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With plenty of talk about a housing bubble and home values climbing much higher in Sydney and Melbourne, housing is looking expensive to many Australians. 
Low interest rates and the strong gains in certain areas are making residential housing investment quite attractive for some which is one of the drivers resulting in increasing home values. While housing may be looking expensive to locals, the declining Australian dollar means that it may be looking more attractive to foreign buyers.
Since combined capital city home values reached their most recent low point in May 2012 they have risen by 26.8%. At the same time the Australian dollar has fallen by -13.3% over that period in trade-weighted index terms. While the depreciation in the dollar has no impact on local buyers, for off-shore buyers the fall in the Australian dollar is likely to make Australian housing even more attractive. Furthermore, the Reserve Bank continues to state that there is a need for an even lower dollar which would exacerbate the relative affordability even further.
Foreign buyers are meant to be purchasing brand new homes in most instances. There have been numerous recent reports of foreign buyers not adhering to these rules.  Furthermore a recent parliamentary inquiry found that the Foreign Investment Review Board was significantly underfunded and as a result has not been able to effectively monitor and enforce foreign investment rules.
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Combined capital city home values have increased by 26.8% between May 2012 and June 2015. Keep in mind that these figures are heavily influenced by the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets with these the only two capital cities recording value growth in excess of this figure over the period. When you look at that 26.8% increase across other currencies you can see the impact of the falling exchange rate. Of those currencies highlighted only the Japanese Yen and Indonesian Rupiah have seen values rise by a greater amount. Across most other currencies the relative value rises have been significantly lower than they have been in Australian dollar terms.
Once you look at capital cities that have seen relatively lower recent capital growth, there has been a significant improvement in Australian housing affordability for foreign buyers. Not to mention the fact that in many of these foreign countries mortgage holders are borrowing at significantly lower interest rates than those available to Australians.
Sydney
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Melbourne
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Brisbane
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Adelaide
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Perth
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Hobart
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Darwin
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Canberra
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With the RBA stating that the Australian dollar remains overvalued, any further falls in the Aussie dollar are likely to result in even more attractive buying conditions for foreign buyers. Given this it is imperative that foreign investment rules are tightened and FIRB improve their surveillance work.  A central register of foreign buyers would also be seemingly important. The Victorian Government has recently announced that it will increase fees and charges to foreign buyers of property in that state.  Despite howls of protest it would seem that this is likely to have little material impact on foreign demand for housing.  Furthermore, a national approach similar to this would be a good step towards appropriately funding FIRB to undertake their review and surveillance of foreign housing investment.  Particularly given that should the dollar fall further demand from off-shore buyers is likely to increase.
Earlier this week Federal Treasury released the Exposure Drafts and Regulatory Impact Statement of legislation designed to tighten foreign investment rules, including those relating to residential real estate. The document can be read <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/ConsultationsandReviews/Consultations/2015/Implementing-Foreign-Investment-Reforms" target="_blank">here</a> and submissions can be made up until Friday 17 July.
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Australian property, expensive for us, not so for foreigners: Cameron Kusher 

