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Loans.com.au is now offering loans for self-managed super funds in a bid to capture part of the growing market.
Its SMSF loans offers an interest rate of 4.99% (5.04% comparison rate) – 1% cheaper than the equivalent offered by Westpac.
Upfront fees on properties of less than $1 million include a $600 legal bill, a $150 settlement and a $220 valuation.
The loan is available for residential investment property refinances and purchases up to 80% LVR.
Loans.com.au managing director Marie Mortimer says the SMSF they treat SMSF loans the same as normal residential property loans, with lenders’ mortgage insurance paid by the lender.
“Banks give SMSF loans a different capital weighting because they consider them to be commercial loans,” Mortimer says.
“We don't have a capital weighting on SMSF loans so it’s a normal mortgage deal with the risk spread across our mortgage portfolio rather than a riskier commercial portfolio.''
Government bodies have recently being sounding warnings about growing debt in the SMSF sector.
Both the Reserve Bank and the government have hinted at a <a href="/news">crackdown on the self-managed superannuation sector</a>, with both entities saying they are concerned about the number of property investments being made in the industry.
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awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Loans.com.au offers first SMSF loan

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Many young potential property buyers are willing to forego a first-home owners grant in favour of buying an investment property as opposed to a home, according to a Mortgage Choice survey.
More than 40% of generation Y respondents to the first time property investors survey said that their planned investment property will be their first ever property purchase.
Most generation Y respondents, born between 1980 and 1994, were motivated to purchase their first investment property by the need to set themselves up financially for the future.
"Gen Ys appear to be financially switched-on and are focusing on property investment,” says Mortgage Choice’s Belinda Williamson.
Almost half of respondents said there is a perception that there is more benefit in investments such as property over the share market.
"This younger generation of investors is looking for financial freedom and they see more profit in bricks and mortar investments," Williamson says.
They are willing to make a number of sacrifices in order to realise their purchase though, with 18% of respondents willing to take on another job to make the purchase, while 41% said they would miss out on a holiday.
"Finding the right property is half the challenge for most investors; the other half is saving the deposit and settling on an investment strategy that will help them to achieve their goals," Williamson says.
"Our survey shows 75% of Gen Y first time investors were choosing to make lifestyle sacrifices to help them achieve their property goals. The top five lifestyle sacrifices included cutting back on general day to day spending, eating out less and limiting take-away food, missing out on a holiday, delaying a vehicle purchase and last but not least, cutting back on alcohol related expenses."
Photo courtesy of <a id="yui_3_7_3_3_1376553138701_895" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pistruiatu/">pistruiatu</a>/ flickr.
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Gen Y willing to skip first-home owners grant to buy an investment property

