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There were 896 sales in Perth this week, up 8% from the 822 last week and up 39% from the same weekend last year, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.
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Perth sales up 39% on same week last year: REIWA

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The percentage of Melbourne suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data. This is the second-lowest percentage in Australia; Canberra doesn't have a single suburb with a median house price under $300,000.
 
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The percentage of Perth suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Sydney suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Darwin suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Adelaide suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/13point1percent.gif">
The percentage of Brisbane suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of Hobart suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
 
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The percentage of all capital suburbs with a median house price of under $300,000, according to RP Data.
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The number of suburbs in each capital city with median house prices under $300,000: RP Data

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The RBA has released a chart showing the 15 regions with the highest rates of mortgage arrears. Of the 15, six are in Queensland, and six in New South Wales.
Click to enlarge
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The RBA report also shows that <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/households-continuing-to-deleverage-as-house-prices-fall-rba/2012032854046" target="_blank">households are deleveraging as housing prices fall</a>.
 
 
 
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Ipswich City, SW Sydney and Gold Coast lead list of 15 regions with highest mortgage arrears rates: RBA

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The property at 121 Treasure Island Avenue, Karragarra Island, tops SQM Research's list of the most discounted properties in Queensland. Its neighbour 700 metres down the road, 60 Treasure Island Avenue, still appears on realestate.com.au for sale but does not appear on SQM's list.
"At the moment there are a number of forces out there which could have either a positive or negative influence on the Queensland property market," says SQM director Louis Christopher.
"They include factors such as the recent change of government (which could have a positive impact on the housing market) or issues such as the fact that there is still an elevated supply of real estate on the market, particularly in north Queensland and south-east Queensland, which has already had a negative impact on house prices and will most likely continue to unless stock levels decrease."
1
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-karragarra+island-106914618">121 Treasure Island Avenue, Karragarra Island, Queensland, 4184</a>
On the market since: October 23, 2010
Initial asking price: $335,000
Current asking price: $200,000
Reduction: 40%
Days on market: 511
 
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">2</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2009242341">102 Bancroft Terrace, Deception Bay, Queensland, 4508</a>
On the market since: September 26, 2011
Initial asking price: $645,000
Current asking price: $419,000
Reduction: 35%
Days on market: 175
 
 
3
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2009417474" target="_blank">320 Redbank Plains Road, Bellbird Park, Queensland, 4300</a>
On the market since: December 19, 2011
Initial asking price: $1,499,000
Current asking price: $975,000
Reduction: 35%
Days on market: 91
 
4
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D105609896">40 Courageous Court, Newport, Queensland, 4020</a> (pictured)
On the market since: March 29, 2003
Initial asking price: $1.75 million
Current asking price: $1.15 million
Reduction: 34%
Days on market: 1,084
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">5</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008986804">64 Beckwith Street, Ormiston, Queensland, 4160</a>
On the market since: May 15, 2011
Initial asking price: $779,000
Current asking price: $525,000
Reduction: 33%
Days on market: 308
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">6</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D107475501">65 Brentford Road, Richlands, Queensland, 4077</a>
On the market since: June 18, 2011
Initial asking price: $525,000
Current asking price: $359,000
Reduction: 32%
Days on market: 273
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">7</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D107603313" target="_blank">34 Seraya Court, Closeburn, Queensland, 4520</a>
On the market since: August 13, 2011
Initial asking price: $1,450,000
Current asking price: $995,000
Reduction: 31%
Days on market: 217
 
8
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106322479" target="_blank">1255 Gympie Road, Aspley, Queensland, 4034</a>
On the market since: February 20, 2010
Initial asking price: $510,000
Current asking price: $350,000
Reduction: 31%
Days on market: 756
 
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<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">9</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D107227469" target="_blank">36 First Avenue, Beachmere, Queensland, 4510</a>
On the market since: March 5, 2011
Initial asking price: $450,000
Current asking price: $310,000
Days on market: 378
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">10</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106826848" target="_blank">226-228 West Mount Cotton Road, Cornubia, Queensland, 4130</a>
On the market since: October 2, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.2 million
Current asking price: $860,000
Reduction: 28%
Days on market: 532
 
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SQM Research also offers a list of the <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/top100bargains.php" title="SQM Research" target="_blank">Top 100 Biggest Bargains in Australia </a>for sale.
 
