Auction watch: Large family homes hotly contested

Large family homes were in high demand at auction on Saturday.

An immaculately presented five-bedroom house at 55 Moynihan Street in Evatt was one of the strongest sales of the day.

Marketed as ‘the Tardis’, the house was deceptively unassuming from the street, but offered ample space within.

Luton Properties Belconnen director Tim McInnes said about 70 groups inspected the property.

He said the floor plan was perfect for family living.

“It has two segregated living spaces and the family room is consistent with that modern, open-plan living,” Mr McInnes said.

“The renovations are just fantastic.”

Auctioneer Craig Sheargold accepted an opening bid of $750,000 and five of the six registered bidders vied for the property.

After the bidding surpassed $900,000 the crowd of 50 was told that the home was on the market.

The opening bidder secured the property for $936,000 – the second highest sale on record for Evatt.

Evatt recorded its first million-dollar sale in November when 11 Ashkanasy Street sold for $1.12 million.

Luton Properties Belconnen director Tim McInnes, who also sold Evatt’s record-breaking house, said the suburb’s three primary schools were a major attraction.

The Moynihan Street home was just around the corner from Miles Franklin Primary School.

According to Domain’s Annual School Zones Report, published in February, house prices in the Miles Franklin Primary School catchment zone jumped 18.8 per cent in 2016 – the strongest growth of any ACT school catchment zone.

“Evatt is a strong suburb for inquiries,” Mr McInnes said.

“People who have been looking in inner Belconnen suburbs such as Weetangera, Kaleen and Hawker are venturing a little further because it represents good value.”

Crace also had its second biggest sale on record when a six-bedroom home at 130 Langtree Crescent sold for $1,257,000.

Luton Properties Gungahlin director Jason Roses said the standard of the build was “exceptional”.

The biggest sale of the day was recorded south of the lake, where a five-bedroom, three-bathroom house in Red Hill sold for $1,541,000.

Four parties registered to bid for 26 Fishburn Street, which sold through Peter Blackshaw Manuka agents Andrew Chamberlain and Alec Brown. 

The sales contributed to a clearance rate of 75 per cent, a slight drop from last week’s 78 per cent, according to Domain Group data.

Canberra auction results here.