A Ryde home owned by the Johnson family for over 70 years has sold to a first homebuyer for $2.37m.

17 Pooley St attracted nine registered bidders with five active, selling almost $400,000 above the vendor’s price hopes.

Lead agent BresicWhitney’s Samuel Gregoric said the home was popular with young families.

“It’s not a development site so young families knew they wouldn’t be up against developers,” he said.

The opening bid started at $1.8m, where Mr Gregoric had been guiding.

“It was strong bidding there wasn’t too many pauses,” Mr Gregoric said.

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Peter Johnson, Lynne Johnson and Trevor Johnson successfully sell their family home. Picture Thomas Lisson

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“The price got to where it was because there was an emotional attachment to the property, homes like this don’t come up on the market very often,” he said.

There were two bidders battling it out for the majority of the auction.

The under bidder almost won the auction, with their competitor announcing “they can have it, they clearly really want it, this is silly.”

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However, a surprise final bidder came in just in time to outbid them.

The winning bidder was first homebuyer Yimi Huang, supported by her boyfriend Yao Li.

“We waited and wanted to see how many bidders there were and if it went out of our budget we would let it go,” Ms Huang said.

Plenty of interest in the Ryde home. Picture: Thomas Lisson

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“We are so excited and nervous,” Mr Li said, who added the couple had missed out at other auctions.

“We have been through all the frustrations and all different emotions, so I really empathise with the other bidders,” Ms Huang said.

Ms Huang had purchased the home and said Mr Yao would move in with her once the couple got engaged.

“I had help from parents, its so hard to buy in Sydney without that help.”

Auctioneer and BresicWhitney director, Thomas McGlynn. Picture: Thomas Lisson

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Lynne Johnson, accompanied by her husband Peter and two sons Trevor and Daryl, was feeling a “mixed bag of emotions,” selling her parents home of 70 years.

“I’m pleased its gone to a nice couple,” she said.

Ms Johnson had grown up in the home, her mother 96 years old had moved into a nursing home, which the profits from the sale would help pay for.

She never expected her childhood home to sell for the price it did.

“Real estate is crazy right now … but it is a lovely home.”

Ms Johnson said they had “so many,” lovely family memories in the home.

Agent Samuel Gregoric with sellers Peter, Lynne, Trevor and Daryl Johnson. Picture Thomas Lisson

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“Riding my scooter down the drive way hoping I’d stop before the road. Christmas parties and Mum’s cooking,” she said. “There was always so much food.”

The home still had the original 1955 Kookaburra stove.

“It’s like brand new, she’s kept it immaculate and it looks beautiful,” Mr Peter Johnson said.

“I loved ‘Nanna cakes’,” their son Trevor said. “She would always cook them and bring them over, and she was really good at a roast dinner too,” Ms Johnson added.

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