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For some (inexperienced) property investors, it’s often a burning issue: where is the next property hotspot going to be? It’s also a popular media topic and property spruikers love to claim to know where the next one will be.
Yet despite the hype around hotspots, they’re actually often irrelevant when it comes to property investment.
That’s because property investment is a long-term strategy requiring a 10-plus year view, while so-called hotspots are, more often than not, a short-term phenomenon.
To assess a suburb’s long-term investment potential, it’s crucial to know what factors will affect its value over time. Here are 5 features you can incorporate into your assessment of a suburb’s potential: 
 - Activity centres
Look for smaller local centres or larger shopping complexes that feature food and beverage offerings, retail stores and service providers, which can be utilised by local residents. This type of amenity will be valued by owner-occupiers and renters alike, meaning demand for suburbs that feature good activity centres will be higher. 
 - Close to major employment centres
Given the continued urban sprawl of many Australian capital cities, people want to live closer to the area where they work (such as city CBDs) to reduce their commutes. Suburbs closer to major employment hubs will typically be in higher demand. Furthermore, investing in suburbs on the urban fringe can limit capital growth as there is typically an abundance of land that can be developed, which adds extra housing supply that puts downwards pressure on prices. 
 - Public transport links
Growing capital cities are facing increasingly congested roads.  Public transport is therefore an important benefit to any suburb. Being in walking distance to good public transport links such as a train station or bus interchange is a highly sought-after feature. 
 - Parks and other recreational amenities
Parks, activity centres, playgrounds and other recreational amenities not only make suburbs looks more family friendly, but they also provide locals with some great lifestyle options, making the area more attractive and highly valued.
 - Schools and child care facilities
Many families want to live in specific catchment zones that feature high-performing public schools. Our research has uncovered as much as a 12% difference in prices for similar stock on 2 nearby streets, where the higher-valued street was in a catchment zone for a top-performing school whereas the other was not. You can check the performance of public schools on the NAPLAN website.  
Investors looking to invest in property in the coming years should take a long-term view rather than rely on hot-spotting. By focusing on the fundamentals, such as the above 5 features, you will be better positioned to find an outperforming property.
For more insight into the do’s and don’ts of property research, download your free copy of our latest ebook: <a href="https://wvw.momentumwealth.com.au/ResearchEbook?utm_source=Property+Observer&amp;utm_medium=Ebook&amp;utm_campaign=Ebooks" target="_blank">”How to find investment-grade properties using professional research principles”. </a>
 
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abarclay-WPE22ytcZC

Forget the hotspots – the 5 suburb features for long-term property success

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Baby boomers are guinea pigs in many ways. They are Australia’s first generation to retire on superannuation. It is an experiment designed to relieve the public purse of the burden of Centrelink pensions.
One of the side effects of an experiment is mistakes. And there have been plenty of those. The problem is that trial and error with a lifetime’s worth of earnings isn’t a mistake you’d want to make, and one that many people can’t recover from.
Noel Whittaker said that one of the ways people can be undone, is by attending a free property investment seminar. “The seminars always follow the same pattern,” says Whittaker. It starts by illustrating the growing strain on government budgets along with the pressure of longer life expectancies. Attendees are encouraged to take action to avoid certain poverty. The message is a pity one, rooted in essential truth. It’s the spruiker’s solution to the problem that’s often skew-whiff.
“The killer blow is that the spruiker then convinces the victim that the best property for them is one that the spruiker, or its associates, will build on their behalf,” says Whittaker.  
Warning signs abound with dodgy property investments. Although, obviously not all investments touted at seminars are sour, Noel Whittaker has seven warning signs that you’re dealing with a questionable investment:  
1. You haven’t initiated the contact
Whether it be an offer or phone call for a “free” property seminar, you usually won’t have sought out the contact, they’ll have found you. Once you’re in, they’ll draw you in and ramp up the pressure for the sale.  
2. They claim they are the only one who can find the deal for you
The spruiker’s aim is to sell you a property at well above its value so they can make a large profit for themselves. Contrast this with the common trait of successful property investors — who almost always search for properties themselves, or through a buyer’s agent they’ve contacted.    
3. A building contract is involved
From the outset, you’ll be told that having a building contract in place is great as you won’t have to pay stamp duty costs. But this can give a spruiker the chance to extract more profit out of you by loading the building costs with their own commissions and profits.
4. They manage all the aspects of the process
A dodgy investment will have the one salesman who has a solicitor, mortgage broker, builder and property manager all working for him. This way it is hermetically-sealed environment with no independent advice reaching the client.    
5. The property is in a different state
Your own backyard is the one you’re likely to know best. When you’re taken from your knowledge zone, you rely on the information provided by property spruiker. This is where their powers of persuasion (and deception) can paper-over a dodgy investment.  
6. Your property is used as security
A spruiker will try to get you to use your own property as security for any home loan. This is a sleight of hand which is an attempt to avoid you getting a valuation for the investment property (which clearly won’t be worth nearly what you’re told it is — or will be when finished). Valuations are required when the investment property itself is used as security for a home loan.  
7. A flashy website with plenty of testimonials
Good looking websites create trust, and no one knows this better than a spruiker. Expect their websites to be flash, with plenty of success-story testimonials.
Adrian Barclay is a finance journalist from <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank">Finder.com.au</a>
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Seven warning signs of a questionable property investment: Adrian Barclay

