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Monthly home loan repayments will rise 40% if interest rates return to 2008 highs and banks might not be taking this into account when lending, according to Fitch Ratings.
Monthly repayments on a $300,000 loan would increase from $1820 to $2544, severely reducing borrowers’ ability to meet their mortgage obligations.
Average standard variable interest rates (SVR) provided by large banks are now at 6.1%, with borrowers usually able to get discounts of 0.5 to 1.0 percentage point, according to Fitch Ratings. But SVRs were at 9.6% as recently as September 2008.
The Reserve Bank of Australia recently cut the interest rate for the eighth time since October 2011 to a record low of 2.5%.
“Australia's current low interest rates, coupled with high house prices and high household leverage, could expose borrowers to future payment shocks when interest rates rise,” Fitch Ratings says.
It says banks should be using serviceability tests using SVRs closer to historical averages than they currently do.
Most banks generally use a buffer of 1.5 to 2.0 percentage points higher than the existing rate when calculating serviceability as well as a minimum lending rate, but Fitch Ratings says this might not be enough.
“A minimum lending rate can capture the risk that rates return to average historical levels that are higher than the stress rate with the addition of a buffer.”
“An interest rates rise, together with the projected rise in unemployment, could adversely impact borrowers and residential mortgage vintages originated in a low interest rate environment.”
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awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Interest rate increases an eventual risk for borrowers: Fitch warning

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Census data contains a wealth of information for property investors but it can be difficult to burrow down through the Australian Bureau of Statistics website to find useful information.
It can provide in-depth data on the demographic makeup of a suburb but it can also show trends over time which can help identify possible hotspots.
First off, investors have to know that geographical boundaries changed in the 2011 census data, so they need to be careful when comparing previous census results to 2011 census results to make sure they’re the same.
The easiest way to start navigating census data is to go to the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/quickstats?opendocument&amp;navpos=220">ABS QuickStats page</a>. Most of our following tips start from there.
Who lives there?
If you’re looking at investing in a particular suburb it’s important to know who lives there, and ABS data makes it really simple to find if you know where to look.
If we want to see who’s living in the Melbourne suburb of <a href="/news">Burnley</a> just type Burnley into the QuickStats search and make sure you select the state suburb entry. The view here shows the basic results from the 2011 census and gives a good snapshot of the demographic make-up if you look under the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/SSC20217?opendocument&amp;navpos=220">People section</a>.
The age section gives a good snapshot of whether you’re looking at a retiree village, a young family neighbourhood or a young professional zone. Compare the suburb ages to the state you’ll see if there’s more kids or more older people.
In Burnley you can see it’s heavily weighted towards young professionals with far fewer children and old people than the rest of Victoria and more than double the state average for 18 to 34 year olds.
If you look at the marriage tab you can see they’re mostly single and scrolling down to the education tab you can see they are far more likely to be university educated than the rest of the state which confirms their young professional status.
If you keep looking here you can check ancestry, income, occupation types and a host of other demographics.
All these help to decide whether you want to buy here and what sort of people you want to be targeting when buying property.
Identifying gentrification
Although census gives a great snapshot of income levels, it can also give a historical change so you can see if an area is undergoing an increase in earning power.
<a href="/news">Waterloo</a> was identified by Bernard Salt as being <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/rising-incomes-pointing-to-13-emerging-suburbs-for-investment-potential-bernard-salt/2013081464225">one of Australia’s top suburbs with increasing income</a>, and using ABS stats we can confirm that for ourselves.
Go to the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/SSC12434?opendocument&amp;navpos=230">Waterloo QuickStats page</a> and under the people tab we can see the various income measurements. In this case there is a median weekly household income of $905.
Compare that to the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSearch?&amp;areacode=SSC12015&amp;producttype=QuickStats&amp;action=401">2006 census results for Waterloo</a>, accessed by selecting 2006 in the dropdown menu next to the QuickStats search box. The format is slightly different but we can see median weekly household income in 2006 was $557 –a 60% increase. It’s not quite as sophisticated as a full scientific survey but it gives a good indication of whether a suburb is earning more.
How good is public transport?
Looking at tram maps, bus networks and train stations can be quite deceptive in working out how good public transport in an area actually is. One easy way is to see how many people in a suburb actually use public transport to get to work.
Looking at <a href="/news">Boronia</a> this time, you want to find the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2011~Community%20Profile~SSC20163/%24File/BCP_SSC20163.zip?OpenElement">basic community profile spreadsheet</a>. It’s under the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/SSC20163">community profile</a> button next to the search box. After extracting the zip file, open it up in excel and find the method of travel by sex section. Boronia looks to be reasonably well connected to public transport but you can see that around 70% of respondents drive to work with only around 5% taking the train.
How popular is renting
Looking at 2006 stats versus 2011 stats you can find which suburbs are more popular for renters. If we’re looking at <a href="/news">Leederville</a> in Perth you can see from the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSearch?&amp;areacode=SSC51821&amp;producttype=QuickStats&amp;action=401">2006 QuickStats page</a> 36.3% of residents were renting, if you look under Tenure Type. Compare that to <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/SSC50434?opendocument&amp;navpos=220">the 2011 page</a> and you can see 43.1% of residents were renting, just look under the dwellings tab and then tenure. It’s not a quantum leap but it does help identify suburbs becomingly increasingly popular with renters.
There are a great deal more ways to harness ABS data to find investment hotspots, these are just some. The next step involves using the table builder function to compare hundreds of suburbs at once but it is a bit trickier.
The tips here can give a good insight into a suburb you may not know much about.
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The Property Observer guide to ABS census data research for smart property investors

