Jackson Rudduck with his wife Clare and new-born daughter Millie Florence. Jackson left the hospital to bid at the auction to secure their first house. Picture: Troy Snook

With less than four hours sleep over two days, the rookie father organised a bank cheque, ran the contract past his solicitor, inspected the house for only the second time and prepared himself to bid at his first auction.

“My wife Clare had only seen the house once — the day before she gave birth — so I wanted to go back and see it again and check out the area,” Mr Rudduck said.

Inside 26 Lewis St, Balgowlah Heights which was being sold for the first time since built.Source:Supplied

He was one of five parties bidding on a an old three-bedroom house in Balgowlah Heights and the minute the hammer fell he called Clare to say he had the house and a back garden for baby Millie.

Newborn Millie’s backyard, her dad rang the hospital to tell his wife about the purchase.Source:Supplied

“We have been looking for a year and had missed out on so many properties,’’ he said.

“And they always seemed to sell for way over the prices we were expecting,” he added.

The solid brick home at 26 Lewis St, Balgowlah Heights which sold for $1.675 million.Source:Supplied

So when the solid old home at 26 Lewis St came up for auction, baby or not, Jackson was determined to give it his best shot.

Jackson and Clare’s first child was due on Friday but Clare’s waters broke on Thursday and baby Millie arrived late Thursday night.

The dated kitchen of the double-brick house. Five groups were after the home.Source:Supplied

Jackson stayed with Clare and his new daughter and didn’t sleep Thursday night. All day Friday he ran around preparing for the auction and getting his paperwork in order. He only slept four hours on Friday night. Then on Saturday armed with his bank cheque and identification he turned up for the afternoon auction. Minutes later he was the owner paying $1.675 million for the property.

Agent Angus White, of LJ Hooker Balgowlah, said he was amazed to see the new father bidding.

“The poor guy has had zero sleep but he didn’t want to miss out on another property,” Mr White said.

“Thesse are the lengths people will go to to secure a home. Stock is very limited at the moment,” he said.

The number of properties available on the northern beaches is at a historic low.

Currently there are 836 homes up for grabs, according to CoreLogic but fewer than 265 are priced below $1.5 million.

The auction clearance rate for the northern beaches is 79 per cent this week with 38 homes offered and 30 selling