Pop the champagne: This home just sold for $1.4m above the purchase price

An unassuming Adelaide house has delivered its owners a spectacular send-off, soaring from a $360,000 purchase price 13 years ago to a $1.8 million result under the hammer.

From the street, 2 Alice Avenue, looked modest. The facade hinted at little of the scale and detail within. As Boffo Real Estate listing agent Brad Stevens explained, "it's a bit of an ugly duckling from the outside, but once they saw the inside, most people agreed, it's too good to knock down."

The owners, an older couple, had lived there for 13 years and poured care into extensive renovations. "It's just beautiful," Stevens said.

The campaign drew 55 groups and 14 registered bidders, with five of them stepping up on auction day. Opening at $1.2 million, the price surged as quick-fire bids of $50,000 and $25,000 set a fierce pace. One hopeful tried to edge ahead with repeated $5,000 raises, but was outgunned by another bidder's relentless $25,000 leaps, at one point even jumping by $45,000. In the end, it was a local buyer who had bided their time on the sidelines before making a decisive late move, landing the winning strike at $1.8 million.

For the vendors, who are retiring and downsizing, the sale marked a fitting conclusion to their efforts. The home they transformed shifted from overlooked to highly sought after, its generous scale and industrial-sized garage paired with contemporary open-plan living.

Stevens summed it up simply: "People were surprised by what they found. It turned out to be the opposite of what they first thought."

108 auctions were held in Adelaide, the highest volume in thirteen weeks, according to Cotality. 75.4% of auctions have returned a successful result based on results collected so far, up from 74.5% the week prior and the highest preliminary

Tropical retreat on McIlwraith Avenue sells for $2.55m

With its palm-lined entry and resort-style pool, this inner-fringe Norman Park home southeast of Brisbane, drew strong interest before auction. Three bidders battled on the day, with a young couple sealing the deal at $2.55 million.

Crowds gathered on Saturday to see 102 McIlwraith Avenue go under the hammer. The four-bedroom home, set on 810 square metres with a prized north-facing backyard, lived up to its reputation as a showcase of Queensland living.

Place listing agent Darcy Lord said the pre-auction campaign brought dozens of groups through the doors. "Everyone said it was a stunning home, bright with unique spaces and a real tropical feel with the palm trees lining the front yard," he said.

Auction day saw three bidders compete for the keys. The contest opened at two million dollars and quickly climbed to $2.45 million before stalling. With the vendor ready to sell, final negotiations followed. A young couple emerged victorious, securing the home for $2.55 million.

"This was a property that really connected with buyers," said Lord. "The combination of size, location and lifestyle appeal made it a rare opportunity, and the strong result reflects that."

The vendor will now downsize, while the new owners step into one of Brisbane's most tightly held neighbourhoods, just minutes from schools, parks and the Martha Street café precinct.

According to Cotality, Brisbane led the smaller capitals in auction activity, with 148 homes taken to market, four more than the previous week. The preliminary clearance rate eased to 74.0 percent, down from 76.5 percent the week before, marking the second consecutive week above the 70 percent threshold.

Leafy Claremont gem commands $2.4m win

A polished four-bedroom single-level home on a leafy Claremont street in Perth lured locals eager to secure a ready-to-move-in address, selling for $2.4 million after a brisk auction.

A leafy Claremont street set the scene as 28 Parry Street went to auction, drawing a quaint crowd of 40 on a fresh morning. The single-level residence, quietly elegant from the street, revealed polished hardwood floors, generous living zones and a seamless flow to a private deck and reticulated gardens.

Four active bidders kept the pace brisk, opening at $1.75 million and trading $50,000 increments in quick succession. "It was a straightforward competition with quick and confident bidding," said Ray White agent Jody Fewster. One could see why. The home's four bedrooms, including a master with stylish ensuite, open-plan living and a modern kitchen offered both comfort and practicality, while the single-level layout ensured accessibility for all.

After a sharp contest, locals secured the home for $2.4 million, keen to settle in before Christmas and enjoy the holidays in their new Claremont address. The vendors, investors, walked away satisfied with a strong result from a thoughtfully presented property.

Minutes from Claremont Quarter, riverside walks, beaches, and Perth's best schools, the home delivered more than space: it offered a lifestyle in a prime pocket of the Western Suburbs. This sale proves that in sought-after streets, well-maintained, versatile homes still attract energetic bidding and reward buyers ready to move decisively.