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There were 521 sales in Perth for the week ended April 12, down 16% from the 617 recorded the same week last year. However, the Easter long weekend fell later in April in 2011.
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Perth records 16% fewer sales than same week last year: REIWA

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Founder(s): Chris Edmonds, Joscelyn Edmonds Revenue: $1.02 million Started: 2009 Head Office: Tasmania Employees: 2 Website: <a href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/weblink?cid=5777&amp;fid=36&amp;ord=1" title="www.ezyonlinebathroomsandkitchens.com.au">www.ezyonlinebathroomsandkitchens.com.au</a>
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The Edmonds own Ezy Online Bathrooms and Kitchens – an online retailer of bathroom, kitchen and laundry items – with a commitment to luxury designer products at competitive prices. 
“There was a definite gap in the market for a retailer that was able to supply competitively priced, designer bath and kitchen products to regional and remote areas,” Joscelyn says. 
“We started with a traditional bricks-and-mortar business, however, believed that in order to survive we could not only rely on the local market. 
“We watched with interest the rise of eCommerce and worked to create an online model of the business. The bricks-and-mortar business was closed down in mid 2010 to focus purely online.” 
According to Joscelyn, the most difficult aspect of starting up the business was the resistance among many suppliers to deal with a pureplay online retailer. 
“Due to the nature of our product, we also had difficulties in the early stages finding reliable transport channels for distribution around Australia,” she says. 
However, Joscelyn says the reluctance of some suppliers forced the business to source alternative suppliers, which, in many cases, proved to be more profitable. 
Meanwhile, the options and quality of service regarding distribution have also improved. 
“We have now partnered with a couple of companies that specialise in transporting goods for eCommerce retailers,” Joscelyn says. 
“We are passionate about what we do and specialise in high-quality products for all your bathroom, kitchen and laundry building or renovation projects, all at factory-direct prices.” 
“The rapid growth of the business has allowed us to reinvest money in website development and advertising.”
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/">StartupSmart</a>.
 
 
 
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StartupSmart Awards 2012: Ezy Online Bathrooms and Kitchens

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Slater &amp; Gordon is investigating launching a class action on behalf of aggrieved borrowers and mortgagors of Bankwest and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The claims stem from Bankwest’s perceived behaviour following its 2008 takeover by the CBA, with many small property developers alleging their debts were unfairly called in.
Last month, National senator John Williams launched a senate inquiry into the relationship between banks, receivers and valuers, which is likely to touch on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/financial-services-and-insurance/048739-class-action-lawyer-welcomes-senate-inquiry-into-banking-sector">some of the claims in relation to Bankwest</a>.
Slater &amp; Gordon commercial and project litigation lawyer Van Moulis toldSmartCompany the law firm was conducting its due diligence with litigation funder, IMF Australia.
“There is momentum building up now, for instance in the form of the senate inquiry which has been announced along with the involvement of IMF,” says Moulis.
“Our due diligence in relation to the class action is continuing and IMF does its own due diligence, it has lawyers on staff.”
“We are looking at whether some of those people with Bankwest loans were hard done by when Bankwest re-valued their securities and called up their loans in the period after CBA took control of Bankwest.”
“So far we have selected 120 people [for the class action] but we have also had a lot of telephone enquiries both before and after the recentFour Corners program.”
“The types of cases we are looking at are primarily commercial developments and involve property developers and small to medium-sized business owners.”
“We expect the senate inquiry will get underway in two to three months and it is hoped the enquiry will uncover more facts which will be relevant and useful for the class action.”
Moulis says it is difficult to say when the class action is likely to commence but he would like to have seen some of the results of the senate inquiry first, which is expected in the next two to three months.
“I am not just focused on the litigation,” says Moulis, emphasising the possibility of a pre-trial settlement.
“These days we have pre-trial protocols in the Federal Court where parties have to take genuine steps to resolve grievances outside court, so I would be interested in talking to the CBA and I would like a copy of the purchase agreement between the CBA and Bankwest as I believe there is a part which is quite relevant.”
“I am not interested in pursuing a case that has no merit so if they can show me the agreement an aspect of the class action may even be resolved.”
James Middleweek, investment manager at IMF, says the litigation funder had been approached to consider funding the class action and was currently investigating the merits of the claims.
“At the end of the day cases like this need funding and they are expensive, it is unlikely that a class action would proceed if it was not funded by a litigation funder,” says Middleweek.
A spokesperson for Bankwest told SmartCompany the bank strongly denies the allegations.
“Due to the global financial crisis and the broader economic environment property values and property development in general suffered between 2008 and 2011 and Bankwest assisted many customers through this period and continues to do so,” says the spokesperson.
”Bankwest has acted fairly with all its customers since its acquisition by the CBA and honoured all of the existing contractual and credit commitments with customers.”
“The bank does not gain anything financially when receivers are appointed so the suggestion that Bankwest forced customers into receivership is absurd.”
“When our customers do sometimes face financial difficulties, our overriding priority is to work closely with them on an individual basis to try and assist them wherever possible.”
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php">SmartCompany</a>.
 
