said 21 Croft Street attracted seven registered bidders and 30 bids to achieve a strong $892,500 sale.

“(The buyer was) a middle-aged lady who had been looking for a while,” he said.

“She’d never done an online auction before, so I had to give her a bit of coaching.”

21 Croft Crescent, Reservoir sold for $892,500

Inside the three-bedroom home.

Mr Dempsey said a lack of available housing stock had ensured buyer demand remained high for quality properties, despite Melbourne’s escalating COVID-19 lockdowns.

He said he had notched a 100 per cent clearance for online auctions over the past three weeks.

But the stage four shutdown had already caused new appointments with prospective sellers to “pretty much stop”.

1/61 Darling Street, South Yarra is scheduled for auction this weekend.

27 Morphett Avenue, Ascot Vale is also due to go to auction.

Buxton Hampton East agent Paul Sibley said his office had sold eight of 10 properties that were scheduled to go to auction this weekend.

He sealed a deal for 67A Raynes Park Road, Hampton above its price guide for $1.39m on Thursday morning.

“There might be a few selling online this Saturday that were seen enough times by buyers to be comfortable,” Mr Sibley said.

“But any new campaigns will be put on pause, as we’d be very surprised if anyone buys a property without seeing it first.”

67A Raynes Park Road, Hampton sold ahead of its scheduled auction.

2/126 The Boulevard, Thomastown will go to auction on Saturday.

A terrace in Ascot Vale, a Thomastown townhouse and an apartment in South Yarra’s renowned Beverley Hills building are all among properties still going under the hammer this weekend.

Online auctions and virtual inspections are permitted activities during Melbourne’s stage four lockdown.

— with Samantha Landy


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