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Uprooting with ease
There are few people that can genuinely say they feel no stress when moving house. It’s a big deal. These websites and apps take some of the ordeal out of packing up your whole home and shifting. Maybe after trying these you too can be one of those people who feel no stress.
This moving company runs <a href="https://www.movinghouse.com.au/moving_home_checklist" target="_blank">a very handy checklist</a> for things to do when moving house. Ultimately it’s an ad for their services but it’s useful and well layed out.
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moving-list/id316092879?mt=8" target="_blank">Moving List</a> is an app that has prepopulated moving lists. Allows you to check things off as you go and keep track of things.
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moving-van/id357418069?mt=8" target="_blank">Moving Van</a> helps you keep track of what’s in each box. Take photos of everything in the box and it stores and categorises it for you.
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Vacations
Sometimes you need a break from looking at the property market. Everybody does – unless you’re Property Observer. These two sites will help you during holiday periods.
<a href="https://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">Airbnb</a> allows users to rent their own home out to holidaying people. You can use the site to find reasonably priced accommodation while you go on holiday, or make a bit of money by renting out your spare room. The American site started off in California but has since spread internationally with a strong presence in Australia. Prices in Australia range from more than $1,500 a night down to just $11 a night. Take your pick.
<a href="https://www.homeaway.com.au/" target="_blank">Home Away</a> the holiday site tied to realestate.com.au has a similar offering. There are 18,944 properties in Australia to choose from and similarly you can list your own property for rental. It’s more geared towards properties run by hotels and resorts but it’s a solid part of any search for holiday accommodation.
<a href="https://www.stayz.com.au/" target="_blank">Stayz</a> is Fairfax’s contribution to holiday rentals. The choice is quite varied in Australia. A search of Phillip Island and surrounds returns more than 200 results ranging from $46 to $900 a night. Listing your own holiday property costs $164 a year + commission for each booking.
<a href="https://houseswapholidays.com.au/" target="_blank">House Swap Holidays</a> is a website that allows users to swap houses for easy holidays. You can browse the listings for free and there are some good offerings up there. Melbourne alone has many options – some better than others.
<a href="https://www.homelink.com.au/" target="_blank">Home Link</a> is a website that’s been around for some time now. They have a huge database of people who are willing to house swap although it seems somewhat marketed towards retirees. A remarkable number of the users specifically preclude children from their homes.
Joining the ranks of house-swap websites is <a href="https://www.homeexchange.com" target="_blank">Home Exchange</a>. They claim the most international listings of any house swap website – 41,000 around the world. At publication the site had 1913 listings for Australia.
<a href="https://adioso.com" target="_blank">Adioso</a> is hands down the best flight search engine we’ve encountered. Run by a bunch of Melbournians this upstart is set to explode. It trawls the websites of every budget airline to find the absolute cheapest flights imaginable and present it in a simple form. It’s a natural language search engine which means you can type in “Sydney to Perth in late March” and it will bring up a list of the cheapest flights to Perth in late March. 
Article continues on next page. Please click below.      
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Websites
If you need to buy property you look online. There are countless listing websites in Australia but here are the main ones.
Realestate.com.au is the largest property website in Australia. It’s where most searches for property begin and end. It’s hard to remember what buying property was like without this website. The choice of properties available here is genuinely astonishing.
One just needs to click the Inspections tab and put in a postcode to be inundated with open homes in your area. At the time of writing Property Observer put our postcode in and found four pages of open homes a walk from our house.
The site lists more than x properties for sale but it’s not just for buying houses. The site facilitates finding an agent to sell or rent your house, it provides access to expert musings on the property related matters, it provides search engines for travel and insurance and provides an easy place to buy off the plan. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The company is growing and plans are afoot to expand their international operations.
Their search refine tools are fantastic and allow you to really narrow down to the property you want. Property Observer particularly likes the eco friendly search refines which allow you to find properties with certain ‘green’ features. Use this alongside the keyword search and you can really find the exact house you’re looking for.
The site lets you shortlist your favourites and mark a property as ‘visited’ to keep track of which homes you have visited. You can organise your property inspection and auction times so you don’t miss anything
Their iPhone app offers the functionality of their website tied in the with smart-phone tools. It makes finding property a breeze. You can contact an agent directly from listing in the app.
When looking at rental properties the website allows you to apply for properties online, using the application website <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/realestate.com.au-australias/id404667893?mt=8" target="_blank">1form.com.au</a>. Gone are the days of printing 16 forms to apply for every house. It’s a real time saver and a great partnership by realesate.com.au.
Fairfax-owned Domain is the second largest real estate website in Australia. There is an overlap for many properties with realestate.com.au but Domain does carry a significant number of unique properties and it should be part of every property search. As discussed in the Alerts section of this guide the website is great at filtering out properties. The website is quite clear with its layout and you can do very specific property searches.  The quickest way to apply the many search criteria is through their radar search, accessible from the front page. The many filters can applied and then viewed as overlays on Google Maps.
The website includes a directory section which lists local businesses in an area. It’s like a stripped down Yellow Pages aimed at current and future property owners. It even includes a section for relocatable homes for the indecisive amongst you.
Being owned by Fairfax the website does have a strong news section including video news.
And of course Domain have their own app. It’s a handy app with all the functionality of the website built in, but not a lot extra. You can quite easily plan your inspection times with their Inspection Planner tool. If you’ve got a Domain.com.au account you can also sync your short listed properties so you never lose track of a property.