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Bankwest class action gathers steam as 120 business owners and property developers sign on

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Cashed-up downsizers in the pricey Melbourne suburb of Brighton have shown strong interest in luxury apartments, with 25% of Cbus Property’s Warleigh development sold within a week of its launch at the end of February. About 35% of the units have sold so far. Cbus Property acquired the 9,015-square-metre property at 30-44 Warleigh Grove, Brighton in December 2010. The disused North Brighton Croquet Club site was offloaded by the New Zealand-based retirement living company LifeCare Residences, which acquired control from ASX-listed fund manager Abacus two years earlier.
The development aims to emulate the indoor-outdoor feel of its freestanding neighbours, with half of the site’s 9,000-square-metre block given over to open outdoor space.
“Growing up only a couple of hundred metres from Warleigh Grove, I have a close connection with the site, and a design sensitive to the neighbourhood character of surrounding street scape was a key criteria to the design brief,” says Cbus Property development manager Andrew Potter.
<img src="/images/stories/warleigh1.jpg">
“It’s paramount as a designer to produce spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but usable and functional,” says Jack Merlo of Jack Merlo Design.
“The outdoor areas allocated to many of the homes are almost as large as the apartments themselves. Generous timber decks and the use of bluestone and natural stone materials give a warm palette and provide a complementary connection between inside and out,” he says.
<img src="/images/stories/warleigh2.jpg">
“The private courtyards and terraces have been oriented to look over the communal lawn area to increase the sense of space for residents.”
The Warleigh will comprise a mixture of 108 townhouses and apartments across three sections: Luxe, Domaine and The Residences.
Domaine is the largest, with 62 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Prices will range from $490,000 to $1.7 million, and they range in size from 57 square metres to 130 square metres, excluding terraces.
<img src="/images/stories/warleigh3.jpg">
Luxe will comprise 39 two- and three-bedroom apartments, which will range in size from $970,000 to $1.7 million and from 87 square metres to 147 square metres, excluding terraces.
The most exclusive section is The Residences, which will be made up of seven three-bedroom townhouses priced from $1.9 million to $2.2 million. They will range from 180 square metres to 220 square metres and will include their own double garages and separate addresses.
The development is a 10-minute drive to Brighton Beach and a one-minute walk from North Brighton train station.
<img src="/images/stories/warleigh4.jpg">
The project was designed by SJB Architects and aims to blend in with the older homes in Brighton.
<img src="/images/stories/warleigh5.jpg">
“We have captured the stately home character that you see throughout Brighton and adapted it to this development,” says SJP Architects director Charles Justin. “The architecture has very strong geometric forms and contrasting finishes to the facades such as metallic bronze, copper cladding and charcoal render, as well as natural materials including timber, brickwork and stone.”
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Cashed-up downsizers show strong interest in Brighton development The Warleigh

