‘I’ve never seen something like that’: Auctioneer Tom Panos shares his real estate horror story

·

No real estate auctioneer ever imagines to be the subject of intimidation from a bikie gang or a knife attack, but desperate times have called for desperate measures for those wishing to buy a property in Sydney’s red-hot market. 

As the housing market heats up, prices go through the roof, and buyer competition becomes tougher than ever, auctioneers like Tom Panos have accepted to expect the unexpected.  

Mr. Panos tells the Daily Telegraph he had the most bizarre of his real estate nightmares come true. 

“I was auctioning this Newtown home and had been talking it up on TV and during the auction, saying what a great place it was etc and the vendor was obviously paying a lot of attention,” Mr Panos says. 

“After the home was sold under the hammer we went inside and the vendor said: ‘I’ve been listening to everything you have said and you’re right, this is paradise. I’ve decided I want to stay so I’m not selling’”.

Mr Panos put his foot down and grappled with the former owner over the fact that he had sold their house. 

“He was OK the next day but he definitely had cold feet,” he says. 

“I’ve never seen something like that before or since,” Mr Panos said.

Tom Panos has 35 years of experience in the industry and this certainly wasn’t the first or last time he’s witnessed the worst in home buyers. 

The live stream of his $1.425m sale of a home in Belfield, in southwest Sydney, was flooded by dozens of ‘racist’ comments among the two-to-three million who tuned in in April.  

Source: The Daily Telegraph 

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Latest News

Greek rapper Negros Tou Moria earns spot on best albums list

The Guardian has named Negros Tou Moria’s album Mavri Ellada (Black Greece) among its 10 best global albums of 2025.

Vergina Christmas Kalanda brings community together in a celebration of faith and tradition

Families and community members gathered in large numbers on Sunday, 14 December 2025, for the annual Vergina Christmas Kalanda.

Leipzig Australia plans $80m olive grove and business precinct in SA

Leipzig Australia, led by chief executive Frank Vounasis, is planning a $80 million, 1000-hectare olive grove near Waikerie, SA.

Victorian Minister Nick Staikos sets 2.75% cap on council rates to ease cost pressures

Minister Nick Staikos has set Victoria’s council rate cap at 2.75 per cent for 2025–26, saying it will ease household cost-of-living.

Investor Sotirios Arambatzis loses bid to reclaim ‘cult’ farm funds

Sotirios Arambatzis has failed in a NSW Supreme Court bid to recover more than $700,000 he invested in a mid–north coast property.

You May Also Like

Christopher Bouggas charged with murdering two men at Redfern boarding house

Christopher Bouggas has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder after the bodies of two men were found at a Redfern unit.

‘We are not afraid’: Turkey says it won’t be deterred from gas drilling in East Med

Turkey’s Deputy President said his country won’t be deterred from continuing drilling for oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Melbourne seminar to look at role of Greek cotton merchants in American Civil War

Alexander Billinis will present an online-only lecture on the often overlooked role of Greek cotton merchants in the American Civil War.