First-home buyers battle for $640k Glenroy townhouse
Matt and Shani Panopoulos had owned the two-bedroom townhouse for eight and a half years, having paid $580,000 in 2017 as first-home buyers.
All five auction bidders on Saturday were also first-home buyer hopefuls.
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The young family were thrilled to see it go to another buyer starting their journey.
'We bought it in winter, brought our son home in winter, and now we're handing it over in winter, it feels like a full-circle moment,' Mrs Panopoulos said.
Their favourite feature was a custom-built deck added with Shani's father, who had mates with spare materials.
It became the family's second living area.
'We had coffee there in the mornings, summer dinners, and a little play area for our son,' she said.
'It's a space that really became the heart of our home.'
During Covid lockdowns, the second bedroom doubled as a home office, and the parkland across the road became their daily retreat.
'It was perfect,' she said.
'We had nature just across the street and somewhere peaceful to clear our heads. I don't think we realised how lucky we were until we really needed it.'
The couple have since upsized closer to extended family, but said they would miss the quiet, neighbourly street and the strong sense of community Glenroy offered.
'It was the perfect first home, easy to care for, beautifully designed, and in a great spot close to everything,' Mr Panopoulos said.
'We were very lucky to find it.'
Ray White Glenroy agent Abdullah El Hosari handled the sale and said interest was strong from the start, with the final result soaring $90,000 above the top of the $500,000-$550,000 price guide.
'There's no body corporate, and it's been so well looked after,' Mr El Hosari said.
'You could feel the love and care the moment you walked in.'
Mr El Hosari added that limited supply in the winter market had helped fuel strong demand.
Ray White Victoria and Tasmania chief auctioneer Matt Condon sold the home under the hammer to a first-home buyer in front of a crowd of onlookers.
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