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At the end of last year, predictions were flying around left right and centre about the state of the market in 2012. There was a lot of buoyancy following the RBA’s double interest rate cut, with the industry confident it would result in buyers flooding the market. In truth, while the cuts didn’t deliver the influx of buyers experts were hoping for, it has definitely boosted confidence.
It’s relatively early days in 2012 but here in Brunswick, we’re already witnessing some interesting trends take place. A key movement has been the type of buyers we’re seeing – second-home purchasers are generally married with one child. Many young professional couples are seeking apartments because they want to live within 10 to 15 kilometres of the CBD, and they’re willing to sacrifice space in order to have all the amenities nearby. Similar to the rest of the world – especially the capital cities in Asia and Europe – people are turning to apartment living to be located close to the city, a trend I believe will be highly prevalent in Australia in the next century.
We started 2012 with a bang, sitting around a 95% clearance rate in our first five weeks of auctions. In February, we sold a three-bedroom, single-fronted house in <a target="_blank" href="https://realestate.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/overview/3321823/417-barkly-street-brunswick-3056/">Barkly Street</a> for $1.01 million – the highest price ever achieved for a single-fronted house in Brunswick. We’re also expecting a four-bedroom home in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Brunswick-East/?adid=2009560271">Kingfisher Gardens</a> to draw a lot of interest due to its proximity to cafes, shops and public transport. A few auction sales have been 10% to 15% above the reserve, proof of increased buyer confidence, especially compared to last year when we had properties selling up to 10% below the asking price.
Auction activity has now cooled off slightly as more sellers put their homes on the market. Still, we’re finding that any properties not selling at auction are being sold pretty soon after. Auctions have now become part of a process for obtaining that final sales result. Often we need an auction to transpire to truly see what a property is worth, and for vendors to understand what the market’s willing to pay for their home.
<img src="/images/stories/brunswick2.jpg">
We’re finding sellers also prefer auctions because unlike private sales, auctions are regulated. Vendors know an auction sale is final and not subject to any clauses such as finance or building inspections. Private sales, on the other hand, can typically take much longer and because they’re unregulated – buyers can get caught up in various bidding methods, be it a closed ballot, boardroom auction or informal bidding war.
Price-wise, last year was definitely a better opportunity for investors in Brunswick, but unfortunately a lot of them weren’t financially ready to buy at the time and they’re now competing – and often being priced out – by first-home buyers returning to the market.
Looking ahead, I think the doom and gloom from last year is gone and buyers are ready to settle down and secure their homes. Across the board, I predict a 5% increase in prices in areas within a 10-kilometre radius of the city – including Brunswick, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/top-10-victorian-capital-growth-hotspots-with-ivanhoe-a-shining-star-for-past-five-years-reiv/2012040254123">which was listed by the REIV in the top 10 growth suburbs for the five years ending 2011.</a> Clearance rates in Melbourne will remain around 58% to 63% all year, with Brunswick a little higher at 70% to 75%. Even throughout 2011 our clearance rates were hovering around 60%, attributed mainly to buyers seeing us as an affordable alternative to the more affluent neighbourhoods of Fitzroy, Carlton and Northcote. Currently our days on market are sitting at 38 days – a slight improvement from last year at 43 days – and I expect this to stay consistent for the next 18 months.
We’re at a time in the market where the playing field is pretty even, so it’s a good opportunity for both buyers and sellers alike. Buyers should bear in mind it’s always hard to find something that ticks all the boxes no matter what the state of the market, so they need to weigh up if they’re willing to sacrifice their dream home now to pay less for a property that meets 75% of their needs, or wait six months to find their perfect match when prices are higher.
Robert Elsom has 15 years’ experience in real estate and is director of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/">hockingstuart </a>Carlton, Brunswick and Northcote.
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Brunswick: The hockingstuart mid-2012 autumn property review