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Sales data over the 12 months to March 2015 shows that there have been more homes sold across the combined capital cities for less than $200,000 than there have been homes sold for more than $1 million. As you would expect there is a growing proportion of sales in excess of $1 million in Sydney and Melbourne while homes selling for less than $200,000 are almost exclusively found in Hobart and Adelaide.
Over the 12 months to March 2015, a record low 6.1% of capital city home sales were below $200,000 and 31.8%sold for between $200,000 and $400,000, the lowest proportion since the 12 months to October 2001. While we are seeing a decline in sales at the lower price points, predictably more expensive sales are increasing.  Over the 12 months to March 2015, 10.0% of all homes sold across the combined capital cities sold for more than $1 million, a record high. As we will discover the proportion of homes selling in excess of $1 million is substantially higher within cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Sydney
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Over the 12 months to March 2015, a record low 8.9% of Sydney houses sold for less than $400,000 compared to a record high 34.0% of houses selling above $1 million.  The remaining 59.2% occurred between $400,000 and $1 million.  For the unit market, a record low 18.6% of sales were below $400,000 whilst there was a record high 71.1% between $400,000 and 1 million and a record 10.3% above $1 million.  The impact of a surge in home values over the past year is being felt at the lower end of the market with a sharp drop in sales below $400,000 for both houses and units over the past year.
Melbourne
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24.5% of Melbourne houses and 36.9% of Melbourne units sold for less than $400,000 over the 12 months to March 2015.  In comparison, 16.5% of houses and 5.1% of units sold for more than $1 million.  For houses, the proportion of sales below $400,000 was at a record low while it was just shy of a record low for units.  Conversely, both houses and units logged a record high proportion of sales over $1 million.  Like Sydney, the impact of the value rises over recent years is being felt most at the lower-end of the housing market with a sharp decline in sales below $400,000.  This is highlighted both by the table above which shows a sharp drop in sales below $400,000 over the past 20 years.  Unlike Sydney, finding more affordable housing options is relatively easier in Melbourne with almost 1 in 4 houses and more than a third of units selling for less than $400,000.
Brisbane
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Across all sales, 30.6% of houses and 52.5% of units transacted in Brisbane over the year to March 2015 sold for less than $400,000.  The proportion of houses sold for less than $400,000 was at a record low while the proportion for units was lower in the middle of last year.  House sales in excess of $1 million were at a record high 5.9% over the past year while the 2.3% of unit sales over $1 million is still a way off the record high 3.1% in early 2011.  Brisbane has seen fairly moderate value growth over recent years however, we are still seeing an erosion in sales at the lower end of the market, albeit the deterioration is moderate compared to Sydney and Melbourne.  10 years ago, almost three quarters of houses and more than 4 out of every 5 unit sales was below $400,000, as the above table shows there has been a marked shift over the past decade to fewer lower priced sales.  Relative to Sydney and Melbourne properties selling for less than $400,000 are much more common across Brisbane.
Adelaide
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 Over the 12 months to March 2015 45.3% of Adelaide houses and 65.9% of units sold for less than $400,000.  The proportion of houses and units sold for less than $400,000 was at a record low over the past 12 months however, lower priced housing stock is much more readily available than across all other mainland capital cities.  While sales at a lower price point are falling, a record high 4.7% of houses sold for more than $1 million over the past year.  For units, 2.6% of all sales were over $1 million which was lower than the 3.5% recorded in mid-2008.  Value growth across Adelaide has been limited since the financial crisis, nevertheless the proportion of homes selling for less than $400,000 has continued to decline.  Adelaide offers much more affordable housing options than all other mainland capital cities.
Perth
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15.1% of Perth houses and 37.7% of Perth units sold for less than $400,000 over the 12 months to March 2015.  In comparison, 10.8% of Perth houses and 4.2% of units sold for more than $1 million over the past year.  The proportion of houses and units selling for below $400,000 is above the record-low of 14.7% and 36.9% respectively both of which occurred over the past year.  The climb in more affordable sales over recent months is likely to be reflective of the fact that value growth has hit a stand-still in Perth over the past 12 months. Furthermore, new supply of homes is at close to record highs across the city currently.  Perth has recorded one of the strongest capital growth rates over the past decade and as a result there has been a substantial decline in the proportion of homes selling for less than $400,000.  This is highlighted by the fact that 10 years ago 81.7% of Perth houses and 88.0% of units sold for less than $400,000. In fact, Perth currently has fewer house sales below $400,000 than all capital cities except for Sydney and Canberra.
Hobart
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Hobart is the nation’s most affordable capital city and also sees an overwhelmingly larger proportion of lower priced house and unit sales.  Over the 12 months to March 2015, 61.4% of Hobart houses and 82.0% of units sold for less than $400,000.  Hobart is the only capital city in which a majority of houses have sold for less than $400,000 over the past year.  Subsequently, relatively few homes sell for over $1 million with just 1.5% of all house sales and 1.7% of unit sales over that price point.  Hobart’s housing market has seen very little growth in home values over the past 10 years yet there has still been a fairly substantial decline in house sales below $400,000 while unit sales below $400,000 have seen little change.    10 years ago, 86.9% of all house sales were less than $400,000 and 88.5% of unit sales sat within that price point.
Darwin
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Darwin has recorded the strongest value growth of all capital cities over the past decade; as a result it has shifted from being one of the most affordable capital cities to now being one of the most expensive.  Over the 12 months to March 2015, 20.8% of houses and 28.8% of units sold for less than $400,000.  Alternatively, 6.3% of houses and 4.8% of units in the city sold for more than $1 million.  The proportion of houses selling for less than $400,000 has started to trend higher over recent months as values have fallen while unit sales below $400,000 are at a record low.  The proportion of sales above $1 million is below its record high for houses and units with the record high coming for houses over the past year and in late 2010 for units.  With value growth in Darwin the strongest of all capital cities over the past decade, the decline in the availability of more affordable housing is clear.  Around 1 in 5 house sales nowadays are below $400,000 compared to 9 out of 10 a decade ago.  For units, just over 1 in 4 sales nowadays are below $400,000 compared to more than 9 in 10 a decade ago.
Canberra
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Over the 12 months to March 2015, 7.8% of Canberra houses and 42.3% of Canberra units sold for less than $400,000.  On the other hand, 5.9% of house sales and 2.4% of unit sales were for more than $1 million over the year. The proportion of houses selling for less than $400,000 is currently at a record low while unit sales below $400,000 reached their low point throughout the past year at 39.7%.  The number of houses selling over $1 million is below its peak of 6.2% a couple of months earlier, as are unit sales at this price point.  Although home value growth in Canberra has been moderate over the past 5 years, there’s been a fairly substantial fall in sales below $400,000 over that time.  5 years ago, 23.2% of Canberra houses and 56.7% of units were sold for less than $400,000.
The data shows that whether you look at interest rates, household incomes or any other factor that can influence affordability; we have seen a sharp decline in homes selling at a lower price point in over the past decade.  Of course, even a home priced at $400,000 won’t be cheap enough for some potential home buyers.  It is to be expected that the cost of housing rises over time however, there are social issues surrounding the sharp decline in lower priced homes.  The result is that more people have to choose to rent or alternatively they have to move away from our capital cities or to smaller capital cities.  Of course, finding employment in smaller capital cities and regional markets can be more difficult.
Anecdotally we are also hearing that in markets such as Sydney and Melbourne first time buyers are purchasing investment properties rather than owner occupied properties for their first home.  We also hear that a number are purchasing investment properties outside of these two cities where you can seemingly get better value for money.  Of course, in most markets outside of Sydney and Melbourne the economies are currently weaker and capital growth has been much more moderate.
Housing affordability is a very individualistic issue however; the data contained here shows that housing at a lower price is becoming much harder to come by, particularly in our larger capital cities.
Cameron Kusher is RP Data’s senior research analyst. Follow Cameron on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/cmkusher" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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1 in 10 capital city home sales over $1 million: Cameron Kusher

