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Priciest property skips auction after ‘high end’ offer

This Pymble home fetched a cool $6.5 million before its scheduled auction.

This Pymble home fetched a cool $6.5 million before its scheduled auction. Photo: Di Jones

The nation’s top reported sale was on Sydney’s upper North Shore where a Pymble home was snapped up pre-auction for $6.5 million well ahead of its scheduled weekend auction.

It sold to a family from China who saw the property only three days before they exchanged just before the Easter break.

Menton, marketed as a French Provincial-style oasis, came with a saltwater pool, tennis court, and a climate-controlled 2100-bottle wine cellar.

The 1726 square metre property last traded at $2.8 million in 2002.

The vendors decided to take the offer, which was at the high end of their expected range, rather than go to auction.

“It’s a ‘bird in the hand’ at the moment,” selling agent Tim Fraser told Fairfax Media.

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The agent described the property as “palatial” and the “ultimate secluded sanctuary for growing families”. Photo: Di Jones

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The six-bedroom home includes a parents’ retreat, music room, office and self-contained guest living room. Photo: Di Jones

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The climate-controlled wine cellar can store 2100 bottles. Photo: Di Jones

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No word on whether the inflatable swan came with the stunning pool. Photo: Di Jones

Sydney also saw the sale of 23 Lyndhurst Crescent, Hunters Hill, a five-bedroom riverfront home which sold for $6.18 million.

But its sale was below the $6.2 million price guidance.

The city’s result from 775 auctions saw a steady 67 per cent clearance rate on the prior weekend, but down on the 77 per cent at this time last year, fuelling speculation the market continues to cool.

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The Hunters Hill property overlooks Tarban Bay. Photo: Black Diamondz

The buyers were no doubt enticed by the private jetty and pontoon. Photo: Black Diamondz

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Even the dining area has harbour views. Photo: Black Diamondz

And don’t forget the master bedroom. With a view like that, curtains seem superfluous. Photo: Black Diamondz

The nation’s strongest clearance rate was in Melbourne, according to CoreLogic, at 69 per cent.

Melbourne had some 720 homes listed, increasing on last week’s 65.5 per cent final clearance rate when there was a much lower 152 auctions held given the Easter break.

The auction of dual premiership player Thorold Merrett’s Doncaster East home saw a $1.12 million result.

Philip Webb auctioneer Anthony Webb said local downsizers secured the single-level three-bedroom townhouse.

Merrett, a two-time premiership player in the 1950s, told the Herald Sun he would miss the neighbourhood.

The agency had been quoting $900,000 to $990,000, with six bidders taking the price well beyond.

CoreLogic records indicated it last sold in 2007 at $575,000.

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Thorold Merrett played 180 games and won two flags with Collingwood from 1950 to 1960. Photos: Philip Webb / Collingwood Football Club

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The AFL legend’s home sold for more than $100,000 above the quoted price. Photo: Philip Webb

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The property has a roomy three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two parking spaces. Photo: Philip Webb

Melbourne’s top sale was in Williamstown.

The three-bedroom house at 218 Osborne St, Williamstown fetched $3.02 million.

Corinda, set in South Williamstown, had been listed with $2.7 million to $2.8 million price guidance.

The nation’s cheapest auction was at 8/54 Martin Street, Thornbury for $335,000. The Melbourne sale fell within the price guidance range of $315,000 to $340,000 for the one-bedroom 1970s apartment.

CoreLogic put its last sale price as $249,500 in 2002.

Canberra’s clearance rate fell to just 59 per cent, which was the nation’s third strongest success rate with 88 homes listed.

A 1960s Griffith home on one of Canberra’s prestigious streets, constructed of stone, brickwork and Australian timbers, fetched its highest price.

The 26 Jansz Crescent offering fetched $1.641 million, with Domain noting it was announced on the market at $1.610 million.

Held by the same family for 57 years, the four-bedroom, one-bathroom home on 1106 square metres had eight registered bidders.

The official land value was $953,000.

Adelaide also recorded a success rate of 59 per cent from 93 homes listed.

The Brisbane market had a 40 per cent clearance rate from the 91 homes listed for auction.

A Georgian-style home at Chelmer sold under the hammer, fetching $1,675,000 through Brad Robson of Place Real Estate.

The five-bedroom property at 2 Morley Street sold to an upsizing local couple.

A newly built four-bedroom Camp Hill home was among Brisbane’s top sales at $1.05 million.

At Carindale a $1.35 million offer for a three-storey, four-bedroom home at 45 Nelson Place was not enough to secure a sale, with the auction ending on a $1.5 million vendor bid.

The home was the project of Steve Stamatiou, a builder at Mati Constructions, and his wife Andrea, with the Courier Mail reporting they built the home over seven months in the French provincial architecture style.

The 518 square metre building block had cost $535,000 in 2016.

It came with a four-metre-long ‘White Princess’ granite breakfast bar, full suite of European appliances and a butler’s pantry so large that it almost doubles as a second kitchen, the marketing agent said.

After the Easter slowdown, the national preliminary clearance rate rose along with higher volume of auctions with 1813 homes taken to market returning a 65.3 per cent success rate.

The higher activity followed the Easter period slowdown which saw only 670 auctions held across the capitals and a 64.8 per cent final auction clearance rate.

Overall results by property type saw 70 per cent of units selling at auction this week, which was higher than houses which returned a 63.4 per cent clearance rate.

Jonathan Chancellor is editor at large at Property Observer
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