"Stop bidding, I want to live in it!" Theatrics seal the deal in dramatic finish

A peaceful Norwood street came alive on Friday when a property hit the auction block. A small crowd of 25 watched as two fiercely committed bidders battled it out, culminating in a heartfelt plea that stole the show.

Across Australia, auction volumes dipped this week, marking the quietest stretch since the King's Birthday long weekend. A total of 1,458 homes went under the hammer across the capitals, down from 1,794 the week prior and slightly below the 1,512 held this time last year.

Despite the softer volume, buyer momentum is holding. The preliminary clearance rate came in at 72.2 percent, easing from the year-to-date peak of 74.5 percent recorded three weeks ago. Still, it's the fifth consecutive week that early results have tracked above 70 percent.

Melbourne led the action with 630 auctions, down from 767 a week ago. While activity aligned closely with last year, clearance dipped to 70.5 percent, its lowest level in 12 weeks. Yet that still makes it 11 straight months Melbourne's early rate has held above the 70 percent mark.

Activity in Sydney dipped from last week's 685, with 578 homes taken to auction, edging above the 560 recorded this time last year. Buyer demand remained strong, lifting the clearance rate to 76.2 percent, equal to the year's peak set in mid-February.

Brisbane's auction scene cooled this week, recording just 103 homes under the hammer, the lightest turnout in nearly three months. The early success rate dipped to 61.3 percent, the softest showing since early June, hinting at hesitancy in the winter market.

Adelaide, on the other hand, delivered a standout result. Of 75 homes auctioned, 75.6 percent found buyers, rebounding sharply from last week's lull and clearing well above the city's 2024 average. Momentum there is building while other markets take a breath.

Canberra hosted 61 auctions this week, with the preliminary clearance rate easing to 68 percent from 73.1 percent the week prior, as winter momentum slowed. Volumes are tipped to lift slightly in the week ahead, offering a clearer read on buyer appetite.

"Stop bidding, I want to live in it!" Norwood cottage sparks showdown at $960k

A quiet corner of Norwood turned theatrical on Friday as 21 Eastry Street went to auction before a quaint crowd of 25, drawing fire from two determined bidders and finishing with a dramatic cry from the heart.

Bidding opened at $799,000 and moved fast, shooting past $850,000 and hitting $900,000 in a matter of minutes. From there, momentum slowed but didn't stall as the two buyers, an investor and an aspiring owner-occupier, went head to head in a tense rally.

"The investor kept lifting his bids to block the other bidder out," said Harcourts agent Shane Boon. "Then, mid-auction, the other bidder just snapped, yelling, 'Stop bidding. I want to live in it. You're just looking for an investment!'"

The plea won the day. The investor backed off, and the home sold soon after for $960,000.

The seller, a woman who bought the sandstone-fronted home in the $600,000s back in 2017, was delighted with the outcome.

With just two bedrooms, classic character and a location footsteps from The Parade, the home tapped into a pocket of the market that's still running hot.

"There's a strong market for little homes," said Boon. "This one had charm, walkability and that inner-east lifestyle everyone wants. It might be small, but it packed a punch."

Seventeen bidders, one dream home. Underwood family favourite soars to $1.13m

It was standing room only in Underwood on Saturday as 45 people gathered at 2 Avondale Street, drawn by a five-bedroom family home that had been fully reimagined inside and out. What followed was a 40-minute auction rollercoaster that started fast, climbed hard and finished with a splash at $1.13 million.

Seventeen bidders threw their hats in early, pushing the price up in bold $50,000 jumps until it hit $950,000. Then came the grind. Three bidders remained, trading $1000 and $500 blows with calculated precision.

Ray White agent Syed Ali said the energy was high from the first bid. "There was serious interest. You could feel the intensity. By the end, the final three were laser focused. No one was letting go without a fight."

The reserve was set at $980,000, but that was just the beginning. The eventual buyers, a young couple upsizing after selling their own home, outlasted the pack and walked away elated. The sellers, a middle-aged couple also looking to upsize, were just as happy with the result.

"Both sides were over the moon," said Ali. "This home had wide appeal and huge interest. It was built for a result like this."

Sitting on a generous corner block with dual access, lush gardens and plenty of scope to grow, the home offered a blend of lifestyle and flexibility that resonated with families and investors alike.

Ding-dong bidding battle lands Kewdale corner block for $892k

With the sun shining over Tomato Lake in WA and an 80-strong crowd lining the verge, 10 Wheatley Street was always going to stir up action. What followed was a six-way bidding brawl that ended with a phone bidder clinching victory for $892,000.

"It was a ding-dong tussle," said Jones Ballard agent Kim Findlay. "The bids came in strong at first, then slowed right down to thousand-dollar blows. It was a good fight."

The auction was fast and gritty, with six contenders stepping up to claim the rare 711-square metre corner block with R30 potential. While the home itself was sold in original condition, the value was in the land and location, just metres from the lake and loaded with development upside.

The sellers, an older couple transitioning to aged care, watched on as their long-held family home changed hands. It was a moving moment at the end of a significant chapter. "There was real emotion in it," said Findlay.

In the end, it was a young man watching remotely from Sydney who took the prize, snapping up the property after following the action from his phone and outlasting the locals.

With its central location, zoning flexibility and walkable access to public transport, Wheatley Street offered bidders more than just bricks and mortar. Saturday's result proved that in a market hungry for land with promise, buyers are still willing to fight hard and dig deep to secure the right block.