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Last week, 3,226 properties were taken to auction which was the highest number of auctions this spring and up from 2,947 auctions the previous week.
Although auction volumes rose, so too did the preliminary auction clearance rate which was recorded at 63.8%, up from 61.4% over the previous week.  
The higher auction clearance rate was largely due to a large volume of auctions in Melbourne over the week and a slightly higher auction clearance rate as well as a moderate lift in clearance rates in Sydney.  At the same time last year, there were a higher number of auctions over the week (3,360) as well as a higher auction clearance rate (68.5%).
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Melbourne auction volumes rose sharply over the week with 1,548 properties auctioned last week up from 1,204 over the previous week. So far, we have captured results for 1,362 of these auctions.  The preliminary auction clearance rate was slightly higher last week (69.5%) compared to the previous week (69.0%) however, it was the fourth successive week that the Melbourne market recorded clearance rates below 70%.  Over the same week in 2014, Melbourne had a lower auction clearance rate of 68.9% across a lower 1,504 auctions.  Across the individual regions of the city; Inner (70.1%), Inner South (70.7%), Outer East (70.9%) and West (75.2%) were the only regions to record clearance rates above 70%.  The Mornington Peninsula with a clearance rate of 64.8% had the lowest clearance rate across the city.
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The preliminary auction clearance rate for Sydney was recorded at 61.0% last week across 1,200 auctions, of which we currently have results for 880 auctions.  The preliminary clearance rate has rebounded from a final clearance rate of 58.4% the previous week from a slightly higher 1,248 auctions.  Sydney auction clearance rates are now below 70% for seven consecutive weeks.  Over the same week a year ago, Sydney had a much higher auction clearance rate of 73.1% across a higher 1,417 auctions.  The only regions of the city to record a clearance rate above 70% were: City and Inner South (73.3%), Eastern Suburbs (76.6%) and North Sydney and Hornsby (71.1%).  At the same time, Central Coast (34.8%) and South West (34.2%) each had clearance rates below 40% over the week.
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There were 198 Brisbane properties taken to auction last week, of which we have results for 122 auctions. The preliminary data indicates that 45.9% of these auctions were successful.  Over the previous week, both the number of auctions (168) and the clearance rate (37.7%) was lower.  At the same time last year there were fewer properties taken to auction (142) however, the clearance rate was at a similar level (45.8%).  Gold Coast had a preliminary auction clearance rate of 48.0% with results capturing for 50 of the 80 total auctions.
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Adelaide recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 49.4% last week which was lower than the 58.1% clearance rate over the previous week.  The clearance rate was calculated from 81 results across 119 total auctions which is lower than the 146 total auctions for the previous week.  At the same time last year there were 152 auctions with a clearance rate of 55.4%.
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In Perth there were 38 auctions last week with 18 results so far.  The preliminary clearance rate was recorded at 50.0%, up from 16.2% the previous week.  The preliminary clearance rate is slightly higher than the 45.5% at the same time last year across 57 auctions.
Canberra’s preliminary auction clearance rate last week was 66.1% which was down from 76.6% over the previous week. The city had 100 auctions this week with 62 results so far which is a lower number of total auctions compared to the 122 the previous week.
Of the 10 Tasmanian auction results reported so far this week, 6 sales have been recorded.
 
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/author/cameron-kusher/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Combined capital city auction clearance rates rise: Cameron Kusher

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released quarterly Consumer Price Index data for September 2015. The data showed that headline inflation was recorded at 0.5% for the quarter and was 1.5% higher over the year.
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As the above chart shows, at 1.5%, headline inflation is below the Reserve Bank’s target range of between 2.0% and 3.0% per annum.  While the headline figure is important, the RBA also likes to look at measures of underlying inflation which exclude some of the more volatile items.  Both measures of underlying inflation; the trimmed mean and the weighted median were recorded at a lower 0.3% over the quarter and have increased by 2.1% and 2.2% respectively over the past year.  These annual increases place underlying inflation within the lower band of the RBA’s target range, it would also indicate that if the RBA felt it necessary they have scope to reduce official interest rates.
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The effects of inflation are also an important factor to consider for housing markets.  Although we generally talk about home value growth in nominal terms, real or inflation-adjusted home value changes are also important to consider.  Over the 12 months to September 2015, combined capital city home values have increased by a nominal rate of 11.0% however, in real terms that figure drops to 9.4%.  The above chart shows the annual rate of value change across the individual capital cities in both nominal and real terms.  It highlights once again the significant difference in value growth conditions in Sydney and Melbourne relative to the other capital cities.
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In real terms home values have only increased over the past five years in Sydney and Melbourne.  On a compound annual basis, falls have been recorded at -1.7%pa in Brisbane, -2.0%pa in Adelaide, -1.5%pa in Perth, -3.5%pa in Hobart, -3.9%pa in Darwin and -1.4%pa in Canberra.  Real home values have increased at a rate of 4.9%pa over the past five years in Sydney and 1.7%pa in Melbourne.  Over the past decade, real home values have fallen in Hobart and have risen at a rate of less than 2%pa in Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.
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To further highlight the differences across the cities it is valuable to have a look at nominal and real value growth across the capital cities since 2008.  Between March and December of 2008 combined capital city home values fell by a nominal -6.1% or a real -8.3%.  On the back of aggressive interest rate cuts and stimulus in the form of the Boost to the First Home Owners Grant, values began to rise from that point.  Although combined capital city home values have increased since 2008, this is largely by virtue of strong value growth in Sydney and Melbourne.  In fact, real home values are currently lower in Brisbane (-5.2%), Adelaide (-5.4%), Perth (-3.0%) and Hobart (-16.1%) than they were at the end of 2008, almost eight years of no real value growth in these cities.  Real value rises have been moderate since 2008 in Darwin (5.0%) and Canberra (4.1%) and substantially greater in Sydney (51.4%) and Melbourne (41.9%).
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The above chart looks at the change in real home values on a quarterly basis since their previous peak.  What is immediately noticeable is that Sydney (+24.3%) and Melbourne (+8.9%) are the only cities in which values are now higher than their previous peaks.  The journey to get back above their peaks was somewhat different, Sydney took 41 quarters to eclipse its March 2004 peak while Melbourne took 19 quarters to eclipse its September 2010 peak.  Across each remaining capital city, real home values are below their previous peaks, the figures for each city are: -11.8% in Brisbane, -10.0% in Adelaide, -13.0% in Perth, -21.3% in Hobart, -17.9% in Darwin and -8.1% in Canberra.  For Brisbane, Perth and Hobart in particular the journey back to the previous peak has proven to be long with these markets previously peaking in March 2008, September 2007 and December 2007 respectively.
As values continue to rise in Sydney and Melbourne and show falls or moderate nominal growth in other capital cities, the affordability gap will continue to widen.  At some point these other capital city markets will once again become attractive to buyers.  Importantly this won’t be driven by affordability factors alone; employment opportunities, amenity and local infrastructure, amongst other factors, will be important factors.  The data also highlights that long periods of value falls do happen in the Australian housing market and clearly housing is not a one-way bet.  The broader statistics do tend to be overshadowed by the impact of the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets who are substantially bigger than all other capital cities.
 
