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3 Evans Street, Belmont, VIC, 3216
<img src="/images/stories/evansst.jpg" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;"> 
This three-bedroom property in the Geelong suburb of Belmont is tenanted at $18,200 per year until January 2012, and sold at auction on Saturday, November 5 for $379,000. There were three bidders. Listing agent Phillipa Gartland of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gartland.com.au/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=1878081">Gartland Real Estate</a> marketed the property with price hopes of about $370,000 plus (the vendor recently declined an offer of $350,000). That reflects a gross rental yield of 4.8%, which is at the indicative gross rental yield for Belmont houses, 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. The house is within walking distance of High Street shopping precinct and is a 15-minute drive to the coast. <a target="_blank" href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $6,000 and over five years to be $13,000. 
For more information about prices and yields in Belmont, see the <a href="/news">RP Data suburb page</a>.
For more investment prospects going to auction this weekend, see pages 2 and 3.
 
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14/14 Crimea Street, St Kilda, VIC, 3182
<img src="/images/stories/crimeast.jpg">
The tenant of this one-bedroom St Kilda apartment is paying $265 per week and is on a month-to-month lease but is keen to stay. It sold in post-auction negotiations for $301,000 after being passed in at $275,000. Listing agent Rohan White of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.buxton.com.au/">Buxton Real Estate</a> marketed the property with price hopes of $270,000 plus before auction and says it would be perfect for investors. The sale reflects a gross rental yield of 4.6%, higher than the indicative gross rental yield for St Kilda units of 4.1%, 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.  The unit is within walking distance of trams, Windsor train station and Albert Park. <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 $5,000 and over five years to be $14,000. 
For more information about yields and prices in St Kilda, see the<a target="_blank" href="/news"> RP Data suburb page</a>.
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20 Betts Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150
<img src="/images/stories/bettsst.jpg">
All five units in this block are tenanted, and their combined rent brings in $92,040 in total gross income per year. All five are two-bedroom units and include internal laundries. All but one are on month-to-month leases, according to <a href="https://www.randw.com.au/119011/" target="_blank">Richardson &amp; Wrench</a> agent Abraham Gench. The property was passed in at auction on a bid of $1.81 million on Saturday, November 5, and has a reserve of $2.1 million. If it sells for $2.1 million that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 4.4%, slightly less than the indicative gross rental yield for Parramatta 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. Council rates are $4,273 per year for the property, and water fees are $5,502 per year. The property is only a short walk to Parramatta city centre. <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 $45,000 and over five years to be $145,000. 
For more about yields and prices in Parramatta, see the<a target="_blank" href="/news"> RP Data suburb page</a>.
 
 
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Weekend Yield Watch: Gross yields of 4.8% in Belmont

