A TWO-bedroom unit has topped $700,000 at a competitive auction in Aspendale.

The sale came as the property type accounted for six of the week’s top 10 sales in the region.

Hodges Mentone director Nelson Machuca said the two-bedroom unit at 8A Lawrence Ave attracted a strong response throughout its campaign.

“We had in excess of 80 groups through, and 60 per cent of those were first-home buyers,” he said.

Mr Machuca said first-home buyers attended the July 22 auction, but were beaten to the keys by an investor. Downsizers also showed interest, he added.

“There were six buyers there, but only three ended up bidding on the day because it just went too quickly for them,” Mr Machuca said.

He said bidding began about $590,000 and went up in mostly $10,000 rises until the property was called on the market at $680,000.

The property sold for $711,000, to an investor from the bayside area, he said.

Mr Machuca said the unit’s position less than 500m from the bay was its biggest appeal.

“The location was number one — it’s a stone’s throw from the train station, shops and beach,” Mr Machuca said.

Its generous proportions with a spacious living zone and courtyard also appealed, he added.

Timber floors and an open layout are highlights of the property’s interior.

Two-bedroom units accounted for six of the top 10 sales reported to CoreLogic in the Mordialloc Chelsea region for the week ending July 23.

Others sold included 9A Ivan Ave, Edithvale, which sold for $724,000 at auction with O’Brien Chelsea, and 4/2 Robertson Pde, Aspendale, which was sold for $701,000 by Biggin & Scott Aspendale.

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Mr Machuca said two-bedroom units in the area were beginning to increase in price and push from the high-$600,000 range into the $700,000s, and this was likely to continue.

“I think we’ll start to see it push up because of the stamp duty savings first-home buyers are getting,” he said.

Competition for two-bedroom units was also strong due to the range of buyer types they attracted, Mr Machuca said.

“You’ve got downsizers, investors, first-home buyers, professional couples,” he said.

Mr Machuca said the market in the $600,000-$700,000 range had been especially active in the past few weeks, with an increase in the amount of buyers about.