Tiny Houses Go for Big Money at Charity Auction : Benefit: Bidders pay as much as $18,000 for each of 11 child-sized structures at Newport Beach event. The money raised will go to a nonprofit organization which helps the temporarily homeless.

NEWPORT BEACH — The real estate market may be suffering, but the bidding was fast and furious Saturday for chances to buy 11 kid-sized playhouses auctioned to raise money for those who are temporarily homeless.

Project Playhouse ’92 raised nearly $80,000 for HomeAid, a nonprofit organization that builds or renovates shelters for the needy. Event spokeswoman Donna Hahn said the auction will be held again next year because of its unexpected success.

Staged near the newly opened Hard Rock Cafe at Fashion Island Newport Beach, the event featured one dozen structures donated by Orange County developers. One playhouse was raffled off while the others were put on the auction block. Among the playhouse designs were a tugboat, castle, modern beach house, New England fire station and a replica of the Hard Rock Cafe. Each playhouse was worth at least $25,000, Hahn said.

For three weeks before the auction, children had been allowed to romp through the miniature houses that had been displayed at Fashion Island Newport Beach and the Tustin Marketplace.

Minimum bids were set at $1,000 on each of the 11 playhouses auctioned, with the most expensive playhouse going to Greta Duerksen of Covina for $18,000. Called the “Hope Cottage,” Duerksen’s playhouse featured elaborate details, including a sink, designer wallpaper and an outdoor slide, Hahn said.

While Duerksen’s two toddlers may still be too young to appreciate their new toy, other children who attended the event also voted the Hope Cottage their favorite too, giving it the “Kids’ Choice” award, Hahn said.

The replica of the Hard Rock Cafe was given away as part of a drawing won by a Lake Forest man, she said.

“We’re very pleased, we will do this again next year,” said Hahn, who added that all proceeds would be used to help people who need temporary shelter. “This really went past our expectations. We figured we’d raise about $50,000.”

Staff writer Gebe Martinez contributed to this story.