An unrenovated four-bedroom semi in Crows Nest changed hands at auction on Saturday for $2.51 million — a result that left little doubt about where buyer appetite for the suburb currently sits.
The brick home at 146 Chandos Street, located in a conservation area, had been guided and reserved at $1.9 million. When the hammer fell on a sweltering afternoon, the final price sat $610,000 above that figure.
Eight parties had registered to bid, with five of them actively competing for the keys. The crowd was a familiar cross-section of the current Sydney market — investors alongside young families, some of whom had brought parents along for moral support or a second opinion. Bidding kicked off at $1,725,000 and moved in increments ranging from $75,000 down to $1,000 over the course of about half an hour before the Mosman mother secured the result.
The buyer is now the proud owner of what selling agent Victoria Liu of Richardson & Wrench North Sydney described as a genuine renovation project — one with some unique upside. Sitting on a 335-square-metre block, the property has two separate entrances, one at the front and one at the back, prompting speculation among prospective buyers about its potential to function as two separate premises. Its location within a conservation area means demolition is off the table, which Liu said actually added to its appeal as a project home.
Auctioneer Ed Riley noted that buyer confidence across Sydney continues to hold firm, even as interest rates remain a live concern for many households.
The Chandos Street result was one of hundreds recorded across the city that weekend. Domain Group reported a preliminary auction clearance rate of 78.4 per cent from 459 results out of 784 scheduled auctions, with 68 properties withdrawn. Under standard methodology, withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold when the clearance rate is calculated.
For Crows Nest locals watching the market, Saturday’s result is another reminder of just how keenly contested well-located properties in the suburb remain — even when they come with a to-do list attached.
Published 9-February-2026
