The single person was among three first-home buyers, including two couples, who battled for the four-bedroom house on 672sq m at 3 Orion Avenue (pictured below).

The property went to auction on December 9 with $580,000-$$638,000 price hopes and sold under the hammer for $640,000, according to Barry Plant St Albans partner Alex (Chau) Tran.

“The auction was slow to start but picked up as soon as the property was called on the market,” he said.

“Strong bidding smashed the $620,000 reserve.”

The three bidders from the Brimbank area were attracted to the potential of the property and the size of the house and block.

The house on an elevated position and within walking distance of Delahey Village shopping centre and schools features four big bedrooms plus an ensuite, according to Mr Tran.

“While it needs some TLC, it’s a big family home on a big block in a prime location,” he said.

The buyer who had been looking for a home in the area for nearly three months was over the moon with their purchase and planned to renovate the property, Mr Tran added.

Also in the first week of December, another first-home buyer beat off two other buyers to snap up a three-bedroom house at 6 Wahgunyah Drive (pictured below), for $730,000.

“This property sold within two weeks of hitting the market,” Mr Tran said.

While the sellers did not renovate the property, they kept it well-maintained and made a profit with the sale, he added.

Also in St Albans, a large six-bedroom house on 766sq m at 38 Henry Street (pictured below) sold to an investor for $708,800.

The buyer was one of two who made offers to secure the potential-packed property, which included approved planning permits for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit to be built at the rear.

“He plans to rent out the property for about $540 per week,” Mr Tran said.

The seller, who was also an investor, wanted to offload the property due to rising interest rates, he added.

While demand was strong for properties in St Albans, buyers were selective, according to Mr Tran.

“Homes that are presented well and are near the train station, shops and freeway are sold quickly,” he said.

Older homes in need of renovation stayed longer on the market, compared to modern or updated properties that could sell within a week or two of listing, Mr Tran added.

And in Cairnlea, a five-bedroom house at 20 Longwood Avenue (pictured below) sold a day before its scheduled December 9 auction, according to Barry Plant Sunshine partner Victor Hsu.