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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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awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Gen Y willing to skip first-home owners grant to buy an investment property

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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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Loans.com.au offers first SMSF loan

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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.
Article continues on next page. Please click below.
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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>
Article continues on next page. Please click below.
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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

Preliminary data by research giant Charter Keck Cramer reveals a 54 per cent decline in Build to Sell apartments across Australia's capital cities, while the Build to Rent boom continues with a 378 per cent increase over the last five years.

Charter Keck Cramer's upcoming National State of the Market Report - Key Metropolitan Areas, scheduled for release in September, will reveal&nbsp;a dramatic transformation in apartment supply patterns across Australia's capital cities between FY2016-2020 and FY2021-2025.

The Build to Sell (BTS) apartment sector has experienced a substantial contraction, with total supply falling by 54 per cent compared to the previous five-year period. The decline represents a reduction of 149,200 apartments across all capital cities.

<img alt="BTS Charter Keck Cramer" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3db2ddf3-e7c0-481f-b8b9-63efb365cb80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-08-20%20at%2011.26.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=bsQl8inhZA7FeiPamnGvw1tse0obBdSd" />

Sydney led the downturn with a decrease of 73,600 apartments, followed by Melbourne (-42,800) and Brisbane (-26,800). Perth and Adelaide also recorded significant declines of 6,400 and 2,400 apartments respectively. Only Gold Coast and Canberra bucked the trend, with modest increases of 500 and 2,300 apartments.

In stark contrast, the Build to Rent (BTR) sector has emerged as a major force in the apartment market, recording a remarkable 378% increase in supply. This growth added 8,590 apartments across the capital cities during FY2021-2025. Melbourne dominated BTR growth with 6,160 additional apartments, while Sydney contributed 2,100 units. Brisbane and Canberra also recorded growth of 800 and 330 apartments respectively. Gold Coast and Perth recorded minor declines, while Adelaide maintained steady levels.

<img alt="BTR CKC" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ca13ffd4-ab93-4828-afd2-4c3dccbd2b51" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-08-20%20at%2011.28.54%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=SXNnpcJuFD36ViWOwF6izBBqcQc3NWao" />

“These preliminary findings indicate a fundamental shift in Australia's apartment development landscape, with traditional Build to Sell models giving way to institutional Build to Rent developments,” said Richard Temlett, Charter Keck Cramer’s National Executive Director of Research.

"This transition reflects changing investor preferences, regulatory environments and housing affordability challenges across major metropolitan areas.”

The complete Charter Keck Cramer National State of the Market Report – Key Metropolitan Areas will provide comprehensive analysis of these trends, their underlying drivers and implications for developers, investors and policymakers when released in September.

Joel Robinson

Build to Sell apartment supply drops 54% in five years across Australian capital cities

Verso Development Group is seeking to bring over 1,100 apartments to the heart of Brisbane's Toowong, with plans filed for a $1 billion, triple tower development known as Toowong Central.

The landmark urban regeneration project "aims to reshape the core of Brisbane’s inner-west riverside suburb."

Covering over 1.4-hectares across&nbsp;Sherwood Road, High Street, and Jephson Street, Toowong Central has been designed by KHA and will comprise three towers rising 49, 55, and 58 levels.

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According to the Urban Context Report prepared by Urbis, Toowong Central is positioned as a “city-defining precinct reclaiming Toowong as ‘the best destination in the west’,” with a vision to deliver density differently, strengthen Toowong’s identity, and lead subtropical urban design.

There will be a wide range of apartment configurations, from one-bedrooms to five-bedroom penthouses, as well as short-term accomodation offerings. The design prioritises pedestrian permeability, with an activated public realm featuring a central civic plaza, laneways, and street-level retail and dining.

“The central square’s structure, programming, scale and location creates a social anchor - shaped by its edges, flexible for use, and animated by a diversity of experiences throughout the day and into the evening,” the Urban Context Report noted, reinforcing the project's ambition to become a vibrant community destination.

Design excellence was pursued through an international design competition, attracting entries from renowned practices such as UNStudio and BIG. KHA’s winning design distinguished itself with a ceremonial approach to the public realm, integrating terraces, tiered seating, and green infrastructure to promote social interaction and resilience.

The development builds upon two existing approvals: the 25- and 20-storey towers of the Aviary Toowong proposal, and a separate 25- and 24-storey approval at 88 Jephson Street. Consolidation of these fragmented landholdings under a precinct-wide approach allows for increased community value and cohesive urban integration.

Urbis Director Nicholas Stevenson said Toowong Central will bridge the gap in Toowong's current experience, unlocking the potential of the wider precinct.

"Overcoming experiential constraints and leveraging contextual advantages – Toowong Central will redefine Brisbane's inner west.”

