Two-horse race: 63 Nepean Highway, Aspendale, sold for $2.56 million.
Family buyers were out in force at auctions across Melbourne on Saturday, with many paying a premium to secure a sale before Christmas.
In Port Melbourne, a young family looking to upgrade leapfrogged one downsizer and three other upsizers to buy 220 Princes Street.
They purchased the double-fronted Victorian for $1,402,000 from hockingstuart's David Wood after paying $52,000 over the reserve.
Mr Wood said family homes with "a scarcity factor" in the area were performing well.
Meanwhile, Rod Richardson from hockingstuart's Mentone office also sold a luxurious beachfront property in Aspendale for a premium.
It was a two-horse race between two family buyers for a 20-year-old four-bedroom house at 63 Nepean Highway before the buyers won the keys for $2.56 million, $160,000 over reserve.
Three family buyers battled it out for a single-level three-bedroom house at 1A John Street in the heart of Kew.
Jellis Craig's Richard Earle knocked down the 697-square-metre property down to a family with children enrolled in private schools nearby for $2.7 million - $450,000 above reserve. The group reported a preliminary clearance rate of 81 per cent.
Family buyers were also triumphant at the auction of a four-bedroom house in Malvern, complete with north-south tennis court and heated pool.
Industry insiders told Domain Numberr 5-7 Woodmason Street sold for $4.69 million after competitive bidding from four parties.
Marshall White achieved a preliminary clearance rate of 88 per cent.
A new agency on the block also made waves in Hampton East, setting a new price record for the suburb.
Alex Spanidis of Branon Real Estate sold the four-bedroom house at 4 Lonsdale Avenue for $1,471,000, about $150,000 above reserve.
