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There's now a website, <a style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/" target="_blank">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where Melburnians can guess auction results, with no outlay. It's mostly about testing your market knowledge with a small cash prize as a sweetener.
Melbourne's auction market will continue to build leading up to Christmas now we have passed the Melbourne Cup weekend, with 595 properties due to go under the hammer this weekend. But regardless of how many auctions there are it is very rare to find a property similar to 30 Elwood Street, Brighton on any weekend throughout the year.
The property sits on almost 1/4 of an acre and has been very tightly held over the years, last being sold about 20 years ago. Determining the value of this calibre of property can often be very difficult. Property valuation is determined by the recent sale results of similar properties in the area. The problem is with such unique property there are no comparable sales to use as a guide. 
On the day of auction if two buyers have fallen in love with the property the desire to secure it can result in a sale price that is out of kilter with the rest of the market. However, uncertainty in global markets could mean that the traditional buyer for this property is too nervous to make a move. 
The result of 30 Elwood Street Brighton will be a very good test for the top end of the Melbourne property market.
<img src="/images/stories/elwoodst.jpg">
Agent: Kay &amp; Burton agent Mark Bury
Quote: $2.5 million to $2.75 million
Last sold: May 1992
Price: $620,000
Suburb median: $1,768,500
Five-year median growth: 10.16%
If you think you know what it will sell for place a tip at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">Property Tycoon</a>.
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cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

Weekend auction tipping

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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/house-prices-fall-slightly-in-best-result-in-seven-months-rp-data-rismark/2011103052126" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/0point2percent.jpg"></a>
The amount <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/house-prices-fall-slightly-in-best-result-in-seven-months-rp-data-rismark/2011103052126" target="_blank">house prices fell nationwide in September</a>, according to the latest RP Data-Rismark Hedonic Home Value Index. This was the smallest decline in seven months. “Housing market conditions are starting to show some green shoots now," RP Data research director Tim Lawless says. 
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/19point8.jpg"></a>
The percentage of <a target="_blank" href="/news">new borrowers who chose fixed-rate mortgages in the month of October</a>, according to Mortgage Choice. This was up from 17% in September and significantly higher than the 12-month average of 13.5%.
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/rate-cut-will-help-the-economy-and-boost-confidence-say-quick-draw-industry-players/2011110152155" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/025.jpg"></a>
The amount by which the Reserve Bank cut interest rates on Melbourne Cup Day. Industry experts were quick to comment that the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/rate-cut-will-help-the-economy-and-boost-confidence-say-quick-draw-industry-players/2011110152155" target="_blank">cut would be good for the economy and housing market</a>.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/4m.jpg">
The approximate price hopes for the former Pittwater home of Australian actor Chips Rafferty. It is set on a 2,538-square-metre block at Lovett Bay north of Sydney and includes Raffety’s display wall – complete with beer bottles, some bearing the date 1952.
 
<hr>
<a href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/9percent.jpg"></a>
The <a href="/news">amount house prices in Hobart are down compared with their peak</a>, according to RP Data. “It’s not attracting lifestyle buyers or prospective retirees. There are no tree changers coming to Hobart. The market has been dependent on them in the past,” says RP Data research director Tim Lawless.
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_self" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/residential-building-conditions-still-soft-hia/2011110252178"><img src="/images/stories/14percent.jpg"></a>
The amount by which <a target="_self" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/residential-building-conditions-still-soft-hia/2011110252178">building approvals were down in September</a>, according to the ABS. But HIA acting chief economist Andrew Harvey says approvals rose by 0.7% in the month of September in the core detached housing segment of the market.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/domenic-alveros-smallest-house-in-surry-hills-rises-to-win-international-prize/2011110352199"><img src="/images/stories/42sqm.jpg"></a>
 
The size of the block that <a target="_self" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/domenic-alveros-smallest-house-in-surry-hills-rises-to-win-international-prize/2011110352199">Small House, Surry Hills' smallest residence</a>, is built upon. The house, which belongs to Sydney architect Domenic Alvaro, has been awarded the World House of the Year at the prestigious 2011 World Architectural Festival award ceremony in Barcelona.
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The 7 must-know numbers of the week