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A study on borrowing with a friend by HomeLoanFinder.com.au has found that 83.5% of Aussies wouldn’t even conceive buying a property with on of their mates.
Of the 83.5%, 57.2% said they would worry that buying a place with a friend could ruin the friendship, while 26.3% wouldn’t dream of trusting a friend to make this high level commitment.


A surprisingly large 16.5% of Aussies think that purchasing a property with a friend is a great idea.


Buying a property with a friend will take the relationship to extremes normal friendships aren’t meant to endure. Which is why the rules of purchasing a property with a friend must be established early, with the ground rules of the process and relationship clearly spelled out.
1. Use a co-ownership agreement

Establishing the ground rules from the start will communicate very clearly to your friend what your expectations are and seriousness of the commitment. As a co-ownership agreement is a legal document, there will be clear steps to follow in a disagreement.


2. Decide how costs will be shared

Does your friend have a realistic expectation of some of the ongoing costs with property? Are they good with their money? How would you deal with a situation where your friend always says ‘I’ll get the next one’ when the bills start rolling in?
Managing a mortgage together takes maturity and strict budgeting skills. If your friend lacks self-restraint, your joint-venture could be doomed from the start.


3. Have an exit strategy

When buying property, it is worth using Murphy’s law to plan — whatever can go wrong will go wrong, in the worse possible way.


This shouldn’t be approached in a way that scares people out of borrowing, however buyers should plan properly for the many various troubles that could occur:
- one of you dies or becomes seriously ill or disabled

- a cut in pay or loss of job

- bankruptcy

- relationship changes with your friend or issues with spouses and families become harmful

- the property is sold at a loss


Have in mind your desired outcome from the beginning and how this can be realistically achieved and managed amicably.


4. Choose the correct title on the property

A word to the wise, if you ensure that you get the correct title on a property, it will make any future legal issues much easier if death, illness, debts or breakdown in a relationship occur.


There are two types of title to use which have very distinct implications in the case of death.


A ‘joint tenants’ title means that, following the death of one of the borrowers, the property will automatically transfer to the co-owner and not those specified by the deceased in a will.


Tenants-in-common is the other type of title whereby the death of a co-borrower results in the property rights passing onto those nominated in their will. This is the better situation for passing on assets to a spouse, relatives and dependents.


Each borrower should seek independent legal advice on this matter.


5. Know how it could affect your borrowing power

In the eyes of lenders, each co-borrower is liable for the full debt on the property, and with that, the possibility of servicing the loan individually may be used as the basis for your current expenses when you seek to borrow for another property.


Therefore, borrowing with a friend could reduce your future borrowing power. It is worth talking to a trusted financial planner or mortgage broker as to how this could impact the growth of your property portfolio in future.


6. Get adequate insurance cover

As your assets and financial commitments are about to dramatically increase, it is worth considering insurance cover to close this gap.
Further, if you are binded by a co-borrowing agreement, it is important that you are covered if the conditions are proscriptive during times of financial stress.


It is worth considering <a href="https://www.lifeinsurancefinder.com.au/insurance-types/life-cover-death-benefit/">different l</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lifeinsurancefinder.com.au/insurance-types/life-cover-death-benefit/">ife insurance options</a>, health cover, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifeinsurancefinder.com.au%2Finsurance-types%2Fincome-protection-insurance%2F&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AFQjCNFYYmH4qliEzgNpgBV_En2GfeEYqw">adequate income protection</a> and home and contents insurance are all worth considering.