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/author/cameron-kusher/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Real home values remain below previous peak: Cameron Kusher

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There’s been a number of articles this week about the peak of the Sydney market. It does look as if the market is at or slightly past its peak however, it is important to thoroughly investigate how the market is tracking currently.
Values
Sydney home values have increased by 17.6% over the 12 months to August 2015 and by 14.0% over the first 8 months of 2015. Sydney home values have been trending higher since they reached a low point in May 2012 and since that time Sydney home values have increased by a total of 49.5%. To put that growth in perspective, a home worth $500,000 in May 2012 would now be worth $747,704. The data presented shows that home values have been trending higher at a fairly rapid pace however, more recent data may point to a slowing of the rate of growth. Home values rose by 1.1% over the month of August however, data for September is showing a much more sluggish rate of growth in home values with values -0.3% lower over the twenty eight days to 20 September.
Sales transactions
Unfortunately sales transactions are not a timely indicator of the market’s performance due to delays in receiving the full population of settled sales transactions.  Furthermore, off-the-plan sales are entered into sales counts at their contract date however, the record is not received until settlement which could be several years down the track for large projects. As a result, when you have heightened off-the-plan sales activity as we currently do, unit sales in particular are inclined to be undercounted.  The latest sales data to June 2015 shows that over the second quarter of the year there were 23,432 sales. Compared to the same quarter in 2014, house sales were -5.5% lower and unit sales were -16.5% lower.
Time on market
At the end of July 2015 the typical Sydney home was selling after just 25 days. At CoreLogic RP Data we’ve been tracking the time on market since the beginning of 2005 and this is the quickest rate of sale recorded over this period. The combination of strong value growth and a rapid rate of sale suggests that demand is still quite strong across the city.
Auction clearance rates
The preliminary auction clearance rate for Sydney last week was 73.2% which was virtually unchanged from the final auction clearance rate the previous week.  Importantly, in most instances the final auction clearance rates are revised lower. Auction clearance rates have shifted from their peak of almost 90% in April of this year to their current level.  At the same time a year ago clearance rates were recorded at a higher 78%. It is important to note that over recent weeks the number of properties being taken to auction has been significantly higher than the number taken to auction a year ago. Nevertheless it is clear that the auction market which represents slightly more than a quarter of all Sydney home sales has weakened over recent months and has not rebounded so far during the Spring Selling Season.
Property listings
The latest weekly listings data which tracks houses, units and vacant land for sale across Sydney shows that over the past 4 weeks there were 8,525 new listings and 20,121 total listings.  New listings are now at their highest level since the week ended 30/11/14 and total listings are at their highest level since the week ended 14/12/14. Comparing listings to levels at the same time a year ago shows that new listings are currently 19.0% higher and total listings are up 5.0%. In the early part of the Spring Selling Season there is much more stock available for sale in Sydney than there was at the same time a year ago. Heightened stock levels at a time when auction markets are softening and value growth has shown some early signs of slowing may contribute to a further slowdown in the rate of capital gain over the coming months.  This is due to the fact that active buyers are afforded more choice and may not have to pay such a price premium to secure a home.
Mortgage Activity
The CoreLogic RP Data Mortgage Index tracks pre-purchasing activity and has shown some clear weakness over recent weeks. While the Index remains at quite high levels it has fallen by -2.0% over the past couple of weeks at a time when, seasonally, the trend should typically be rising. At the same time last year the index had risen by 1.2% over the previous two weeks. With mortgages, particularly investment mortgages becoming more difficult to obtain, we are potentially seeing the first signs that this segment of the market it is starting to slow resulting in an easing of demand.
Building approvals
The latest building approvals data for July 2015 shows that there was a record high 5,159 dwelling approvals over the month. This was comprised of 1,655 house approvals and 3,504 unit approvals.  Over the 12 months to July 2015 there have been 15,213 house approvals and a record high 30,921 unit approvals. Sydney has consistently approved more units for construction than houses since early 1993. With a record pipeline of new housing stock it is going some way to alleviating housing shortages across the city. It also affords buyers much more choice when they are looking to purchase a new home
Housing finance
The latest housing finance data for New South Wales to July 2015 shows that demand from the owner occupier segment is starting to ramp-up while investor demand is starting to wane. Importantly, owner occupier demand includes refinances so if we look exclusively at new lending (excluding refinances) we also see owner occupier demand ramping up while investor demand seems to be waning. Investors still account for the greatest proportion of new lending (58.0%) however, two months ago investors accounted for a record-high 62.4% of all new mortgage lending in NSW.
Rents and yields
Over the 12 months to August 2015, rental rates across Sydney have increased by 2.3% which is the slowest annual rate of rental growth since May 2013. With rental growth sluggish and value growth remaining very strong, gross rental yields across Sydney have shifted to record low levels. Yields were recorded at 3.3% in August 2015 which is the softest yields on record. We’ve already mentioned that investor activity across NSW has recently hit record highs and remains elevated. It appears that many investors are having little regard for rental returns and are largely focussing on the future capital growth potential and the subsequent benefits from a negative gearing strategy.
Although the data is still generally undoubtedly strong, it appears there are signs that the market could be showing the first sign that growth rates are peaking. Record high new housing supply at a time when mortgage demand is seemingly slowing along with auction clearance rates and listings are rising points to potentially softer value growth conditions for the city. While we expect the rate of growth will likely start to slow, the significant stimulus of low mortgage rates is expected to ensure that home values continue to rise albeit at a more moderate pace.
 