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ANZ Banking Group has posted a cash profit of $4.8 billion for the first nine months of the financial year, up 11%, but it says revenue growth was slower than last year.
Revenue rose 5% in the nine months to June 30 while expenses fell 0.5% and provisions for bad debts fell 2%. This helped mitigate a squeeze on lending profit margins caused by low interest rates.
It reported unaudited statutory profit increased 7% to $4.7 billion, from the same period last year.
The growth was largely put down to its expansion in Asia and tightening of costs.
"During the year we have continued to make steady progress with out super regional strategy," chief executive Mike Smith said in a statement.
“We have produced consistent revenue growth with diversification benefits from our exposure to growth markets in Australia and in Asia.
At the same time, we are continuing to actively manage efficiency in every area of the business with a focus on improving productivity and capital utilisation.
He says consumer confidence should increase in the coming months while he played down concerns about China's growth.
"Although the economic outlook in Australia has softened somewhat, there is cause for greater optimism in the medium term as the effect of lower interest rates, a more competitive currency and the removal of some pre-election uncertainty underpin consumer confidence and economic activity."
"In Asia, we believe concerns about growth in China have been overdone. Although there is a rebalancing taking palce in China and there may be volatility associated with this, we need to remember that the world's second largest economy is still growing at around 7 to 7.5%."
In Australia ANZ said there is good momentum in commercial lending and deposits as well as in retail mortgage and deposits while household lending has grown above system for 14 consecutive quarters.
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ANZ posts $4.8 billion profit

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Property lecturer Peter Koulizos forecasts that all capital cities, with the possible exception of Hobart, should have new record high property prices sometime during 2014.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows property prices are on the rise from their global financial crisis lows but Koulizos says we still have some time to go.
 “Even though all capital city prices are on the way up, not all property prices are above their previous high. Sydney, Perth and Darwin have record high property prices but all the other capital cities still have a little way to go before they pass their previous peak,” he blogged on API Magazine.
“I forecast that all capital cities, with the possible exception of Hobart, should have new record high property prices sometime during 2014.
“Yes, the worst is over but in my opinion we still have a little way to go before we can all breathe a sigh of relief.”
But he says historically low interest rates will ensure property prices should bounce back quickly.
According to the ABS the different capital cities experienced their global financial crisis lows at different times.
Darwin was the first hit in June 2011 quarter, followed by Canberra and Perth in September 2011 quarter. Next was Sydney in the December 2011 quarter. Brisbane was next hit in the June 2012 quarter, followed by Melbourne and Adelaide in the September 2012 quarter and finally Hobart in the December 2012 quarter.
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Property prices to return to pre-GFC highs in 2014, except Hobart: Peter Koulizos

A $1500 a night holiday home on Hamilton Island has been listed for sale at more than $4.5 million.

The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/countdown-to-summer-round-house-on-hamilton-island/2012121158401" target="_blank">Round House</a>, designed by architect Peter Conley and built in the late 1980s is a four bedroom home, all with en-suites, a media room, a curved staircase and a salt water solar heated infinity pool that wraps itself around the exterior.

At <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-hamilton+island-114332235" target="_blank">31 Melaleuca Drive</a> the 4112 square metre luxury getaway can sleep 14 people.

It includes a one-bedroom cottage with a private driveway at the bottom of the property.

The property has been recently renovated at a cost of $1 million and is now wheelchair friendly with access ramps and an elevator.

It perches on the eastern side of One Tree Hill and has 180 degree ocean views over Catseye Beach and the Hamilton Island Resort.

The design of the house offers 12 hours of tropical sunshine all around the house.

It is being sold by Wayne Singleton of Hamilton Island Real Estate.

The vendor of the house is reportedly the O&rsquo;Brien family, based in Melbourne.

Sales on the island have reportedly been slow with more than 100 homes on the market.

Agent Mark Beale of Ray White Whitsunday told The Australian Financial Review there are three to four sales in a month on the island meaning the market is well oversupplied.

Prices have been reduced on the island but the rents are still strong.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve sold houses for $700,000 that generate $40,000 a year in rental income, they pay for themselves,&rdquo; Beale said.

