A cluster of people carrying placards and flags caused a bother at several lower north shore auctions on Saturday, when they turned out to protest foreign ownership of real estate.

The presence of the group, shouldering signs that bore phrases such as “Keep the Aussie dream alive” and “We don’t your want dirty $$”(sic), motivated auctioneers to bring the waiting bidders indoors for privacy at several properties.

Auctioneer Brian Cannan of Think Real Estate held the auction of 17 Lobelia Street, Chatswood, in the property’s backyard to avoid any disruption.

“In 30 years I haven’t had protesters before, and I would prefer them not to have been there, but you react to things as they come,” he said.

“We decided to move inside because we didn’t want them to come inside, but they weren’t intimidating so they didn’t disrupt the auction.”

The two-bedroom home sold for $1,355,000, more than $50,000 over the reserve price, after a tough fight behind closed doors between three of the seven registered bidders.

“There were more giggles than offence, people were in shock that there were people with placards than anything else,” Mr Cannan said.

The group was met with a more hostile reception outside 4 Sydney Street, Artarmon, where neighbours described their presence as “not a good look” for the area.

“We are a multicultural suburb, so I doubt this is what people want to see here at all, it just seems like racism on the street,” neighbour Chris McNally said.

Another neighbour who declined to give his name said it was upsetting that children had witnessed the group’s antics.

“There are lots of kids here today and I can hear them asking what is going on – those signs are just disgusting,” he said.

The four-bedroom Artarmon property was withdrawn from auction and negotiated privately between two buyers. It is unknown whether this was due to the presence of the protesters.

Selling agent John McManus of LJ Hooker Willoughby described the group as “pests” when they arrived.

The leader of the group, the Party for Freedom Australia, Nick Folkes, said the aim was to address an issue he believed the federal government had ignored.

“Most of these people at auctions look like they just came off the plane looking to buy a property” he said.

“We are not aggressive, we aren’t saying go home – the real issue is foreign ownership and we are politically incorrect, because if we have PC signs we won’t get the message across.”

Mr Folkes attracted the ire of the Chinese-Australian student community when party volunteers letterbox-dropped flyers earlier this year, calling for a protest on the same issue.