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/author/cameron-kusher/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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What is going on in the Sydney housing market? Cameron Kusher

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released building approvals data for October 2015 earlier today. 
Focusing just on dwelling approvals, although they were slightly lower than the recent record high levels, the overall number of dwellings approved for construction remain extremely high from a historical standpoint.
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There were 19,652 dwelling approvals in October which was 3.9% higher over the month and 12.3% higher year-on-year.  If we look at approvals over the past 12 months there has been a record high 233,180 approvals which is 17.3% higher year on year.
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In October 2015, there were 9,435 houses and 10,218 units approved for construction nationally.  House approvals are -2.1% lower over the month and -2.3% lower year-on-year.  The more ‘lumpy’ unit approvals have increased by 10.1% over the month and are 30.2% higher year-on-year.  The data highlights the rising prevalence of unit approvals and this is particularly reflected if we look at the annual approvals.  For the first time ever there have been more units approved (117,072) over the past year than houses (116,111).
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With the rising prevalence of unit construction there has also been a record high proportion of high-rise approvals over the past year.  Looking at unit approvals over the past year, 25.5% of approvals were for townhouses, 9.1% were for low-rise (less than four storeys) and 65.4% were for high-rise (four storeys or more).  
To put the rise in high-rise into context, a year ago 56.5% of unit approvals were high-rise, five years ago the figure was 38.1% and a decade ago high-rise accounted for 36.9% of unit approvals.  Clearly densification and demand for inner city living is driving the rising demand for high-rise units.  
It’s also important to note that over recent years, Chinese and Indians have overtaken New Zealanders and those from the United Kingdom as our largest sources of migrants.  While New Zealanders and those from the United Kingdom often prefer houses like most Australians, Chinese and Indians are much more accustomed to living in smaller homes and in much higher density environments.  This is another driver of the growing prevalence of high-rise approvals.
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Turning to approvals in the capital cities, there were 17,236 capital city dwelling approvals in October which was 15.9% higher over the month and 16.9% higher year-on-year. There were 6,691 houses and 10,545 units approved for construction over the month.  House approvals fell by -1.8% over the month to be -6.6% lower year-on-year while unit approvals increased 30.8% over the month and were 39.2% higher year-on-year.
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Across the individual capital cities, house approvals generally fell over the month however, they have for the most part been trending higher of late but are lower relative to a year ago.  Over the month there were 1,373 approvals in Sydney, 2,244 in Melbourne, 945 in Brisbane, 1,410 in Perth, 540 in Adelaide, 77 in Hobart, 43 in Darwin and 59 in Canberra.  Year-on-year the changes in approvals have been recorded at -3.8% in Sydney, +2.4% in Melbourne, -6.8% in Brisbane, -23.9% in Perth, +24.4% in Adelaide, +6.9% in Hobart, -30.6% in Darwin and -45.9% in Canberra.
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While housing approvals may be showing early signs of slowing across the capital cities, the same can’t be said for unit approvals which in most cities remain at or close to record highs.  Across the capital cities there were 3,630 approvals in Sydney, 3,640 in Melbourne, 1,671 in Brisbane, 677 in Perth, 561 in Adelaide, 6 in Hobart, 215 in Darwin and 145 in Canberra.  The year-on-year changes in approvals have been recorded at +73.7% in Sydney, +32.6% in Melbourne, +37.4% in Brisbane, -10.8% in Perth, +18.4% in Adelaide, -80.6% in Hobart, +83.8% in Darwin and +0.7% in Canberra.
Based on the data it seems that the demand from developers to seek approvals for units, particularly high rise approvals, is continuing to climb.  Countering this is the slowing in detached housing demand.  As mentioned earlier, the biggest sources of migration to Australia are more comfortable with high-rise development and this coupled with the fact it is relatively more affordable than detached houses seems to be driving the demand. 
The challenge from here with value growth now slowing is how many of these approvals will be delivered to the market.  We already have concerns surrounding potential settlement risk for projects already under construction given that banks have recently changed lending requirements to investor.  Keep in mind that unit stock is much more likely to be purchased by investors than detached houses.
Although there has been a slight easing of approvals over recent months they remain at near record highs.  Of course population growth is winding down, particularly overseas migration, which should result in an ongoing improvement in housing supply relative to housing demand.
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/author/cameron-kusher/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Dwelling approvals remain at near record high levels thanks to high-rise approvals: Cameron Kusher

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The increase in the value of Sydney homes over recent years has been significant and Sydney home owners now have a substantial amount of equity, it will be interesting to see what they do with it.
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The latest CoreLogic RP Data Home Value Index results were released earlier this week.  Apart from an update how house and unit values have shifted in November, the release includes the latest update on median selling prices for houses and units across the capital cities.  From this data it is becoming increasingly evident that housing costs in Sydney have well and truly separated from the rest of the country.
The CoreLogic RP Data Home Value Index results highlight just how much stronger value growth has been in Sydney, and to a lesser degree Melbourne, relative to all other capital cities.  The first chart highlights that since the current growth phase commenced in June 2012, value growth has been significantly greater in Sydney than in most other cities.  This has occurred despite the fact that Sydney was already the most expensive capital city.
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<img src="/images/2015/12/7/Screen%20Shot%202015-12-07%20at%202.16.35%20PM.png" alt="" width="716" height="358">
The second chart compares median house and unit prices across each of the capital cities.  This data is based on median prices over the three months to November 2015. Sydney has the greatest median house ($950,000) and unit price ($675,000).  In fact, Sydney’s median unit price is higher than the median house price in all other cities except Melbourne where they sit at the same level.  To put the differential into some perspective the combined median house ($495,000) and unit price ($400,000) is lower than the median house price in Sydney.
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<img src="/images/2015/12/7/Screen%20Shot%202015-12-07%20at%202.17.54%20PM.png" alt="" width="626" height="308">
 
