Barfoot & Thompson's auction numbers pass 300 a week

Property

As Barfoot & Thompson's auction numbers continue to rise the sales rate stabilises around 60%

24th Nov 20, 1:49pm by Greg Ninness

Ever increasing auction numbers appears to be the new normal in Barfoot & Thompson's auction rooms.

The agency auctioned 318 residential properties last week (14-20 November), up from 290 the previous week, 258 the week before that and 243 the week before that.

It means the number of homes that passed through Barfoot & Thompson's auction rooms last week was 49% higher than a month earlier.

The sales rate appears to have settled to a new normal, with sales achieved on 59% of the properties auctioned last week, compared to 60% the previous week and 59% the week before that.

Auckland's central suburbs contributed the most properties (82) to last week's auctions, followed by the North Shore with 73.

The highest sales rate of 75% was achieved by the Northland properties auctioned, although their numbers were low with just four properties on offer.

The sales rate was lowest for the the North Shore properties auctioned, with sales achieved on just under half (49%) of them (the table below gives the breakdowns by district).

Details of the individual properties offered and the results achieved are available on our Residential Auction Results page.

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21 Comments

by printer8 | 24th Nov 20, 1:53pm 1606179223

Seemingly currently no sign of a cooling market.

by J.C. | 24th Nov 20, 2:30pm 1606181402

What it actually means is more property going to market via auction.

by printer8 | 24th Nov 20, 2:55pm 1606182927

J.C.
Basic Real Estate 101 really: selling via auction is more expensive for the vendor but these costs are worth it when it is a sellers market (it is strong) with competing bidders and potential of high price with lots of FOMO OR a buyers’ market when the market is weak with lots of sellers but few buyers and desperation on the part of sellers.
It is not the later.
Your comment seemingly suggests denial of reality. :)

by Poppyc | 24th Nov 20, 3:00pm 1606183249

Nearly everything was already going via auction through barfoot in the auckland market over the last few months.

by b21 | 24th Nov 20, 5:15pm 1606191310

Actually it is pretty obvious now that things are stabilizing and getting back to the peak from a couple of months ago looks unlikely, specially now more banks are self-imposing LVR restrictions and unemployment is not going down.

by printer8 | 24th Nov 20, 6:10pm 1606194658

b21
We look forward to REINZ report out mid December.

by b21 | 24th Nov 20, 9:02pm 1606204956

We do indeed. As trustworthy as it has always been, I am confident some will be happy to see hyperinflation once again.

by xingmowang | 24th Nov 20, 1:56pm 1606179397

Labour party is doing well on post Covid economic recovery by letting the real estate sector and related sectors go higher and higher.

good job.

by Bugger | 24th Nov 20, 2:31pm 1606181461

Yeah right, I'm waiting for a politician to put the boot in and say "Higher house prices and inequity are a good thing, as it creates a rental market and at the end of the day, you do need someone to pay your mortgage".

by Flying high | 24th Nov 20, 10:11pm 1606209070

50 percent of the population are renters, almost 50 percent voted for legalizing cannabis... I don't know but is there any connection between these statistics. Also does Helen Clark have any responsibility for causing either or both

by b21 | 24th Nov 20, 5:17pm 1606191446

This comment should go in comic sans.

by Nifty1 | 24th Nov 20, 3:09pm 1606183768

Auctions really are a con. It's fascinating seeing the techniques auctioneers use to squeeze money out of bidders. How much regulation is used around this? Its a high pressure environment which doesn't seem to safe guard buyers.

by printer8 | 24th Nov 20, 3:20pm 1606184403

Nifty
Really great for vendors in a strong market as currently with competing bidders - this why it’s called a sellers market.
Really great for buyers in a weak market with no competition amongst bidders and vendors sadly (for them) having to face up to prices well below their expectations. That’s why it is called a buyers market.
Your comment negates consideration of the later situation.

by Nifty1 | 24th Nov 20, 3:34pm 1606185280

How's that relevant to my comments? Just because its a sellers market doesn't mean you should be able to use high pressure tactics to force someone to over commit in the heat of the moment. Its not just standing in a room bidding, the problem is the antics that happens around this.

by printer8 | 24th Nov 20, 4:49pm 1606189794

Nifty,
In that case, welcome to the real world. If you personally don't like "high pressure" auctions don't bother attending.
Equally, a lot of pressure on sellers also - especially if the property doesn't meet reserve.
Reality is that most bidders go along with a set figure in mind so will bid up to that which is not really high pressure at all, and if they stick to that and miss out they would probably have done so anyway. No different to putting in an offer or a tender situation.

Note: As to pressure on buyers, I have previously posted that last year I sold my mother's house which was marketed on a tender with fixed period. The property sold for over 25% more than we expected and the same above the second highest tender which was at our expectation. That buyer would have saved a considerable amount (at our loss) if it had been an auction in which case they would need to have only bid $1 more and not 25% more than the second highest tender.

by pdemp | 24th Nov 20, 4:46pm 1606189579

Yes. We recently bought and it amazed me how much the process is staked to in the vendor’s and agent’s favour. You really feel like a lamb to the slaughter as an amateur trying to buy a house to live in going up against seasoned pros out to make money. The system seems to be designed to maximise money spent.

by printer8 | 24th Nov 20, 4:59pm 1606190367

pdemp
That's in a hot market.
it can be a case that the system seems to be designed to minimise - not maximise - money spent.
The buyer - in a cool or buyers' market without competition - has the power. A bid falling well short of reserve provides considerable argument on the part of the buyer of a price well below expectations. "Well, nobody else was prepared top my bid, and that's what the market is telling you" is a pretty strong argument on the part of the buyer and a lot of pressure an disappointment on the part of the vendor.
Again; if you don't like auctions don't attend.

by Nifty1 | 24th Nov 20, 5:23pm 1606191800

If you're buying in Auckland it's next to impossible to avoid auctions, not practical advice. You're clearly not understanding the point.

by printer8 | 24th Nov 20, 6:27pm 1606195675

Nifty
I clearly understand the point. This is the real world; auctions are something that have been around and accepted method for eons.
It is just seems that the current market conditions and auctions don’t suit you.
Remember for every auction it is the vendors choice to ensure they get the best price . . . and most purchasers will be happy knowing that they need only pay no more than “$1” more than the second highest bidder.
Maybe it is simply you lack confidence and therefore stressed. Good reason as to why one should always have a support person (unless very well experienced at auctions).
For a potential FHB - in which case a support person other than spouse is most strongly recommended.
Best of wishes if you are currently buying. I readily understand that it is a frustrating time for FHB in particular.

by Nifty1 | 24th Nov 20, 7:33pm 1606199601

All the wrong assumptions sorry. I've been on both sides of the buy/sell and seen how ugly it is. Maybe you need to revisit an auction room and see how it actually plays out these days.

by mikekirk29 | 24th Nov 20, 7:32pm 1606199533

Interesting that NSC should be below the average for auction clearance.
It has around 20% more OTM compared to a year ago, whereas the Auckland average is virtually same as last year. Rodney has 16% fewer OTM than last year. My metric of new listings per day in Auckland is pretty steady: a week ago, in prev 6 days, the average was 185. Today it is 173 for last 6 days. Hibiscus Coast has about 9 listings per day, compared to only 5.4 last year at this time. Turnover up, prices up. Market has stabilised at a high level but not quite as manic as September.