4 Corners journalist Michael Brissenden buys inner Sydney, Newtown terrace

The ABC 4 Corners journalist Michael Brissenden - who last year televised a report on Australia's debt fuelled housing boom suggesting it could come to a crashing end - bought an inner Sydney terrace at weekend auction.

But with the boom tailing off, the Newtown home cost $1,675,000, just $10,000 above its official reserve.

Three of the five registered bidders participated at the onsite auction which had come with a $1,475,000 buyers guide.

Brissenden, who The Sunday Telegraph reported opened the bidding at $1.4 million, has been Canberra based during which he'd previously been the 7.30 political editor, host of AM, defence correspondent and an overseas correspondent.

The single storey, three bedroom terrace had last traded at $880,000 in 2010, almost doubling in price over the intervening eight years.

It sold at $51,000 in 1984.

Brissenden's influential 4 Corners report, Betting on The House contributed to the public debate that led to the finance industry royal commission.