It is important to remember that the median price provides an indication of the typical home selling at a period of time.  It can be impacted by compositional bias if lower or higher priced stock is selling.  Nevertheless it does afford an understanding of what the typical home is currently selling for.
To better understand exactly how much Sydney has separated from the rest of the capital cities in pricing terms, we’ve looked at the approximate dollar value change from the recent low point in the market through to the end of November.  The data shows that home values have increased substantially across Sydney and those who have owned a property in Sydney for more than a few years are likely to have accumulated a sizeable level of equity in their property.
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<img src="/images/2015/12/7/Screen%20Shot%202015-12-07%20at%202.19.12%20PM.png" alt="" width="775" height="610">
At their most recent low, Sydney median house prices were recorded at $620,000 and median unit prices were $465,000. From that time to the end of November Sydney house values had increased by 51.7% and unit values by 38.3%.  In dollar value terms this is an increase of $320,265 and $178,245 respectively. Of course some of that increase may be due to improvements however, that rise in the value of Sydney houses and units are much greater than increases in all other capital cities.
The substantial rise in prices and the subsequent boost in housing equity probably also points to why many lifestyle markets are now seeing value rises.  Anecdotally, home owners from Sydney and Melbourne are now more able to purchase lifestyle properties given the wealth effect of higher property prices.  It also indicates that someone could sell out of Sydney, buy into another market and pocket a significant amount of capital from the balance from the sale.  This is probably quite appealing to some Sydney-siders that are retired or close to retirement as well as those that own their own business.
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/author/cameron-kusher/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Sydney prices have separated from the rest of the country: Cameron Kusher

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The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) released its December 2015 quarterly data on property exposures by Australian authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs).
The data is always interesting to analyse in order to get further insight into the current state of the mortgage market.
The first data point is residential term loans to households which have a total outstanding balance of $1.384 trillion which has increase by 8.9% over the past year. The total value of outstanding owner occupier loans is $884 billion having increased by 12.8% over the past year and accounting for 63.9% of all outstanding loans. The remaining 36.1% of outstanding loans are to investors, having increased by 2.6% year-on-year to $500 billion. 
Growth in outstanding loans has tilted away from investors to owner occupiers.  After year-on-year growth in investor loans peaked at 18.2% in March 2015 it has slowed to 2.6% growth while owner occupier credit troughed at an annual rate of 2.2% in March 2015, before rebounding to the current annual rate of 12.8% (the fastest annual growth rate since June 2010).
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In terms of the types of loans outstanding, 42.3% have an offset facility, 39.3% are interest-only, 0.2% are reverse mortgages, 2.0% are low documentation loans and 0.1% are other non-standard loans.  The year-on-year change across these loan types has been recorded at: +22.0% for loans with an offset facility, +11.6% for interest-only loans, +1.6% for reverse mortgages, -16.6% for low documentation loans and -5.7% for other non-standard loans.  Importantly, the value of outstanding residential loans for low-documentation loans is now at a record low.
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The data highlights that the average outstanding balance on a residential loan is $248,800, up by 1.0% over the quarter and by 4.4% year-on-year.  Reverse mortgages ($95,700), low-documentation loans ($192,800) and other non-standard loans ($195,900) all have much lower outstanding balances.  Meanwhile, loans with offset facilities ($303,700) and interest-only loans ($330,000) have significantly higher outstanding balances. 
The year-on-year changes to the outstanding loan balances have been recorded as follows: +7.2% for loans with an offset facility (fastest year-on-year growth since June 2011), +4.9% for interest-only loans, +2.8% for reverse mortgages (slowest year-on-year growth on record), -1.5% for low-documentation loans and -6.8% for other non-standard loans.  The data shows a slowing in the growth of outstanding loan values for reverse mortgages while riskier lending types (low-documentation and other non-standard) have seen an ongoing fall in outstanding loan amounts.
While the previous data looked at the total value of residential mortgages outstanding, the following data focuses on new residential mortgages over the final quarter of 2015.
Over the December 2015 quarter there was a record-high $98.130 billion worth of new residential mortgages approved, $69.091 billion worth were owner occupied with the remaining $29.040 billion being for investment purposes.  Year-on-year the value of new owner occupier loans is 28.8% higher, its greatest change on record, while investor mortgage lending is -24.9% lower, its largest fall on record.
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Looking at the types of mortgages approved over the quarter: a record low 0.3% were low-documentation, 37.0% were interest only which was its lowest proportion since March 2013, 0.1% were other non-standard loans, 47.4% were originated by third parties and 3.7% were loans approved outside of serviceability.
Focussing on the year-on-year change; low documentation loan approvals are -41.8% lower (their largest year-on-year fall since March 2013), interest-only loan approvals are -11.0% lower (their largest year-on-year fall since March 2009), other non-standard loan approvals are up 28.2% (their largest year-on-year increase since December 2013), third party originated loans are up 6.2% and loans approved outside of serviceability are up 41.3%.  The data indicates there has been a significant pull-back in low-documentation loans and interest-only loans. 
At the same time, non-standard and loans approved outside of serviceability are rising significantly which may be a potential point of concern for APRA.  Although they make-up a small overall proportion of lending it will be something to keep a close watch on over the coming quarters especially since both have also recorded a quarterly increase.
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Finally the data breaks out new lending by loan-to-value-ratio (LVR) bands.  Over the quarter, 23.4% of all new loans had an LVR of less than 60%, 53.4% had an LVR of between 60% and 80%, 14.5% had an LVR of 80% to 90% and 8.7% had an LVR of more than 90% which was its lowest proportion on record. 
Looking at the year-on-year changes, the value of lending for LVRs of less than 60% was 16.1% higher, LVRs of between 60% and 80% increased 6.1%, LVRs of 80% to 90% increased 14.3% and LVRs greater than 90% fell by -20.1% which was the largest year-on-year fall June 2010.  Based on the data it is clear that lenders have been tightening lending requirements over recent quarters which has led to a sharp decline in new mortgage lending for LVRs above 90%.
Overall the data indicates that the market is responding to regulatory changes in the lending space implemented over the past year.  There is less new lending to high LVRs, fewer low documentation and interest-only mortgages being written. 
On the other-hand some other potentially more risky lending types such as non-standard and outside of serviceability loans are continuing to rise.  It will be interesting to see whether APRA starts to look to crack-down on some of these types of lending in order to ensure stability within the mortgage market.
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/">here</a>.
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APRA data shows a further tightening of lending standards: Cameron Kusher