Lets face it, buying a property with a friend is not a decision to be taken lightly. Do it with some careful thought and it could be a savvy move, but be prepared to face friendship tests along the way. With proper preparation, you may just find yourself gaining memories rather than losing friends in the long run.


Adrian Barclay is a personal finance writer for the comparison website <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/">HomeLoanFinder.com.au</a>
 
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Six important rules for buying a property with a friend

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Choosing between a three-year or five-year fixed-rate home loan is an important decision. Fixed-interest loans are great for your security, allowing you to lock in a predictable home loan repayment amount for the years ahead. The drawback is inflexibility. If you want to sell, renovate or make additional repayments in the near future, a fixed-interest loan may not be the best option.
Below are the considerations for choosing a fixed interest rate loan:
1. How long do you expect to hold the property?
Homeowners seem to be lulled into a false sense of permanence with bricks and mortar. While homes and units are there for the long-term, your financial commitment to it need not be. According to finance expert Noel Whittaker, “the average house changes hands every seven years and often people’s circumstances change and they are forced to change and incur exit costs.” So, if you lock in a five-year fixed home loan three years into your homeownership, on average, you may sell it before. This can be an extremely costly way to handle home ownership. The table below highlights an example of early repayments costs. The below is an example of the early repayment adjustment costs alone, before break fees are taken into account: Fixed-interest loan basic early repayment adjustment example:
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Original loan amount
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
$400,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Loan term
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
25 years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Fixed period
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
5 years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Repayment type
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
interest only
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Time elapsed
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
4 years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Difference between IR and market swap rate
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
2.315%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Early repayment adjustment
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
$9,260
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Less inflation adjustment (at 2.1% p.a.)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
$194.46
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Plus exit fee
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
$400
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="156">
Total early repayment adjustment
</td>
<td valign="top" width="156">
$9,465.54
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
For the above example, this borrower has repaid their loan on the fourth year of a five-year fixed home loan. There may have been reasons that have forced the borrower’s hand, such as to repay debts from business failure or to refinance for a crucial structural renovation. In this example, the loan was broken one year early on a five-year fixed loan at an early repayment cost of just over $9,000. This is a significant cost. If your sole purpose was to finance a renovation, you’ve just lost the funds equivalent to a nice new kitchen.
2. Do you need to renovate within this period?
Even something as simple as obtaining finance for a renovation is easier when you’re on a variable-rate loan. Variable construction and line of credit loans are the main financing tools for a renovation. So, if you’re planning to renovate, fixing the interest rate may not be the option. 3. Are you going to make significant additional repayments?
Not many fixed loans allow extra repayments. Lenders that do tend to only offer limited additional repayments at best. Also, you can’t get a 100% offset account on a fixed loan. This is great for offsetting interest charged to the loan — so the ability to pay off your loan early and reduce interest are severely limited on a fixed interest loan.
4. How to choose between three or five year loans?
Of the two ways to choose, one is a constraint, and one is an opportunity. Firstly, the constraint is the length of time that you can bear the inflexibility of the fixed-interest period. If fixing your interest rate for five years suits your situation, all the better. But if you are thinking of refinancing for a renovation in three years or even upgrading to nicer place, then a three-year fixed period is probably the longest period you should commit to.
This then leads to the second decision. If you’ve decided that you’re staying put for five years or more without renovation, then you have the enviable position of choosing based on interest rate and not interest rate speculation. At the time of writing, interest rates for three-year fixed loans were lower in terms of headline interest rates. If you were going on that factor alone, three-year interest rates would be the go. But, for the security of fixed interest rates for an extra two years, 0.56% p.a. may not be (time will tell — variable interest rates could also drop) isn’t too much to pay considering <a href="https://www.loansense.com.au/historical-rates">historical home lending rates</a><a href="https://www.loansense.com.au/historical-rates">.</a> The average standard variable home loan rate was above 8% p.a. in 2008 (CBA).
Why lock-in? Fixed interest rates can be a useful option for borrowers who desire security and have a strict budget as to the rise in interest rates that they can afford. A rule of thumb is to budget for interest rates at 2% above the current rate if you’re on a variable home loan. But, if you don’t want to budget for that scenario, a fixed loan is the way to go.
When is the best time to fix?
When fixed interest rates are lower than variable rates. Or while variable rates are likely to rise. Tips for fixed rate loans: - check which variable interest rate the loan reverts to
- if you want a bit more flexibility, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/split-loan-comparison">consider a split rate home loan</a>.
 Latest rates for 3 year fixed loans:
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Provider
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Loan name
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Rate
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
UBank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/ubank-home-loans/ubank-uhomeloan-3-year-fixed-rate-refinance-only">UHomeLoan 3 Year Fixed — Refinance Only</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.13% p.a.
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.26% p.a.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
eMoney
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/emoney-home-loans/emoney-plus-3-year-fixed-rate-full-doc-home-loan">3 Year Fixed Rate Full Doc</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.40% p.a.
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.48% p.a.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Aussie
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/aussie-home-loans/aussie-optimizer-standard-fixed-rate-home-loan">Optimiser 3 Year Fixed</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.39% p.a.
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.59% p.a.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Latest rates for 5 year fixed loans:
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Provider
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Loan name
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Rate
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
Aussie
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/aussie-home-loans/aussie-optimizer-standard-fixed-rate-home-loan">Optimiser 5 Year Fixed</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.69% p.a.
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.68% p.a.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
eMoney
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/emoney-home-loans/emoney-plus-5-year-fixed-rate-full-doc-home-loan">5 Year Fixed Full Doc</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.95% p.a.
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.71% p.a.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="78">
ME Bank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/members-equity-bank/me-bank-ultimate-offset-member-package-5-year-fixed">SMHL Ultimate Offset Account Member Package</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
5.79% p.a.
</td>
<td valign="top" width="78">
6.14% p.a.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
*A comparison rate includes both the interest rate and the fees and charges relating to a loan, combined into a single percentage figure
Adrian Barclay is a personal finance expert from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/" rel="nofollow">HomeLoanFinder.com.au</a>.
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How to choose between three-year and five-year fixed loans