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By the reaction in the media, yesterday's rate cut by the Reserve Bank is the greatest thing since, well, the last rate cut 31 months ago. It's going to boost <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/retail-likes-rate-cut-20111101-1mtvg">retail</a>, <a href="https://smh.domain.com.au/boost-for-home-owners-as-banks-pass-on-rate-cut-20111101-1mtzj">housing</a> and even <a href="https://www.news.com.au/money/interest-rates/christmas-cheer-over-latest-rates-cut/story-e6frfmn0-1226183081358">Christmas</a>. Truly a miracle.
Yet all this reaction, and that on TV and radio yesterday and this morning, completely misses several important points.
The first is that the rate cut will cause the banks to cut their deposit rates, meaning savers will have less income, especially those who depend on fixed income from bank term deposits, such as pensioners and superannuants.
Secondly, the cut will, if it sparks a halt to the current slide in housing prices across all capital cities (they fell 1.2% in the September quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and 2.2% in the 12 months to the same quarter), then house prices will start rising, thereby ending the small improvement in housing affordability we are currently witnessing.
But more importantly, the group of people who will get relief from the lower cost of their housing and other loans is much smaller than you thought.
If only our pundits in the Fairfax and News Limited press, plus the ABC, had read the Reserve Bank's Financial Stability reports, such as the <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/fsr/2011/sep/pdf/house-bus-bal-sheet.pdf">second one for 2011</a> released in late September they would have found something to their interest, and changed their reporting yesterday and today.
Put simply, many Australians are deleveraging and saving more. The higher savings are well known, but not too many of our pundits have bothered to think about how that is being achieved; it is not just a case of saving more money in their accounts ($12 billion extra in September)
Australian mortgagees are repaying more than the minimum on their housing loans, and credit card holders are also repaying their credit card loans faster than they have to. As the RBA explained in the September Stability Review:
"Contributing to the slower pace of debt accumulation, some households are saving more by choosing to pay down their debt more quickly than required.
"Net repayments on credit cards have picked up in recent months. Many housing loan borrowers have continued to make substantial excess principal repayments, even as higher interest rates have raised required interest -- and thus total -- repayments.
"The average excess repayment is currently equivalent to around three-quarters of the scheduled total (principal plus interest) repayment. Consistent with this tendency to pay debt ahead of schedule, surveys have shown that a high share of households consider repaying debt to be the wisest place for savings.
"Households that make excess repayments on their home loans generally build up buffers that they can draw down in the future if required. This should be regarded as a positive development for the resilience of the sector. These shifts in saving and borrowing behaviour have in part been enabled by a favourable labour market and solid income growth.
"Growth in gross income therefore outpaced the impact of higher interest payments, such that growth in real disposable income per household (after interest payments) also strengthened, to 3.3 per cent over the year to the June quarter, up from 2.3 per cent over the year to the December 2010 quarter.
"This increases the resilience of households to shocks, relative to countries where it is less common to do so. As well as providing a cushion against changes in borrowers’ financial circumstances, excess repayments increase the distance between the remaining loan balance and a property value that could be lower in the future, making negative equity positions less likely."
These trends are also ignored by the same writers when they warble on about the rising level of mortgage stress. Mortgage stress has always been with us, no matter the state of interest rates; some people who have lost jobs, seen pay cut or are starting out on the home buying treadmill feel it more than others.
But how can mortgage stress be a problem when a large proportion of people with mortgages are paying off those mortgages faster than they can? In other words, they are paying back more than the minimum, which is always recommended by advisers because it builds up buffers and reduces the principal faster than it would normally be reduced.
The fact that Australians with mortgages are repaying their loans faster is also ignored by the doom and gloomers who predict a nasty fall in property prices and a re-run of what we have seen overseas. They include Professor Steve Keen.
And finally, the most desperate piece of marketing came from Fairfax property website Domain, which sent <a href="https://view.email.domain.com.au/?j=fe6815757367057d7610&amp;m=fecb15717d62067f&amp;ls=fde511727c6000787d137970&amp;l=fe9c157177600c7c77&amp;s=fe281c7574640379771177&amp;jb=ffcf14&amp;ju=fe2715797c61017b741672&amp;r=0">this email</a> to registered users yesterday afternoon:
<a target="_blank" href="https://view.email.domain.com.au/?j=fe6815757367057d7610&amp;m=fecb15717d62067f&amp;ls=fde511727c6000787d137970&amp;l=fe9c157177600c7c77&amp;s=fe281c7574640379771177&amp;jb=ffcf14&amp;ju=fe2715797c61017b741672&amp;r=0"><img src="/images/stories/dyernov3.jpg"></a>
"This fall in rates will be greatly appreciated by households as it will put an extra $60 into their pockets each month," said Domain property expert Carolyn Boyd. Talk about desperation.
The reality is that most mortgage holders will simply leave their payments unchanged and effectively repay their loan by an extra $60 a month or whatever the saving is on their mortgage.
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.crikey.com.au/">Crikey</a>.
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The great mortgage stress myth: We're paying off our homes faster

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The Tasmanian property market, slow at the best of times, has turned positively glacial, as SQM Research’s list of the most discounted properties in Tasmania shows.

SQM director Louis Christopher points out that the most discounted home in Tasmania, 588 White Beach Road, White Beach, has been on the market for more than a year despite numerous incentives to try to secure a buyer. 

<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">"Having already spent well over a year on the market, it seems that even price slashes totalling $380,000 as well as offering the home completely furnished has done little to attract significant buyer interest for this waterfront property," Christopher says.

<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Six of the 10 properties on SQM's list of the most discounted properties in Tasmania have been on the market for more than a year, and all have been on the market for more than 200 days. 

Hobart house prices have fallen 1% during the September quarter, which Christopher says is to be expected as the market continues to decline.

<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Christopher says the most recent fall is "in line with our original predictions that Hobart house prices will decline anywhere from 1.5% to 3.5% by the end of the 2011 calendar year".
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">According to RP Data's Tim Lawless <a href="/news">the market is struggling as tree-changers are no longer moving to Tasmania</a>.
<p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">1</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106479093" target="_blank">588 White Beach Road, White Beach, Tasmania, 7184</a>
On the market since: May 23, 2010
Initial asking price: $780,000
Current asking price: $400,000
Reduction: 49%
Days on market: 518
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">2</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008491614" target="_blank">25 Vicary Street, Triabunna, Tasmania, 7190</a>
On the market since: August 2, 2010
Initial asking price: $299,000
Current asking price: $189,000
Reduction: 37%
Days on market: 449
 
3
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008743860">2 Duke Street, Geeveston, Tasmania, 7116</a>
On the market since: December 20, 2010
Initial asking price: $225,000
Current asking price: $160,000
Reduction: 29%
Days on market: 309
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">4</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008795499">10 Lovell Road, Crabtree, Tasmania, 7109</a>
On the market since: February 7, 2011
Initial asking price: $799,000
Current asking price: $600,000
Reduction: 25%
Days on market: 260
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">5</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008887920" target="_blank">128 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005</a>
On the market since: March 21, 2011
Initial asking price: $795,000
Current asking price: $600,000
Reduction: 25%
Days on market: 218
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">6</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106224707" target="_blank">26 Glenbervie Road, Dover, Tasmania, 7117</a>
On the market since: December 27, 2009
Initial asking price: $250,000
Current asking price: $190,000
Reduction: 24%
Days on market: 665
 
