PHOTO: There were just 180 scheduled auctions in Sydney on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rae

A first-home buyer dropped $1.48 million at auction on an “entry-level” Lane Cove home to live next door to family.

Three of the nine registered bidders threw their hat in the ring, even on a Saturday when most Australians were focused on the federal election.

It was one of just 181 auctions held in Sydney on Saturday.

By evening, Domain Group had recorded a 55.9 per cent clearance rate from 102 reported results.

There were 524 auctions this time last year on a weekend unaffected by a federal poll and 880 in 2017 at the height of the market.

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