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Refinancing is an expensive process to get wrong, yet Australians haven’t quite yet mastered it. According to the CBA MFAA Home Finance Index (Sept. 2011), only 64% of borrowers who refinanced felt they had benefitted from the process.
Why? Ill-considered switching can result in costs that are greater than the interest rate saving that can be readily recouped within two years.


Secondly, some fall for the trap of refinancing to an account with lower levels of customer service or less flexible features.
Here are a few considerations to think about when refinancing, along with tips to succeed with the transition:


1. Exit fees
Variable home loans financed before July 2012 can suffer from hefty exit fees. It is worth crunching the true costs of exiting against the potential gain.



There are also early repayment fees and discharge fees to factor in.



2. Refinance after a fixed loan period

Due to the high break costs still charged on fixed interest loans, it usually isn’t worth refinancing until the fixed interest period on a loan ends.



3. Ongoing fees

Check the comparison rate, because it is a good indicator of the ongoing fees. The headline interest rate alone does not indicate the true ongoing value of a home loan. 4. Credit record

If a borrower’s credit record has worsened since the original home loan was approved, this will drive up the cost of borrowing and potentially negate the benefits of refinancing. MyCreditFile.com.au is a way for borrowers to access their free credit file report. 



Searching for ‘specialist home loans’ (industry parlance for bad credit home loans) and comparing interest rates on such products will give an indication if refinancing is worthwhile following credit blemishes.



5. Property valuation
Falling property values don’t affect the equity of home loan until refinancing is attempted. hether your home has changed in value



An increased valuation will work in your favour — reducing the interest premium due to your lower loan to value ratio. A decreased valuation can cost you an increased interest rate premium or even push you into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/lenders-mortgage-insurance">Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)</a> territory. 



In addition, properties mid-renovation don’t value well, which makes refinancing mid-renovation challenging.



6. Entry fees &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;

Common refinancing costs include application fee, valuation fee, loan transfer fee, settlement fee and registration fee.



The showstopper is when a borrower's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homeloanfinder.com.au%2Fborrowing-power%2Fcalculate-your-lvr&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AFQjCNH3-KFwL-esQ9J0O58fvs-YhcL_6A">Loan-to-Value Ratio</a> (LVR) is still greater than 80%, as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/lenders-mortgage-insurance">LMI </a>can be payable in full again. This can cost in excess of $10,000. 