<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%3D106859302" target="_blank">37 Islington Road, Montrose, Tasmania, 7010</a>
On the market since: December 3, 2010
Initial asking price: $380,000
Current asking price: $290,000
Reduction: 24%
Days on market: 385
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">8</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008866998" target="_blank">14 Castlereagh Court, Lenah Valley, Tasmania, 7008</a> (pictured)
On the market since: March 14, 2011
Initial asking price: $550,000
Current asking price: $425,000
Reduction: 23%
Days on market: 225
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">9</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2007685342" target="_blank">5090 Tasman Highway, Buckland, Tasmania, 7190</a>
On the market since: May 18, 2008
Initial asking price: $250,000
Current asking price: $195,000
Reduction: 22%
Days on market: 1,255
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">10</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2006781491" target="_blank">22 Beach Street, White Beach, Tasmania, 7184</a>
On the market since: July 1, 2008
Initial asking price: $250,000
Current asking price: $195,000
Reduction: 22%
Days on market: 1,211
 
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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Hobart houses still struggling to sell, despite discounts: SQM

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november1noosaheads]}
A five-bedroom, four-bathroom plantation-style house in Noosa Heads has been listed with price hopes of $3.95 million. 
The vendor is Tom Forde, owner of LJ Hooker Commercial Noosa and now an LJ Hooker residential branch in Noosa. 
The 21,000-square-metre sprawling property includes two separate one-bedroom cabanas, a lagoon-style swimming pool with pool bar, tennis court and gym all against a rainforest backdrop.
Forde, now an empty-nester, plans to downsize to a location closer to the beach. 
Graeme Halsey from <a href="https://www.ljhooker.com.au/2HD3" target="_blank">LJ Hooker Noosa</a> is marketing the property.
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Resort-style plantation in Noosa Heads listed for $3.95 million

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2/14 Hewlett Street, Granville, NSW, 2142
<img src="/images/stories/hewlett.jpg"> 
This two-bedroom apartment in the Sydney suburb of Granville includes a car space and is tenanted at $340 per week. The lease is currently expired but the tenant is keen to stay on, and a relatively high yield could make the property attractive to an investor. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.runproperty.com.au/buying">Run Property</a> agent Rebecca Hall is marketing the property with price hopes of $285,000 plus. If it sells for $285,000 that would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 6.2%, about the same as the gross indicative rental yield for Granville apartments of 6%, 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. Council rates are approximately $224 per quarter, Sydney Water rates are approximately $157 per quarter, and strata levies are approximately $479 per quarter. <a target="_blank" href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $4,000 and over five years to be $9,000. The property is close to schools, shops and the train station. It was passed in on a vendor's bid of $280,000 at auction on October 29 and is in negotiations. 
For more information about yields and prices in Granville, see the <a target="_blank" href="/news">RP Data suburb page</a>.
For more investment prospects going to auction this weekend, see pages 2 and 3.
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402/2 Jones Bay Road, Pyrmont, NSW, 2009
<img src="/images/stories/jonesbay.jpg"> 
This one-bedroom apartment with Harbour Bridge views is tenanted at $500 per week and includes a car space. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.khoandlee.com.au/properties/505522/details">Kho and Lee Property Group</a> agent Sami Yildiz is marketing the unit with price hopes in the "early $500s", about $510,000 or $520,000 plus. If it sells for $510,000 that would equate to a gross rental yield of 5.1%, about the same as the indicative gross rental yield for Pyrmont apartments of 5%. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees. <a target="_blank" href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $13,000 and over five years to be $40,000. The building includes a gym and a swimming pool, and it is within walking distance of Darling Harbour. The unit was withdrawn from auction shortly before it was due to go under the hammer on October 29 and is in negotiations. 
For more information about prices and yields in Pyrmont, see the <a target="_blank" href="/news">RP Data suburb page</a>.
 
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5 Oakton Close, Wheelers Hill, VIC, 3152
<img src="/images/stories/oaktonclose.jpg">
In a cul-de-sac, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom property is tenanted at $380 per week until the end of the year. <a href="https://mcdonaldre.co/details/?pid=503104" target="_blank">McDonald Real Estate</a> agent Brian Grace is marketing the property with price hopes of $585,000 plus, and if it sells at that price it would secure an investor a gross rental yield of 3.5%, about the same as the indicative gross rental yield for Wheelers Hill houses of 3.2%, according to RP Data. The gross rental yield does not consider the costs of maintaining the property, including council rates and other fees such as water bills and managing agent fees. <a target="_blank" href="https://calc.washingtonbrown.com.au/wbdcalculator/calculator.aspx?RID=HPCAZOPTTT">Washington Brown</a> estimates the first-year tax depreciation deduction to be $5,000 and over five years to be $12,000. The property is within easy walking distance of Wheelers Hill Secondary Collegeand is close to Brandon Park and Waverley Gardens shopping centres. The property was passed in on a vendor's bid of $565,000 at auction on October 29. It had an earlier bid of $540,000 and had a reserve of $585,000. The property remains for sale.
For more about prices and yields in Wheelers Hill, see the <a href="/news">RP Data suburb page</a>.
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Weekend yield watch: Yields of up to 6.2% in Granville as none of Form Guide properties sell