Realestateview.com.au is the third biggest property website, though it falls far behind the other two in terms of properties listed. However, it makes up for its lack of numbers with its slick interface. Where the other two main players sometimes seem to place property information wherever it may fall in an mid-2000s MySpace style hodgepodge, Real Estate View lays things in a pleasant and intelligible way. The search criteria aren’t quite as discerning as Domain but they do the job.
There is a great selection of market data available on the site, some of it free, some it costs. The website also runs a competitor to Gumtree’s online classified ads section which is worth a quick look.
Real Estate View also run Rural View which is the rural counterpart to the website with a great selection of hobby farms but a little lacking in the larger stations.
Ultimately Real Estate View a much more pleasant site to use than either realestate.com.au or domain.com.au but it just doesn’t have quite the selection of properties as the other two main players.
They have also recently released a new mobile app. The app comes with the expected features for finding properties for sale but in a predictably smoother way. Where the app excels though is in its presentation of suburb information. There’s a section of the app devoted to market information about areas that is incredibly intuitive and easy to understand. It comes with additional iPad functionality that really make use of the extra screen real estate.
Top 10
Here are the top 10 Australian real estate websites as ranked by Google Ad Planner. Google Ad Planner is a web analytics tool that allows potential advertisers to research what are the biggest sites. These sites are ranked by unique users.
<ol>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://realestate.com.au/">https://realestate.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://domain.com.au/">https://domain.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://realestateview.com.au/">https://realestateview.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://homehound.com.au/">https://homehound.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://onthehouse.com.au/">https://onthehouse.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://realcommercial.com.au/">https://realcommercial.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://thehomepage.com.au/">https://thehomepage.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;">
<a href="https://reiwa.com.au/">https://reiwa.com.au</a> 
</li>
<li style="line-height: 17.280000686645508px;"><a href="https://homesales.com.au/">https://homesales.com.au</a></li>
<li>
 <a href="https://rent.com.au/">https://rent.com.au</a>
</li>
</ol>
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Xero
Personal finances can be hard to manage. All those excel spreadsheets and the multitude of bank statements can be an absolute dog if you’re not an accountant. And let’s face it, who wants to be an accountant?
<a href="https://www.xero.com/accounting-software/" target="_blank">Xero</a> is a personal finance app. While there are plenty of offerings around this really is an interesting contender. It imports all your bank transactions, financial data and online accounting and consolidates it into one very visual interface. It automatically keeps track of invoices and upcoming bills to help you stay on top of things. The software lets you photograph receipts and automatically upload them. It even lets you send invoices on the go. There is a guide on the website for configuring it for property professionals.This really is a great way to manage your money. 
Article continues on next page. Please click below.
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Yelp – divide with neighbourhood
<a href="https://www.yelp.com.au" target="_blank">Yelp</a> isn’t the prettiest website around but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great resource. Yelp provides listings for every sort of business imaginable. It’s like the Yellow Pages supercharged. It’s fully of user reviews for every sort of listing. It’s only recently expanded to Australia but it’s gathering momentum quickly. There app is well worth a look as well. If you’re in a new part of Australia and need to find the local hardware shop, technical bookshop or record store this is the go.
<a href="https://truelocal.com.au" target="_blank">True Local</a> is a similar tool that’s been around for a while. Use this site to find a hairdresser before you enter sale negotiations. Again they have an app which is well made. The reviews can be really helpful.
Article continues on next page. Please click below.
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Zillow
The USA was the start of the online real estate revolution and is the basis for a lot of property trends covered in this ebook.
<a href="https://www.Zillow.com" target="_blank">Zillow</a> is the ultimate app if you wish to buy property in the USA. It aggregates all the houses for sale and allows the user to search them in an intuitive display. Filtering results is exceptionally quick and simple. They provide quite an accurate estimate of properties if no data is available in what’s called a Zestimate. The site is the inspiration for many real estate apps available today and continues to drive technological developments in real estate listings. If you want to see what local listing sites will look like in the future, check Zillow. There are no announced <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/packer-plunges-%24330-million-into-american-real-estate-portal-zillow-has-he-found-the-next-rea/2013090564809" target="_blank">plans to move to Australia yet</a>…
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/costargo/id438575593?mt=8" target="_blank">Costargo</a> is the American website CoStar’s foray into the world of apps. It’s an amazing front-end interface that takes a lot of data and makes it easily readable.
RELATED ARTICLES:
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/resources/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-one/2014021867864" target="_blank" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/resources/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-one/2014021867864&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=0ToZU9ikIc3boASt_YKIDA&amp;ved=0CAcQFjAB&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNEIkDNrNoLJspRNPCVLVfAp_yGeUA" data-ctorig="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/resources/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-one/2014021867864">The A to Z of property apps: Part one</a>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/resources/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-2/2014022367865" target="_blank" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/resources/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-2/2014022367865&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=0ToZU9ikIc3boASt_YKIDA&amp;ved=0CAkQFjAC&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNEY2vpY9iVW4yjHbPd0kv_sFUw5ZA" data-ctorig="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/resources/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-2/2014022367865">The A to Z of property apps: Part two</a>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-three/2014030267866" target="_blank" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-three/2014030267866&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=0ToZU9ikIc3boASt_YKIDA&amp;ved=0CAYQFjAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNFLNUjgvNImqRF-mySDcJASOGen7g" data-ctorig="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/the-a-to-z-of-property-apps-part-three/2014030267866">The A to Z of property apps: Part three</a>                        
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The A to Z of property apps: Part four

