Renovation ready California bungalow in Yarraville sells at auction for $1.93 million

44 Severn Street, Yarraville

Sold $1.93 million Agent Jas Stephens Price range about $1.6 million

This underdone California bungalow is need some summer lovin’. Without walls but plenty of potential, no.44 tempted deep-pocketed developers with its planning approval for two townhouses (each over two levels with three bedrooms, two bedrooms and garages) on the rear portion of the 905 square metre block. Auctioneer Terry Fitzpatrick was offered a start of $1.4 millon and was cut off with a $50,000 rise, from a second contender, before he could complete an intended vendor bid. Near the village shopping strip and walk over Williamstown Road to the iconic Sun Theatre, the property was understandably hotly contested. Fitzpatrick almost dropped the hammer at $1.9 million before a woman with nerves of steel jumped in and offered a $5000 rise. The hammer fell at $1.93 million, proving the once humble inner-west is fast becoming triple-A. Emily Power

13 St Vincent Place, Albert Park

Sold $5.1 million Agent Marshall White Price range $4 million+

This elegant Victorian terrace is one of fewer than 100 houses on a street regarded as one of the best in Melbourne, so fierce competition is expected when a house comes up for auction. After an opening bid of $4 million from a young professional couple, the price rocketed from $4.1 million to $4.7 million in under a minute. Three prospective buyers raised their hands for the circa-1870 property, and it came down to a two-horse race where each party tried to trump their competition with unpredictable rises of between $5000 and $50,000. The young couple held out until the end, and bought the house overlooking St Vincent Gardens for $5.1 million — $600,000 over reserve. In Malvern, a bidding war between three hopeful buyers at 8 Ash Grove also propelled the price more than $600,000 over reserve. Marshall White auctioneer John Bongiorno fielded fast and furious bids after a vendor bid of $3.8 million. On the market at $4.2 million, the renovated five-bedroom house with a stunning pool and home theatre sold for $4,802,500 to a family. Mr Bongiorno attributed the massive results to a sense of urgency to “get into the market and wrap it up before Christmas”. Christina Zhou  

2 Collins Street, Essendon

Sold $922,000 Agent Brad Teal Price range $700,000-$770,000

Auctioneer Brad Airs suggested that the buyer of this renovated-in-the-1970s Victorian might need some cash to fix it up. Airs flipped his request of $750,000 into a vendor bid and found five would-be buyers, but, as Airs said, “there’s a lot of one bidders here today” — three of them dipped their toes in just once. A couple seemed super keen, though, and almost had it in the Christmas stocking until a young man in a blue suit appeared and, talking on his phone, upped every one of their bids. The suit won the house for $922,000, shaking hands with the out-of-luck couple before being taken inside the house. The two-bedroom house was on the market at $840,000. Jayne D’Arcy​

13 Byron Street, Canterbury

Sold $2.93 million Agent Jellis Craig Price range $2.6 million+

With half a dozen pooches and many more children in the 90-strong crowd, auctioneer Campbell Ward zeroed in on the “lovely family feel” of Canterbury’s Riversdale pocket. But he also took care to point out the single-level property’s relevance to downsizers. This buyer group ultimately held sway. The bidding began quickly with one mature couple offering $2.3 million. A couple from Surrey Hills in their 70s, with their extended family around them, then came in. A young family showed their hand at $2.65 million. This party continued to aggressively pursue the Surrey Hills pair once the five-bedroom home was declared selling at $2.9 million. But the older couple proved to have the deepest pockets. They won out at $2.93 million after inspecting the house for the first time on Thursday. Chris Tolhurst

201a Clausen Street, Fitzroy North

Sold $1,286,000 Agent Holland Price Price range $1.15 million-$1.2 million

According to auctioneer Robert Sordello, the neighbours who live in what would have been a sister house sharing the wall, made an offer on this one, but were away come auction day. The house, which may be a century old, is in a sad state after 50 years with the same owners, but still managed a genuine $1.1 million opening bid. Two more people chimed in, and soon the house was at $1.26 million. Sordello consulted with the vendors and returned to say the three-bedroom house has surpassed the reserve. Two parties were still vying for it, but the original bidder won it, and the myriad opportunities that it offers, for $1,286,000. Jayne D’Arcy
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​5 Mackenzie Street, Brunswick

Sold $1,225,000 Agent Nelson Alexander Price range $1.1 million – $1.3 million

This was an auction hard fought by younger buyers who were hip but with haute-level cash. Near Anstey train station and busy Sydney Road (a hive of multicultural restaurants and a tram up the guts of it to the city), this pretty double-fronted period home had three eager bidders circling. Inside, the property has been given a modern update, with three bedrooms, a shared bathroom (with en suite-style access to the main bedroom), polished floorboards and lofty ceilings. At $1,195,000, the house was “on the market” and a young man with a jumper tied around his shoulders, accompanied by a friend, withheld a late swoop att $1.2 million by a middle-aged couple to win the keys. Emily Power

18 Crimea Street, St Kilda

Sold $5,046,000 Agent Abercromby’s Price range $4.4 million+

With buyer urgency levels ratcheting up because of the looming Christmas break, more auctions are generating white-hot competition between three or more bidders once a property is declared on the market, and this was one of them. Up for grabs was “Camden,” a stately but handsomely modernised 1884 mansion. Auctioneer Tim Derham told the 110 gathered that the 1295-square-metre block was “an excellent allotment for this part of the world.” He had to post a $4 million vendor bid to get things going, but three of the four eventual bidders stayed in the hunt well after the Italianate house was pronounced “selling” at $4.55 million. It was only when the price hit $5 million that the sale finally became a two-horse race. The winner — a man in his 30s with a young family — got cut-through with his top bid of $5,046,000. Chris Tolhurst