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/october27johnhughes]}
The Chicago house that belonged to the late John Hughes, director of seminal 1980s teen films such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club, has been listed for sale with price hopes of US$5.89 million.
The 1,044-square-metre six-bedroom house a block from Lake Michigan features high ceilings, hardwood floors, four bluestone terraces, a three-car heated garage, a swimming pool and landscaped grounds. 
Hughes made his directorial debut with Sixteen Candles in 1984 and had considerable commercial and critical success with a string of teen-oriented movies, all set in the suburbs. He also wrote and produced Home Alone. Hughes never moved to Hollywood and lived in Chicago until his death in 2009.
The property is listed through <a href="https://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/property/details/2321028/MLS-07926890/855-East-Westminster-Avenue-Lake-Forest-IL-60045.aspx?SearchID=4752570&amp;RowNum=8&amp;StateID=19&amp;RegionID=0&amp;IsRegularPS=True&amp;IsSold=False" target="_blank">Caldwell Banker</a> agent Ann Lyon.
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Ferris Bueller director John Hughes' former house on the market

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Documents released by the RBA under freedom of information laws show the central bank is concerned about households who took out loans in the period between 2004-2007, when property prices were at their height, fearing they may be "overstretched".

The release of the documents comes just weeks after separate data indicated that many households who purchased homes in the last decade actually returned to renting, prompting fears they had taken out loans that were too large to service.
The documents show the RBA was told in March that there are a number of problems facing the housing market, with a number of areas facing a higher level of arrears.
"Even though the pace of debt accumulation has moderated in recent years, aggregate household indebtedness and gearing remain around historically high levels," it was told.
"This means some households could be exposed to shocks to their incomes and financial circumstances. A continuation of the recent borrowing restraint would thus be a welcomed development, as it would add further resilience into household balance sheets and avoid a build-up of risk in the household financial position."
It was also told that the rise in arrears in Queensland was occurring well before the Queensland floods, "and is consistent with the higher-than-average unemployment rate and weaker property market in the state".
These findings gel with a separate report from the RMIT Research Centre of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, which found that 20% of home owners who bought a property between 2001-09 actually dropped out of ownership at one point, suggesting some of these households found property too expensive to maintain.
Those findings also come after the big four banks expressed some concern over over-stretched households.
CLSA Australia analyst Brian Johnson says while arrears have remained low, Australian households still face incredibly high levels of debt.
"You have never seen indebtedness like you see it now. What we also saw was a dramatic increase in interest rates from the lows of 2008 and 2009. Over and above that, margins have increased by 125 basis points."
"If you talk to mortgage insurers they will tell you loans don't default in their first or second year, it's after that, up to six years. We may be starting to see that now."
Johnson says employment in some industries has remained shaky, pointing to the rise in unemployment two months ago. "Job security is an issue at the present time," he says.
However, the RBA was also told that households are handling that debt quite well. Experts say the level of arrears has remained quite low, helped by the banks' tightening of lending standards and strict LVRs, and note it will continue to do so if employment remains high.
Johnson says as long as employment remains high, mortgage arrears will stay in check, but he notes many industries are suffering, and says ultimately it will come down to how the Government and Reserve Bank handle any housing crisis.
"If you were to get the start of a dramatic fall in housing prices, they would be aggressively cutting interest rates."
HIA economist Harley Dale says he believes the industry is a "long way off" from any problem that would cripple the industry.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/economy/20111025-rba-warned-of-over-stretched-mortgage-holders" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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RBA warns of overstretched mortgage holders

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As it releases a list of the top 10 most discounted properties in Western Australia, SQM Research notes that the discounting occurring in Perth has been a little more severe than some of the other capital cities.
"We have often featured Perth homes possessing massive discounts in our national top 10 as well as homes from Perth which have spent an excessive amount of time on the market," SQM Research director Louis Christopher says. 
He says Perth's housing market is the weakest among Australian capital cities and says it is likely to bottom out next year.
"In terms of the Perth housing market in general, SQM Research forecasts that it will likely post the biggest falls of the capital cities for 2011 between 7.8% and 9.8%. If the economy manages to scrape through next year, house prices for Perth are likely to bottom out and we will not see further substantial declines," Christopher says.
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<div>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">1</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%3D107366585">146 Maddington Road, Maddington, WA, 6109</a>
On the market since: April 30, 2011
Initial asking price: $5.5 million
Current asking price: $3.5 million
Reduction: 36%
Days on market: 126
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">2</h2>
<a href="&lt;http:/sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2007193295" target="_blank">290 Viveash Road, Swan View, WA, 6056</a>
On the market since: June 5, 2008
Initial asking price: $2.29 million
Current asking price: $1.5 million
Reduction: 34%
Days on market: 1,187
 
