Tents and swags lined Empress Boulevard last week when more than 50 people camped outside Kerleys Coastal Real Estate to snap up the 50 lots on offer at Oakdene estate.
Kerleys Stage 21 release proved so popular that buyers started camping days before the Saturday 9am deadline.
The sale was on a first come, first served basis.
Kerleys managing director Damian Cayzer said on Thursday afternoon a queue ticket protocol was introduced.
“All people in the queue were given a number which held their position in the queue until 7.30am the following morning,” he said.
“The queue reformed at 7.30am Friday and continued to grow throughout the day.
By Friday afternoon about 40 buyers had set up camp.
“All people registered could return by 7am Saturday morning and retain their position in the queue, rather than camp onsite overnight,” Mr Cayzer said.
“Security personnel who were continuously onsite, issued queue ticket numbers as people arrived to join the queue throughout the night and early hours of Saturday morning.”
By 9am on Saturday there were 55 people, plus family and friends, registered in the queue.
The first allotment sold was Lot 817 to an Ocean Grove family. By 1pm, 49 of 50 lots were sold with five people in the queue electing not to buy. Prices ranged from $386,000 to $628,000.
Mr Cayzer said purchasers included first-home buyers, families and retirees.
“Many were locals, some came from Melbourne while others were from country Victoria and there were two interstate purchasers,” he said.
“It was a remarkable sale and provided an insight into the pressure to purchase by the coast. People from all walks of life are choosing to move to the coast and enjoy the unique lifestyle coastal living offers.”