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A Prahran property going to auction this weekend will test the market for solid family homes, says Mark Armstrong of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">Property Tycoon</a>.
"24 Alfred St Prahran is a property that in theory should be in strong demand. It is in a great location, has a strong facade and is in comfortable living condition with scope to improve it," Armstrong says.
But with auction clearances in Melbourne under 60% for many months, this property will be a test of the market. 
"Traditionally this type of property is highly sought after by investors and early home buyers, who have both been thin on the ground in 2011. The result for 24 Alfred St Prahran will be a good test to see how well this sector of the market is holding up," Armstrong says.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Prahran/?adid=2009324136">24 Alfred Street, Prahran, VIC, 3181</a>
<img src="/images/stories/alfredst.jpg">
Agent: Bennison MacKinnon agent Nathan Waterson
Quote: $780,000 to $850,000
Last Sold: May 2005
Price: $551,000
Suburb median: $950,000
Five-year median growth: 10.9%
If you think you know what it will sell for place a tip at <a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/" target="_blank">Property Tycoon</a>.
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<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="360"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
Postcode
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
Median house price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">NEWSTEAD</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4006
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$1,225,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">NEW FARM</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4005
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$1,219,795
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">SPRING HILL</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4000
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$822,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">PADDINGTON</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4064
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$810,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">SOUTH BRISBANE</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4101
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$785,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">HIGHGATE HILL</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4101
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$775,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">KANGAROO POINT</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4169
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$750,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a href="/news">WEST END</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4101
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$710,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a href="/news">HERSTON</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4006
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$707,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="124" nowrap valign="bottom">
<a href="/news">MILTON</a>
</td>
<td width="97" valign="bottom">
4064
</td>
<td width="139" nowrap valign="bottom">
$667,500
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RP Data
 
 
 
 
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Top 10 most expensive Brisbane suburbs for houses

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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/unhappily-perhaps-banks-pass-on-full-rate-cuts/2011121152772" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/25bps.gif"></a>
The amount of the RBA's most recent rate cut, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/unhappily-perhaps-banks-pass-on-full-rate-cuts/2011121152772" target="_blank">which all four big banks and most second-tier lenders passed on in full to borrowers</a>. However, in statements the banks hinted that they would not be so generous in future, emphasising the economic uncertainty in Europe. 
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/overseas/ebay-buyer-of-us%2418000-washington-property-liable-for-us%241.2-million-in-tax-liens/2011121152781" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/1point2mill.gif"></a>  
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/overseas/ebay-buyer-of-us%2418000-washington-property-liable-for-us%241.2-million-in-tax-liens/2011121152781" target="_blank">The amount in tax liens the buyer of a $18,000 Washington DC property owes to the federal and state governments in the US</a>. The new owner, whose identity is not yet available, will possibly soon realise he or she is also responsible for paying the unpaid US$1.2 million in federal and state tax liens.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/50point5.gif"> 
Sydney's auction clearance rate the weekend of December 10, one of the lowest auction clearance rates of the year. Melbourne's clearance rate improved slightly, though, from 53% the previous weekend to 55%.
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/fitzroy-north-house-where-helen-garner-wrote-70s-novel-monkey-grip-sells-in-suburb-s-third-residential-sale-above-%243-million/2011121252791"><img src="/images/stories/3point185.gif"></a>
The<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/auctions/fitzroy-north-house-where-helen-garner-wrote-70s-novel-monkey-grip-sells-in-suburb-s-third-residential-sale-above-%243-million/2011121252791"> sale price achieved for the Fitzroy North house where Helen Garner wrote seminal 1970s novel Monkey Grip</a>. It ranks as the suburb's third residential sale above $3 million.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/mandurah-residents-among-those-with-most-housing-stress-in-perth/2011121252812"><img src="/images/stories/17percent.gif"></a>
 
The percentage of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/mandurah-residents-among-those-with-most-housing-stress-in-perth/2011121252812">inner-city Perth residents who are in housing stress</a>, according to lobby group Australians for Affordable Housing. It is experiencing the second highest rate of housing stress of all Perth municipalities, according to a new report by lobbying group Australians for Affordable Housing.
 