3
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D107391748" target="_blank">4 Shoran Court, Ocean Reef, WA, 6027</a>
On the market since: May 14, 2011
Initial asking price: $990,000
Current asking price: $695,000
Reduction: 30%
Days on market: 112
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">4</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106243474" target="_blank">4/19 Broome Street, Cottesloe, WA, 6011</a>
On the market since: January 10, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.2 million
Current asking price: $850,000
Reduction: 29%
Days on market: 601
 
<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%3D2008488770">19/1 North Lake, Alfred Cove, WA, 6154</a>
On the market since: July 26, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.18 million
Current asking price: $849,000
Reduction: 28%
Days on market: 406
 
<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%3D106289694">309 Scarborough Beach Road, Woodlands, WA, 6018</a>
On the market since: February 7, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.1 million
Current asking price: $795,000
Reduction: 28%
Days on market: 573
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">7</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%3D106544887">1/43 Preston Point Road, East Fremantle, WA, 6158</a>
On the market since: May 23, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.1 million
Current asking price: $800,000
Reduction: 27%
Days on market: 468
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">8</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008749778">227 Franklin Road, Wanneroo, WA, 6065</a> (pictured)
On the market since: December 27, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.5 million
Current asking price: $1.095 million
Reduction: 27%
Days on market: 252
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">9</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%3D106857522">21 Robertson Road, Ledge Point, WA, 6043</a>
On the market since: September 25, 2010
Initial asking price: $880,000
Current asking price: $649,000
Reduction: 26%
Days on market: 357
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">10</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%3D107023981">5 Park Street, Inglewood, WA, 6052</a>
On the market since: November 27, 2010
Initial asking price: $649,000
Current asking price: $495,000
Reduction: 24%
Days on market: 294
 
SQM Research also offers a list of the <a target="_blank" title="SQM Research" href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/top100bargains.php">Top 100 Biggest Bargains in Australia </a>for sale.
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Discounting more severe in Perth than in some other capitals: SQM Research

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Real estate developer and reality TV star Donald Trump has sold his 1,022-square-metre house in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, for a reported  US$7.15 million. He had listed the property in June 2010 with price hopes of US$12 million, shortly after it was completed.
The property includes grand fireplaces, five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, fire pit, a library, games room, full wet bar, wine cellar and four-car garage. The property is located at Trump National Golf Course, which Trump owns and operates. 
"It has a spectacular basement with light and air," Trump <a href="https://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/13/home/la-hm-hotprop-donald-trump-20101113" target="_blank">told the Los Angeles Times</a> last year.
Linda D'Ambrosi and Sandra Callen of <a href="https://pv.yourkwoffice.com/" target="_blank">Keller Williams Rancho Palos Verdes</a> were the listing agents. 
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Donald Trump sells golf club estate for US$5 million below asking price

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/october25brando]}
The California home that once belonged to two-time Oscar winner and screen legend Marlon Brando is on the market with price hopes of US$1.65 million.
The 1939 house has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, tennis court, pool and sauna. Brando himself built the pool's diving board. 
Property records show that Brando sold the house in February 2004, a few months before he died at age 80, and the Los Angeles Times<a href="https://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/la-hmw-hotpropbrando4-2009feb04,0,7139075.story" target="_blank"> reports </a>that the current owner is Brando's former housekeeper and the mother of his three youngest children. 
Elena Safronova of<a href="https://www.firstteam.com/propertydetail.aspx?ilookup_no=4146798" target="_blank"> First Team Real Estate</a> is marketing the property.
Brando, born in 1924, was known for iconic roles in films such as A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, The Wild One and The Godfather. 
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Marlon Brando's former home on the market

A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Joel Robinson

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Often when it comes to purchasing property, the biggest barrier to entry is the deposit. Buyers of established homes typically aim for a 20 per cent deposit to avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance, while most property transactions require around a 10 per cent deposit when contracts are exchanged.

The off-the-plan market works differently, with buyers typically paying a deposit during construction and settling the balance upon completion. As completion approaches at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fabbrica-fitzroy-369-gore-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fabbrica Fitzroy</a>, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace</a> is making it easier for buyers to secure a residence through a deposit-matching incentive. Purchasers need only contribute a five per cent deposit*, with Pace matching the remaining five per cent.

The offer comes as Pace unveils a completed display apartment and townhouse, now available for inspection by appointment ahead of the project's Spring completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371009]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/winwood-mckenzie-architecture">Winwood Mckenzie</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, Fabbrica draws on Fitzroy’s industrial and manufacturing history, incorporating references to the former Argyle Shirt Factory and Life Savers Confectionery Company that once occupied the site.

The development comprises 85 residences, spanning low-maintenance apartments through to larger-format townhouses with private street access and double lock-up garages, a relatively uncommon offering in Fitzroy’s higher-density apartment market.

