In Coorparoo, a local builder bidding by phone from a boat in Vietnam, beer in hand, has nabbed one of the worst houses in one of the best streets for $1.43 million.

The three-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage at 37 Wylie Avenue sits on a 653-square-metre block and last sold 49 years ago for $23,000.

The agent’s sole brief was to ensure his clients made a profit.

Four bidders registered and three actively bid, competing in $10,000 and $15,000 rises until the hammer fell.

Co-selling agent Karl Cheung, of Place Camp Hill, said the buyer recently completed a build down the road and planned to transform the old cottage.

“When you first walked into the home it felt like being in a time capsule – it was like the ’70s,” Cheung said.

“But the two houses next door had been renovated so it actually helped buyers see almost a before and after.

“A local family ended up bidding against two builders … it was a textbook auction, and this tells me sentiment is slowly building back up in Brisbane.

“I would say this was one of the worst houses in one of the best streets in Coorparoo and it had great demand.”

The home was one of 139 scheduled auctions across south-east Queensland. By Saturday evening, Domain recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 15 per cent from 87 reported results, with 19 homes withdrawn.

In Norman Park, a young family stared down a buyer’s agent to win the keys to a “stunning” Queenslander, paying $2.31 million after a fierce auction that defied the broader market slowdown.

The five-bedroom home sits on a 607-square-metre block at 30 Macdonald Street and last sold for $1.175 million seven years ago.

Bidding opened at $1.9 million, with three out of four registered bidders exchanging aggressive $100,000 rises to $2.2 million.

From there, one buyer dropped out, leaving the family and buyer’s agent to throw out fast $10,000 to $2.3 million.

Auctioneer Shane Hicks, of Place Camp Hill, then called the home on the market, sparking two final bids before the hammer fell.

“The young family were absolutely ecstatic,” Hicks said.

“The buyer’s agent was pulling out all the tactics during the auction and staring them down … but they stayed cool and calm.

“Buyer’s agents tend to always come back quickly when someone bids, but [the buyer] did the same, and it showed that confidence at an auction is the way to win.”

All four registered bidders were young couples with kids, drawn to the home’s large block and sought-after school catchment.

The home had been rented out since its owners moved to the Sunshine Coast a couple of years ago, but they had now decided it was time to sell.

Hicks said the result was another sign of market confidence returning.

“I have found each week away from the budget the mood has improved,” he said.

In Oxley, a rare mid-century unit block that once served as a train master’s residence and a government-run aged care disability facility sold to an investor for $1.615 million.

The double brick building at 14 Blackheath Road comprises three units on a 607-square-metre block, including a three-bedroom home upstairs and two renovated one-bedroom units below.

Seven bidders registered, including multi-generational families, siblings buying together and investors.

Five actively bid after proceedings opened at $1.2 million and by $1.5 million two remained, duelling until the home sold.

Selling agent Holly Bowden, of Ray White Wilston, said the building sparked strong interest from the moment it was listed.

“If you dialled back the clock by even a month and looked at the market narrative, there was a lot of trepidation,” she said.

“But this is an historic property with so many different possibilities.

“We even had four young family members looking to buy it together as their first home alongside investors and a company who was looking at buying it for their staff.

“But in the end one of the investors got it. He plans to rent out all three … he just loved how well maintained it was.”

Bowden said the vendor had lived there for 10 years and had moved around each of the units while he renovated them.

“I think in the last four weeks in particular that tide has changed. Investors are speaking with their accountants and those using their self-managed super fund to buy ahead of the August 10 deadline are out in force,” Bowden said.

“I think they’ve gotten their heads around the fact that things have changed … and the ones leaning in are taking opportunities like this.”

LJ Hooker head of research Matthew Tiller said the citywide clearance rate nevertheless reflected a cautious market.

“We are seeing auction numbers hold at lower levels at the moment and there’s been less listings overall … we’re not just seeing buyers be a bit cautious but also vendors holding off selling,” he said.

“I think everyone just needs to get used to the new tax policy … but there are a few other things happening as well, including the expectation that the RBA might increase rates in August.”