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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/minus4point4percent.gif">
 
The capital growth for Darwin houses in December, according to RP Data. House prices are up 7.6% for the year to a median price of $550,000. The median house yield is 6.1%.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/minus0point9percent.gif">
The capital growth for Sydney houses in December, according to RP Data. House prices are up 1.3% for the year to a median price of $665,000. The median house yield is 4.3%.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/0percent.gif">
The capital growth for Brisbane houses in December, according to RP Data. House prices are down 0.5% for the year to a median price of $440,000. The median house yield is 4.7%.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/0point1percent.gif">
The capital growth for Adelaide houses in December, according to RP Data. House prices are down 0.8% for the year to a median price of $395,000. The median house yield is 4.3%.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/0point2percent.gif">
The capital growth for Perth houses in December, according to RP Data. House prices are up 0.6% for the year to a median price of $493,000. The median house yield is 4.5%.
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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/0point5percent.gif">
The capital growth for Melbourne houses in December, according to RP Data. House prices are down 2.9% for the year to a median price of $550000. The median house yield is 3.6%.
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<img src="/images/stories/2013/01/0point7percent.gif">
The capital growth for Hobart houses in December, according to RP Data. House prices are down 0.5% for the year to a median price of $325,000. The median house yield is 5.4%.
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Darwin house prices up 7.6% in 2012: An RP Data state-by-state analysis

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8/127-129 Polding Street, Fairfield Heights, NSW, 2165 <img alt="polding" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/polding.jpg">
There is no pre-Christmas slowdown in the market in Fairfield Heights, according to Ray White agent Graham Ball, who is marketing this three-bedroom house. 
"We're going to be busy right up until Christmas Eve," says Ball.
"The market is buzzing along in our area."
The townhouse is within easy walking distance of Fairfield Heights Shopping Centre and has a bus stop out the front. It is currently leased until April for $460 per week, which Ball says is a great return for the property. He says the tenants are keen to stay on longer if possible. 
Ball <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/fairfield-heights/889178/" target="_blank">is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of around $350,000, and if it sells for that price, that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 6.8% at its current rent, well above the gross rental yield for Fairfield Heights houses of 5.1%, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $8,000 and over five years to be $28,000.
The median house price in Fairfield Heights rose 0.6% in the past year and rose 30.3% in the past five years, according to RP Data.
For more information about prices and yields in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Fairfield Heights, see the RP Data suburb page.</a>
The property will go to auction on December 22 at noon.
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Friday form guide: Yields of up to 6.8% in the last pre-Christmas auction weekend

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Developer Hamton is adding luxury riverfront homes to the mix of housing currently in the works or built in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford, which is becoming something of a development hotspot. 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/riverhaven.jpg">
Hamton's Riverfront Terrace Homes at Haven will comprise 15 two-level residences, with nine already sold since the July launch. Two-bedroom homes will start from $820,000, the three-bedroom terraces start from $930,000, and the four-bedroom models start from $1.91 million.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/riverhaven2.jpg">
The Hamton project is one of several that were approved before the Victorian government instituted a nine-storey height limit on all new development abutting the Yarra River. 
Hamton joint managing director Paul Hameister says the homes, about five kilometres from the CBD, are affordably priced.
“We wanted to design a series of high-end homes where the natural surrounds were the hero, creating an urban yet quintessentially Australian lifestyle in the heart of Melbourne. Riverfront homes in this location sell for well in excess of $6 million, meaning our low-maintenance homes represent outstanding value,” says Hameister.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/havenriver.jpg">
Many of the homes include a private walkway to the rivefront Yarra Trail.
The Riverfront Terrace Homes at Haven part of stage two of Hamton's three-part Abbotsford development. The first stage was the 201-unit Eden, with all units sold out. The second stage is Haven, with 75% of its 148 units sold since its launch just over a year ago. The three together are set to have 560 apartments. 
“With Eden, we were overwhelmed with demand from owner-occupiers currently living in the affluent suburbs across the river from our site," says Hameister.
“They were looking for larger luxury apartments with high-end finishes, allowing them to downsize to a low maintenance lock-up-and-leave lifestyle in essentially the same location as their current home. We have sought to address this demand with Haven.”
<img src="/images/stories/haven3.jpg">
Haven's apartment component will include a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. One-bedroom units will range in size from 41 square metres to 72 square metres internally and are priced between $365,000 and $581,000. Two-bedroom units will be between 66 square metres and 134 square metres internally and range in price from between $680,000 and $1.3 million. Three- and four-bedroom units will be between 124 square metres and 235 square metres internally and are priced between $1.38 million and  $3.9 million.
Between Haven and Eden will be Acacia Place, a series of landscaped spaces and a public walkway connecting the Yarra to Victoria Street.
“One of the key elements of our master plan for the site is Acacia Place, which allows the public to share this unique piece of river bend and bring activity and vibrancy to the precinct,” Hameister says.
 