<hr>
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/new-house-starts-decline-for-seventh-straight-quarter-abs/2011121352817" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/7numb.gif"></a>
The number of consecutive quarters that the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/new-house-starts-decline-for-seventh-straight-quarter-abs/2011121352817" target="_blank">number of new housing starts across Australia has declined</a>, according to ABS figures.
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/home-and-away-actress-holly-brisley-lists-in-bondi-beach/2011121352830" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/7mplus.gif"></a>
 
The price hopes for Home and Away actress<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/home-and-away-actress-holly-brisley-lists-in-bondi-beach/2011121352830" target="_blank"> Holly Brisley's Bondi Beach apartment</a>, which hit the market this week.
 
 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/incredible-prediction-of-australian-property-bloodbath-excites-twitter/2012012053102" target="_self"><img src="/images/stories/60.jpg"></a>
The amount by which American<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/incredible-prediction-of-australian-property-bloodbath-excites-twitter/2012012053102" target="_blank"> self-described "real estate expert" Jordan Wirsz predicts Australian house prices will fall</a> in the next five years. Prominent property doom commentator Steve Keen  expressed ironic relief via Twitter that another analyst has forecast even worse tidings than his longstanding forecast for the Australian property market.
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_self" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/top-10-suburbs-with-the-highest-annual-growth-in-2011in-victoria-reiv/2012012253105"><img src="/images/stories/10point8.jpg"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/top-10-suburbs-with-the-highest-annual-growth-in-2011in-victoria-reiv/2012012253105">annual capital growth in Prahran during 2011</a>, the highest capital growth in Victoria during the year.
 
<hr>
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/melbourne-metro-house-prices-5.2-cheaper-than-a-year-ago-reiv/2012012253107" target="_self"><img src="/images/stories/5point2percent.jpg"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/melbourne-metro-house-prices-5.2-cheaper-than-a-year-ago-reiv/2012012253107" target="_blank">overall drop in Melbourne house prices in 2011</a>, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria. The institute puts the median house price at $550,000, a minor increase of 1.9% from the revised September quarter median of $540,000, but 5.2% down on a median of $580,000 a year ago.
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-and-melbourne-in-the-top-five-least-affordable-cities-in-the-world-demographia/2012012353110" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/3number.jpg"></a>
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-and-melbourne-in-the-top-five-least-affordable-cities-in-the-world-demographia/2012012353110" target="_blank">Sydney's rank on the list of the most unaffordable cities in the world,</a> according to the Eighth Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey. Melbourne is ranked fourth, and Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth are all in the top 15. 
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/chinese-appetite-for-gold-coast-property-soars-to-record-highs-in-2010-11-colliers/2012012353056"><img src="/images/stories/66point9.jpg"></a>
The amount of money that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/chinese-appetite-for-gold-coast-property-soars-to-record-highs-in-2010-11-colliers/2012012353056">offshore Chinese buyers spent on Gold Coast property during the 2010-11 financial year</a>. Chinese buyers accounted for nearly a third of foreign purchases of Queensland residential real estate during the 2010-11 financial year
 
<hr>
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/nicole-kidman-to-auction-last-piece-of-far-south-coast-nsw-land-title-tattle/2012012353116" target="_self"><img src="/images/stories/1point2mill.gif"></a>
The amount <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/nicole-kidman-to-auction-last-piece-of-far-south-coast-nsw-land-title-tattle/2012012353116" target="_self">Nicole Kidman has hoped to secure for her landholding on the NSW far south coast </a>since 2008. She will auction the property next month.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/4m.jpg">
 
The sale price Singaporean businessman Ronald Ooi paid for Dame Joan Sutherland's childhood home, a derelict cottage in Woollahra. Several years before her death Sutherland noted: "Unfortunately, from the time my family gave up the house, the deterioration set in.”
 
