![\"Emily](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/dff5c7a73b73f2ccbc3e628750c52f789d33eefe7817e00072a5e0b78e608f90.png\")
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Three hopeful first home buyers have been edged out by downsizers at the auction of a Brunswick period home.<\/p>\n Five bidders competed in front of a large crowd to sign the contract for the three-bedroom weatherboard at 2 Church Street, <\/a> which sold under the hammer for $1,385,000.<\/p>\n The successful bidder, represented by a buyer\u2019s advocate, and the underbidder were downsizers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey broke some first home buyers\u2019 hearts,\u201d listing agent and auctioneer Mark Verrocchi, of Nelson Alexander Brunswick, said.<\/p>\n The reserve for the light-filled Edwardian was $1.35 million, following a campaign with a price guide of $1.25 million to $1.35 million.<\/p>\n The property was one of 587 scheduled to go to auction in Melbourne this week. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 59 per cent from 391 reported results throughout the week, while 48 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate.<\/p>\n Verrocchi opened the auction with a vendor bid of $1.25 million, and a father representing a first home buyer was the first to respond, entering the contest with a $10,000 increase.<\/p>\n Bidding rose in $10,000 increments, and the first home buyers were in contention until $1.36 million, at which point the older bidders had more firepower.<\/p>\n \u201cThey hung in there, they gave it everything,\u201d Verrocchi said.<\/p>\n The home had an atrium-style rear living area, opening to a paved terrace and lawn, with side laneway access.<\/p>\n \u201cThe vendor has great style<\/a> and ticked a lot of the boxes for people,\u201d Verrocchi said. \u201cAll of the rooms are quite large, and the allotment, at 270 square metres, is a very good size for a single-fronted property.\u201d<\/p>\n Verrocchi had expected three bidders, but said interest was much broader on auction day because of the home\u2019s spacious floor plan, presentation, potential to renovate and location.<\/p>\n \u201cBrunswick\u2019s a hub of nightlife, restaurants, cafes, amenities<\/a>, and everything within walking distance,\u201d he said. \u201cYou could sell the car and walk straight into town.\u201d<\/p>\n In Prahran, the former tenant of an apartment in a low-rise, vintage brick block was beaten to the keys in a four-way contest involving first home buyers.<\/p>\n The two-bedder at 2\/15 Kelvin Grove<\/a> sold for $635,000, against a reserve of $620,000. The price guide before the auction was $570,000 to $620,000.<\/p>\n The neat apartment, with a balcony and undercover parking, had been updated with new floors and sheer curtains. The 1960s-style pink bathroom was a nod to its retro roots, which younger buyers liked, agent and auctioneer Walter Summons, of Belle Property Armadale, said.<\/p>\n Related Article The bidding started at $576,000 and increased in amounts of $6000 and $4000, slimming to $2000 and $1000 once the reserve was reached.<\/p>\n The winning bidder was supported by her parents, and Summons said she was \u201ca little bit surprised and excited\u201d when the hammer dropped in her favour.<\/p>\n The former tenant, who had moved out before the apartment was refreshed and put on the market, was the underbidder.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was returning from a wedding in New York on a plane, so she sent a friend with instructions to bid on behalf,\u201d Summons said. \u201cAfter we did a bit of renovation to it, she fell back in love with it, and wanted to buy it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In Reservoir, a stately weatherboard passed in $50,000 short of its $1.6 million reserve, but two local families are in the hunt.<\/p>\n The character-filled, four-bedroom property at 1 Northernhay Street<\/a> had a quoted range of $1.52 million to $1.59 million, and stalled on a $1.55 million vendor bid.<\/p>\n Auctioneer and agent Nick Mylonas, of Fletchers Inner North, took an opening bid of $1.5 million from the crowd and answered with a vendor bid of $1.55 million.<\/p>\n Related Article With everyone in the crowd silent and playing their cards close to their chest, Mylonas consulted with the vendors before passing in the home at $1.55 million.<\/p>\n Mylonas said two families approached him after the auction, weighing up selling their homes in order to buy the Northernhay Street property. He had appraised both their homes during the week, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe good news is they said, \u2018We\u2019ll give you a call either tomorrow or Monday; we just need to tie up a couple of loose ends.\u2019 So, I think we\u2019re not far from doing a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f92dd491b4d67dafc630d3548f44e1118058e97b.jpeg\")
Mark Verrocchi runs proceedings at 2 Church Street.Eddie Jim<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/e792cefb11a7bea3601edbfbed88a19745ef9991.jpeg\")
The Brunswick home\u2019s atrium-style rear living area.Eddie Jim<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9e9c1a10ee609dcf1befdd1b0f0ac2ca8d91e9f8.jpeg\")
The selling agent said that at 270 square metres, the home was a good size for a single-fronted property.Eddie Jim<\/p>\n![\"Sandy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/6c2f6680fcf2109e1a4f6012464ff80e620f6bf2.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/697cb96dd19b8ffcc639abb991979d6352957ffb.jpeg\")
Young buyers liked the retro bathroom.Domain<\/p>\n![\"Ros](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784374219_529_06584f8324d56e0c4961e6b6a7b71c37a96c2b56.jpeg\")
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