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Five years on, the US economy remains sluggish after the bursting of a house price bubble. More recently, the focus has been on China, the world’s second largest economy, and whether it too might be overwhelmed by a similar event. Reports of <a href="https://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2096345,00" target="_blank">“ghost cities”</a> and some property developers <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16009050" target="_blank">facing</a> bankruptcy have become commonplace. Some commentators have <a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/136963/patrick-chovanec/chinas-real-estate-bubble-may-have-just-popped?page=show" target="_blank">asserted</a> that the bubble may have already “popped”. The stakes are high. The IMF <a href="https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2011/wp11208.pdf" target="_blank">notes</a> that since 2007, China has contributed more – much more in fact – to world growth than any other country, and this is projected to remain the case into the foreseeable future. Given that China’s construction sector is a significant source of demand for our natural resources, Australia has more to lose than most if the economy there sours. Before commenting on the Chinese case, it is worth briefly reviewing the chain of causality in the US. From 1997, house prices in the US began to<a href="https://www.standardandpoors.com/indices/sp-case-shiller-home-price-indices/en/us/?indexId=spusa-cashpidff--p-us----" target="_blank"> appreciate</a>. During the 2000s, the market became increasingly infected by debt-funded speculators betting on continued capital gains. In the process, banks lent money to borrowers of marginal credit worthiness requiring little or no collateral. When prices stalled and then went into sharp reverse in 2006, the banks were left holding the bag, ultimately requiring a bail out by taxpayers. Banks (and firms and households) then spent the next few years seeking to rebuild their balance sheets, as opposed to extending new loans, and this process continues today. The above story breaks down at several points when it comes to China. What is true is that house prices in China have increased rapidly during the 2000s. That, however, is about where the similarities end. Firstly, while recent<a href="https://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c0f12d0e-70e6-11e1-a7f1-00144feab49a#axzz1qMiy3UmD" target="_blank"> headlines</a> have reported that house prices in China have <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/10149902" target="_blank">fallen </a>for a fifth straight month, what we have actually seen is a levelling off in prices. According to official data, prices nationwide remain steady compared with a year ago and remain marginally up since 2010. Unofficial <a href="https://blogs.wsj.com/overheard/2012/03/20/what-is-chinas-house-price-reality/" target="_blank">data </a>points to stronger price growth since 2010. Examples of more significant price declines in certain cities can be found, as they can in particular developments in a given city. But to tell a macroeconomic story based on these is to miss the forest for the trees. To put the above numbers in perspective, last year house prices <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/property/record-slump-in-house-prices-in-2011-20120201-1qsid" target="_blank">fell </a>more in Australia than they did in China. Secondly, there is<a href="https://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120325-705551" target="_blank"> little evidence</a> that any deterioration in the housing market has infected the banking system. Given that nation-wide house prices have not in fact declined, this is perhaps not surprising. There are other reasons as well. One is simply that Chinese are much more likely to fund home purchases from savings, often calling upon the assistance of family members in the process. In part this reflects cultural differences, but also strict down payment requirements imposed on borrowers by banks. Thirdly, it should not be forgotten that the key institutions in China’s banking system remain more or less government-owned. This changes the rules of the game considerably. Standard risk management variables, such as the capital adequacy ratio – which, incidentally, is extremely high amongst Chinese banks – and the non-performing loan ratio, are only of marginal relevance because the integrity of the biggest banks is guaranteed by the government. China’s central government is willing and able to act on that guarantee. The level of public debt outstanding is modest and even when contingent liabilities are taken into account, such as debt racked upon by local governments, the prospect of China falling victim to a European style public debt crisis is remote. Another example is that amid a deteriorating macroeconomic environment in which privately owned banks might elect to slow credit growth, the Chinese government can instruct banks to do the opposite, as was seen in 2009. This remains within the capability of the banks given the extremely high reserve requirements they maintain. Fourthly, in addition to continuing government ownership, there is also the fact that the banking system remains heavily regulated. For example, by fixing interest rates, the government can act to boost the margins and profits of the banks. This may be a negative from an efficiency perspective, but nonetheless can act to promote the stability of the system. Property prices in China may well be inflated. Price to income ratios, particularly in the major cities, suggest that they are. However, for high prices to constitute a bubble, they must be able to burst. In the case of China, it is not clear that they have, nor where a trigger might come from. More likely is that we are set to see a period of no or low price growth, rather than sharp declines. Of course, even stagnant house prices have implications for China’s overall rate of growth and therefore the demand for Australian natural resources. But as China’s premier, Wen Jiabao, recently <a href="https://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-03/14/c_131466703.htm" target="_blank">noted</a>, the days of average annual growth rates in excess of 10% are over. The sooner that we in Australia accept and adjust to this new reality, the better.

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 James Laurenceson is currently a Senior Lecturer in Economics at The University of Queensland. He has previously also held appointments at Shimonoseki City University in Japan and Shandong University in China. This article originally appeared on<a href="https://theconversation.edu.au/" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. 
 
