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Sydney and Perth home values have performed the best over the year, according to RP Data's new weekly index. Sydney and Perth home prices are up 3% compared with this time last year, but Melbourne and Adelaide values have both fallen 1.3%.
In addition to its long-running <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/rp-data-rismark-march-1-daily-index/2012030153640?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=rpdata-rismarkdailyindex" target="_blank">daily home value index</a>, RP Data is now measuring the performance of homes in capital cities each week. Like the daily index, the weekly index is hedonic and is calculated across properties that have been advertised for sale over the past 28 days.
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Over the week, Melbourne was the best-performing capital, with home values up 0.5%, according to RP Data. The worst-performing capital was Perth, with a fall of 0.7% in home values.
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Sydney and Perth best-performing major capitals for the year: RP Data weekly index

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Australian property vendors have been raising their asking prices for the first two months of the year, a sure sign that property prices are also set to rise, according to SQM Research.
In announcing its new Weekly Vendor Sentiment Index, SQM Research notes that asking prices have risen an average of 0.4% for units and 1.5% for houses since the beginning of January.
“A rise in asking prices suggests home sellers are becoming more confident of market conditions and that buyers are bidding more aggressively for real estate that is been offered at fair market value,” says SQM director Louis Christopher.
SQM’s new vendor sentiment index points out that a rise in vendor price expectations correlates with a corresponding rise in property prices.
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SQM notes that thus far there has been a been 0.97% correlation between the vendor sentiment index and ABS property prices.
The sentiment index guages the sentiments of vendors of all houses, three-bedroom houses, all units and two-bedroom units. SQM plans to break down the data on a national, capital city, regional and postcode basis.
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Vendor sentiment index rising: SQM Research

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Hobart vendors are forced to offer the deepest discounts in order to secure sales, according to RP Data. Hobart houses are selling for an average of 11.9% less than the vendor's original price hopes, and units are selling for an average of 9.9% less.
These are significantly deeper discounts than the next most discounted capital, Brisbane, where house vendors offered discounts of 7.9% and unit vendors sold at 6% less than their original price hopes for the week ending February 24.
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The rate of vendor discounting is the average percentage difference between the original listing price and the final selling price.
The statistics are calculated across results received by RP Data over the past week and include properties transacted over the past four weeks.
The data is based on private treaty sales only and records without a valid sale price have been excluded from the vendor discount analysis. The analysis also excludes results where there are less than 10 observations.
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Hobart vendors discounting the most to secure sales: RP Data

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There were 1,076 sales in Perth this week, up 64% from 656 the same week last year, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia. 
The most actively traded suburb was Perth CBD, with 26 sales.
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Perth sales up 64% on same week last year: REIWA

It seems Andrew Winter and his team may have done too thorough a renovation in Wollongong, as the owners decided just before auction to withdraw the property from sale and move back in.

<img alt="newdapto" height="353" src="/images/stories/2013/02/newdapto.jpg" width="470" />

&quot;They did too good a job,&quot; says listing agent Michele Lay of Ray White of the Selling Houses Australia team. &quot;If you see it on Selling Houses Australia you&#39;ll see how beautifully it came up.&quot;

The episode featuring the Wollongong house aired on Wednesday, and the auction was supposed to take place in September last year. The house was on the market for some months last year, says Lay.&nbsp;

The marketing had said &quot;With a realistic vendor and all the hard work done for you; this house MUST BE SOLD&quot;.

A short walk to the Wollongong CBD, the three-bedroom cottage last sold for $185,000 in 1999 and was on the market briefly in 2006, according to RP Data. The Selling Houses Australia team added new&nbsp;paint throughout, new blinds, new doors, new light fittings, new taps and a revamped kitchen and outdoor entertainment area. Lay says it could have attracted a rental of up to $460 per week. In 2009 it was listed for rent for $400 per week.

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Lay&nbsp;was marketing the property with price hopes of $399,000 plus.

The median house price in Wollongong fell 9.9% in&nbsp;the past year but rose 10.5% in the past five years, according to RP Data.

For more about prices and yields in&nbsp;<a href="/news">Wollongong, see the&nbsp;RP Data suburb page.</a>

For real-life property lessons from reality TV shows, download our free eBook&nbsp;<a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-lessons-from-the-block-and-other-property-reality-television-shows" target="_blank">Lights, Camera, Auction!</a>

Wollongong vendor decides to move back in after Andrew Winter's work is done

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There is a notable lack of Sydney properties in this week's SQM list of the most discounted properties in Australia.
Sydney may have escaped the recent downturn in the property market and is still showing strong demand, according to SQM director Louis Christopher. 
"If there are certain areas of Australia that never or rarely make it to our most discounted property list, there has obviously got to be a little more than pure luck of the draw when it comes to these things," says Christoper. 
"Yes, we note that of late there has been absolutely no properties from Sydney feature on the list. Beside this possibly being a no-brainer in some respects, as the demand in Sydney often assures that the majority of homes do not need to be discounted by massive amounts to make a sale (excluding the luxury end of the market), this potentially shows that the downturn in Sydney was not as severe or as pronounced in comparison to other Australian localities (once again excluding the luxury end of the market)," he says.
Sydney stock is also being absorbed faster than stock in other areas, according to Christopher, with the number of properties on the market falling 13.1% year-on-year.
There are three Queensland properties on the most discounted list, with the plurality (four) in Tasmania.
 