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The Australian Securities and Investment Commission says some real estate agents are offering kickbacks to financial advisers to advise investors to use an SMSF to purchase the real estate agents' properties.
It says financial advisers may be banned from receiving them under the Future of Financial Advice reforms.
“This is because the commissions or benefits could reasonably be expected to influence the financial product advice given to retail clients,” the agency says.
Meanwhile it has warned real estate agents off advising their clients to invest in property using a self-managed super fund.
“ASIC is concerned that with the increased popularity of SMSFs and property investment, real estate agents may not realise they are providing financial product advice and need an Australian financial services licence when making recommendations or statements of opinion to a person to use an SMSF to invest in property,” it says.
Individuals caught face fines of up to $34,000 or two years imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $170,000.
‘We want to ensure the SMSF sector remains healthy and vibrant so investors can be confident that, if they are receiving advice about investing through an SMSF, their adviser holds an Australian financial services licence and is aware of its obligations’, ASIC Commissioner  Greg Tanzer says.
It wrote to the Real Estate Institute of Australia to clarify regulations with agents.
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ASIC warns real estate agents: stop spruiking SMSFs

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Australian Securities and Investments Commission needs to clamp down on rogue self-managed super fund (SMSF) advisers, according to wealth advisory group Chan &amp; Naylor.
Its director of financial planning, David Hasib, says the relatively new nature of SMSF products means regulation is lagging behind.
“Australia’s financial landscape has grown dramatically in its diversity and complexity over the years, yet education requirements for advisers have lagged,” says Hasib.
“It should not be acceptable to play the role of financial adviser in the general sense – the industry is evolving so quickly that it requires specialised advisers that are up to date and add real long-term value to clients.”
He says a lack of regulation means anyone can be an SMSF adviser and many don’t advise clients of potential pitfalls of SMSFs.
“A quick internet search will reveal the growing numbers of online spruikers, bearing no relevant qualifications at all, who are cashing in on the new SMSF market,” says Hasib.
“The problem is detrimental to those on the receiving end of uninformed advice, as well as the reputation and integrity of an otherwise healthy industry which will find itself tarred with the same brush.”
He recommends minimum qualification levels and increased professional development hours with penalties for those operate without them.
Andrea Slattery, CEO at SPAA, the peak body for SMSF advisers, says trustees should always seek out SPAA members for advice.
"There are so many people getting into the industry who see it as an opportunity and there's a need for trustees to seek out genuine specialists and SPAA members are the only ones who have undergone rigorous training," Slattery says.
Slattery says ASIC and the ATO are increasingly moving towards regulation for SMSF advisers.
"We believe there is a need for people to do more to work towards accreditation and to get recognition. The ATO have already increased their powers and will be increasing their further to regulate the sector."
"Right now there are people that are providing services in Australia that are not specialists and may not be competent with the complex rules around advice advice in SMSF and what we're trying to do is build integrity in the industry and advise trustees to use a specialist adviser."
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Clamp down on rogue SMSF advisers: Chan & Naylor

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New South Wales and Victoria were neck and neck in the top 10 sales this week, but NSW just came out ahead with five appearances on the list and a top sale of $3.91 million in Bellevue Hill. Victoria appeared four times and ACT came in just once.
<ol>
<li>19 Cranbrook Lane, Bellevue Hill, NSW, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on November 23 by Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay for $3.91 million</li>
<li>98 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury, VIC, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on November 26 through Jellis Craig Hawthorn for $3.38 million</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-canterbury-108422726" target="_blank">1 Tumut Place, Sylvania Waters, NSW</a>, four-bedroom house, sold on November 23 through Ray White Sylvania Waters for $2.7 million</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-108534696">99 Canterbury Road, Toorak, VIC</a>, three-bedroom house, sold at auction on November 26 through Kay &amp; Burton South Yarra for $2.7 million.</li>
<li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-seaforth-108242866">15 Gurney Crescent Seaforth NSW</a>, four-bedroom house, sold on November 24 through Richardson &amp; Wrench Seaforth for $2.66 million. </li>
<li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.domain.com.au/Public/PropertyBrochure.aspx?adid=2008334557&amp;mode=Buy">3 Akame Circuit O'Malley ACT</a>, five-bedroom house, sold on November 25 through Ray White Woden for $2.5 million.</li>
<li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hodges.com.au/real-estate-sale-4-lorac-avenue-brighton-video">4b Lorac Avenue Brighton VIC</a>, five-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on November 26 through Hodges Brighton for $2,425,000 </li>
<li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-kew-108530796">45 First Avenue Kew VIC</a>, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on November 26 through Marshall White for $2.35 million.</li>
<li>18 Bligh Crescent Seaforth NSW, four-bedroom house, sold on November 23 through Richardson &amp; Wrench Seaforth for $2.3 million</li>
<li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.highlandproperty.com.au/selling/NSW/Sutherland/BURRANEER/House/1P2947">179 Woolooware Road, Burraneer, NSW</a>, five-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on November 26 through Highland Property Agents for $2.3 million.</li>
</ol>
 
 
<ol></ol>
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Top 10 sales of the week: RP Data

