Super Saturday: Canberra's biggest auction weekend of year set to go off

Homeowners in Canberra are capitalising on the spring selling season with more than 100 properties set to go under the hammer at the weekend, in what has been dubbed a ”Super Saturday” of auctions.

There will be 102 auctions across the region, the highest number in a single day for 2018, which is not far behind the all-time high of 116 that was set in November 2017.

LJ Hooker Belconnen principal Dennis Vlandis said an intersection of the change of season and hopes of avoiding the upcoming Labour Day long weekend have contributed to the high number of auctions. His agency will host nine auctions on Saturday.

“We have a lot of auctions this weekend because people have been preparing their homes for sale over the winter period, cleaning and decluttering,” he said.

A number of auction campaigns began at the start of spring, and this weekend marks the end of the typical four-week period in which they run. The Belconnen region has the greatest number of scheduled auctions with 19.

On a suburb level, Forde has the highest number with five properties going under the hammer.

“Forde is a popular choice for buyers and a lot of the time we are dealing with people who already live in the suburb wanting to upgrade or downsize,” said Luton Properties Gungahlin listing agent Samantha Morrissey.

Ms Morrissey is the listing agent on 3 Allnutt Crescent which will be auctioned at 10am on Saturday.

“It’s an expansive family home in a great location. The general feedback from buyers has been around the the level of quality and detail that has gone into the home,” she said.

The number of Saturday auctions in the nation’s capital has increased over recent weeks, coinciding with the start of the spring selling season. Over winter the average number of auctions held on Saturday was 40.

Last Saturday, there were 73 auctions in Canberra with a clearance rate of 66 per cent.

The most expensive sale was a four-bedroom house in Braddon for $1.5 million and the most affordable was a one-bedroom unit in Barton for $450,000.

Canberra’s clearance rate has been tracking lower than last year, recording an annual drop for the last three consecutive months.

“Clearance rates are down slightly but they remain strong, particularly in Belconnen where clearance rates are still at 70 per cent,” said Mr Vlandis.

“The marketplace demands more freestanding homes in established regions with wider blocks that include a backyard and garden.”

Typically the weekend before Easter Saturday is known as ”Super Saturday”, but this year only 79 properties went under the hammer.

On Saturday September 29 – the Labour Day long weekend – only 36 properties will be going under the hammer. Mr Vlandis said it will be advantageous for both buyers and sellers to be active.

“The long weekend is an advantage as a seller because there is a lot less competition,” he said.

“For buyers who miss out this Saturday, the long weekend is a good opportunity to secure a home.”

HOT AUCTIONS THIS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22

Coombs

17 Kilgariff Street 

Auction time: 11am

Guide: $1.2 million +

4 bed, 2 bath, 2 parking

Kaleen

12 Tweed Place 

Auction time: 2pm

Guide: $800,000 +

4 bed, 2 bath, 2 parking

Macarthur

30 Max Henry Crescent 

Auction time: 9:45am

Guide: $740,000+

4 bed, 2 bath, 2 parking

Wanniassa 

86 Wheeler Crescent 

Auction time: 10am

Guide: High $700,000s

4 bed, 2 bath, 2 parking