Auction watch: Buyers on the hunt for high-end homes

There were plenty of buyers hoping to snap up a high-end home in Canberra on Saturday with at least 18 properties selling for more than $1 million.

An urban oasis backing reserve in Campbell sold for $1,628,000 under the hammer, through Luton Properties Dickson agents Samantha Granter and Greg Hedger.

The prestigious property at 74 Vasey Crescent attracted about 70 groups to inspections and six registered bidders.

The five-bedroom house was beautifully presented and features a large pool set among private established grounds.

Mr Hedger said the suburb was gaining renewed interest, thanks in part to new development along Constitution Avenue.

“They see that it’s going to be a dress circle location with the quality of the build,” Mr Hedger said.

“The developers have put a lot of thought into it. It is really going to become a social hub.”

South of the lake, a four-bedroom house at 101 Jansz Crescent in Griffith charmed about 90 groups through its doors and three registered to bid.

101 Jansz Crescent in Griffith sold for $1.56 million. Photo: Supplied

Peter Blackshaw Manuka agent and auctioneer Alec Brown said the street was “one of Griffith’s most coveted locations”.

All three of the registered parties participated with fast, frenetic bidding culminating in a sale of $1.56 million.

The sale of a spectacular architect-designed home in Ainslie is still being negotiated after challenging the suburb record at auction.

242 Duffy Street, Ainslie. Photo: Supplied

LJ Hooker Dickson principal Stephen Bunday described 242 Duffy Street as “the most famous house in Ainslie”.

Positioned at the base of the Mount Ainslie, the property has caught the attention of many passersby on their way to the top. It features a distinctive backyard, with a 15-metre waterfall edge pool bridging the living area to the bushland.

Almost 200 people gathered around the pool to watch the property go under the hammer. Auctioneer Matthew Herbert accepted an opening bid of $1.5 million and the figure soon hit $1.8 million, matching the current Ainslie record, which was set in 2015 for the sale of 53 Duffy Street.

Bidding stalled at $1.85 million, before a vendor bid was placed at $1.95 million.

Saturday’s auction clearance rate of 77 per cent follows two consecutive weekends with a clearance rate of 79 per cent, according to Domain Group data.