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New South Wales once again dominated the top 10 sales of the week, with eight out of the 10. Victoria snuck in at eighth and ninth places with sales in Fitzroy and Armadale. L J Hooker Wahroonga featured twice in the top three much to the delight of agent Robert Ward. Almost all the properties sold on Saturday.
1. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-tamarama-nsw-2026/141209">10 Pacific Avenue, Tamarama, NSW</a>, seven-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 3 by McGrath Estate Agents for $6.45 million
2. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-wahroonga-108524691">54 Kintore Street, Wahroonga, NSW</a>, six-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on December 3 by L J Hooker Wahroonga for $4 million
3. <a href="https://wahroonga-real-estate.com.au/for-sale/houses-for-sale/22-water-street-wahroonga-nsw-2076-australia/">22 Water Street, Wahroonga, NSW</a>, five-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on December 3 by L J Hooker Wahroonga for $3.65 million.
4. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-clontarf-108268496">13 Amiens Road, Clontarf, NSW</a>, four-bedroom house, sold on November 30 by Richardson &amp; Wrench Seaforth for $3.25 million
5. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-church-point-nsw-2105/141990">2139 Pittwater Road, Church Point, NSW</a>, five-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on December 3 by  McGrath Estate Agents  for $3.05 million.
6. <a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/for-sale/NSW/North-Shore-Lower/Mosman/House/2P3576-250-raglan-street-mosman-nsw-2088">250 Raglan Street, Mosman, NSW</a>, five-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on December 3 by Belle Property Mosman for $2.7 million
7. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-burraneer-nsw-2230/139562">10 Rutherford Avenue, Burraneer, NSW</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 3 by McGrath Estate Agents$ 2.65 million
8. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-armadale-108627796">31 Adelaide Street, Armadale, VIC</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 3 by Marshall White Real Estate for $2.425 million
9. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-fitzroy-108619676">157 Leicester Street, Fitzroy, VIC</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 3 by Nelson Alexander Fitzroy for $2.36 million
10. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bronte-108563811">21 St Thomas Street, Bronte, NSW</a>, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on November 29 by Bradfield &amp; Prichard Real Estate for $2.35 million
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<img src="/images/stories/120years.gif">
The time the Burnett family has held their Buderim property before deciding to sell. In the Sunshine Coast, 157 Burnett Street is a 13,100-square-metre block of land with views over the Sunshine Coast from Bribie Island to Maroochydore. The original 1895-built homestead still sits on the property. Barry Ashby of Savills Sunshine Coast has been tasked with selling the development site, which is zoned as mixed housing.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/880k.gif">
The price one doctor paid for a medical centre in Ashwood. The two-storey, 288-square-metre building sits on 211 square metres of land. “We had solid interest in the auction of the property with more than 30 inspections and three bidding parties on the day,” says agent Ryan Amler from  Ray White Commercial Oakleigh. A local general practitioner bought the recently renovated building with the intention of being an owner-occupier.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/6point4m.gif">
The price paid for a block of 18 fully leased residential units, including two medical suites, in Sydney’s Balmain. The property, which earns a yield of 4%, was sold by CBRE’s Frank Oliveri and Peter Vines after more than 100 buyer inquiries.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/450k.gif">
The net passing rent of a 3,517-square-metre warehouse in Wetherill Street in Sydney’s Silverwater. A buyer paid $3.8 million for the property, which is currently leased to tool manufacturing and plastic moulding company LJ Wallace Group until December 2014. CBRE’s Cameron Grier and Michael O'Neill sold the property at its May 9 auction with three interested bidders.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/49494.gif">
The current rent of a consulting room in Adelaide’s Norwood. The 174-square-metre building comes with six main rooms and staff amenities and sits on a 556-square-metre block of land, with parking for seven cars. The property is currently leased to physiologists in a three-year lease with two extension options. They use the building as consulting rooms. CBRE’s Will Brown and Ben Younger will bring the property to auction later this month.
 
 
 
 
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Commercial hammer prices

The A to Z of property apps: Part three

Growing national developer Time &amp; Place has announced its fifth new apartment development.

With two projects in Manly and two upcoming in Surry Hills and Potts Point, the developer, which expanded beyond Melbourne just a few years ago, is now heading to Mosman. It is planning 53 new apartments on Redan Street.

The 3,233 sqm site, spanning <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-48-redan-street-mosman-nsw-2088">40–48 Redan Street</a> with frontage to Redan Lane, is located just under 400 metres from Spit Junction Town Centre. It is reported the developer paid around $100 million for the five-site amalgamation.

Time &amp; Place, founded by Tim Price and backed by James Packer’s private investment firm NPACT, has submitted the project as a State Significant Development through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

Of the 53 apartments, 42 will be released to the market, with the remaining 11 allocated as affordable housing in line with NSW Government requirements.

fjc Studio has designed the building. In its Design Report, the architect said the diverse mix of dwelling types and sizes, including 11 two-bedroom affordable housing units, 40 three-bedroom apartments, and two four-bedroom residences, will support a broad demographic, including families, downsizers, and key workers.