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At the moment, the issue of negative gearing is extremely topical due to the Federal opposition proposal to change the availability of negative gearing to new properties only. 
In data released last week, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) published their annual taxation statistics for the 2013-14 financial year. 
The latest data shows that over the year there was a substantial decline in net rental losses claimed.  In fact, net rental losses haven’t been this low in close to ten years.
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The first chart looks at net rent over time and what is immediately noticeable is that since the beginning of the 2000’s net rental losses have been consistent and grown to be much greater than they ever were before that time. In 1999 the capital gains tax indexation was scrapped and replaced with a 50 percent discount on the capital gain if the asset is held for more than a year.  Since that time we have seen an increase in net rental losses suggesting that this change has made rental income losses more attractive to investors.
Over the 2013-14 financial year the value of net rental losses was $3.719 billion which was down 34.2 percent from the previous year when there were net rental losses of $5.654 billion. Net rental losses peaked at $9.065 billion over the 2007-08 financial year which indicates that rental losses are now 59.0% lower than this peak. 
Lower mortgage rates clearly have an impact given that holding costs are lower and this has no doubt contributed to the value of rental losses having fallen.  We would expect a further reduction in rental losses over the 2014-15 financial year considering that standard variable mortgage rates fell by a further 50 basis points over the 2014/15 financial year.
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The net rental data is split into two components, those that make a profit and those that make a loss. Focusing on those making a profit, there were 776,672 individuals that recorded a net rental profit in 2013-14, with the number increasing by 6.1 percent over the year to its highest number on record.  These individuals made a total profit from their net rent of $7.248 billion which was an historic high and up 5.3 percent over the year. As a result, the average net profit by these individuals was $9,332 which was -1.0 percent lower over the year.
The reason for the decline in the average net profit is most likely due to the fact that some of those that have shifted from making a loss to making a profit are making far smaller profits than those that were already established as making a profit.
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Turning to those individuals claiming a net rental loss, there were 1,257,301 of them in 2013-14 and they claimed a total of $10.967 billion worth of rental losses over the year. The number of individuals claiming a rental loss was -3.7 percent lower over the year which was the fewest claiming a loss since 2009-10. In value terms, losses were -12.5 percent lower over the year and at their lowest total value since 2009-10 as well. The average loss claimed was $8,722 which was the lowest it has been since 2005-06.
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The taxation statistics also split out the proportion of individuals that were claiming a loss compared to those whose properties were neutral or returning a profit in each state and territory.  Individuals with an investment property in Queensland were the least likely to be neutral or positively geared (30.7 percent) while investors in New South Wales were the most likely to be neutral or positively geared (47.5 percent).
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The above table shows net rental statistics across income ranges which match to the national income tax bands.  Firstly the non-taxable individuals’ data shows that 3,251,992 individuals are non-taxable compared to 9,712,276 that are.  Of those non-taxable individuals, 11.3% have claimed net rent compared to a higher 17.1% of taxable individuals and non-taxable individuals average net rental loss is much lower than those taxable individuals.
Focussing only on taxable individuals, the data shows that those on the lowest income band, more than half of them claim net rent and it is the only income band shown where on average they are seeing a rental profit.  This is probably reflective of retirees or those close to retirement positively gearing investment properties to provide them with an income source. 
In terms of number of individuals, far more individuals on lower incomes claim net rent however, this is by virtue of far more individuals overall are on lower incomes.  If you look at the percentage of individuals claiming net rent across the income ranges you can see that the proportion is much higher for the higher incomes (except for less than $18,200). 
As the income range gets higher you can also see that the average net rental losses increase significantly.  This indicates that the benefit from negative gearing tends to be greater for those that have higher incomes, conversely, the lower income earners are more likely to have their investment properties either positively or neutrally geared.
The taxation statistics show that the lower mortgage rates are reducing the value of losses claimed on rental properties.  With mortgage rates currently lower than they were in June 2014, it is reasonable to expect that the value of rental losses will continue to decline. 
Interestingly, since June 2014 we have also seen the level of investor participation in the market has hit record high levels and has since sunk back to decade average levels.  Given this, we would expect that over the coming year the number of property investors to increase quite substantially at the same time as the value of losses to fall.
It is important to also note that there is a significant shortcoming to all of this data.  Because it is all based on net figures, the data is assessed once the deductions have been made.  Particularly in the case of the income brackets, we don’t have a clear indication of how many people have shifted into a lower taxation bracket due to the deductions they have been able to make.
Although there has been a lot of debate about the tax burden negative gearing creates and changes to negative gearing policies, this data shows that the actual value of these losses has fallen substantially and is likely to remain much lower as long as interest rates remain at low levels.  While any policy changes may be seen as making access to the housing market more equitable, the financial benefit to the Government from such changes is likely to be limited.
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/">here</a>.
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Net rental property losses at near ten year lows: Cameron Kusher 

