Behind the Sale: Discretion, Demand and Diversification

The story of how homes are bought and sold on Sydney’s Lower North Shore has long been shaped by well-followed, public campaigns. While that remains, a parallel story is emerging - and it’s being driven by a market that’s diversifying.

In recent months, homes across Mosman, Northbridge and North Sydney have sold publicly and off-market by BresicWhitney, reflecting a broader change across Sydney’s lifestyle markets. 

Some were listed in a familiar way, such as 23 Upper Avenue Road Mosman, and 4 Oswald Street, Mosman. Both established family homes, ready for a new owner to make the homes their own. Others, including 22 Glover Road Mosman; 3 Parker Street Northbridge; 15 Spencer Road Mosman; and 12 Adderstone Avenue North Sydney, sold quietly on BresicWhitney’s website: bw.com.au. These homes did not appear on the major property portals, and were matched with and sold to qualified buyers already within the BresicWhitney network.

These sales not only represent the continued demand for quality property across the Lower North Shore, but an evolving set of preferences - and wider understanding - of the various methods in which homes are bought and sold. BresicWhitney’s Scott Thornton said that while many sellers would continue to seek the visibility of an ‘on-market’ campaign, ‘off-market’ sales were expected to increase in frequency locally over the next 6-12 months. 

“We are seeing more sellers leaning into the discretion, and the cost efficiencies, that an off-market approach can deliver. It can also lead to shorter selling timeframes because the buyers we’re speaking to are already engaging with, and following the market,” he said.

Buyers are also adapting – and not only those who are looking to purchase immediately. 22 Glover Street Mosman, which sold off-market prior to a planned on-market auction campaign, being one example. The buyer was a former client of Mr. Thornton’s. “They had stayed close to the market with the intention of making another move in the near future. We knew the type of home that appealed to them, and the price point they would make a move within. This was a strong and efficient result and I think is an example of how impactful the approach can be in the current market,” he said. 

Mr. Thornton added there was a wider understanding that homes - whether it be a prized federation home, or a contemporary townhouse - are not always advertised the same way. “Those looking to move into, or upsize within the Lower North Shore, are aware that others are looking to do the same. People are becoming more savvy about what’s available, and positioning themselves to hear about opportunities when they arise,” he said. 

As to the approach that’s most effective, that’s influenced by a unique and often differing set of criteria. “The home itself, its location, the sellers’ wants and needs, the type of buyer we feel it’s most suited to, and the conditions of the market at that time it’s being offered. All of these are really important considerations for any property.”

With the Lower North Shore remaining one of Sydney’s key lifestyle destinations, amidst a wider and complex macroeconomic climate, this diversity in how homes are bought and sold is set to grow. For some, familiar visibility remains the preference. For others, a quieter, more-targeted approach is proving to be just as powerful.