Tri-level townhouse delivers 100% profit for investor

A tri-level, solar-powered townhouse on 19 Rosemont Street, Norwood, drew a crowd of nearly 200 for its auction, reflecting its appeal in an Adelaide city-fringe pocket. With up to three bedrooms, multiple living zones, a modern kitchen and rear-lane access, the home blends rustic charm with energy-conscious design. The all-electric setup features 9kW solar panels, heat-pump hot water, an EV charger, and reverse-cycle air conditioning in every room, keeping running costs low and future-proofing daily life.

OC agent James Robertson said 24 bidders registered, six of them actively competing. "The opening bid of $980,000 kicked off the battle," he said. "Cautious $10,000 bids persisted until $1.1 million, then crept up in $1,000 increments until the hammer fell at $1.285 million." The winning buyer was a South Australian father helping his daughter purchase her first home. "The bank of mum and dad came into play here," he quipped.

The vendor, who originally purchased the property in 2016 as an investment for $613,000, saw its value double with the hold, reflecting strong growth in the market.

Looking at the broader market, Mr Robertson said, "This sale proves that the numbers are really strong to start the year. But it's the same old story with supply and demand in SA. Lots of demand, not enough supply. It's a seller's market."

With a meagre 2 per cent rise in auctions year-on-year, Adelaide hosted 153 auctions over the weekend, according to Cotality. On the positive side, preliminary clearance rate was the highest of any capital city, at 86.1 per cent, the highest since the first week of April last year.

Investors reap fivefold auction windfall

A brisk auction for 53 Orchard Terrace, St Lucia, drew 40 onlookers, with three registered bidders ready to step up. Bidding for the Brisbane home opened at $2.5 million and quickly climbed to $2.9 million, before slowing in the final stages. The home eventually sold under the hammer for $2.955 million to a local investor.

"The vendors were in Cairns and originally bought the home in 2012 for $515,000," Poulsen Property agent Tony Poulsen said. "It was held as an investment and it's delivered a fivefold return for them. An incredible outcome."

Mr Poulsen noted the broader market is excluding first home buyers from the traditional housing market. "First home buyers are being pushed out. They're now looking at units and townhouses," he said. "Even townhouses are $600,000 to $700,000. And units that four years ago would have been $450,000 to $500,000 are now $700,000 to $800,000."

He added that lack of supply is what's keeping the market active. "The market is still driven by undersupply. Increased demand will sustain, unless prices jump significantly," Poulsen said.

The short, sharp auction reflected both the strength of investor interest and the pressure first home buyers now face. "It was a confident crowd, and the bidding showed how much buyers value well-located properties in the current market," he said. "Even with rising prices, strong demand isn't letting up."

According to Cotality, Brisbane saw 221 properties go to auction, marking a 36.4 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. So far, 75.0 per cent of those auctions have returned a successful outcome, improving on the 60.3 per cent recorded in mid-December and representing the strongest early clearance result since the week ending 9th November, when 77.8 per cent was achieved.

Victorian buyers snatch Perth home sight unseen

A crowd of 50 gathered at 133 Milverton Avenue, with 12 registered bidders ready to test the market. Bidding opened at $1 million, with robust increments of $50,000 and $25,000 bloating the price. A mature couple from Victoria, who had never seen the property, eventually secured the home under the hammer for $1.357 million. "The winner had an interesting strategy," listing agent Rosemarie Kenny from Ray White said. "Very controlled bidding."

Ms Kenny highlighted the impact of limited stock in Perth. "There aren't many properties on the market at the moment, which is really pushing up demand. I think such a shortage will push demand even further until we see more new builds," she said.

Cotality reported only eight auctions in Perth this week.

"I saw lots of interest from first home buyers, too," she added, noting how the home's layout, light-filled interiors and outdoor spaces were a draw for multiple buyer types.

The seller, downsizing after many years in the home, watched the auction with confidence as competition drove the price well above expectations. Kenny described the interest as broad and sustained. "It was a strong campaign. People were clearly drawn to the combination of location, layout and lifestyle potential," she said.

The buyers made a calculated move in a market where options are limited, while the seller enjoyed a satisfying close to years of family memories. The auction highlighted Perth's current reality: with few properties available, well-presented homes draw committed and decisive buyers.