Ram Garung and his son Ruben will be moving into 89 Sutherland St, Mascot, with the rest of the family. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

A Mascot house sold for $1,705,000 on Saturday — $205,000 above reserve — with five of the six registered bidders competing for the unrenovated home at Saturday’s auction.

Robert Allan Property’s Robert Micallef said the result for four-bedroom deceased estate at 89 Sutherland St is good indicator of the improved property market as spring comes into view.

“We’ve seen the seen the bottom of the market and people are cautiously getting into it,” Mr Micallef said.

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The facade of 89 Sutherland St, Mascot (above) with room interiors (below).

And where possible, Mr Micallef said families rocked by the Mascot Towers disaster — and similar events elsewhere — were opting for houses over apartments.

“If people have the choice of a house or an apartment, they’re going for the house lock stock and barrel,” Mr Allan said.

Bidding had started at $1.4 million and risen in $20,000, $10,000, $5000 and $1000 increments.

Winning bidder Ram Garung (above) and Allan Micallef encourages some of the other registered bidders (below).

Families looking to upgrade from an apartment or semi had come from Alexandria, Kingsford, the CBD and Kensington, all attracted to the large level 630 sqm block.

It was Ram Garung, who runs a cafe in Kensington with his wife, Bimala, who were the successful purchasers.

Mr Micallef said the market had changed drastically since the election.

“Before the election, we probably would have only had one or two people show up due to the lack of confidence,” he said.

Auctioneer Robert Micallef (above) and some of the crowd (below) at Saturday’s auction.

“But now people can get money and they know who is in power for the next three years.”

As confidence improves, he expects prices to start to increase, though he’s not expecting them to “skyrocket … just in small increments, but at least it’s positive.”

Mr Micallef and his co-principal brother Allan have had string of good results in Mascot and surrounding areas recently, including a three-bedroom home at 41 Hughes Ave attracting 11 registered bidders and selling for $1.1 million.

Freestanding houses start at about $1.2 million.

25 Sparks St, Mascot (above and below), has a $900,000 price guide.

Another agent, Ray White’s Roy Nassar has a cute two-bedroom semi at 25 Sparks St, Mascot, on a 150 sqm block up for August 17 auction with a $900,000 guide.

“Why would you go for an apartment when you can have this house with no strata worries,” Mr Nassar said.

He’s expecting it to be popular with a young couple starting out or an investor who could expect it to rent out for $600 a week.