Pace says the project has been designed to appeal to buyers seeking inner-city convenience without sacrificing space, flexibility, or amenity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371016]

Inside the residences, Winwood Mckenzie has focused on adaptable layouts and integrated detailing, with features including custom joinery, and concealed storage solutions. The material palette leans into warm, tactile finishes intended to complement the building’s industrial architectural language.

Fabbrica’s rooftop amenity is a key part of the project offering. Spanning around 800 sqm, the communal rooftop includes a private dining room, communal kitchen, lounge spaces, work-from-home zones, and outdoor dining areas overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371017]

Landscape architecture studio Acre has introduced a layered rooftop garden designed to soften the urban setting while creating a more communal environment for residents.

The Fitzroy location also positions residents within walking distance of Brunswick Street, Smith Street, parks, cafés, galleries, and public transport, while remaining only minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. The project has an enviable Walk Score of 96.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371025]

Pace, which is also delivering the project as builder, has developed more than 100 projects across Melbourne over the past three decades. The vertically integrated approach has become increasingly common among developers seeking greater control over construction delivery amid broader market pressures affecting the apartment sector.

The strikingly contemporary Gore Street development is now around 70 per cent complete, with purchasers expected to move into their new homes in Spring 2026. A limited number of residences remain available under the current deposit match offer.

*Conditions apply in relation to the deposit match offer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139552]

Pace offers five per cent deposit match at Fabbrica Fitzroy ahead of Spring completion

Sydney developer Hyecorp's roots on the Lower North Shore stretch back three generations, and that deep understanding of the market continues to shape where and how it develops today.

From high-rise towers to boutique apartment projects, the family-run developer has built its reputation by focusing on a part of Sydney it knows intimately. Founded by Michael Abolakian in the early 1990s, Hyecorp is now led by his sons Stephen, Troy and Patrick.

Stephen Abolakian, joint managing director alongside Troy, has spent more than two decades in the business, overseeing development, planning, finance, marketing and sales.

Abolakian says the developer's disciplined focus on where it chooses to operate has been, and continues to be, one of Hyecorp's greatest strengths.

“We know the buyer profile exceptionally well,” Abolakian says.

“The demographics between places like Willoughby, Chatswood, St Leonards and Roseville are very similar. There are nuances between suburbs and projects, but culturally and from a buyer perspective, there’s a strong overlap.”

That buyer has historically been overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven.

Unlike many Sydney apartment developers that have traditionally relied heavily on investor demand, Hyecorp’s projects have typically attracted downsizers, upsizers, rightsizers and family owner-occupiers seeking long-term homes rather than short-term investments.

“Historically, investors have been a much smaller portion of our demand profile,” Abolakian says.

“We design for owner-occupiers. We don’t design for yield, we design for comfort, amenity, family living and long-term usability.”

That philosophy extends well beyond apartment layouts.

From landscaping and communal gardens to shared amenities and circulation spaces, Hyecorp’s developments are designed around how people actually live, something Abolakian believes has become increasingly important in Sydney’s apartment market.

“There was probably a period where having an approved project in market was enough,” he says.

“There wasn’t as much competition and if you built it, buyers would come. That’s no longer the case.”

“There’s more supply in the pipeline now, particularly with TOD precincts and low and mid-rise reforms opening up opportunities across Sydney. Buyers have more choice, so if you get the product wrong, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110379 project_image_fid=311393]

The shift has forced developers to become more sophisticated in how they approach apartment design, particularly as owner-occupier expectations continue to rise.

For Hyecorp, that means thinking beyond who the buyer is today and designing for who they may become in five or 10 years' time.

“People buying now often aren’t moving in for several years,” Abolakian says.

“You might have a young couple buying today, but by the time they move in they may have children, older children, or changing lifestyle needs. You’ve got to think about how families evolve.”

That thinking also shapes Hyecorp’s approach to amenity, which positions wellness at the forefront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362634]

While resort-style facilities have become increasingly common marketing tools across Sydney apartment developments, Abolakian says the challenge is ensuring amenities are genuinely usable and appropriate for the scale of the project.

“If amenities are done right, they can materially improve the living experience,” he says, adding however that if you&nbsp;overdo it or get it wrong, you can end up with facilities nobody uses that simply create ongoing strata costs.”

That balance is something Hyecorp is aiming to strike with projects like Roseville Avenue, one of the group's upcoming Lower North Shore developments, which Abolakian describes as bringing a resort-style living experience into a metropolitan setting.

“It’s about creating something that feels special without being excessive,” he says.

“Good gardens, quality apartments, thoughtful amenity. Creating that resort feeling in a metro location.”

<img alt="Hyecorp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13c4c0f3-b1b7-44cf-9344-0b3d1d07797a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-02%20at%2012.14.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9OLWjyj2bYkDV35F78WJnyMSPfc2bJ2z" />

The focus on owner-occupier product comes as Sydney’s apartment market continues to navigate a difficult development environment.&nbsp;For Hyecorp, maintaining an in-house operating model across construction, sales, marketing and development management has become increasingly important in navigating that environment.