Tips for refinancing: 1. Request your credit record

2. Get a private valuation of your property

3. Approach your current lender first

4. Do your sums for costs leaving and entering a new loan

5. Don’t refinance until your LVR drops below 80% — otherwise LMI is payable in full, again.

6. Consider what you need in the whole loan package, from loan rate, flexibility, extra credit and customer service.

7. In general, construction loans can help save on interest while renovating, as interest only starts to be accrued on the payment installments that are withdrawn. Where can you go to refinance?

- Your bank

- A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/">comparison website</a>

- A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/mortgage-broker">mortgage broker</a>



Adrian Barclay a personal finance expert from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/">HomeLoanFinder.com.au</a>
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Six things to consider before refinancing: Adrian Barclay

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The question on everyone’s mind at the beginning of last month was undoubtedly around the RBA’s decision to cut rates. Anyone from property analysts to deposit zealots looked to lenders after 25 basis points were trimmed off the official cash rate. Now that the dust has settled, who passed on the full RBA cut? The good



Australia’s fifth largest lender, ING Direct, earns the gold star for the first to move after the RBA announcement. It passed on the full cut to its mortgage holders. You might remember it also passed the full rate cut on in October, too. 



Other lenders impressing consumers this year include newcomer Yellow Brick Road and MyRate. They all passed on the full quarter-percentage-point cut.



The not so good



The big four, including laggard ANZ, cut by only 20 basis points. Add to the naughty list Bank of Queensland, Suncorp, Bankwest, ME Bank, AMP, State Custodians and RAMS to name some of the vast majority of lenders who didn’t pass on the full cut. 



So why aren’t our lenders passing on the full cut to borrowers?



Lenders have argued the increased cost of funding is to blame. 



After the fallout from the global financial crisis settled, Australian lenders sought to protect themselves from the unstable overseas markets they previously gathered funds from. To do this they upped their sourcing of domestic funds through deposits from under<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2012/sp-ag-220312" target="_blank"> 40% in 2007 to a figure now around the 50% mark</a>. 



There has been an explosion in popularity in the humble term deposit because of this — it now makes up approximately <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2012/mar/5" target="_blank">45% of a major bank’s deposits, up from 30%</a> in 2007. Inevitably there are downsides to this. Lenders are now claiming increased competition in this sector is causing funding costs to skyrocket.



Borrowers may be angry that their lender hasn’t passed on the full rate cut, but let’s look at the RBA December decision itself. RBA deputy governor Philip Lowe admitted the last cash rate cut was partially because lenders haven’t been passing on previous cuts in full. In fact he says the cash rate is about <a href="https://www.news.com.au/business/breaking-news/banks-small-cuts-forcing-rbas-hand-lowe/story-e6frfkur-1226530773635" target="_blank">1.5% lower than</a> what it would’ve been if lenders were playing nice.



It’s true the last time the official cash rate stood at 3% was during the height of the GFC in 2009. The average mortgage rate then was <a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/2012/06/will-the-gap-between-the-cash-rate-and-mortgage-rates-come-back-to-normal-levels-not-likely-in-the-near-future/" target="_blank">5.8%</a> — much lower than what it is now. Even if we take the 150 basis points worth of cash rate cuts Mr Lowe is talking about conservatively, borrowers don’t have too much to complain about. 



Aside from the obvious, what’s changed since 2009 is that there remains potential for further rate cuts on the 2013 horizon. ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan believes about <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/rates-will-be-at-all-time-low-of-2pc-by-2013s-end-anz-economists-say/story-e6frg926-1226538403502" target="_blank">100 basis points worth of them</a>. In addition our lenders are safer and as a result at-call savings accounts and term deposits will experience more competitive rate battles in the long term. 



In my next post, I’ll share the predictions of the nation’s top <a href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/rba-cash-rate">RBA cash rate picking economists.</a>



Adrian Barclay is a personal finance expert at <a href="https://www.homeloanfinder.com.au/">HomeLoanFinder.com.au</a>

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Why Australian lenders don't pass on RBA rate cuts in full

Apartment development applications continue to tally up in Rose Bay following the NSW Gov's 2025 update to the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.

&nbsp;

Some $200 million worth of developments were filed in the space of four weeks at the back end of last year, with the likes of Fyve, HSN, Luxcon and Fortis all seeking to creating new apartment buildings.

