Open homes return to Melbourne market

It comes after one of the busiest auction weeks this year, with 1405 homes going under the hammer last week – including the first on-site sales in the city since lockdown ended.And activity will ramp up even more as metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria come together under the same rules again, with about 1663 auctions scheduled, according to realestate.com.au.RELATED: Melbourne public auctions to return as city released from lockdownAuction for breast cancer soars $100k above reserveMelbourne roadmap real estate: On-site auctions set for October returnProperty prices surge through lockdownsReal Estate Institute of Victoria president Adam Docking said the industry was “assuming” the eased restrictions would see Melbourne resume in-person open for inspections with a crowd cap – but was still waiting for finalised details from the state government.The government roadmap states up to 500 fully vaccinated people are able to gather for real estate activity, with density limit of one person per 4sq m indoors and one person per 2sq m outdoors.Mr Docking said it would allow more people to see properties in a shorter amount of time, helping agents meet surging demand.“It’s another step to going almost completely back to normal,” he said.“It will bring back the social aspect of the traditional spring market where the neighbour can come round and catch up and watch the auction too.”A Hawthorn home linked to iconic entertainer Dame Edna Everage, which sold for about $250,000 more than expected, was among the first auctions back on the street last weekend.The 41 Brook St house was owned by comedian Barry Humphries’ brother, Micheal Humphries, since he purchased the four-bedroom Victorian the late ’80s, CoreLogic records reveal.Woodards Camberwell’s Caroline Hamill said the final sale price was undisclosed, but the Herald Sun has been told the property’s value soared to a staggering $3.04m.Ms Hamill said a crowd of about 50 people watched three buyers battle for the period charmer, before the hammer fell to a family who had plans to renovate it.“It was very competitive,” Ms Hamill said.“One of the families was out at about $2.75m, and the other two really went all the way for it.”Its “pretty period facade”, spacious 521sq m block and park-side location were among its drawcards.In Sandringham, a luxury family pad at 31 Keats St sold for more than $4.5m after it initially passed it at auction.Marshall White Bayside’s Matthew Pillios said two bidders contested the six-bedroom house with a pool and a “granny flat”, before negotiations got the deal over the line.“The buyers were a local family who were upsizing and had been looking for years, but said that this was their dream home,” Mr Pillios said.Beloved former Network 10 weatherman Mike Larkin, who recently started real estate auctioneering, was also in the crowd – eager to learn the tricks of the trade from the seasoned auctioneer.Meanwhile in Gisborne, tree-change buyers from Melbourne and interstate flocked to the online sale of a “rustic” three-bedroom house with north-facing panoramic views.“The girl who bought it was actually from WA and had family ties in the area – she had never seen it in person,” Hedley-Perrett’s Blake Hedley said.Four bidders pushed the 34 Stephen St residence past the $800,000 reserve to a $835,000 sale.“We didn’t know what to expect in terms of buyer demand but we were just overwhelmed with inquiry. If you were going to move and relocate your family, this is the sort of place you dream about.”Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.READ MORE: Melbourne auctions: Mont Albert stunner’s ‘surprise’ $4m sale in first week after lockdownFormer Holden Lang Lang test track revving up for second sale in a yearMontrose house price record: Luxury estate doubles benchmark