 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/queensland-government-to-extend-building-boost-until-april/2012011253029" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/10k.jpg"></a>
The amount of money that is on offer from the Queensland government to build a new home under $600,000. The Queensland building boost was meant to end at the end of January but <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/queensland-government-to-extend-building-boost-until-april/2012011253029" target="_blank">has been extended until April</a>.
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_self" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/february-rate-cut-tipped-to-boost-australian-housing-market/2012011253030"><img src="/images/stories/99percent.jpg"></a>
The <a target="_self" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/february-rate-cut-tipped-to-boost-australian-housing-market/2012011253030">probability that the futures marketing is pricing for an RBA interest rate cut in February</a>. Many economists, including Westpac's Bill Evans, concur that the Reserve Bank is likely to slash rates again when it next meets. 
 
<hr>
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/overseas/investors-dry-up-as-dixon-advisory-raises-%2431-million-for-us-property-fund-in-third-capital-raising/2012011353033" target="_self"><img src="/images/stories/31m.jpg"></a>
The amount that <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/overseas/investors-dry-up-as-dixon-advisory-raises-%2431-million-for-us-property-fund-in-third-capital-raising/2012011353033" target="_self">Dixon Advisory's US Residential Masters Fund secured in its second round of capital raising</a>. The $31 million raised equates to less than a quarter of the maximum $140 million that was sought from investors, suggesting appetite for the fund has diminished <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/overseas/australian-investment-fund-snaps-up-19-properties-in-us-state-of-new-jersey/2011070150672" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">since the fund listed in June</a> last year.
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/warrnambool-emerges-but-queensland-s-gladstone-still-darling-of-investment-experts/2012011653050"><img src="/images/stories/3number.jpg"></a>
The number of s<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/warrnambool-emerges-but-queensland-s-gladstone-still-darling-of-investment-experts/2012011653050">uburbs on Smart Property Investment magazine’s 2012 list of 50 suburbs or towns with the most capital growth potential</a> that received multiple votes. The three hotspots were the Victorian town of Warrnambool and the Queensland mining towns of Gladstone and Rockhampton.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/17percent.gif">
The percentage increase from the June 2011 quarter to the September 2011 quarter in the number of sales in Queensland. Some regions recorded substantial jumps in activity as buyers finally started to foray back into the market.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-house-rents-up-%2455-per-week-in-six-months-but-brisbane-rents-down-residex/2012011753063"><img src="/images/stories/55dollars.jpg"></a>
 
The amount that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-house-rents-up-%2455-per-week-in-six-months-but-brisbane-rents-down-residex/2012011753063">median rent rose for Sydney houses rose between June 2011 and December 2011</a>. Median house rents rose from $500 to $555 in the space of six months, according to the latest Residex data.
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/jimmy-barnes-lists-his-botany-industrial-investment-title-tattle/2012011853079" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/3mil.jpg"></a>
 
The amount that Cold Chisel frontman <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/jimmy-barnes-lists-his-botany-industrial-investment-title-tattle/2012011853079" target="_blank">Jimmy Barnes hopes to secure for two industrial warehouse investments</a> in the Sydney suburb of Botany. They cost $2.3 million in 2009 when bought by Barnes and his wife, Jane. 
 
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Prestige Victoria and New South Wales properties were neck and neck this week, with four entries each on RP Data's last top 10 sales list for the year. Queensland rounded out the list, with two properties from the Sunshine State. 
1. 85 Broadway, Camberwell, VIC, 3124, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 15 by Jellis Craig Hawthorn for $3.22 million
2. 141 Avoca Drive, Avoca Beach, NSW, 2251, three-bedroom house, sold on December 15 by George Brand Real Estate for $ 3,022,500
3. 45/93 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay, NSW, 2011, three-bedroom unit, sold on December 15 by Laing + Simmons Potts Point for $2.65 million
4. 23 Bridge Street, Hampton, VIC, 3188, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 17 by Hocking Stuart Sandringham for $ 2,165,000
5. 9/4 Gladswood Garden, Double Bay, NSW, 2028, three-bedroom unit, sold before auction on December 13 by Bradfield and Prichard Double Bay for $ 2,101,000
6. 53 Camperdown Street, Brighton East, VIC, 3187, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 17 by Hodges Brighton for $2.01 million
7. 15 Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Toowong, QLD, 4066, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 17 by Place Estate Agents for $2 million
8. 42 Clara Street, South Yarra, VIC, 3141 three-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 17 by ResCom South Yarra for $1.9 million
9. 27 Riddell Street, Bellevue Hill, NSW, 2023, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 13 by Laing + Simmons Double Bay for $1.88 million
10. 64 Ocean Parade, Yeppon, QLD, 4703, four-bedroom house, sold on December 13 by Brian Hooper Real Estate for $1.79 million
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Top 10 sales of the week: RP Data