The development will rise to nine levels, a height encouraged by the NSW Government due to the site’s proximity to Spit Junction, which has been identified as a low- to mid-rise centre. Developments within a certain proximity to these centres are permitted increased height.

fjc said the project “achieves an appropriate density outcome for its setting by balancing increased housing supply with strong amenity performance,” adding that it “makes a measurable contribution to NSW housing supply targets through the delivery of additional dwellings and dedicated affordable housing.”

The new development will replace five existing two-storey homes.

“By aligning with the objectives of the Housing SEPP and applying careful architectural and urban design principles, the development provides high-quality residential accommodation that integrates sensitively within its established Mosman context and delivers enduring benefits to residents and the wider community.”

Mosman has become increasingly popular with developers in recent years.

Developer Abadeen has been particularly active, with Mosman Residences currently on the market and under construction on Clifford Street. It also has an upcoming Burran Avenue project, comprising just three apartments on the Balmoral Slopes, and recently secured the Midas and Honeysuckle nursery site on Military Road.

Prosker Property has a project on Redan Lane, just a few doors down from Time &amp; Place’s proposed development.

Developers including Toohey Miller, DARE Property Group, and WINIM also have projects underway in the area. In 2024, a five-year target was set for the Mosman LGA to increase housing supply by 500 dwellings by 2029.

Time &amp; Place entered the Sydney market with Two Tides, its under construction Manly development. Given its sales success, it has secured another development in the area, more boutique, facing the beach on North Steyne.

They are hoping to launch their redevelopment of The Chimes in Potts Point this year, and next year will look to take to market Marlborough House, an adaptive re-use of the landmark David Jones warehouse in Surry Hills.

Joel Robinson

Time & Place to take on Mosman apartment market

Brunswick’s civic heart continues to consolidate around the Merri-bek Arts and Culture Precinct, where a growing cluster of cultural institutions, recreation facilities, and public infrastructure has created one of the inner north’s most defined community hubs.&nbsp;

Within this evolving precinct, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/saxon-street-by-milieu-brunswick-31-saxon-street-brunswick-vic-3056">Saxon Street by Milieu</a> introduces new housing directly alongside the civic anchors that shape daily life in the suburb.

At 31 Saxon Street, the project sits immediately beside Brunswick Baths and within moments of Brunswick Library and Town Hall, longstanding institutions that support both community services and everyday amenity.&nbsp;

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Next door, the newly delivered Balam Balam Place arts precinct has emerged as a central piece of Merri-bek Council’s cultural strategy, bringing together creative studios, exhibition spaces, maternal and child health services, and community programming in a purpose-built civic facility. Together, these destinations have reinforced the surrounding blocks as a focal point for public life in Brunswick.

This part of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick</a> forms a key pocket within the suburb’s designated Major Activity Centre, where long-term planning has prioritised walkability, civic investment, and increased housing supply close to transport and services. The surrounding street network reflects that strategy, with compact blocks, established retail corridors and active transport links supporting a lifestyle that is largely navigable on foot.

Within a few minutes’ walk, Sydney Road delivers one of Melbourne’s most recognisable streets, known for its long-running mix of independent retailers, international dining venues and everyday convenience. Tram routes along Sydney Road provide frequent connections south toward the CBD and north through Brunswick and Coburg, while Jewell Station on the Upfield line sits within roughly a ten-minute walk, offering direct train access into the city.

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Active transport also plays a significant role locally. The nearby Upfield Bike Path forms a key north–south cycling corridor linking Brunswick through Parkville and into the central city, reinforcing the area’s reputation as one of Melbourne’s most accessible inner-urban neighbourhoods for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

The surrounding civic cluster extends beyond cultural infrastructure. Siteworks, a nearby creative hub supporting artists and community organisations, adds to the concentration of cultural activity in the immediate area. Educational institutions such as Brunswick North Primary School, Brunswick Secondary College and RMIT’s Brunswick campus are also within easy reach, contributing to the suburb’s diverse resident base spanning families, students and professionals.&nbsp;

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/jackson-clements-burrows-architects">Jackson Clements Burrows Architects</a> in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> and landscape architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/oculus">OCULUS</a>, the nine-level building has been shaped to respond to the surrounding streetscape, with lower levels aligning to the street and upper storeys stepping back to soften its scale and improve solar access.&nbsp;

Curved balcony forms reference nearby heritage architecture, while the development’s public realm improvements include a widened footpath along Saxon Street to strengthen pedestrian connections between the precinct’s civic sites.

Sustainability also underpins the project’s approach. The building is designed to operate entirely on electric infrastructure supported by rooftop solar, with an average 7.5-star NatHERS energy rating and EV-charging readiness across the development. Shared resident amenities will include a landscaped rooftop terrace with barbecue and covered dining areas intended to encourage informal interaction between residents.