 
 
 
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Haunted by a Chinese property bubble

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A good turn-out at open for inspections is one of the first indicators that the market’s kicking off – four months into the new year, that’s exactly what we’ve been witnessing in Balwyn. We’ve gone from having four or five people turn up at our opens late 2011 to groups of up to 30 this year – and this is also translating into auction attendance, with our biggest auction last weekend drawing a crowd of 60 people (pictured).
Prior to our first set of auctions kicking off late February, we were already seeing strong signs of confidence returning, with nine private sales taking place in January alone – a record number compared with the usual two or three in previous years. Everybody’s been saying for a long time “save your money or pay your mortgage off before you make your next move”. It’s clear people have listened and are now in a better position to upgrade their lifestyle.
The issue in Balwyn though, is that buyers are ready but the stock is in short supply – not dissimilar to what’s happening around the rest of Melbourne at the moment, but low stock levels has always been a challenge in Balwyn, even last year. So we have an auction-oriented market with properties selling quickly – on average we’re holding six or seven auctions per weekend sometimes up to nine or 10 – and with clearance rates of at least 80%. March in particular was an exceptional month, with 25 auctions and a 90% clearance rate (compared with an average clearance of 65% in November and December).
Our first super Saturday was also a success, with only one property out of 12 passed in – indicative of the short supply in Balwyn and high demand for quality homes. The most astute vendors are reading the market well and seeing an opportunity to put their property on the market when listing numbers are low and there’s little competition against similar properties. They’re also continuing to lean towards auctions because it gives them three opportunities to sell; pre-auction, at auction and post-auction. Buyers also tend to look at auction properties first as they know there’s a limited window of opportunity to buy them and they get snapped up more quickly.
The most popular Balwyn properties are post-war 1950s three-bedroom cream or red brick homes – they sell nearly every weekend in excess of the $1 million mark. The property at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/ore/Public/PropertyDetails/default.aspx?adid=2009452508" target="_blank">25 Winmalee Road Balwyn</a> is a classic example of the older-style home, recently selling for $1.05 million.
While we have a typical type of house, one thing we don’t have is a typical buyer. Compared to Richmond, for example, where young couples and investors dominate the market, Balwyn boasts an eclectic mix of buyers. It’s for this reason that units such as this one on <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/?autoSearch=1&amp;OID=3798627&amp;Con=S" target="_blank">Greythorn Road</a> sell well – they’re suitable for a multitude of buyers, from young families to investors or older couples scaling back.
The number of enquiries we’re getting from potential vendors on a weekly basis is also growing – not dramatically, but we’re seeing the market balance out as buyer and vendor expectations start to align. I’m predicting that once Easter and the school holidays are out of the way, May will be our busiest month yet.
The market will remain steady but we may start to see a mild increase in values later in the year – we’re talking 3% to 5%. Days on market will start decreasing and stock levels will steadily start to increase once vendors realise the market’s picking up.
In terms of sale prices the market can be summed up with one word – realistic. Most sales are meeting expectations but not exceeding them. We’re seeing sales occur within the designated price range or slightly above reserve; they’re creeping there and just making it. Vendors are more realistic about market value, buyer confidence has grown but no one’s over-excited – not just yet.
Toby Parker is director of <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au" target="_blank">hockingstuart </a>Balwyn
 
 
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Balwyn: The hockingstuart mid-2012 autumn property review

