Matthew Groves has sold a three-bedroom house at 19 Centaurus Street, Inala, for $860,000 prior to auction, with local first-home buyers drawn by the property’s granny flat potential.
The campaign pivot
Matthew Groves watched the market shift beneath his feet during what became a 78-day campaign for 19 Centaurus Street in Inala. The three-bedroom house went live on 25 March with a price-based strategy, but by mid-campaign, the federal budget had dampened investor interest across Brisbane’s south-west.
“We had to adjust the price and then the owner decided it was time to go to auction,” Matthew says. “The federal budget and the lack of investors currently in the market meant we needed a different approach.”
That flexibility paid off when local first-home buyers recognised something that could help with the property’s affordability.
What buyers actually wanted
“Being that it was Inala, lots of buyers were looking to maximise the rental return,” Matthew explains.
“They needed a yard big enough to put a granny flat so they could rent the granny flat as well as living in the house, therefore getting rent and helping with the mortgage.”
The 693sqm block offered exactly that opportunity. The successful buyers — local to Inala and entering the market for the first time — saw the dual-income potential as their path to homeownership.
“It was the fact that there was enough room for the granny flat that attracted them to the property, and that it was a renovated property so they could move straight in, not do any work, and then concentrate on building the granny flat,” Matthew says.
The fully renovated house featured air-conditioned bedrooms, polished timber floors, a front balcony, and one bathroom plus single garage — ready for immediate occupation while the buyers planned their income-generating addition.
The neighbourhood appeal
Inala sits in Brisbane’s south-west as a multicultural, community-focused suburb with a consolidated civic centre offering retail, healthcare, and government services. The neighbourhood attracts families and long-term residents who value locally-focused amenities and the area’s diverse character.
The result
The property sold prior to auction on 11 June for $860,000 — a result that had the interstate vendor investors ecstatic, according to Matthew.
For Matthew, the campaign demonstrated what matters in the current Inala market: not just square metres or presentation, but practical income potential that helps first-home buyers bridge the affordability gap.
The buyers weren’t chasing a dream home. They were chasing a strategy — and Matthew helped them find the right property to execute it.
About the Agent
Matthew Groves is the Selling Principal of ilookproperty Brisbane, established in Forest Lake in 2014. With over 15 years of experience and a 4.7-star rating, Matthew and his team serve Brisbane’s south-west communities where they live and work, delivering expert results for buyers, sellers, and investors. Visit Matthew’s website for more information of call Matthew on 0416252289.