AFL grand final day auction avoidance, with few vendors willing to risk missing the bounce
Grand final day is one of the biggest days in Melbourne’s calendar. Statistically, one in 40 Melburnians will be in attendance at the MCG, with many more glued to screens around the city’s pubs and homes.
Bounce is at 2.30pm, Saturday September 29, with celebrations and commiserations continuing all through the night.
So how many vendors are game enough to risk their luck trying to sell a house on that one day in September? Apparently just 33, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The weekend before there are about 700 auctions scheduled, according to APM, and 500 on the following weekend.
Last year there were 50 auctions on grand final day and 50 the year before.
It's not an interruption in Sydney given the NRL grand final is at 5pm on Sunday, September 30, although school holidays has a lightening impact in both major capital cities.
Anthony Orellana from YPA Estate Agents Taylors Lakes is taking a four-bedroom Sydenham house to auction at 12.30pm on the day.
He says he’s not worried about losing interest to the big game.
“If you have something that people want they’ll come regardless,” Orellana says.
“How many times do you buy a house throughout your lifetime? It doesn’t happen that often.
“I’m not worried about missing the game. Carlton isn’t playing anyway.”
He hopes to sell the property for $320,000 to $350,000. He says he has four registered bidders who will be there on the day.
Property Observer has tracked down 29 of the auction listings:
14 McDonough Lane, Vermont, Vic 3133
25 Cappella Court, Glen Waverley, Vic 3150
2 Percy Street, Fitzroy North, Vic 3068
1/36 Prince Street, Essendon North, Vic 3041
50 Brooke Street, Northcote, Vic 3070
1/42 Webster Street, Malvern East, Vic 3145
11 Mount Pleasant Grove, Armadale, Vic 3143
2 Shearer Drive, Rowville, Vic 3178
85 Clayton Road, Oakleigh East, Vic 3166
232 Waterloo Road, Oak Park, Vic 3046
91 Barry Street, Reservoir, Vic 3073
2/10 Deschamps Street, Lilydale, Vic 3140
2/7 Dalgan Street, Oakleigh South, Vic 3167
18/1 Gatehouse Drive, Kensington, Vic 3031
23 Paget Street, Hughesdale, Vic 3166
12 Holroyd Court, Blackburn South, Vic 3130
13 Bass Street, Box Hill, Vic 3128
202B Edward Street, Brunswick East, Vic 3057
U1/8 Coppin Close, Mitcham, Vic 3132
5/1438 Centre Road, Clayton, Vic 3168
100 Phoenix Street, Sunshine North, Vic 3020
4 Albert Court, Burnside Heights, Vic 3023
4 Woodstock Place, Springvale South, Vic 3172
118 Huntingdale Road, Mount Waverley, Vic 3149
2 Eucalyptus Place, Meadow Heights, Vic 3048
41 Bungarim Wynd, Sydenham, Vic 3037
1/27 Larlac Street, Hadfield, Vic 3046
106 Cuthbert Street, Broadmeadows, Vic 3047
5 Osterley Close, Caroline Springs, Vic 3023
The REIV’s Robert Larocca says there aren’t many auctions compared with other weekends, and they’re almost all in the morning.
"It is traditional that there is a low number of auctions on grand final day.
"Those that do have an auction always ensure it’s before the ball is bounced,” Larocca says.
"Overall it has no impact on the state of the market as everyone just avoids the afternoon for auctions, and those that are interested in one in the morning make the effort to turn up."
Melbourne's weekend clearance rate was 60% from the 619 auction results reported to the RIEV over the September 15 and 16 weekend. It was 57.5% in Sydney, according to APM.