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Following the successful launch of stage one of its Australia Towers development in Sydney’s Olympic Park, Ecove is set to launch the second stage, ATII.
Stage one of the development, which is now complete, has sold 209 of the 216 apartments, and the 267 apartments in stage two will launch on April 21. Stage one launched in early 2010, and construction finished a few weeks ago. Almost 80% of stage one sold within the first few weeks of the launch. 
<img src="/images/stories/at21.jpg">
The 25-metre sinuous tower is being developed by Ecove and SOPA (Sydney Olympic Park Authority) and is the second of three planned stages.
Olympic Park is a new 640-hectare Sydney suburb about 15 kilometres west of Sydney CBD and became an official suburb in 2009. The locality was part of the suburb of Homebush Bay and was redeveloped for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. More than 5,000 events are held at Blaxland Riverside Park in the suburb every year, and about 500 permanent residents now live there. There are more than 130 businesses in the suburb.
<img src="/images/stories/at23.jpg">
“Sydney Olympic Park is one of Sydney’s few master-planned suburbs, so everything is the best of the best,” says David Chittenden, general manager of residential for Colliers International.
<img src="/images/stories/at211.jpg">
“Residents at ATII will enjoy all the privileges of being in the sporting and entertainment heart of Sydney, with world-class facilities and cultural events at their fingertips, and views that will never be built out.”
<img src="/images/stories/at24.jpg">
Architectural firm Bates Smart has taken a cue from the nearby stadium precinct for the design of ATII.
“We’ve given the building ‘gills’ so that it can breathe,” says Bates Smart director Philip Vivian. “Vertical slots on the northern and southern sides of the facade encourage natural airflow through the apartments and the communal spaces.
“The design maximises light into each apartment, and horizontal sun-shading bands circling the building in varying depths provide added protection to the north.”
<img src="/images/stories/at25.jpg">
The ATII  building will have 95 one-bedroom apartments ranging from $450,000 to $595,000 and from 54 to 71 square metres internally, 132 two-bedroom apartments with between 77 square metres and 122 square metres of internal space and priced between $585,000 and $1,085,000, 26 three-bedroom apartments of between 103 and 159 square metres each ranging from $900,000 and $1,565,000 and 14 four-bedroom units, which will range from between $995,000 and $1.76 million and between 141 and 181 square metres internally. Every apartment will have at least one car space.
“Very few apartment developments offer such practical spaces and high levels of quality,” Chittenden says. “There are four different colour schemes, so buyers have a wide choice.”
<img src="/images/stories/at26.jpg">
ATII will also have four retail spaces, and the three towers between them are set to have 16 shops.
<img src="/images/stories/at27.jpg">
Chittenden says the first stage of the development (pictured above) appealed to a wide variety of buyers, and he expects similar interest for stage two.
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" src="/images/stories/at213.jpg">
“There was a broad mix of investors, owner-occupiers, workers from the many local businesses, first-home buyers and even some empty-nesters,” he says. “Most buyers came from the inner west, the Hills district, and the Shire.”
<img src="/images/stories/at28.jpg">
Colliers estimates that one-bedroom units will rent for between $500 and $575 per week and that two-bedroom units will command rents of between $600 and $800 per week. For the pricier, larger apartments, Colliers estimates that the three-bedroom units will rent for between $700 and $1,000 per week, and that tenants will pay between $1,000 and $1,500 per week for the four-bedroom units.
<img src="/images/stories/at29.jpg">
Construction is expected to start on ATII in mid-2012 and finish in early 2014.
 
 
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Olympic Park Australia Towers launches stage two after stage one sells fast out of the starting blocks

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Boom Property Group is bringing more apartment living to a suburb that has become shorthand for house-and-land packages: Caroline Springs.
Caroline Springs, about 25 kilometres from Melbourne, has only had a post office since 2005, but property prices have been increasing rapidly. The average house price was $292,500 in 2007 and is now $420,000, according to RP Data.
<img src="/images/stories/belise1.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;">
"You cannot achieve the Melbourne dream of a three-bedroom house on a 500-square-metre block any closer to the city," demographer Bernard Salt told Fairfax Media about the area in 2007. "As fashionable as inner-city living like the Docklands is, there is still a large market for a suburban allotment - always has been and always will be."
Lend Lease project director Martin Gaedke told Fairfax Media in 2007 that although Caroline Springs buyers were beginning to buy smaller blocks due to affordability concerns, they still watned large homes.
"People still want relatively large houses," he said. "We've recently opened a display village here with more traditional housing, and there are still some very large homes in there. But I suppose over time, with the issue of housing affordability, people may start to review that. We're also finding block sizes may be reducing but houses are still very much the same size."
BPG’s Belise development will comprise 34 two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit, ranging from 73 to 99 square metres. Prices for the two-bedroom units start from $391,000.
The development launched on Saturday, March 31.
“Caroline Springs has become one of the most-sought after suburbs in the west, yet rising house prices means buying in the area is now unattainable for many. We have sought to address this demand with Belise,” says BPG managing director George Mariotti.
The $15 million project is designed by Buro Architects to complement the surrounding environment of Caroline Springs.
<img src="/images/stories/belise2.jpg">
“We strived to deliver a development that provides a sophisticated place of residence, from the entry lobby to the spacious apartment interiors, the considered design and high-quality materials flow through to achieve this,” says Paul von Chrismar, director of Buro Architects.
<img src="/images/stories/belise3.jpg">
Construction is due to start in May or June 2012 and finish in May next year.
Belise is within walking distance of many community features, including shops, schools and walking tracks.
BPG specialises in city-fringe locations and has already developed the $7 million Waterford Apartments project in Caroline Springs in November 2011.
 
