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The Grand Prix shut down Albert Park and Middle Park for the weekend. No starters, no race. Spray Farm has finally left the grid — for rather more than the $10 million + reported. Think somewhere over $13.5 million. One inspection, one bid. Race over. 29 Hopetoun Road started before a crowd of 80-ish. On the market […]

The news. Quick! 3 markets emerge: $5 million + Slow, thoughtful $2.5-5 million Same 5 hands a-waving, week in, week out $2.5 million – Free-for-all Hyperactivity fed by underquoting: It’s on again, led by a culprit agency which is dragging all the others down and causing wanton pain among buyers. Telling the innocents that a

While we keep hearing about the imminent influx of expat and Asian buyers at the top end, the way this year has started it’s still the same old story. It’s the locals, people. And, at least below $4 million, they are out in numbers. Five or more people vying for auctioneers’ attention. There’s more happening

Welcome to this year. May your voyage be a fulfilling one. What’s up at the top end? January was unusual. Three big transactions in town when, usually, there’s nothing to shout about. All, yes, homes which were carry-overs from last year (including Hopetoun Road) but in most years these kinds of sales would have been

If truth is the first casualty of war, in real estate it rarely even gets as far as the recruiting office. We’re hearing the whoops and hollers of agents celebrating a booming market, we’re just not seeing it. Not at the top. What we are seeing is some sales, some duds and a heap of

32 sleeps and then it’s jolly bloke in red suit time and everything goes to bed until around March. Panic, anyone? Not a great strategy. Yes, clearance rates are hovering in the late 60s, but that means there are still choices to be made among the remaining early 30s. And of that 30%, some have

So much in the current market seems to come down to the toss of a coin. The luck of the draw. The timing. Or that’s the talk. The entrails of chickens would make as much sense as some of the soothsayers out there. Yet there are forces at work which can be read: Sentiment, rarity,

5 selling weeks ’til Santa shows up. Panic, anyone? A couple of Mr Gillespie’s piles have sold well. As expected: 6 Washington Street 647 Orrong Road One agency is kicking goals. Better operators? Better stock? There are as many people as we have seen in a long time ready to part with $4-10 million or

Spring Carnival. As always a great deal of money is changing hands – including some at those places where horses are raced. And, as always, before reaching for your cheque book it is prudent to refer to some of the world’s pre-eminent authorities on daylight robbery. The Marx Brothers: Punters, bookies, jockeys and horses. One

The streets are alive with the sounds of estate agents murdering Happy Days Are Here Again. Just listen to the din. Everything is up, up, up. (And already there’s talk that it’s all happening too fast and can’t last.) Meanwhile, the top end is as usual singing its own song. Or songs. There are vendors