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The Hobart housing market has been the nation’s weakest performing capital city housing market for more than a decade.
There are now signs that the Hobart (and Tasmania’s) housing market may be in line for a steady improvement.
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<img src="/images/2016/04/27/Chart-1-2-580x208.jpg" alt="">
Over the 12 months to March 2016, home values in Hobart have increased by 4.8 percent while over the past two years values are only 4.5 percent higher highlighting that the value growth performance has been much stronger over the past year relative to the previous year.
The above chart shows the annual change in home values across all capital cities, with Hobart and the combined capital cities highlighted and the other cities in grey.  Although Hobart values have increased over the past year, the recent rise must be put in context, over the past decade home values in Hobart have increased at an annual rate of 1.5 percent with values falling at an annual rate of -0.7 percent over the past five years.  Hobart’s decade growth performance is well behind Perth which has recorded the second lowest annual rate of growth over the period at 3.1 percent.
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<img src="/images/2016/04/27/Chart-2-2-580x207.jpg" alt="">
It is interesting to look at the performance of the Hobart housing market in context with the performance of the Melbourne market. The previous chart shows that in 2003 and 2004 home value growth in Hobart surged. The rate of growth reached a peak of 57.9 percent annual growth in November 2003 and very shortly thereafter the growth performance in Hobart stalled and has been limited ever since.
The surge in Hobart dwellings came following a surge in Melbourne home values and at a similar time to which the rate of growth in Melbourne values began to slow.  Ever since the end of the last surge in home values in Hobart, Melbourne has recorded strong rises in home values while growth in Hobart has been minimal.
Melbourne has obviously recently seen a large surge in home values meaning that many home owners have substantial levels of equity in their property. Investment in the Tasmanian housing market which offers much lower home values and superior yields may be looking attractive for those in Melbourne looking for a lifestyle investment.
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<img src="/images/2016/04/27/Chart-3-2-580x207.jpg" alt="">
While value growth in Hobart is picking up, transaction volumes are relatively steady from where they were at the end of last year and virtually unchanged from a year ago.  In comparison, most other capital city housing markets are actually recording fewer property transactions than they were a year ago.
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Looking at the current market, listings provides one of the best guides about the balance between buyers and sellers.  As listings move lower, buyers have less choice and vendors can be less flexible on their price expectations which can push values higher.  Over the 28 days to 17 April 2016 there were 376 newly advertised properties added to the Hobart housing market and 2,189 total property listings. 
New listings are 1.3 percent higher than they were a year ago and fairly flat over recent weeks.  Meanwhile, total listings are -26.2 percent lower than they were a year ago and as the table shows they are trending lower.  In fact, the number of listings is at its lowest level since October 2010.  With new listings slightly higher than a year ago and total listing much lower it suggests that there is limited new supply coming to the market with increasing demand which is causing total listing volumes to trend much lower.
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<img src="/images/2016/04/27/Chart-5-2-580x210.jpg" alt="">
One of the main drivers of the surge in Hobart home values in 2003 and 2004 was the positive migration trends for Tasmania.  The above table shows that in 2003 and early 2004 both net overseas and net interstate migration were positive.  The chart also shows that typically there is an outflow of residents of Tasmania to other states and territories while net overseas migration is usually positive.  Over the past few quarters, for the first time in a number of years, net interstate migration to Tasmania has been positive.  It is still early days but should this trend continue over the coming quarters it could be a positive for the Tasmania housing market.
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<img src="/images/2016/04/27/Chart-6-1-580x208.jpg" alt="">
People will generally only move to a new region if they are reasonably comfortable that they can find employment.  The unemployment rate in Tasmania has ticked up over recent months and job creation has slowed which may act as a deterrent to make the move to a market like Hobart.  However, if we look at 2003 and 2004 when home values were surging and migration to Tasmania was quite strong, job creation was stronger although the unemployment rate was in the high 6% to low 7% range compared to a similar 6.9% currently.  Keep in mind that some people will move to Tasmania and Hobart as a lifestyle choice so they may be able to do their current job remotely or may commute back to the mainland a few days a week / each month.  Furthermore, a proportion of people that move interstate would be retirees and therefore their decision is not reliant upon securing employment.
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<img src="/images/2016/04/27/Chart-7-1-580x213.jpg" alt="">
Tourism is likely to be a growing source of employment for those living in Tasmania.  According to data from Tourism Research Australia, international visitor numbers to Tasmania increased by 19.6 percent in 2015 and have increased by 53 percent over the past five years. Meanwhile, domestic overnight trips to Tasmania increased by 17.3 percent in 2015 and have increased by 40 percent over the past five years.  Should the ramp-up in tourism continue it will create even more employment opportunities in the local economy.
When you look at the housing and economic indicators for Hobart it looks like the market is well positioned to see an increase in the rate of housing demand and subsequently home values over the coming year.  Of course Hobart also has the advantage of being a substantially more affordable housing market than all of the other capital cities.  Any of these indicators could change and most importantly if job creation picked up pace and the unemployment rate fell it would provide further positives for the local market.  Nevertheless, it looks as if the fundamentals are in place for a long-awaited improvement in value growth for the Hobart housing market.
 Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/">here</a>.
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Hobart's time to shine: Cameron Kusher

The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Cameron Kusher

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