“We’ve always believed in keeping a lot of the process in-house,” Abolakian says.

“It creates efficiencies, but it also creates quality control. You can make faster decisions and ensure the end product stays aligned with the original vision.”

Despite the challenges, Abolakian believes demand for quality owner-occupier apartments across Sydney remains strong beneath the surface, particularly across established Lower North Shore suburbs where downsizers continue to seek new housing options close to existing communities.

“There are definitely people waiting,” he says.

“Once some of the broader uncertainty settles, whether that’s the global environment or some of the local economic noise, I think the right projects will perform very strongly.”

Hyecorp currently has three residential developments on the market across Sydney’s Lower North Shore.&nbsp;Audrey, St Leonards, positioned opposite Newlands Park, is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents, with the project now almost sold out.

Hyecorp has also recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine Chatswood</a>, an architectural tower, while continuing to deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet Roseville</a>, a more boutique scale of development with just 34 apartments.

Why Hyecorp continues to back Sydney's Lower North Shore apartment market

South East Queensland’s apartment market is entering a new phase defined by rising prices, constrained affordability, and mounting pressure on the construction pipeline, according to RPM Group’s latest SEQ Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report.

The May 2026 report highlights a widening divide between what buyers can afford and what developers can viably deliver, with detached house prices continuing to push more buyers toward apartments across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

RPM says Brisbane’s median house price has reached around $1.5 million, accelerating the shift toward higher-density housing as buyers are increasingly priced out of the detached market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135094 project_image_fid=356540]

Median unit prices rose across all three major SEQ markets in the March quarter. Brisbane City recorded the strongest annual growth, with median unit prices climbing 21 per cent to $862,000, while the Gold Coast reached the highest overall median at $950,000, up 17 per cent year-on-year. The Sunshine Coast followed at $870,000, representing annual growth of nine per cent.

RPM noted the affordability gap between houses and units remains significant, with detached homes commanding premiums of 67 per cent in Brisbane and 68 per cent on the Gold Coast relative to apartments.

The report suggests this price disparity is increasingly consolidating buyer demand within the apartment market, particularly among downsizers and owner-occupiers.

“Demand is real. Supply is moving. But they’re operating on different timelines and the gap between what’s being built and what buyers can afford is the defining tension in this market right now,” RPM Queensland and NSW Managing Directors Peter Neale and Clinton Trezise said in the report.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]

While approvals and commencements are strengthening, RPM argues the delivery pipeline remains constrained by construction costs, labour shortages, and extended build timelines.

Apartment approvals across Queensland increased 86 per cent over the year to February 2026, reaching 12,682 approvals, the highest level recorded since 2016. Brisbane overtook the Gold Coast as the state’s most active apartment approval market, with nearly 5,000 apartments approved over the past 12 months.

Unit commencements also strengthened considerably, rising 48 per cent year-on-year to 5,453 commencements in the December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2018.

However, RPM’s research found apartment delivery timeframes have expanded sharply compared to the previous cycle. Projects are now averaging around 30 months from approval to completion, compared to roughly 20 months a decade ago.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143932 project_image_fid=367515]

The number of units under construction has climbed to approximately 31,530 dwellings, nearing the previous 2016 peak, though projects are remaining in the pipeline for considerably longer.

Construction costs continue to weigh heavily on feasibility. RPM found the average apartment construction cost in Greater Brisbane reached $630,000 per dwelling in 2025, exceeding both Sydney and Melbourne. Coastal Queensland markets, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, were even higher at an average of $817,418 per apartment due to the prevalence of larger premium product.

The report also points to increasing pressure from Olympic-related infrastructure spending ahead of Brisbane 2032, with labour competition expected to intensify over the next several years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370960]

ANZ Associate Director of Property Daniel Gradwell said the underlying demand drivers across South East Queensland remain strong, supported by interstate migration, downsizers, and population growth.

“The challenge is bringing enough supply to market to meet that demand, and nothing on the horizon makes that straightforward,” Gradwell said.

RPM’s analysis found the affordability challenge is becoming more pronounced in the new apartment market itself, with only three per cent of surveyed new apartments priced below $1 million.

Instead, the market is increasingly concentrated in higher price brackets, with the most common new apartment price band across SEQ sitting between $1.5 million and $1.75 million. Around half of all new apartment stock surveyed is priced below $2 million.

The report suggests developers are not necessarily avoiding lower price points by choice, but because current construction economics make delivering affordable apartments increasingly difficult at scale.

Rental conditions also remain tight across the region. Median rents for one-bedroom apartments rose 12 per cent in Brisbane over the past year to $580 per week, while Gold Coast one-bedroom rents increased nine per cent to $630.

Despite rising rents, RPM noted bond lodgements have generally trended downward over the past five years, indicating more apartments are being absorbed by owner-occupiers rather than retained as investor-held rental stock.

