Family holds their ground to stave off hungry bidders with $1.17m win

A picture-perfect day at 151 Bower Road saw a crowd of 80 gather to witness five bidders battle for this sun-soaked Adelaide family home in a vibrant beachside community. The auction opened at a robust $1m and quickly climbed in steady $20k increments, as each bidder sized up the competition.

According to Ray White agent Jordan Ekers, the atmosphere was alive with anticipation. "It was a picture-perfect crowd with serious interest. The energy in the room was fantastic," he said. "Buyers were clearly focused on securing a home with space and lifestyle, and the bidding reflected that."

The contest intensified around $1.14m, with multiple bidders refusing to back down, before a determined first homebuyer family dwindled bidding to a winning $1.17m play. Their success capped off a dramatic session that showcased both local demand and the confidence of buyers navigating a competitive market.

For the vendors, in their 70s, the auction delivered a seamless conclusion to their long-term ownership. Ekers explained, "They're downsizing to enjoy a more modest lifestyle, and the result reflects their property's appeal and the excitement of buyers in this sought-after area."

In Adelaide, 96 homes went to auction, up from 65 last week, according to Cotality. An early clearance rate of 80.6% was recorded, up from 78.8% last week.

Investor bows out, developer steps in at $1.5m

Thirteen bidders crowded around the front yard of 23 Swayne St, Carina Heights, as caffeine from the on-site coffee van kept the energy sharp. Five bidders leapt in from the opening call of $1.1m, pushing the price higher in bold $50k lifts.

The field thinned quickly, leaving two determined parties to drive the figure north in fast succession, momentum building as each bid landed with confident precision.

Set on a generous 607-square-metre allotment, the Brisbane property was the kind of blank canvas developers dream about. Its location in a pocket primed for growth added fuel to the fire.

The hammer finally fell at $1.5m, with a developer claiming the keys from an interstate investor. Listing agent Patrick Ivey from Harcourts said the response was immediate and intense.

"Blocks like this in Carina Heights are becoming increasingly rare," he said. "The competition today showed how much confidence buyers have in this pocket."

The sale drew strong interest from both developers and owner-occupiers, with the site's development potential driving much of the bidding.

Brisbane hosted the most auctions across the smaller capitals, with 133 homes going under the hammer, compared to 148 last week. Cotality reports a preliminary clearance rate of 68.5%, down from 69.3% last week (revised to 65.5% on final numbers).

A father's auction day victory

The late morning sun spilled over a packed front lawn as 26 Elgon Hill, Willetton, drew close to one hundred people. Four bidders took to the floor. Fourteen had registered their interest. The tension pulsed through the crowd, but one bidder carried something more than strategy.

For six weeks, buyer Paul Lee trudged through countless inspections searching for a family home. Surrounded by six family members, two children and one clear goal, the dedicated father's plight ended with a single raised paddle and a $1.59m bid.

Ray White agent Adrian Loh said the turnout reflected pent-up demand. "The interest was massive," Loh said. "Some people saw block value, others saw the potential to renovate."

Mark Whiteman, CEO of Ray White Western Australia, said the tightening of listings was fuelling competition. "This was reflected during bidding of Perth auctions, with results exceeding expectations by upwards of $300,000 in some cases," he said.

As the crowd dispersed, Lee laughed off weeks of open homes, saying the process was far less intimidating than it looked on TV. "It was better being in it instead of watching it," he said.

There were 18 auctions in Perth this week, up from 13 last week, according to Cotality, while just three auctions were held in Tasmania, after two weeks of inactivity.