Why this character beachside villa drew a buyer from the US

A grand circa-1910 villa sold for $1.705 million at 24 Hall Street, Semaphore, after a drawn-out auction underscored a more tentative tone in Adelaide's seaside suburb. According to listing agent Samantha Hirniak, the campaign culminated with just two active bidders, one standing in the crowd and the winner dialling in from the United States. Bidding opened at $1.4 million before climbing in uneven increments of $10,000, $5,000 and the occasional $25,000 rise, a pattern Hirniak said reflected a degree of hesitation rather than urgency. "It was a slow auction with just the two bidders," she said, noting that while enquiry levels had been healthy, the energy on auction day felt noticeably subdued compared to late last year.

Hirniak believes broader economic sentiment is beginning to filter into buyer behaviour, particularly once price tags move beyond the mid-market range. "Things already seem to be slowing down, and there are a lower number of bidders," she said. "The interest rate is definitely affecting things."

She was quick to point out that the softness is not uniform across all price points, describing a clear divide in activity. "The under $1m houses are fine, but over $1.5m, buyers are hesitating, due to the hike," she explained. Even so, she emphasised that momentum has not disappeared entirely. "In saying that, there's still lots of activity in the lower brackets."

The final result illustrated a market increasingly defined by segmentation, where distinctive character homes continue to attract committed purchasers, but confidence at the luxury end is becoming more selective and considered rather than automatic.

Adelaide maintained strong auction activity, according to Cotality, posting a preliminary clearance rate of 83.6 per cent, down slightly from 86.1 per cent the previous week. The result came from 117 homes taken to auction, showing solid buyer interest despite a modest softening in clearance. The city continues to deliver consistently high early-season results as the 2026 auction calendar builds momentum.

They doubled their money, and four bidders fought for it

The single-level home at 111 Arthur Terrace in Brisbane's inner-north Red Hill - a classic cottage-style residence crafted from century-old materials - went under the hammer with 45 onlookers in attendance. The property's cathedral ceilings and timber trusses highlighted its unique architectural story, while a spacious, air-conditioned open-plan living area opened to decks and a low-maintenance backyard.

Bidding opened at $1.6 million and quickly escalated through $100,000 and $50,000 increments before narrowing to $10,000 bids, eventually selling for $2.32 million. The successful buyers, a local family, took the keys for their second home, while the vendor, an investor who acquired the property for $1.03 million eight years ago, achieved a strong return.

Place listing agent Alex Rutherford noted, "Single-level homes are rare, so that factor, along with its affordability, made this an attractive opportunity." She added, "The affordable range seems to be between $1.8 million and $2.5 million. The problem is, there are lots of buyers, but fewer supply."

Adelaide's auction market continued to perform strongly, according to Cotality, with a preliminary clearance rate of 83.6 per cent, a slight dip from last week's 86.1 per cent. The week saw 117 homes go under the hammer, highlighting steady buyer interest despite the minor softening in results. The city's consistently high early-season clearance rates signal momentum as the 2026 auction period progresses.

Twelve bidders erupt as family sells after 38 years

As a crowd of 60 gathered kerbside and 12 bidders registered their intent, the auction at 12 Blenny Close, Cannington, quickly shifted from routine suburban sale to a tightly contested showdown. Five active participants elevated the price from an opening bid of $900,000 to a second bid of $50,000 before momentum narrowed to $25,000 and then $10,000 volleys.

Listing agent Cameron Smart said the eventual buyers were local owner-occupiers purchasing their second home, while the vendor was downsizing after holding the property since 1987 to move closer to their daughter, bringing a long chapter of family ownership to a close.

Smart described this year's buyer pool as varied. "There's a bit of a mix in types of buyers this year with owner-occupiers, first home buyers and investors all showing up. The investors are mostly local too, not inter-state."

He said house-hunters are experiencing some discontent, explaining, "Buyers are getting frustrated with lack of transparency. Many are putting in legitimate offers and still missing out on properties they know they can afford."

He believes sentiment is pushing more campaigns toward public competition, adding, "We're taking the majority of homes to auction in favour of buyers, so they have full transparency on purchase prices." Despite a modest lift in listings compared to late last year, Smart says demand remains intense. "There seems to be a little more supply than the end of last year, but there's still a high level of competition."

The balance, he said, continues to generate energetic bidding and decisive outcomes when well-presented homes go under the hammer.

Twelve auctions were held in Perth with 75 per cent reporting a positive result so far, according to Cotality.