Apartments ranged between $240,000 and $8.7 million at weekend auctions

The former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser failed to sell his Hawthorn home at weekend auction.

Despite competition between two bidders, the three-bedroom house (above) passed in at $1.87 million after the slow auction kicked off at $1.7 million.

The reserve was $1.975 million, with later negotiations seeing the top offer increased to $1.885 million, the agent told The Herald Sun.

Baltic pine floorboards and an exposed brick open fireplace were design features.

Auctioneer Anton Zhouk said Fraser had updated the bathroom in 2007 and Fraser was looking to upsize in the local area with wife Kylie Sutcliffe and their two children.

Fraser, currently the development coach at Cartlon Football Club, spent $610,000 on the classic Victorian home in 2002 when it was bought from then team mate, Nathan Buckley who had paid $390,500 three years earlier.

The top weekend sale across the nation was a two bedroom apartment in one of Sydney’s tightly-held apartment blocks that sold for $8.715 million.

Located at 2502/2 Philip St, (below) The Quay offering sold to the neighbours, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

It was $965,000 above reserve with through Ettiene West of Morton advising four of the 10 registered bidders got to participate.

The 25th floor apartment that overlooks Circular Quay and the Botanic Gardens last sold in 2009 for $7 million and in 1998 for $4 million.

The 253 sqm space had been partially refurbished.

A villa unit at Sunshine in Melbourne sold for $245,000 to rank as the nation's cheapest weekend auction sale.

Located at 4/136-140 Wright Street, (below) the one bedder offered through Douglas Kay Real Estate has been a $250 a week rental until November.

The neighbouring one bedroom villa had sold two months ago at $242,000.

The national weekend preliminary auction clearance rate remains strong despite last autumn auction volumes increasing marginally, according to CoreLogic.

The property data firm says that Melbourne had the highest preliminary clearance rate at 77.3 percent, one of four capitals with success rates in the 70s.

The auction activity across the capital cities increased slightly this week, up from 2,824 last week to 2,850 this week, while this time last year auction volumes were lower, with 2,480 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities.

This week’s preliminary average clearance rate across the combined capitals was 74.6 percent, increasing from 73.1 percent over the previous week and up from 67.7 percent one year ago.

There were 1,350 Melbourne auctions this week, making it the busiest capital city. Across the 1,155 reported results, 77.3 percent were successful this weekend.

The number of auctions held and the clearance rate across Melbourne this week were very similar to last week, when 1,326 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 77.9 percent was recorded.

"Interestingly, the clearance rate in Melbourne is yet to fall below 75 percent so far this year," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said. 

The weekend's strongest performing Melbourne sub-region was the Outer East with 88.8 percent of auctions clearing.

Melbourne's top sale was a four bedroom house at Canterbury at $4.75 million.

The 1996-built Parlington Street (below) offering, last sold in 2010 for $3.15 million, sits on a 967 sqm of landscaped gardens with pool.

Some 1,086 Sydney homes were auctioned over the past week with preliminary results showing 76.2 percent were successful, increasing from 74 percent last week across 1,075 auctions.

One year ago, 811 auctions were held across Sydney and a clearance rate of 73.2 percent was recorded.

Ryde recorded the strongest Sydney clearance rate of 90.9 percent across 46 auctions, followed by Sydney's inner West at 88 percent.

There were 159 Brisbane homes taken to auction this week, with 109 results reported so far. The top sale was when Ray White sold a four bedroom house at Spring Hill for $1.452 million.

Located at 429 Gregory Terrace, (below) the three level property had been renovated since last sold.

Brisbane's preliminary clearance rate was 56 percent, up from 46.3 percent last week and stronger than one year ago, when 41.7 percent of the 192 properties taken to auction were successful.

Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 54.9 percent across 111 auctions this week, down from 62.9 percent across 116 auctions last week. 

At the same time last year, 125 Adelaide homes were taken to auction, with 52.6 percent recording a successful result.

In Perth, 46 auctions were held this week, and of the 14 reported results, 71.4 percent were successful.

Last week, 50 auctions were held and the clearance rate was a lower 35.3 percent.

This time last year, 58 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 30.6 percent was recorded.

Canberra’s clearance rate of 75.9 percent across 93 auctions, up from the previous week, when 83 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 74.4 percent was secured.

Over the same weekend last year, the clearance rate was 70.5 percent when 109 auctions were held.

A six bedroom 1961 Red Hill house sold for $1.612 million was the top sale.

Located at 23 Scarborough Street, (below) the 1297 sqm property has retained much of its original features.