<img alt="Toowong Central" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73f7a702-625d-452d-9df2-30a0863ac1e8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/master.png?VersionId=TZdh6wxGC_8IIroXpdkZfuhlS8mFZnea" />

Toowong Central’s ambition extends beyond residential and commercial outcomes. Uses under consideration include a world-class hotel, university facilities, a museum, and health and wellness services, reflecting its role as a western gateway to Brisbane’s growing innovation corridor between the CBD and the University of Queensland.

Urbis Managing Partner James Tuma said Brisbane has no greater opportunity to showcase the future of urban living than Toowong – a sustainable, economically vibrant, and people-centric place that embodies the best of Brisbane.

[The plans] gives us a glimpse into our future as a globally relevant, youthful, entrepreneurial, and distinctly subtropical city.”

$1 billion Toowong Central to deliver 1,100 apartments to undersupplied Brisbane market

In <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/runaway-bay-qld-4216">Runaway Bay</a>, new townhouse-scale waterfront residences are rare - but ones built to the standards found on Sovereign Island are almost unheard of.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/ocean-suites-on-jennifer-10-12-jennifer-avenue-runaway-bay-qld-4216">Ocean Suites on Jennifer</a>&nbsp;changes that, delivering a calibre of construction and detailing that places its seven villas well above the typical market offering in this northern Gold Coast pocket.

Ocean Suites on Jennifer will be move-in ready before Christmas this year, giving buyers the chance to spend the summer on the water in one of Runaway Bay’s rare new waterfront residences.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138718 project_image_fid=214444]

The development is a collaboration between <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/stuart-osman">Stuart Osman Design</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sand-side-developments">Sand Side Developments</a>, with construction by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/alroe-constructions">Alroe Constructions</a>.

Architect Stuart Osman says the intent from the outset was to create a home people would be drawn to. “When you build anything, the design is to make you want to go hang out in this house,” he says.&nbsp;

Ocean Suites on Jennifer’s design features a front façade softened with planter boxes, rear pool areas, and rooftop decks looking over the water.&nbsp;

Inside, voids and high skylights bring daylight deep into the centre of each home, while ceiling heights of 2.85 metres maintain a strong sense of volume.

Each four-level residence spans 345 to 388 sqm, with layouts accommodating multi-generational living - a ground-floor bedroom suite for older family members and upper levels for the rest of the household. A lift connects all floors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138718 project_image_fid=214435]

For Andrew Erwin, Director at NPA, the project’s appeal lies in both its location and the detail in execution.&nbsp;

"At Ocean Suites, you’ve got a canal-front setting with direct Broadwater access and a level of finish you’d normally only see in the city’s most prestigious addresses. The four-level layouts, the glass-framed living areas, the private pools, even the extended kitchens, every part of it has been designed with the buyer in mind,” he says.

Those buyers have so far been a mix of Gold Coast locals and interstate purchasers, many seeking a lock-up-and-leave holiday home or a downsized residence without sacrificing space for visiting family.&nbsp;

Older households with teenage children are a recurring profile, drawn to layouts that support multi-generational living and the ability to host extended stays.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138718 project_image_fid=214432]

Material selection reinforces the project’s quality-first ethos, with every home appointed to a premium standard. Kitchens and ensuites feature engineered stone surfaces, complemented by prestige oak engineered timber floors, Victorian ash hardwood staircases, and soft loop-pile carpet.

Premium lighting, statement pendants, ceiling fans, and Fujitsu ducted air conditioning elevate both comfort and design. Each residence also includes a suite of high-end appliances as standard - Fisher &amp; Paykel integrated fridges, Bosch ovens, induction cooktops and dishwashers, Vintec wine fridges, and Franke sinks.

Beyond the interiors, residents enjoy an enviable lifestyle with rooftop terraces, private plunge pools, fire pit areas, outdoor showers, smart home automation, laundry chutes, and private pontoons.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138718 project_image_fid=214452]

With no additional upgrade costs, Sand Side Developments underscores its no-shortcuts approach, delivering homes where luxury and amenity come as standard.

Osman adds that the kitchen has been designed as “the main hub of the house” with six metres high skylights above a galley-style layout that “makes it feel bigger, brighter, whiter” and “brings light into the centre of the home.”

Both architect and builder emphasise a shared commitment to delivering the intended design without compromise. “Working with Alroe’s structural team and their construction team, it’s been great to make sure that the look and feel that was originally intended is the result achieved at the end of the project,” Osman says.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138718 project_image_fid=214453]

Outdoor living has been given equal consideration, with rooftop terraces designed for entertaining with a fire pit and bar, and spacious undercover patios featuring private plunge pools.

The marine access is as carefully executed as the homes themselves. An eight-metre gangway leads to a six-metre private pontoon capable of mooring vessels up to 30 feet, just 300 metres by water from the Broadwater.&nbsp;

Even the orientation of each villa has been optimised to capture long views down the canal, across the Broadwater, and south to Main Beach.

