Canberra auctions: Budget homes buck the trend

Properties under $1 million continue to dominate the capital’s auction market, with first-home buyers and downsizers actively competing and many homes snapped up before auction.

Momentum Property’s Nick Paine and Peter White sold the three-bedroom house at 4 Neumayer Street, Page, to a first-home buyer for a price in the mid-$800,000s, while a downsizer bought the three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at 502/55 Dooring Street, Dickson, the day before auction for around $800,000.

It was another story for the striking four-bedroom house at 6 Hillebrand Street, Page, which attracted three registered bidders but failed to sell on the day. The property has an asking price of about $2 million.

White said that besides the registered bidders, two other parties were showing interest in the property.

Set on a generous 804-square-metre site, the house features sleek concrete floors, soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Inside are a living, dining and kitchen area, a rumpus room and a double garage, while outside are a heated, in-ground swimming pool and a barbecue area.

In Downer, Hive Property’s Leanne Palmer passed in the four-bedroom house at 59b Blacket Street. It is now for sale for $1.899 million-plus.

Positioned just a short stroll from Dickson Shopping Centre and popular schools, the newly built, architect-designed house boasts formal and casual living areas, a main bedroom with en suite and walk-in wardrobe downstairs, and a rumpus room, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom upstairs.

Timothy Road’s Tim McInnes said there were two registered bidders at the auction of the five-bedroom house at 4 Darmody Street, Weetangera, which sold for an undisclosed amount. The property offers a substantial floor plan and includes a fully self-contained studio apartment.

Strong results were recorded mid-week, with Belle Property’s Andrew White selling the unrenovated house on a 1559-square-metre block at 13 Mainoru Place, Hawker, for $1.1 million.

Altair’s Andrew Potts sold the three-bedroom house at 66 Mina Wylie Crescent, Gordon, for $740,000, while Ray White sold 10 Cousin Place, Chisholm, for $960,000, 22 Noarlunga Crescent, Bonython, for $979,000 and 220 Bugden Avenue, Fadden, for $888,000.

Last weekend saw a clearance rate of 53 per cent compared to 54 per cent a year ago. Of the 117 properties up for auction, 113 were reported, of which 60 sold, 32 were passed in, and 14 were withdrawn.