&ldquo;Occupancy rates have been anywhere from 50% to 100% better on the island than on the mainland.&rdquo;

Ownership of land in the area operates under a 99-year leasehold system.&nbsp;

Winemaker Robert Oatley paid $200 million for the island in 2003.&nbsp;

Hamilton Island Round House listed at $4.5 million

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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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Two retail units in Victoria’s Falls Creek ski village have been offered for sale with marketing towards owner occupiers or investors.
The first is a 952 square metre shop leased to Falls Creek Ski Lifts on a nine year lease worth $450,000 a year plus GST.
<img alt="falls_creek_aug_28_one" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/falls_creek_aug_28_one.jpg">
It houses a ski hire shop, a board lounge and the Apres Vous ski apparel shop.
The second is two ground floor lots totalling 105 square metres being sold in one line.
The units are part of the St Falls Quay West Development in the Falls Creek village.
They are being sold by Christa Zirknitzer of RT Edgar Alpine in conjunction with Ray White Commercial.
“The two units are ideally situated in the ski in, ski out public traffic zone of the retail ski village, offering exposure and positioning for retail activities,” Zirknitzer says.
Zirknitzer did not disclose any price guide for the <a href="https://www.fallscreekretail.com.au/">properties</a> which are being sold by tender ending September 2.
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Two retail offerings in the Falls Creek ski village 

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Property developer Ron Walker says many parts of Melbourne’s unit market are oversupplied with too many small apartments coming to market too quickly.
But he says high quality apartments in the right areas will sell well and his company Evolve Development continues to release units.
“There are certain areas in the city we wouldn’t touch with a 40-foot pole,” Walker told BRW.
“There’s a lot of stock that has come to market very quickly, and they are small apartments where people are living within metres of each other.”
Walker, along with co-directors Ashley Williams and Kris Daff just opened the Melbourne apartment project The Guilfoyle at the former Channel 7 near the Botanic Gardens, which sold off the plan in 2010, despite four owners defaulting.
“If you build quality product, they always sell,” he says.
Evolve has 1000 apartments in the planning stage and about 7000 residential lots in masterplanned communities to be released over the next decade.
It also has the 227-unit Monarch development to be completed in October.
“Our experience to date has been apartments have all rented out very quickly and the rental levels are holding up well,” his business partner Ashley Williams told BRW.
“I think there might be a bit of oversupply coming through in the next 12 to 24 months, but I think that will be quickly digested as people choose to move into these high-amenity areas.”
He says historically low interest rates have increased market confidence but sales in large apartment buildings remain slow despite some improvement in land subdivision sales.
“I think if you look at the established house market there has certainly been a big pick-up in competition,” Williams says.
“There seems to be a lot more competitive auctions happening on the weekend. I think medium term we will get back to steady growth after a couple of sideways years. It will happen first in the inner suburbs and ripple out to medium and outer suburbs.
“Most of the economic signs in Victoria are still pretty strong.”
 
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Too many too small: property developer Ron Walker warns of Melbourne apartment woes

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SQM Research director Louis Christopher says despite recent price increases there is no price bubble to worry about.
“No sooner has a housing recovery been confirmed, than the loud voices go straight to assuming we have a looming property bubble on our hands,” Christopher noted.
“The voices seem to range from those who have no experience or qualifications to speak on this sector through to those who should know a lot better.
He says most capital cities are just experiencing a modest recovery rather than displaying any kind of boom conditions.
“It is just Sydney, Perth and Darwin that have been recording more rapid price rises.”
“If we were to see national housing prices sustaining annualised increases of 7% plus for a considerable period then that is something to watch for. However, it just simply isn’t happening yet.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that interest rates are helping the recovery along and there is also no doubt in my mind that the RBA will look at the national result rather than just what is happening in the Sydney housing market.”
SQM has recently launched a vendor sentiment index which shows vendor asking prices on capital city houses are up 3.7% for the year to $667,100. They are up 0.7% for the month but down 1.7% for the week.
Sydney had the most pronounced weekly change in vendor asking prices, up 4.2% to $898,400 and 7.8% for the year.
Melbourne vendor asking prices for houses are up virtually unchanged for the year, but up 1.4% in the past week.
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Slight uptick but no looming price bubble: SQM's Louis Christopher

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Wall Street Journal senior economics reporter James Glynn says the mining boom in WA might not be totally over.
The iron ore price has hit US$142.80 – the highest point in five months, running counter to predictions by many that the price could drop below $100 this year.
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JamesGlynnWSJ"><img alt="tweet-of-the-day-aug-15" height="135" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/tweet-of-the-day-aug-15.jpg"></a>
Credit Suisse analyst Paul McTaggart told The Australian Financial Review he expects the price will come back down but not as much as previously thought.
“I don’t think iron ore will stay at US$130 a tonne. We are heading into a seasonal period of weakness when China construction demand weakens so I think iron ore prices will moderate. However, prices might come down to what will remain a relatively robust level – and come March of next year, when China is back online, iron ore could rally from a higher level,” he told the paper yesterday.
Perth was identified as having <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/rising-incomes-pointing-to-13-emerging-suburbs-for-investment-potential-bernard-salt/2013081464225">the three top suburbs with the greatest increase in earning capacity.</a>
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Iron ore is up so don't rule Perth out

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

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One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Alistair Walsh

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