Grand final weekend fails to deter eager buyers at auction

With two grand finals happening at the weekend and a public holiday on Monday, few auctions were scheduled for Saturday.

However despite the low numbers – less than 50 auctions were scheduled – there were strong sales on the day.

An early auction at 145 Constitution Road, Windsor, attracted a crowd of about 70 people and 13 parties registered to bid.

Bidding for the pre-war cottage started at $755,000 and the hammer fell at $855,000.

The three-bedroom, one-bathroom house set on a 607-square-metre block had been in the same family since it was built in 1935. 

Selling agent Simone Weigall from Place Ascot said there was “huge interest” in the inner-city property, and the vendors were “absolutely happy” about the result.

“The final bids came down to two very interested and competitive parties,” she said.

Ms Weigall said interest had come from a mix of first-home buyers, investors, and builders – “a real cross section”.

In the end the winning bidders were a couple from Hong Kong, who will move in after undertaking a major renovation.

Ms Weigall said despite the busy weekend there were now 12 disappointed buyers, as houses like the one at Constitution Road were in “real demand”.

“I need 12 more houses [like this],” she said.

An auctioneer’s hammer also came down on 29 Elizabeth Street, Sherwood, on Saturday.

A crowd of about 30 people inspected the cute 1950s three-bedroom home, and six parties registered to bid.

After a pause for negotiations, the property sold for $769,000 under the hammer to a young couple bidding over the phone.

Place Graceville agent Paul Eaton said the vendors were delighted with the result. 

Auctioneer Peter Bergin sold both Place homes – 145 Constitution Road and 29 Elizabeth Street – and said there was “plenty of activity” despite the long weekend.

“It shows the depth of the Brisbane market,” he said.

A four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Chapel Hill achieved a solid result under the hammer on Saturday morning.

There were three registered bidders but only one active bidder, who secured the property  at 2 Geewan Place, Chapel Hill, for $850,000. 

Selling agent Tyler Bean from Remax Profile Real Estate said the vendors were “stoked” with the result.

Mr Bean said grand finals and a public holiday were never going to deter buyers who loved the property, but the usual crowds stayed away.

“There were a lot less people there than I expected,” he said, adding the usual crowd of neighbours had stayed away.

Not everything sold on the day – a renovator at 378 Rode Road, Chermside, passed in and is now on the market for $415,000.

Selling agent David Thomas of Belle Property South Brisbane said there were a few parties interested in the main road property, especially considering its low price point.