With construction in its final stages, just three of the seven villas remain, priced from $3.365 million to $3.695 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=138718]

Sovereign Island standards come to Runaway Bay with Ocean Suites on Jennifer

Without local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a>, it could be argued that the small suburb of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/nundah-qld-4012">Nundah</a> would be left behind when it comes to both new housing and retail opportunities.

Gardner Vaughan, one of South East Queensland’s most reputable builder-developers, has been based in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/nundah-qld-4012">Nundah</a> for the last decade. They plan to maintain their presence in the northern <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brisbane-qld">Brisbane</a> suburb, just seven kilometres from Brisbane Airport and nine kilometres from the city, with the development of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/danby-lane-nundah-village-5-danby-lane-nundah-qld-4012">Danby Lane</a>, the first major project in several years in the heart of the town centre.

GVG will retain one of the commercial spaces in the new mixed-use building for their office headquarters. It will be located in the commercial podium, alongside several other new office spaces. Below will be a street-level retail precinct designed to reinvigorate the local economy, and above, 84 brand-new apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112531 project_image_fid=320114]

Over 60 percent of the apartments have already been snapped up, with buyers eager to secure one of the rare new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/nundah-qld-4012">Nundah</a>, as well as to benefit from Gardner Vaughan’s solid reputation and long-standing presence in the local community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112531 project_image_fid=320117]

Gardner Vaughan identified the site at the corner of Buckland Road and Danby Lane for its proximity to key amenities. Within 400 metres of the development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/nundah-qld-4012">Nundah</a> Village offers a variety of cafes, restaurants, and pubs. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/nundah-qld-4012">Nundah</a> Train Station, just 400 metres away, provides a quick 20-minute train ride into Roma Street.

The development has also attracted young families, drawn to the proximity of not one, but twelve parks, with Boyd Park and Oxenham Park being the most notable. Established families have shown interest due to the close proximity of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/nundah-qld-4012">Nundah</a> State School and Mary MacKillop College.

The one- and two-bedroom apartments in the building have already been snapped up, while the larger three- and four-bedroom apartments—ranging from a generous 117 sqm to nearly 200 sqm—remain highly sought after. There are also just three exclusive luxury penthouses left to sell.

With its in-house construction capability, Gardner Vaughan has already commenced construction on-site and expects to complete the building by March 2027. It's hard to see another opportunity to buy brand new in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/nundah-qld-4012">Nundah</a>, where creating a site anywhere near the scale of the Danby Lane is becoming more and more difficult.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112531]

Why Danby Lane is the focal point for change in Brisbane's Nundah

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/metro-property-group">Metro Property Group</a>’s flagship townhouse development, Citrine Townhomes in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/rochedale-qld-4123">Rochedale</a>, has reached another key construction milestone, with the first stage of townhouses now in the defects phase.

All building works for Stage 1 are complete, with the internal roads asphalted, line marking finished, and the bin store slab poured.&nbsp;All essential services, including permanent power, sewer, gas, and water, are now connected and operational.

The defects process is expected to continue until late-August.

<img alt="Citrine Townhomes, Rochedale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f48ad1d8-7bb2-424a-a378-2caa4d34c27d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/017%20-%20%20ROLLEY%20PHOTO%20MEDIA%20%20%20-24072025.jpg?VersionId=o5BC3LgYTwxcufsjldO8mkPww3gix1NC" />

Stage 2 is also moving forward steadily, with all townhouses sheeted, the first coat of paint applied, and joinery installed throughout. Tiling has been completed on six of the seven blocks, and the pool is scheduled to be pebblecreted by the end of August.

Stage 3 continues to gather momentum, with external cladding completed on three of the eight blocks. All townhouses have been fully roughed-in for electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning, and the first two blocks have now progressed to internal sheeting.

Stage 1 and 2 are 100 per cent sold and there are now just 10 four-bedroom townhomes left in Stage 3, priced from $1,125,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136295 project_image_fid=211]

Residents at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/citrine-townhomes-rochedale-311-gardner-road-rochedale-qld-4123">Citrine Townhomes</a> can also look forward to high-quality shared amenities. The residents' facility will feature a pool, landscaped areas, and a BBQ space, contributing to a lifestyle-focused community environment.

Metro’s fully furnished display home has generated strong interest locally, reinforcing the market’s confidence in the project. Stage 1 and 2 are completely sold out and Stage 3 has officially launched and is selling fast. Just 10 townhouses remain for sale in the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136295 project_image_fid=273134]

The broader Citrine development comprises 90 three and four-bedroom townhomes designed across two to three levels, offering a contemporary contrast to Rochedale’s surrounding single-family homes.

Located just 17 km from Brisbane CBD, Citrine is within walking distance to schools, parks, and the popular Rochedale Village, home to Coles, medical services, and dining options.

Metro Property Group remains on track for project completion, with settlements forecast for Stage 1 in October/November 2025, Stage 2 in November/December 2025, and Stage 3 in January/February 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136295]

Alistair Walsh

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