Saxon Street marks developer Milieu's fifth project in Brunswick and continues its focus on design-led infill housing across Melbourne’s inner suburbs.&nbsp;

Construction has commenced through reputable builder Manresa, who will complete the project in 2027.

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Saxon Street by Milieu connects residents to Brunswick’s cultural and civic core

Within <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>&nbsp;takes a different approach to larger residences, moving away from the constraints of a single level.

In Grand Residence 3.05, known as the Lustre, plays out across two levels, with a mezzanine configuration that is uncommon in apartment living.

Lustre is a four-bathroom residence where the layout creates a clear distinction between shared and private zones, with uninterrupted views toward the Dandenong Ranges extending the sense of openness from the main living areas.

Entry is to the primary living level, where the kitchen, dining, and living areas are arranged as one continuous space. Timber flooring runs throughout, with a fireplace set within the living zone. Full-height glazing brings in natural light, supported by double glazing that improves thermal performance.

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The kitchen is configured as both a working and social space. A large island bench provides seating, while a walk-in pantry extends storage beyond typical apartment expectations.

Gaggenau appliances, including a 900mm gas cooktop and 600mm oven, are integrated into a layout that connects directly to the adjacent dining and living areas, and outward to the terrace. This balcony includes a built-in BBQ, reinforcing the apartment’s capacity to accommodate larger gatherings without compromising internal space.

A dedicated laundry room, powder room, and a wine cellar area sit discreetly off the main living zone, ensuring that functional requirements are resolved without encroaching on primary living areas. The master suite is also located on this level, designed as a retreat with a walk-through wardrobe and an ensuite that includes double vanities, a bath, and a dedicated dressing table.

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The mezzanine level introduces a second layer of living, rather than simply additional bedrooms. Two large bedrooms with built-in robes are positioned alongside a central bathroom, while a secondary lounge and study area create a self-contained zone suited to children, guests, or extended family. A large storage room further supports long-term usability, addressing a common shortfall in apartment design.

This separation of levels is central to how the residence functions day-to-day. It allows the lower level to operate as the primary entertaining and living space, while the upper level provides privacy and flexibility. The result is closer in feel to a townhouse or standalone home, but with the benefits of apartment living, security, and low maintenance.

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Candela is close to 80 per cent complete, with Ironside delivering construction ahead of its expected October 2026 completion. The development comprises 58 residences, with a strong owner-occupier profile and a mix of one to four-bedroom apartments and loft-style townhouses.

Candela has exclusive access to private amenities, including a residential lounge and rooftop terrace. A charming café and a lifestyle wellness centre are located on the ground level, designed to foster community connection and extend the living experience beyond individual apartments without competing with the scale of homes like Lustre.

Candela, positioned in the heart of Ivanhoe Village, reinforces the practicality of the address. With a Walk Score of 90, residents are within immediate reach of cafés, retail, parklands, and Ivanhoe Station, while also benefiting from proximity to established schools and healthcare services.

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Inside Lustre: Grand Residence 3.05 at Candela Ivanhoe

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a>’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a> is being shaped around a simple but increasingly rare premise in apartment development: that the built environment should actively support residents’ wellbeing.&nbsp;

Located on the former ABC Studios site on Gordon Street in Melbourne’s south-east, the new neighbourhood sits on an expansive 11,740 sqm site neighbouring the heritage-listed Rippon Lea Estate, whose gardens date back more than 140 years.

Rather than positioning wellness as an add-on amenity, the development integrates it into the physical planning of the site. Architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> is arranged across six low-rise buildings set within extensive landscaping designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/oculus">OCULUS</a>, with more than 40 per cent of the land dedicated to gardens and green space. Walking trails, pocket gardens, and mature trees are threaded between buildings, creating a network of green corridors that encourage residents to move through the precinct on foot and spend more time outdoors.

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Milieu has intentionally framed these gardens as an extension of the neighbouring Rippon Lea Estate. More than 16,000 new plants will be introduced across the site, with species carefully selected to protect and complement the area’s ecological significance. The approach focuses on strengthening existing environmental conditions while establishing new habitats that support native wildlife, reinforcing the role of the landscape as both an active ecosystem and a defining element of daily life.

A private resident gate will provide direct access to the historic grounds during opening hours, allowing residents to move seamlessly between the development’s landscaped gardens and the estate’s expansive lawns, lakes, and mature trees. The project’s gardens will also be maintained by the same gardeners responsible for Rippon Lea, reinforcing the visual and ecological continuity between the two landscapes.

Complementing the landscape is a dedicated wellness hub designed to support everyday health and recovery. Residents will have access to a gym alongside yoga and Pilates studios, while mineral pools and infrared saunas provide spaces for relaxation and restorative wellbeing. Shared lounges, workshop spaces, and pet care facilities expand the concept of wellness beyond fitness, creating opportunities for social connection and community interaction within the precinct.

