California dream has $1.2m price

A RENOVATED california bungalow in Geelong West has sold for $230,000 above reserve at a quick fire auction on Saturday.

Geelong couple Lauren Lake and Greg Allen (below) paid $1.2 million for the four-bedroom character house at 107 Clarence St.

Mr Allen held his nerve with confident bidding as several rivals in the large crowd made a play for the property.

Buxton, Newtown agent Tom Butters took an open bid of $930,000, with the $970,000 reserve quickly eclipsed.

Mr Allen said the couple had been looking for a family home to raise their one-year-old daughter for some time. “We’ve missed out on a few,” he said A stylish renovation has added a large openplan living area, surrounded by decks on two sides, to the rear of the house.

The front section has been reconfigured into four bedrooms and two modern bathrooms.

“It’s a beautiful family home and a great entertainer,” Mr Butters said.

BELMONT

A MELBOURNE investor has trumped firsthome buyers after paying $150,000 above reserve to secure a central Belmont property auctioned on Saturday.

Bids were flying from all directions as eight parties battled for the keys to 68 Roslyn Rd.

Hayeswinckle, East Geelong agent Tiffany Simpson said the three-bedroom house just around the corner from High St eventually sold for $630,000.

“We had eight bidders and once again it was a mixture of first-home buyers, growing families, downsizers and investors,” Ms Simpson said.

“This property actually went to an investor from Melbourne.”

She said the location and potential rental returns were the biggest attraction of the brick house on a 652sq m corner block.

LARA

TWO local buyers resorted to $100 bids in a last-ditch effort to secure a Lara property auctioned on Saturday.

One of the woman eventually bought 31 Country Gardens Drive for $604,3000 after a lengthy battle before a 50-strong crowd.

Ray White, Lara agent Terry Cleary said bidding opened at $450,000 and continued to climb above the $500,000-$550,000 guide.

“Two local ladies fought it out and got down to $100 bids,” Mr Cleary said.

“The lady who bought it is going to be moving into the house once she sells her acreage property.”

He said the flexibility of the property, with its three living areas, three bedrooms, outdoor entertainment area, a double garage and shed appealed to buyers.

HIGHTON

AN Avalon family with four primary school aged children has found a renovated Highton house the perfect fit.

The family paid $995,000 for the fourbedroom house at 210 Mt Pleasant Rd (above) at auction on Saturday.

McGrath, Geelong agent Tom Luxton said strong competition from two parties pushed the result above the quoted price range of $900,000-$950,000.

“It was the size of the house. Just because it was so generous and had four bedrooms plus a study,” Mr Luxton said.

A rear extension made great use of the 1000sq m north-facing yard with an outdoor entertainment area and swimming pool.

HIGHTON

PROFESSIONAL buyers opted to take their chances in post-auction negotiations rather than put their hand up for a Highton development opportunity on the day.

There were no bids from the crowd when 5 Taylor Court went to auction on Saturday and Gartland Property, Geelong agent Nathan Ashton (above) passed in the three-bedroom property on a vendor bid of $800,000.

He said he was later negotiating with buyers in the $820,000 to $850,000 range and expected to finalise a sale within days.

The original brick house on a 790sq m block is located in a quiet court just 100m from the Highton Village shops.