 
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Boom Property Group launches apartment complex in emerging Melbourne suburb of Caroline Springs

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For Melburnians, Prahran is synonymous with the iconic Chapel Street, hailed as Melbourne’s most stylish shopping precinct and renowned for its funky bars and every cuisine you can think of under the sun. Situated within five kilometres of the CBD, St Kilda and Albert Park, offering every form of public transport – be it tram, train or bus – it’s no wonder it’s a haven for young professionals wanting to make the most of inner-city living.
For these (very) popular reasons, Prahran is an area that doesn’t experience the same level of turnover as some of our nearby suburbs like Brighton. To give you an idea, jump on realestate.com.au and you’ll see Brighton currently holds 42% more stock than Prahran (158 properties listed in Prahran compared to 272 Brighton).
We had our first open for inspections in late January but it wasn’t until  February 11 that we really started building some steam with our first auction. To say things have heated up since then would be an understatement – seven weeks on and we’re working on a clearance rate of 86%.  Bear in mind auctions only represent roughly 70% of our sales and don’t take into account the properties sold privately.  
Statewide, clearance rates are also picking up, with the last few weekends hovering around 60% and Prahran faring even better at 74%. Despite the Big Four breaking ranks with the RBA this year and the unemployment rate dropping in February, confidence is clearly on the rise.
Why? A lot of buyers – especially in Prahran – were holding off towards the end of last year amidst cries of the market ‘bottoming out’. They’re now realising it’s time to get on with their lives while conditions remain favourable. Despite all the hoo-haa around the big four banks raising their rates in February, <a href="https://www.tradingeconomics.com/australia/interest-rate">interest rates are still historically lower – bar the period directly after the GFC – than they have been in a decade.</a>
What’s the major difference between the market now and during the GFC? If you remember back then, despite interest rates hitting a record low of 3% in April 2009, the Rudd government’s boost to the first- home owner’s grant meant property prices were being driven to record highs due to unprecedented demand (not surprising given the first-home owner’s grant was doubled to $14,000 for existing dwellings and incredibly tripled to $21,000 for new homes).
Right now, we don’t have that same level of demand inflating property prices. As a result, housing affordability has never been so attractive, and it’s reflected in what we’re seeing in the marketplace. In the last two months, we’ve seen a 10% increase in our crowd numbers and up to 15% increase in open for inspection attendance. Very strong numbers came through a three-bedroom townhouse we’ve just listed in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-prahran-110000416">Mary Street</a> at our first open. With a lock-up garage and courtyard, and located within walking distance to Prahran Market and Chapel Street, we’re expecting this to sell successfully come auction day.
So what can we expect for the year ahead? Our market will remain steady, so those expecting more price reductions in Prahran will be disappointed. While our median unit price decreased from <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/portal/propertydata?rm=medianprice&amp;state=victoria&amp;suburb=prahran&amp;postcode=">$495,000 in December 2010 to $444,000 in December 2011, our median house price actually increased from $899,000 to $997,500.</a> People<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/prahran-a-melbourne-auction-hotspot-as-buyers-trade-down-from-toorak/2012040254127"> flock to Prahran because of its lifestyle and location</a>, and these fundamentals won’t change and will contribute to why capital appreciation and rental yields remain consistent.
My advice to buyers is to take advantage of the steadying market now. It’s a bit of a catch 22. You can continue waiting for more confidence to return before buying, but higher confidence means more buyers. With more buyers comes greater competition, and what will that ultimately result in? Higher prices.
Andrew James has more than a 20 years' experience in real estate and is director of <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/" target="_blank">hockingstuart </a>Armadale.
Photograph of Prahran courtesy of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>.
 
 
 
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Prahran: The hockingstuart mid-autumn 2012 property review

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

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“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

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Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

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Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

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Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

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Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

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The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

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Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

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Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

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Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Cassidy Knowlton

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