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<a target="_blank" href="/news">Abbotsford </a>is shedding its industrial past and buyers look for inner-city living on the Yarra River.
Some developers are revamping the existing factory and warehouse buildings to create contemporary designs with a nod to the past, while others are going the more modern route.
<img src="/images/stories/trenerry-river.jpg">
One example of the former is the Trenerry project (pictured above and below), a 109-unit development in a heritage industrial building. All 109 have been released to the market, with the final release of 33 launching in July. Some 87 units have sold, including more than a third of the final release.
“It also features a chimney stack, giving Trenerry a look and feel that is unmistakably Abbotsford,” says Rob DiCintio, director of Trenerry Property Group.
<img src="/images/stories/trenerrycar.jpg">
Builder Hamilton Marino has begun construction on the development, which is due for completion in mid-2013.
The apartments went on sale in October last year.
Its one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments are priced from $465,000, with the two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments from $530,000. Both configurations come with one car park. Some 92 of the two-bedroom apartments will have two-bathrooms, along with all the three-bedroom apartments.
The average apartment size will be 75 square metres internally, plus all apartments come with balconies, offering riverfront, CBD or Studley Park views. The development comes with easy access to the Capital City Trail.
It has been designed by Carabott Holt Architects.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/greensquare2.jpg">
A developer taking the opposite approach in Abbotsford is Salta, whose Green Square development (pictured above and below) is ultra-contemporary with an emphasis on sustainability.
Far from an industrial focus, the appropriately named Green Square aims to embrace the natural environment, with numerous open spaces for residents.
<img src="/images/stories/greensquare1.jpg">
“The architectural vision for Green Square is to bring together the energy of contemporary urban living with the calm and gentle amenity of the adjoining Yarra River that will imbue the green open spaces permeating the project,” says Charles Justin of SJB Architects, which is designing the project.
The development will feature 467 one- and two-bedroom apartments across four buildings, 210 one-bedroom units and 257 units with two bedrooms. Just over 300 apartments have sold so far. Of the two-bedders, 222 will include two bathrooms.
One-bedroom apartments will range in size from 47 square metres to 57 square metres and start from $369,000.
<img src="/images/stories/greensquare5.jpg">
Two-bedroom apartments, which start from $525,000, range in size from 63 square metres to 92 square metres. All of the units come with outdoor areas.
<img src="/images/stories/greensquare6.jpg">
The development launched in February 2011. Construction has started and is due to finish in May 2014.
So far, two-thirds of buyers who have been owner-occupiers.
Jack Merlo of Jack Merlo Design says buyers are drawn to a sense of community fostered by the project.
<img src="/images/stories/greensquare7.jpg">
“The importance of recreational space is often overlooked when designing residential apartments – we have been fortunate to set a new precedent with Green Square. The combination of semi-secluded and open spaces encourages people to indulge in private and public amenities including an edge pool, barbecue areas, day beds and shaded spaces,” Merlo says.
And other developers agree.
“The desire for waterfront living in city-fringe areas is an evolving trend in the Melbourne market,” says Rob DiCintio, director of Trenerry Property Group.
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Hamton's riverfront homes the latest in Abbotsford living as Melbourne suburb sheds industrial past

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After a long period of falling dwelling values, Brisbane's property market is showing signs of a turnaround, according to Australian Property Monitors.
"Brisbane has at last give positive indications of turning the corner from what has been a prolonged period of falling house prices," says APM.
"This is despite an underperforming local economy with unemployment rates persistently above 6% due in large part to state government job cuts."
APM predicts that investors will return to Brisbane in 2013 and forecasts house prices in Brisbane to rise from 3% to 5% in the new year. 
"Established inner and middle-suburban housing markets will continue to attract value buyers. High listings in the outer suburbs, particularly to the north, will however continue to place a lid on prices growth in those regions.
"The inner-city apartment market looks particularly promising with Hamilton and New Farm set to continue their renewal and expansion."
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec18.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec18thumb.gif"></a>
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<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec131.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec132.gif"></a>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec182.gif">
Source: APM
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Brisbane property market turning the corner: APM

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Melbourne's median house price increased by a "relatively subdued" 0.5% for the first 10 months of 2012, according to Australian Property Monitors. 
"Melbourne’s housing market saw increased activity from first-home buyers and a lift in buyer activity in the prestige market," says APM. 
"Investors and first home buyer are set to remain relatively inactive as a consequence of Australia’s least competitive capital city rental market."
APM notes a "looming oversupply" of apartment stock coming on line and as a consequence forecasts high vacancy rates, stagnant rental growth and falling unit prices in the Victorian capital. 
 
"Melbourne house prices should increase by up to 3% in 2013."
This is below expectations for many other capital cities.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" href="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec131.gif" rel="shadowbox"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec132.gif"></a>
 
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<a title="Click to enlarge" href="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec17.gif" rel="shadowbox"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec17thumb.gif"></a>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec171.gif">
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Melbourne house prices in 2013 - zero to 3% forecast range: APM

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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/chateau-le-marais-the-fink-family-s-wallis-island-%2420-million-mansion-listing/2012120958356"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/20m1.gif"></a>
The price hopes the Fink family have for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/chateau-le-marais-the-fink-family-s-wallis-island-%2420-million-mansion-listing/2012120958356">Chateau Le Marais, </a>an imposing neo-classical five-bedroom residence built of stone masonry on its 105-hectare estate on Wallis Island. 
 