The latest plans are for an amalgamated 3,105 sqm site across Conway Avenue, Fernleigh Avenue, and Carlisle Street. Developer Mathieson Property is planning <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dian-2-6-conway-avenue-rose-bay-nsw-2029">Dian</a>, 70 apartments across a new eight-storey building, perched on a ridgeline within walking distance of Rose Bay Town Centre.

The State Significant Development Application (SSDA), includes one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. Over 15 per cent will be dedicated as affordable, as per the NSW Government's push for affordable housing. The 17 apartments will be managed by a community housing provider for 15 years following completion of the building.

<img alt="First Look: Mathieson Property unveils eight-storey infill housing proposal ‘Dian’ in Rose Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f99c21d9-e69d-4a23-ae35-3244cfa0b4ae" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Rose%20Bay%20site_0.png?VersionId=67KSZfecJ3fvn1ewo9xxKrneRT.Nsjwd" />

MHNDU has designed the building around three central cores, with lower-level apartments arranged to maximise corner balconies and cross-ventilation. Upper levels are configured with dual north–south aspects to capture harbour views and solar access.

Private open space is a key feature of the scheme, with generous balconies and terraces throughout. Five ground-floor apartments would include private pools, while one upper-level residence will feature a rooftop terrace and pool. A communal room and adjoining landscaped outdoor terraces provide shared open space for residents.

<img alt="First Look: Mathieson Property unveils eight-storey infill housing proposal ‘Dian’ in Rose Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dd2e275f-c270-4eb1-9a02-2b573b8eb540" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Rose%20Bay%20front_0.png?VersionId=Us5jNEG6iLFLLMfQSzVBVdILYobBj.g9" />

The site sits around 365 metres walking distance of Rose Bay Town Centre and around 312 metres from regular bus services on New South Head Road, meeting the accessible area criteria under the Housing SEPP.

In early 2025, the NSW Government implemented significant changes to its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, altering planning controls to allow greater density for new apartment projects within an 800-metre walking distance of stations and town centres in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/woollahra-nsw-2025">Woollahra</a>&nbsp;Local Government Area, overriding existing local controls. Buildings are now permitted to rise up to six storeys within 400 metres of a station or centre, or eight storeys where affordable housing is incorporated, and up to four storeys within the 401 to 800 metre radius, which can increase to six storeys with affordable housing.

Joel Robinson

Mathieson Property unveils Dian Rose Bay apartment development

Lower North Shore developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hyecorp-property-group">Hyecorp</a> is preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine</a>, its new apartment development in Chatswood.

Set within a blue ribbon location on Archer Street, Celine will rise on a quiet, tree-lined enclave on the edge of the South Chatswood Heritage Conservation Area, a short walk from the connectivity which Chatswood is famous for.

Celine will deliver 122 one, two, three, and four-bedroom residences, designed to accommodate a broad range of buyers, from owner-occupiers to investors.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362610]

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fuse-architecture-0">Fuse Architects</a>, the 29-storey tower has been shaped to respond to its Archer Street setting, with a defined podium and slender upper levels.&nbsp;

The building incorporates a two-storey residential lobby at the corner, double-height retail fronting Bertram Street, food and beverage tenancies along a through-site link, and two levels of commercial office space.&nbsp;

A landscaped pedestrian connection between Archer and Bertram streets will provide a publicly accessible link through the site, extending activity at ground level beyond the building footprint.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362606]

Inside, Hyecorp is emphasising scale and flexibility. Most residences will incorporate multipurpose rooms, allowing buyers to configure additional living, study or guest space within their floorplan.&nbsp;

Kitchens have been designed with proportions more commonly associated with standalone homes, complemented by Gaggenau and Miele appliances, integrated refrigeration, Miele laundry appliances, Taj Mahal stone and bronze tapware.&nbsp;

Buyers will also have the option to tailor aspects of their home through the developer’s “Live Your Way” personalisation service.

&nbsp;

Resident amenity will include an outdoor pool, gym and sauna, as well as barbecue and lounge areas designed for shared use. Upper levels are oriented to capture eastern outlooks towards the Sydney CBD and surrounding greenery.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362633]

The location places future residents within 800 metres of Chatswood Interchange, providing access to metro and rail services, and within walking distance of Westfield, Chatswood Chase and the Chatswood Concourse. Parks including Chatswood Park and Beauchamp Park are nearby, along with a cluster of schools and private hospitals.

