Fire-damaged Brunswick house with squatters sells for $1.15m

Ash and water damage from the fire can be seen in one of the home’s bedrooms. A fire damaged Brunswick house invaded by squatters and where buyers had to inspect by torchlight sold a day before it was supposed to go to auction this week. The 232 Victoria St property had been expected to sell for $960,000-$1.05m, but wound up making $1.15m after a buyer came forward wanting to stop it going under the hammer. Ray White Coburg’s Haitham Ataish said the sale had proven a significant surprise, with more than 70 groups inspecting the residence in the lead up to it changing hands. RELATED: Melb renters coughing up price of a new car annually 5000 property investors flee market after landlord tax change Albo buyer ban to hit Melb auctions this week “It was pretty surprising, honestly, I wasn’t expecting that many people to come through,” Mr Ataish said. The agent noted that the eventual buyer had returned four times to inspect the property, which had suffered smoke damage when one of the bedrooms caught alight after a candle was left burning near curtains. Nobody was home at the time. “And throughout the campaign we had to deal with unannounced visitors; because squatters were in the home ...