17 Taniyha Place, Sunshine North

Sold $1 million Agent Douglas Kay Price range $880,000+

This five-bedroom house has set a new Sunshine North price record after smashing through the $1 million barrier. The previous record of $945,000 was achieved by a five-bedroom-plus study home in the River Valley Estate last June. Auctioneer Douglas Kay opened the bidding for Taniyha Place at $880,000 and four keen buyers were soon in the game for the 788-square-metre property, just around the corner from the popular Northumberland Road shopping strip. The house was on the market at $950,000 and eventually sold to a family. Agent Peter Kay said an influx of Vietnamese migrants had stimulated local businesses, and there were currently no vacancies in the retail strip. Mr Kay said Sunshine North had good access to primary schools and Victoria University’s Sunshine campus, and there had been significant investment in the area such as Melbourne’s largest ambulance station. Christina Zhou

105 Grey Street, East Melbourne

Sold $3,891,000 Agent Caine Price range $3.2 million-$3.5 million

Deceased estate auctions usually attract a big crowd and are sometimes perceived as an opportunity to bag a bargain. However, the family buyers of this rare free-standing house in East Melbourne paid $141,000 over the vendor’s reserve to secure the keys. Auctioneer Paul Caine told the crowd this elevated, circa-1981 residence was just one of 80 free-standing homes in the pocket suburb, and the aspect of the park across the road was unlikely to be interrupted by development. A man kicked off the auction with a low-ball offer of $2.6 million, which was immediately trumped by Mr Caine’s $3 million vendor bid. A woman offered $500,000 more, but it was only the beginning of what would become a bidding war. Fresh competition emerged at $3.82 million, but the first man persevered and bought the home. Christina Zhou

5 Ti Tree Avenue, Bonbeach

Sold $1.89 million Agent Hocking Stuart Price range About $1.7 million

This older weatherboard home wasn’t much of a looker, but the sparkling ocean, just metres away, was enough to capture a buyer’s heart. Auctioneer Garry Donovan juggled bids from four contenders, who braved heavy rain for the chance to win the keys to the three-bedroom property, with beachfront decking, established gardens and hardwood flooring. The winning bidders for the quaint but comfy little home were a couple from Beaumaris, a few suburbs up the Nepean Highway towards the city, who wanted a change of life. Mr Donovan believed the price was a per-square-metre record for Bonbeach. Emily Power

5/313 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Sold $665,000 Agent Harcourts Price range $650,000-$700,000

Anyone buying a city apartment needs to consider potential view and light loss down the track. This certainly was a talking point among neighbouring owners of this unusual, three-level unit on the top floor of a slender art deco building, which is next to a larger 1930s building that could be redeveloped. Auctioneer Dionne Wilson delivered an upbeat pitch, zeroing in on the quirky floor plan, which appealed as much to tenants as to home buyers, she said. But the 22 onlookers remained mute, save for a babbling toddler who was offered a crayon to sign the contract with by one enterprising salesman. The property, which has two Juliet balconies, was passed in on a $650,000 vendor bid. The unit sold later to an owner-occupier couple for $665,000. Chris Tolhurst

37 Tintern Avenue, Toorak

Passed in $5 million Agent Kay & Burton Price range $4.8 million+

This SJB Architects-designed home with a pool has bells and whistles aplenty. A mix of stone and wood materials tie the eight-year-old property’s internal and external spaces together; and hidden away is a zoned heating and cooling system, surround-sound technology, a fitted laundry with a drying cupboard, a butler’s pantry, plus multiple walk-in wardrobes. There was just one problem: no one bid. Auctioneer Gowan Stubbings highlighted the “great blend of formal and informal zones” and the four-car garage, but passed in the ultra-modern three-bedroom house on a $5 million vendor bid. The agent received a late offer above $5 million and negotiations continue. Chris Tolhurst

69 Urquhart Street, Hawthorn

Sold $3,105,000 Agent Marshall White Price range $2.6 million-$2.8 million

A substantial property in Melbourne’s elite suburbs was always going to have plenty of admirers. On a grand corner block, the 1930s property is a classic leafy east family home. The house had been in the same family for about 30 years, with a renovation, five bedrooms and a pool. Bidding launched at $2.75 million and four contenders were in the mix. With the house on the market at $2.9 million, auctioneer James Tostevin soon allowed bidding to grind to $1000 increments. A determined couple, in it early, prevailed and inked the contract. Emily Power

9 Beckley Street, Coburg

Sold $1.37 million Agent Nelson Alexander Price range $1.1 million-$1.2 million

Prospective buyers arrived by bicycle to make million-dollar-plus bids for this renovated California in Coburg. And they wasted no time – the auction, which started as the sporadic rain did, was over in less than 90 seconds. Auctioneer Michael Fry would have needed eyes in the back of his head to see the first offer of $1.1 million. The first bidder then battled with a young couple, in bursts of $10,000, until $1.31 million. A third contestant entered the fray and more $10,000 offers came. The young couple won the home for $1.37 million before a cold crowd of more than 60. Marc Pallisco

88 Monash Street, Sunshine

Sold $720,000 Agent Douglas Kay Price range $670,000+

Some 40 people – a mix of young couples, downsizers and developers – competed for Roselyn, a neat California bungalow, which sold for its reserve price of $720,000. After two bidders pushed the offer from $660,000 to $710,000 – which was referred – two new contestants entered the fray, each offering $5000 more. But after calling the “lucky 88” house on the market, auctioneer Douglas Kay couldn’t squeeze another bid and sold it to a young couple. The two-bedroom property is in a residential growth zone, with potential to be replaced with a medium-density development. Marc Pallisco