Celine continues Hyecorp’s focus on the Lower North Shore. The Australian, family-owned developer has been operating locally for more than 30 years, with recent projects including Audrey in St Leonards, now nearing completion, and Juliet in Roseville. With registrations expected to open soon, Celine represents the group’s latest addition to the Chatswood apartment market.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149594]

Hyecorp unveils Celine, a striking new apartment tower in the heart of Chatswood

International development company <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spg-land">SPG Land</a> has kicked off construction of the $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/paradiso-place-surfers-paradise-103-ferny-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Paradiso Place</a>, one of the highest value developments to get underway on the Gold Coast in more than a decade.

Located on a 1.15ha site stretching from Surfers Paradise Boulevard to Ferny Avenue, Paradiso Place, when completed, will deliver 845 residences across three residential towers. &nbsp;

Paradiso Place has been several years in planning by SPG, which has now pushed the green light on construction to meet pent-up demand from investors and owner occupiers.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185858]

The move follows minor amendments to the original design to cater to buyer demand, including the provision of more premium residential amenity, including private dining, lounge and events spaces for residents to entertain guests.

The three towers, comprising 41, 40 and 44 levels, will bring to the market 845 apartments with each tower boasting its own podium level interconnected skybridge to create a unique elevated ‘beachside village’ for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362500]

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed development will bring a broad range of residences to the market, most offering ocean views and all enjoying five-star hotel amenities with world-class facilities and the convenience ground level retail precinct.

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Construction of Paradiso Place has been made possible by SPG’s newly established SPG Built division partnered with experienced project management group Eastview Australia, a company that has supported the development of a raft of major projects on the Gold Coast over the past two decades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362499]

“It’s a very exciting time for Paradiso Place as we start construction,” said SPG Land Chairman David Wang.

“We have spent our energy refreshing design and assembling the best team and waiting for what we believe is the right time to start construction on one of the most exciting mixed-use developments to proceed on the Gold Coast since Oracle in Broadbeach and Circle on Cavill in Surfers Paradise. &nbsp;

“The local and interstate downsizer market is getting stronger, and we see Paradiso Place as the right project for our times right now. Our company has the capacity to deliver large-scale projects, and we are thrilled to be bringing this vision to reality.”

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185861]

SPG Invest, a company founded in Australia in 1998 with a focus on high-end real estate and premium hospitality assets, has delivered 56 projects in the Asia-Pacific region over the past twenty-five years, including The Peninsula Hotel Shanghai and the Global 188 twin-tower project in Suzhou and Cambridge Residences at Robina.

Paradiso Place will deliver a range of new apartments with two-, three- and four-bedroom layouts, as well as a collection of sub-penthouse and penthouse apartments across three levels. Prices start from $950,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185852]

“We have a very strong vision for Paradiso Place – we are creating a unique beachside residential community where contemporary design &amp; architecture and luxury materials combine with five star residents’ amenities and the convenience of a premium retail precinct on the ground floor”, said SPG Land CEO Dr Ying Rao&nbsp;

“We are confident that the community will recognise that this is more than just another development. Paradiso Place will bring a much-needed retail precinct and lifestyle hub to northern Surfers Paradise with premium retail, lifestyle and food and beverage options,” Said Dr Rao&nbsp;

“The retail precinct is critical to enhancing the lifestyle amenity for residents and guests, so SPG will retain control of this precinct to curate a premium retail offering that will support this thriving new community.

“SPG will also retain short-term holiday letting to control premium and luxury outcomes in line with our vision.”

Construction of Stage 1 Paradiso Place is expected to be completed by end of 2029.

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Construction commences on $1.5 billion Paradiso Place development in Surfers Paradise

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a> has announced a partnership with Eden Brae Homes to deliver custom-designed homes at Lovedale Farm, the landmark masterplanned golf estate taking shape in the Hunter Valley wine region.

The partnership brings together two highly experienced businesses with a strong track record in quality, delivery and creating well-established neighbourhoods, and marks an important milestone in the next stage of delivery at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lovedale-farm-1054-1184-wine-country-drive-lovedale-nsw-2325">Lovedale Farm</a>.