 
 
 
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Treasure Island Avenue home heads list of most discounted properties in Queensland: SQM Research

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The RBA’s decision to cut interest rates in November and December last year had an immediate effect on the property market in Melbourne’s struggling eastern suburbs, says Jellis Craig.
Jellis Craig Mount Waverley directors Paul Polychroniadis and Con Lazogas have written in Jellis Craig’s Annual Property Review that another interest rate drop would help the suburbs in the Melbourne municipality of Monash further.
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/monashcomment1.jpg" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/monashcomment1thumb.jpg"></a>
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/">Jellis Craig</a> Annual Property Review
“The two consecutive interest rates drops in November and December 2011 had an immediate and positive impact on the local market, with the level of enquiry increasing measurably,” write Polychronidadis and Lazogas.
“We anticipate that any additional rate reductions will further stimulate the market. We have already witnessed larger numbers of viewers at our open for inspections.”
They say that families looking to upgrade are buoying the market in these areas thus far in 2012.
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/monashcomment2.jpg" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/monashcomment2thumb.jpg"></a>
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/">Jellis Craig</a> Annual Property Review
“Whilst buyer enquiry has lifted across the board, it is most evident for houses in the $650,000 to $1.2 million range and townhouses in the range $500,000 to $800,000,” they say.
“Increased competition in the mortgage market will offer up attractive opportunities for buyers to finance in this range.”
This is in contrast to the end of last year, when buyer numbers were down and prices falling.
“We did see the number of bidders for each property down from the four or five parties from the previous year. This lack of competition kept prices subdued.”
 
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Further rate cuts would help property market in Monash in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs: Jellis Craig

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8/447 Sydney Road, Balgowlah, NSW, 2093
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 480px;" src="/images/stories/sydneyrd.jpg"> 
With tenants paying the "fantastic rent" of $550 per week, this two-bedroom apartment in the Sydney northern beaches suburb of Balgowlah could be a good prospect for investors, but it was passed in at its weekend auction. Ray White agent Mark Griffiths says although the tenants of two years are on an expired lease, their rent was reviewed recently and ithe tenants are paying considerably above average rent for the block. The median asking rent for Balgowlah units is $500 per week, according RP Data.
Griffiths <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/balgowlah/745945/" target="_blank">is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $479,000 plus after it was passed in on a vendor bid of $460,000 at its weekend auction. Griffiths says he is negotiating with a potential buyer who put in a pre-auction bid of $460,000 as well as another buyer. If it sells for $479,000, that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 6%, far higher than the indicative gross rental yield of 4.2% for Balgowlah units, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $8,000 and over five years to be $28,000.
The median unit price for Balgowlah fell by 12.5% in the past year, according to RP Data.
For more about prices and yields in Balgowlah, see the RP Data suburb page.
 
 
 
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Investor form guide wrap: No takers yet for yields of up to 6% in Balgowlah

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<img src="/images/stories/10989.gif">
The number of properties available to rent in Melbourne, which has a vacancy rate of 3%, according to SQM Research. This is down from 12,719 in January but up from 9,998 at this time last year.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/7972.gif">
The number of properties available to rent in Sydney, which has a vacancy rate of 1.5%, according to SQM Research. This is down from 8,456 in January but up from 6,894 at this time last year.
 
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The number of properties available to rent in Brisbane, which has a vacancy rate of 1.6%, according to SQM Research. This is down from 5,112 in January but up from 4,479 at this time last year.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2219.gif">
The number of properties available to rent in Adelaide, which has a vacancy rate of 1.3%, according to SQM Research. This is down from 2,231 in January but up from 1,657 at this time last year.
 
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The number of properties available to rent in Perth, which has a vacancy rate of 0.6%, according to SQM Research. This is down from 1,084 in January and from 1,567 at this time last year.
 
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The number of properties available to rent in Hobart, which has a vacancy rate of 2.3%, according to SQM Research. This is up from 583 in January and from 266 at this time last year.
 
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The number of properties available to rent in Canberra, which has a vacancy rate of 0.7%, according to SQM Research. This is downfrom 382 in January and from 285 at this time last year.
 
