First-Time Buyers Snag Homes Under Median in Bendigo Auctions

First home buyers purchased four properties at auction in Flora Hill and Strathdale during June 2026, all settling below the Victorian median of $490,000.

The trend matters now because the Victorian First Home Owner Grant of $10,000 remains available for established homes while remote workers continue relocating from Melbourne, tightening supply in outer Melbourne markets and pushing demand into regional centres like Bendigo.

Winning streets and buyer tactics

In Flora Hill, a three-bedroom weatherboard on Havilah Road sold for $465,000 on 12 June to a couple using the grant plus Bendigo Bank’s low-deposit product. Two weeks later a unit on Somerville Street in Strathdale fetched $472,000 under the hammer, again to first-time purchasers who had attended five prior auctions together. Both sales cleared at prices 4 to 6 per cent below the March quarter median for those postcodes.

Local agents report that buyers who pre-qualify for the state grant and limit their search to properties under $500,000 are avoiding investor competition that still dominates the $550,000-plus segment near the Bendigo Art Gallery precinct.

Grant deadlines and next steps

The current grant round closes applications on 30 September 2026, with contracts needing to be signed by that date for eligibility. Prospective buyers can also access the federal Home Guarantee Scheme through participating lenders at the Bendigo branch of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank on View Street.

Check the latest auction clearance rates published by CoreLogic each Friday and book building inspections early, especially for the weatherboard stock still common in Flora Hill and the 1970s brick veneer homes that dominate Strathdale. Contact the City of Greater Bendigo planning counter for any heritage overlays before bidding.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.