As part of the collaboration, Eden Brae Homes has constructed the Lovedale Farm display home, which will officially open to the public on Saturday 21 March.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=14476 project_image_fid=362418]

The near-300 sqm display home, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, is one of a collection of homes custom designed specifically for the project. It features a generous master suite with impressive three-metre ceilings, dedicated golf buggy parking, and a farmhouse kitchen complete with a butler’s pantry. Premium upgrades that further enhance the home include an outdoor kitchen, walk-in wine display and gas fireplace.

Pricing for homes at Lovedale Farm starts from $1.14 million for a 255 sqm, four-bed home with rumpus and double-garage on a 504 sqm lot.

The opening will give off-the-plan buyers, future residents and the broader community the opportunity to step inside the home, experience the design and finishes firsthand, and learn more about the homes and land now available at Lovedale Farm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=14476 project_image_fid=362426]

Jim Hunter, Managing Director of Capital Corporation, said the partnership builds on a strong history of successful collaboration between the two groups.

“This is not our first collaboration. Capital Corporation has partnered with Eden Brae Homes across several successful communities, including Fairway Views and Fairway Gardens neighbourhoods at Kellyville,” Hunter said.

“Lovedale Farm represents a continuation of that proven partnership, underpinned by a shared focus on quality, delivery and creating places people are proud to call home. We are pleased to be bringing that experience to the Hunter Valley.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=14476 project_image_fid=334205]

Arthur Ilias, General Managing Director of Eden Brae Homes, said the Lovedale Farm display home showcases the lifestyle and craftsmanship buyers can expect and marks an exciting new chapter for the project.

“Lovedale Farm presents a rare opportunity to create homes that are custom designed for their setting, with refined layouts, quality inclusions and a strong connection to the way people want to live in the Hunter Valley,” Ilias said.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=14476]

Capital Corporation partners with Eden Brae Homes to offer custom-designed homes at Lovedale Farm

Aqualand Group’s new investment and development platform, Aqualand Prestige, has secured its first successful end-to-end equity investment, partnering with real estate investment group, Phoenix Property Investors (Phoenix), to deliver its new Roseville residential development.

The joint venture represents a significant milestone for Aqualand Prestige, leveraging off the group’s broader project pipeline, delivery capability and vertically integrated operating model.The transaction also marks the continuation of Phoenix Property Investors’ long-term strategy investing with capable partners to deliver high quality residential projects in Sydney and Melbourne.

Phoenix Property Investors is an established real estate asset manager with a long track record of investments across developed Asia markets including, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Australia, for, and on behalf of, its clients, partnering with leading local developers on residential, commercial, hotel and mixed-use projects in major metropolitan markets.&nbsp;

The Roseville project at 2-4 Larkin Street will&nbsp;comprise a part-nine, part-10-storey development with around 111 apartments. Development approval is anticipated for late March, with sales to commence later in the year.

Jin Lin, Managing Director of Aqualand Group, said the joint venture marks a defining moment for the group’s new investment delivery platform.&nbsp;

“Securing our first end-to-end equity investment under the Aqualand Prestige brand is a major milestone and a strong endorsement of the platform we’ve built," Lin says.

"It provides capital partners with the opportunity to directly leverage Aqualand’s broader development expertise, construction capability and proven track record of delivery, while allowing us to deliver smaller scale residential projects with the same level of design excellence and certainty that has defined Aqualand over the past decade.”

Trent Winduss, Partner and Head of Australia at Phoenix Property Investors, said the partnership with Aqualand on the Roseville project represents a substantial investment for Phoenix’s Australian platform.&nbsp;

“We’re excited to partner with Aqualand Prestige. The Roseville development builds on Phoenix’s strategy of aligning with best-in-class development partners to deliver high-quality, design-led residential outcomes in tightly held locations.&nbsp;

“Aqualand’s depth of experience, vertically integrated delivery model and strong record of delivering complex, high-quality residential developments made them a natural partner for us."

The Roseville project marks Aqualand Prestige’s first in a growing pipeline of medium-scale luxury residential developments across Sydney. They have two sites, on Archer Street in Chatswood and Pockley Avenue in Roseville, for future developments. In 2024 they completed AURA by Aqualand, one of the most expensive developments ever to be completed in North Sydney.

The Roseville project at 2-4 Larkin Street will comprise a part-nine, part-10-storey development with around 111 apartments



Adrian Barclay

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