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An extremely tighly held apartment in South Yarra is likely to attract fierce competition when it goes to auction this weekend, according to Mark Armstrong from<a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/" target="_blank"> Property Tycoon</a>.
"Scarce does not begin to describe 6/50 Marne St South Yarra going to auction this Saturday," Armstrong says. 
He points out that it has not been sold in 30 years and is likely to appeal to a wide range of potential buyers.
"Located within walking distance to the Botanic Gardens, Fawkner Park and Domain Road cafes, this massive 21.5 square [about 200-square-metre] apartment will he highly sought after by downsizing baby boomers, home buyers and investors who are all looking to capture a unique South Yarra property."
<img src="/images/stories/marne.jpg">
Agent: RT Edgar agent David Colbran
Quote: $1.6 million plus
Last Sold: No previous sale on record
Suburb median: $590,000
Five-year median growth: 11.33%
If you think you know what it will sell for place a tip at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">Property Tycoon</a>.
 
 
 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/hotels-outperform-all-other-commercial-sectors-ipd/2011120452602" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/17percent.gif"></a>
The<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/hotels-outperform-all-other-commercial-sectors-ipd/2011120452602" target="_blank"> total returns for the hotel sector during the past 12 months</a> according to results released by the Property Council of Australia and real estate information group IPD. This was significantly higher than those generated for office, retail and industrial assets, which all returned about 10%.
 
<hr>
 
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/414num.gif"></a>
The number of <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mortgage Choice franchises in Australia</a>. The company is the biggest player in the mortgage broking market.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/international/disney-fan-snaps-up-replica-house-from-pixar-s-up/2011120552684"><img src="/images/stories/400k.gif"></a>
 
The price Clinton and Lynette Hamblin have paid for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/international/disney-fan-snaps-up-replica-house-from-pixar-s-up/2011120552684">Utah house that is a replica of the house belonging to Ellie and Carl Fredrickson lived in in the 2009 Pixar movie Up</a>. "It really shows you don't have to have a palatial mansion. A home is a place where you create memories," the home's builder, Adam Bangerter, said of his decision to create it.
 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/brighton-bathing-box-market-buoyant/2011120652689" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2m.jpg"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/brighton-bathing-box-market-buoyant/2011120652689" target="_blank">approxiate amount the 10 sales of Brighton beach bathing boxes have netted this year</a>. The market for the colourful icons has been booming, with 10 sold last year and a further three currently on the market. Bayside Council intends to auction another two newly built boxes early next year.
 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/relief-as-rba-cuts-rates-by-25-basis-points/2011120652694" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/4point25percent.gif"></a>
 
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/relief-as-rba-cuts-rates-by-25-basis-points/2011120652694" target="_blank">official cash rate</a> following the RBA's decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points. Many banks, including <a href="/news">Bank of Queensland</a>, <a href="/news">ME Bank</a>, and all four of the majors, are passing the full rate cut onto their customers.
 
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/harry-triguboff-s-meriton-group-to-build-700-serviced-apartments-next-year-across-australia/2011120752737"><img src="/images/stories/700.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/harry-triguboff-s-meriton-group-to-build-700-serviced-apartments-next-year-across-australia/2011120752737">number of serviced apartment Harry Triguboff's Meriton group intends to build</a> across Australia next year.
 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/housing-affordability-improving-slowly-in-all-mainland-capitals-hia/2011120852744" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/5point2percent.jpg"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/housing-affordability-improving-slowly-in-all-mainland-capitals-hia/2011120852744" target="_blank">improvement in housing affordability compared with the same time in 2010</a>, according to the Housing Industry of Australia. Housing affordability increased for the third consecutive quarter. 
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<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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