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The number of properties available to rent in Darwin, which has a vacancy rate of 0.7%, accordign to SQM Research. This is down from 238 in January but up from 540 at this time last year.
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How much stock is available to rent in your capital city? A state-by-state analysis: SQM Research

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There's now a website, <a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/" target="_blank">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess auction results in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with no outlay. It's mostly about testing your market knowledge with a small cash prize as a sweetener.
Although the Brisbane auction market has been showing signs of life in recent weeks, this week all five properties featured on auction tipping competition Property Tycoon were passed in.
“The clear message coming from the Brisbane market is the auction system is not being used to sell property under the hammer but to flush out a buyer and negotiate afterwards,” says Mark Armstrong of Property Tycoon.
The Melbourne property in the competition featured on Property Observer last week, 14 Airlie Avenue, Prahran (pictured below) fared better.
<img src="/images/stories/airlie.jpg">
“A large crowd of around 100 turned out for the auction at 14 Airlie Avenue, Prahran, but although many parties had shown interest in the property only two were prepared to put up their hand when the auction started,” Armstrong says.
“One bidder was very strong and clearly wanted the property. It was passed in to him at $2.5 million and after a short negotiation it sold for $2.65 million.
<img src="/images/stories/wycombe.jpg">
But the Sydney unit at 1/95 Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay was passed in on a vendor bid of $1.55 million.
 
 
 
 
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Brisbane market struggles to maintain momentum, with all five Property Tycoon properties passed in

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Grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keys has listed the New York penthouse she bought two years ago from fellow Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz. 
Keys bought the Crosby Street penthouse for $12.75 million in February 2010 in her business manager's name, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.sothebyshomes.com/nyc/sales/0018037">she has now listed it for $17.95 million</a>. 
The American Woman singer probably wishes her luck – Kravitz tried to sell it off and on between 2002 and 2010, with price hopes vacillating between $12.5 million and $19.5 million. 
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom, four-powder room penthouse has 573 square metres of space, a butler's pantry, library/media room, wine cellar, spa and private terrace. Not surprisingly, the listing photos show a grand piano.
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Alicia Keys tries to flip Lenny Kravitz's former penthouse for a $5 million profit

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12/46 Kingsville Street, Kingsville, VIC, 3102
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 480px;" src="/images/stories/kingsville.jpg"> 
This one-bedroom ground-floor apartment is currently leased for $200 per week, and Barry Plant agent Peter Nichols says this is slightly under market rent. The tenants are on an expired lease, and Nichols says the property could probably rent for $220 per week. The property has parking onsite and is within walking distance of shops. 
Nichols <a target="_blank" href="https://www.barryplant.com.au/property.cfm?propertyID=1985566&amp;realestate=46_Kingsville_st_KINGSVILLE_VIC_3012&amp;menuItemID=41628">is marketing the property</a> with price hopes of $200,000 plus, and if it sells for $200,000 that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 5.2% at its current rent or 5.7% if it were rented for $220 per week. Both are significantly higher than the indicative gross rental yield for Kingsville units of 4.2%, according to RP Data. 
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $3,000 and over five years to be $6,000.
The median unit price in Kingsville went up by 2.5% in the past year, according to RP Data.
The property will be open for inspection on Saturday, March 24 at noon and will go to auction on Saturday, March 31 at 10.30am.
For more about prices and yields in Kingsville, see the <a target="_blank" href="/news">RP Data suburb page.</a>
For another investment prospect open for inspection this weekend, see page 2.
 
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104 Stella Street, Fairfield Heights, NSW, 2165
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 480px;" src="/images/stories/stellast.jpg"> 
The tenant in this three-bedroom house is paying $380 per week and is on an expired lease. Pretti Real Estate agent Stephen Jurinic says this is below market rent, and the property could be leased for between $400 and $420 per week. The house has timber floors, a timber kitchen and a detatched room that could make a good home office.
Jurinic is marketing the property with price hopes of $480,000 plus, and if it sells at that price it would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 4.2% at its current rent. If it were rented for $420 per week, that would secure a gross rental yield of 4.6%, below the indicative gross rental yield for Fairfield houses of 5.1%, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees.
<a href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT" target="_blank">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $10,000 and over five years to be $28,000.
The median house price in Fairfield Heights rose by 7.2% in the past year, according to RP Data.
The property will be open for inspection on Saturday, March 24 at noon and will go to auction on Saturday, March 31 at 2pm.
For more about prices and yields in Fairfield Heights, see the RP Data suburb page.
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Friday form guide: Yields of up to 5.7% in Kingsville

For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

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Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

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

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

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

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

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Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

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Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

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Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

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Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

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Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

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

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