Looking ahead, RPM expects projects targeting the mid-market owner-occupier segment between $1.25 million and $2 million to remain the most viable part of the market, while premium projects in highly constrained coastal or riverfront locations continue to attract demand.

“Construction costs are rewriting the feasibility rulebook across Greater Brisbane, and with little relief in sight, only projects in the right price band, right location, and with presales secured early will make it through,” the report concludes.

SEQ apartment demand outpacing affordable supply as construction timelines stretch: RPM

Camberwell Junction has long been the epicentre of amenity in Melbourne’s Boroondara region.

For nearly a century, it has drawn both locals and visitors, anchored by the Camberwell Sunday Market, which first operated in 1929 and quickly became a fixture of the suburb’s identity. Over time, the Junction evolved into one of Melbourne’s most established retail and lifestyle precincts, now comprising more than 400 stores and over 300 commercial businesses.

Despite that depth of amenity, one thing has remained notably limited: the supply of new apartments.

In a suburb defined by its heritage streetscapes and tightly held residential stock, new development opportunities have been scarce, particularly within the core of the Junction itself. That lack of supply has left a gap in the market for larger, design-led apartments suited to downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in the area.

Boutique developer Above Zero identified that gap when it secured a prime site on Burke Road, in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368543]

The site has a long planning history. Various proposals have been put forward over more than a decade, many of which were knocked back by the City of Boroondara, with initial applications dating back to 2015. Above Zero acquired the site in 2022 and returned with a revised scheme, refining both the building’s height and its ground-level interface to better align with Council expectations.

That process has culminated in approval for Camberwell House.

The Cera Stribley-designed development will deliver 57 residences on a 1,950 sqm site within the Camberwell Activity Centre, placing it directly within one of Melbourne’s most established retail and transport hubs.

It is expected to be one of the only new apartment developments to launch in the Junction in recent years, reinforcing the rarity of new supply in the precinct. Currently, there are just a handful of projects on the market in Camberwell, underscoring the significance of a development of this scale and positioning.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368544]

Camberwell House has been conceived with a clear focus on larger-format apartments. The project will offer a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, alongside a limited number of penthouses, targeting owner-occupiers seeking scale rather than volume-driven product.

The building’s vertical presence will also set it apart.

Positioned on Burke Road, the development is set to become one of the taller buildings in its immediate context, allowing for elevated outlooks across Melbourne’s CBD skyline and toward the Dandenong Ranges. In a precinct characterised by lower-scale built form, that height provides a point of differentiation, particularly for buyers seeking outlook and natural light.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368568]

Architecture has been led by Cera Stribley, with interiors by GOLDEN and landscape design by Florian Wild. The design approach centres on material consistency and restraint, with residences oriented to maximise light, ventilation and connection to outdoor spaces.

Full-height glazing and generous terraces form a key part of that strategy, allowing apartments to extend beyond their internal footprint and engage with the surrounding environment.

Beyond the private residences, a significant component of the project is its amenity offering.

Above Zero has positioned Camberwell House as a “complete living environment”, incorporating a full floor dedicated to resident facilities. At the centre of that is a wellness zone, including a 12.5-metre lap pool, spa, sauna and treatment spaces, alongside a gym and recovery-focused amenities.

This level of amenity is more commonly associated with inner-city developments, rather than established middle-ring suburbs like Camberwell.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368588]

Additional shared spaces include a private library lounge, dining and entertaining areas, and an indoor golf simulator. A self-contained guest suite has also been incorporated, allowing residents to accommodate visiting family or friends without impacting their primary living space.

The inclusion of these facilities reflects a broader shift in buyer expectations.

As more downsizers look to transition from larger family homes into apartments, there is increasing demand for developments that offer not just a residence, but a lifestyle. That includes access to wellness, social and entertaining spaces within the building itself, reducing the reliance on external amenity while still maintaining proximity to established precincts.

Camberwell House is positioned to benefit from both.

Its location places it within immediate walking distance of Camberwell Junction’s retail and dining offering, as well as public transport connections, including tram and train services. That combination of internal amenity and external convenience is central to its appeal.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-150" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:55d7c6ac-8e6d-4881-ad49-0ed9bf66d1cc-74" dir="auto">
Jellis Craig Projects Director Stephen Bowtell is handling sales for the project and says Camberwell House offers a rare entry point into one of Melbourne’s most tightly held markets.

“Buyers are recognising that Camberwell House offers something they simply haven’t seen before in Boroondara,”&nbsp;Bowtell&nbsp;says.

“It combines a level of resident amenity and service typically associated with Melbourne’s premium inner-city developments, while being positioned right in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

“The response to the concierge offering has been particularly strong. Buyers appreciate not only the convenience, but also the sense of security and peace of mind that comes from having a dedicated presence in the building every day.

“When you combine that with the wellness facilities, the exceptional arrival experience, and panoramic views across both the CBD skyline and the Dandenong Ranges, it creates a lifestyle proposition that is genuinely unique within the local market.”
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4896]

Cassidy Knowlton

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