A mother and her daughters almost missed out on buying their first home but a little help from a family friend saved the day.

The friend, who was a proxy bidder for the family, was late to the auction of 19 Ballara Street, Mile End (image above and below), in Adelaide, on November 12.

Fortunately, she arrived in time to put in bids for the two-bedroom property during a break in the protracted auction.

Midway through the 50-minute affair, the family turned up and went on to bid and won the keys with a $695,000 bid, Barry Plant Norwood Director Elesa Wood said.

“It was a great outcome and a lovely story for the family, their friend, the sellers and us …we were all in tears at the end,” Ms Wood said.

“The family have been renting for years and said the landlord kept threatening to raise their rent and boot them out.”

The friend was also chipping in to help them secure the charming two-bedroom house on 227sq m.

“They were so happy to finally be able to buy a home,” Ms Wood said.

“This is what real estate is all about … not just about making deals but helping people own a home.”

The 1915-built house is located in the eastern side of Mile End, and is close to shops, restaurants and the Henley Beach Road precinct.

Featuring a recent restoration to its sandstone frontage, the classic cottage home with a street presence retains many original features.

The auction was held in wet and wild weather as thunderstorms lashed Adelaide.