1
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-tangalooma-104624146">7 Cassidae Crescent, Tangalooma, Queensland, 4025</a> (pictured)
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-livestock-qld-caboolture-7262420"></a>Days on the market: 1,399 Initial asking price: $1,495,000 Current asking price: $875,000 Reduction: 41%
 
2
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-tas-taranna-106879142">5756 Arthur Highway, Taranna, Tasmania, 7180</a>
Days on the market: 838 Initial asking price: $499,000 Current asking price: $299,000 Reduction: 40%
 
3
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-livestock-qld-caboolture-7262420">19 Lychee Drive, Caboolture, Queensland, 4510</a>
Days on the market: 979 Initial asking price: $949,000 Current asking price: $586,000 Reduction: 38%
 
4
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-wa-south+perth-110012197" target="_blank">6/152 Mill Point Road, South Perth, WA, 6151</a>
Days on the market: 308 Initial asking price: $2.5 million Current asking price: $1.55 million Reduction: 38%
 
5
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/Rural/QLD/Morayfield/?adid=2009282451" target="_blank">276 Forest Hills Drive, Morayfield, Queensland, 4506</a>
Days on market: 475 Initial asking price: $790,000 Current asking price: $499,000 Reduction: 37%
 
6
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-two+rocks-106211228">15 Gretel, Two Rocks, WA, 6037</a>
Days on the market: 1,127 Initial asking price: $1.1 million Current asking price: $699,000 Reduction: 36%
 
7
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-white+beach-106479093" target="_blank">588 White Beach Road, White Beach, Tasmania, 7184</a>
Days on the market: 979 Initial asking price: $780,000 Current asking price: $499,000 Reduction: 36%
 
8
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/TAS/Spring-Beach/?adid=2008672031" target="_blank">368 Rheban Road, Spring Beach, Tasmania, 7190</a>
Days on the market: 812 Initial asking price: $760,000 Current asking price: $500,000 Reduction: 34%
 
9
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-docklands-109665546" target="_blank">1601/8 Marmion Place, Docklands, VIC, 3008</a>
Days on the market: 336 Initial asking price: $830,000 Current asking price: $550,000 Reduction: 34%
 
10
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/TAS/Dunalley/?adid=2008215774" target="_blank">87 Arthur Highway, Dunalley, Tasmania, 7177</a>
Days on market: 1,078 Initial asking price: $285,000 Current asking price: $190,000 Reduction: 33%
 
SQM Research also offers a list of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/top100bargains.php" title="SQM Research">Top 100 Biggest Bargains in Australia </a>for sale.
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No NSW listings on most discounted list as Queensland home takes top spot: SQM Research

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More than half the property auctions scheduled for this week are in Queensland, with the vast majority to be held outside of Brisbane, especially on the Gold Coast.
Several Gold Coast estate agencies will hold mega auctions this week, with multiple properties going to auction in a single day. The trend began with Ray White and has expanded to other agencies. 
Ray White Surfers Paradise is preparing for its 20th annual summer auction, dubbed The Event – which is now spread over three days, January 27, 30 and 31.
As one of Australia’s largest auctions, The Event will bring more than 100 residential, prestige, industrial and commercial properties as well as land sites and even boats go to auction.
Professionals Broadbeach, Ray White Broadbeach and Professionals Paradise Point <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/gold-coast-auctions-seek-to-climb-out-of-its-five-year-chasm/2013011758834">all have auctions on January 24</a>, which would explain Queensland's mid-week auction boom. 
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Gold Coast has lion's share of auctions this week as Ray White and others hold mega auction

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Perth sales got off to a faster start in January 2013 than January 2012.
There were 848 residential property sales in Perth the week ending January 16, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.
This is 43% more than the same week last year, which recorded 592 sales.
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Perth sales activity up 43% on the same week last year: REIWA

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There was a marked decrease in the amount of time it took to sell property in Perth in December 2012 compared with December 2011, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Perth property took an average of 125 days to sell in December 2011, but in December 2012 that number had dropped to 104 days.
The APM report on the number of days on market indicator recorded an increase across 2012 in all other capitals except Canberra, where it remained steady at 78 days.
The biggest increase was in Brisbane, where the number of days on market increased 14%, from 120 days in December 2011 to 137 days in December 2012. 
In the December 2012 month Hobart's rate of sale quickened, but Brisbane fell back noticeably. In December 2012 Sydney's days on market stayed about the same, while in Melbourne it took an average of five days more to sell than in November 2012. 
The latest Darwin December 2012 figure dropped in an unusual way, suggesting it might not yet be considered a permanent realignment. 
 
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Property selling faster in Perth in December 2012 than December 2011

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The number of properties available for sale decreased in every capital city between December 2011 and December 2012, according to SQM Research.
"If this trend continues, it could be possible that the level of unsold homes around the country has reached its peak and may now begin to decline," says SQM Research director Louis Christopher. 
 
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The number of properties on the market in Adelaide in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 17,286 in December 2011, a decrease of 4.6%.
 
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The number of properties on the market in Brisbane in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 27,104 in December 2011, a decrease of 6%.
 
<hr>
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The number of properties on the market in Canberra in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 3,568 in December 2011, a decrease of 2.4%.
 
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The number of properties on the market in Darwin in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 1,486 in December 2011, a decrease of 26.9%.
 
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The number of properties on the market in Hobart in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 4,599 in December 2011, a decrease of 2.1%.
 
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The number of properties on the market in Melbourne in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 43,682 in December 2011, a decrease of 4.2%.
 
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The number of properties on the market in Perth in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 19,011 in December 2011, a decrease of 5.8%.
 
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The number of properties on the market in Sydney in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 32,376 in December 2011, a decrease of 22.9%.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/341784.gif">
The number of properties on the market Australia-wide in December 2012, according to SQM Research. This is down from 360,101 in December 2011, a decrease of 5.1%.
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Still 341,784 would-be sellers, but has your capital city shed its property oversupply? A state-by-state SQM analysis

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

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Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

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Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Joel Robinson

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

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Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <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>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

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Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

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La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

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La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

Cassidy Knowlton

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