Environmental performance is another key component of the project’s wellbeing focus. Elsternwick Gardens will be entirely fossil-fuel-free, with homes designed to operate on renewable electricity rather than gas. Passive design strategies, including cross-flow ventilation, high-performance insulation, and thermally broken double glazing, are intended to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures while reducing energy demand. Solar photovoltaic systems will power common building services, while rainwater harvesting will help irrigate the extensive landscaping across the site.

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Milieu Founder and Managing Director Michael McCormack says the scale and setting of the project allowed the team to take a different approach to urban apartment living.

“This site represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something truly special,” McCormack says.

“Through that process, we arrived at a design that centres on a fully realised natural landscape – a series of private, interconnected gardens that encircle the homes and extend seamlessly from Rippon Lea Estate.”

Elsternwick Gardens will comprise three residential offerings, Gordon Place, Ripponlea Terrace, and The Garden Pavilion, each designed for owner-occupiers and shaped around high-quality interior design by Woods Bagot, K.P.D.O., and Flack Studio. The first stage, Gordon Place, includes one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments designed with a strong focus on indoor-outdoor living and sustainability.

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Milieu recently appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/brady-constructions">Brady Constructions</a> to deliver the project, marking a key milestone for the development. The appointment follows the demolition of the former studio buildings on the Gordon Street site, with construction progressing toward the delivery of the nature-led community.

Situated between the established villages of Elsternwick and Ripponlea, the development balances its garden setting with strong urban connectivity. Residents will be within walking distance of cafés, restaurants, and local retail, while nearby train and tram connections provide quick access to Melbourne’s CBD and the beaches of Elwood and St Kilda.

With construction underway and the first residents expected to move in by early 2027, Elsternwick Gardens represents a growing shift in apartment development toward environments that prioritise wellbeing as much as density or location. By placing landscape, sustainability, and shared spaces at the centre of the design, Milieu is positioning the project as a residential neighbourhood where wellness is not just promoted, but built into the structure of everyday life.

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Elsternwick Gardens' wellness-first design strategy

Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a> has made a striking debut on the Gold Coast, officially unveiling its $250 million COMO development in Varsity Lakes, a lifestyle-driven residential project anchored by an extensive rooftop wellness and activity precinct.

Having recently launched to market, construction has already been fast-tracked by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/5point-projects">5Point Projects</a>, ensuring momentum continues on what is set to become a landmark residential address for the growing Varsity Lakes community.

Located at 22 Lake Street, Varsity Lakes, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO</a> will comprise 156 apartments across 16 levels, comprising one-, two- and three-bedroom residences designed for modern living. However, it is the project’s rooftop amenity offering that sets COMO apart.

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Designed as a dedicated wellness and recreation hub, the rooftop will feature a 25-metre lap pool, fully equipped gymnasium, and multiple pickleball and paddleball courts - amenities rarely seen in boutique apartment projects.

Residents will also have access to a sauna and plunge baths, while landscaped gardens and relaxation zones will provide tranquil spaces overlooking sweeping panoramic views across the Gold Coast skyline.

The rooftop precinct has been designed to function as the social and wellness heart of the development, encouraging residents to embrace an active, balanced lifestyle within their own building.

&nbsp;

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Red &amp; Co director David Laverty said the amenity offering was central to the project’s design from the outset.

“Amenities were at the forefront of our decisions,” Laverty said.

“Buyers today are looking for more than just an apartment - they want a lifestyle that promotes health, connection and balance.

“The rooftop at COMO has been designed to be the epicentre of that lifestyle, with a suite of wellness and recreation facilities that are quite unique for a boutique development of this scale.”

&nbsp;

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, the residences prioritise liveability, featuring spacious layouts, 2.7-metre ceilings and high-quality finishes throughout.

The development sits beside Bond University, placing residents within walking distance of education, retail and dining options within the vibrant Varsity Lakes precinct, including Robina Town Centre, Varsity Lakes Train Station and a range of leading schools.

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Laverty said the location was a key driver behind Red &amp; Co’s decision to bring the project to the Gold Coast.

“<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/varsity-lakes-qld-4227">Varsity Lakes</a> was a clear choice for us to invest in as it’s a lifestyle hub that seamlessly blends lakeside living with urbanity,” he said.&nbsp;

“Como will capitalize on this great location, delivering a project that not only creates premium homes, but a lifestyle defined by community, wellbeing, and connectivity.”

Red &amp; Co has delivered more than 500 apartments and townhouses across 26 projects in Brisbane in recent years, with COMO marking the company’s first major Gold Coast development.

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Alistair Walsh

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