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<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/68percent.gif"></a>
The percentage of mortgage holders surveyed by Nielsen who said their<a target="_blank" href="/news"> number one financial goal </a>was to pay off their home loans, confirming the view that Australians regard owning their home outright as key for their financial future.
 
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/john-so-snaps-up-west-melbourne-mixed-use-terrace-offering/2012120958361"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/2point28m.gif"></a>
The price former <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/john-so-snaps-up-west-melbourne-mixed-use-terrace-offering/2012120958361">Melbourne lord mayor John So paid for two double-storey Victorian terrace houses</a> combined into a single property on William Street in West Melbourne. The combined seven-bedroom ornate Victorian terrace came with mixed-use zoning.
 
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<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/0point1percent.gif"></a>
The amount by which <a target="_blank" href="/news">owner-occupied housing finance commitments rose in October,</a> according to the ABS. This was well below market expectations of 3%, with Westpac forecasting the number of loans to owner-occupiers to rise by 3.4% in the month.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/perth-and-darwin-register-double-digit-annual-rental-growth-defying-flat-market-reia/2012121158424"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/15point4percent1.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/perth-and-darwin-register-double-digit-annual-rental-growth-defying-flat-market-reia/2012121158424">annual rent increase for three-bedroom houses in Perth</a>, which was the best-performing rental market in the 12 months to September, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia. 
 
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/thursday-flicker-4-cooktown-queensland-s-slowest-suburb-top-10/2012121258431"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/258.gif"></a>
The average number of days it takes to sell a property in Cooktown,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/thursday-flicker-4-cooktown-queensland-s-slowest-suburb-top-10/2012121258431"> Queensland's slowest-selling suburb</a>. 
 
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/thursday-flicker-2-residential-property-prices-to-rise-6-in-2012-shane-oliver/2012121258437"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/5percent1.gif"></a>
The amount by which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/thursday-flicker-2-residential-property-prices-to-rise-6-in-2012-shane-oliver/2012121258437">AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver</a> predicts property prices will rise in 2013. Oliver expects only modest returns for property investors compared with other asset classes.
 
 
 
 
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The 7 must-know numbers of the week, starting with the price hopes for Chateau Le Marais

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3A Bamfield Street, Yagoona, NSW 2199 <img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/bamfield.jpg">
This one-year-old, four-bedroom duplex is currently tenanted at $600 a week to tenants on an expired lease who are keen to stay on. It includes a single lock-up garage and two bathrooms. 
Raine &amp; Horne listing agent Charlie Wakim <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/properties/253909" target="_blank">is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $500,000 plus, and if it sells for that price, that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 6.2% at its current rent, well above the gross rental yield for Yagoona houses of 4.8%, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
<a target="_blank" href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $13,000 and over five years to be $45,000.
The median house price in Yagoona fell 2% in the past year but rose 27.2% in the past five years, according to RP Data.
For more information about prices and yields in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Yagoona, see the RP Data suburb page.</a>
The property will be open for inspection Saturday, December 15 at 3pm and will go to auction on December 22. 
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Friday form guide: Yields of up to 6.2% in Yagoona

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Sydney's median house price grew 1.5% in the 10 months to October, according to Australian Property Monitors.
"Sydney’s low and mid-price range housing markets will continue to attract solid buyer activity through 2013, particularly in the inner west, Canterbury-Bankstown and Hills suburban areas," says APM. 
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec14.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec14thumb.gif"></a>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/apmdec141.gif">
Source: APM
 
 
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'Reasonable momentum' for Sydney's housing market in 2012: APM

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Melbourne had the highest gross value of unit sales in 2012, according to RP Data.
The mining boom town of South Hedland showed the highest increase in median unit values in the past five year. 
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/12/rpdec133.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/rpdec133thumb.gif"></a>
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.myrp.com.au/">RP Data</a>
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The Rocks and Carlton feature on RP Data's top 10 best-performing unit locations of 2012

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The RBA has released the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/confs/2012/conf-vol-2012.pdf">proceedings of a conference</a> held in August on Australia's property markets. It includes discussion papers on land and housing price measurement in China, housing finance, when a housing market is overheated enough to threaten stability, and the commercial property cycle. 
In one discussion paper, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/lower-interest-rates-following-bust-can-have-toxic-consequences-glenn-stevens/2012121158408?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=news" target="_blank">RBA governor Glenn Stevens warns </a>that lowering interest rates following an “asset price bust” to stimulate lending can have "toxic consequences".
 
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/CCASHMORE_BUYER"><img src="/images/stories/2012/12/cashmoretweet2.jpg"></a>
Oxford University macroeconomist <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/profitable-banks-and-cautious-lending-practices-protecting-australia-against-boom-bust-housing-cycles-oxford-university-economist/2012121158407?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=news" target="_blank">John Muellbauer also looked at the risks posed to financial stability from "boom-bust" housing cycles</a>. Muellbauer provided an overall positive assessment of Australia’s prudential and regulatory oversight.
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RBA releases conference papers on Australia's property markets: Tweet of the day

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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

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

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

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

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

Cassidy Knowlton

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