<html><body>
There are any number of expensive options across New South Wales, but what about the cheaper suburbs?
Property Observer looked to the most recent median unit prices from RP Data to find out where the cheapest options are (sub-$200,000), and their gross rental yields, and then took to the current listings to see whether these properties could really be snapped up in today's markets.
Here are the suburbs and what we found, in alphabetical order.
<a href="/news">Bomaderry</a>
$195,000
On the market now: Three apartments or units at $190,000 or below. The cheapest is at 1/42 Lyndhurst Drive, asking $180,000 for a two-bedroom one-bathroom apartment. The most expensive is 1/5 Harbour Boulevard, which is asking $257,000 for a two-bedroom one-bathroom.
Gross rental yield: 6.4%
<a href="/news">Brownsville</a> $195,000 On the market now: Only two options came up, one at $200,000, the other at “over $200,000”. Gross rental yield: 6.8%
<a href="/news">Casino</a> $190,000 On the market now: Currently, there are 30 units or apartments on the market, including an entire block of flats (three one-bedroom and one two-bedroom) for $349,000 as well as a $269,000 home converted into two units that is marketing itself to developers. Individual apartments up for sale span from a $132,000 two-bedroom one-bathroom unit advertising a potential 7.1% rental yield to a $270,000 three-bedroom, two bathroom villa in a newer estate. Gross rental yield: 6.02% <a href="/news">Corowa</a> $139,000 On the market now: There are five units or apartments to choose from. A two-bedroom, one-bathroom brick veneer unit for $130,000 is the cheapest up to a two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit with a larger yard for $159,000. Gross rental yield: 6.28% <a href="/news">Cowra</a> $115,000 On the market now: Four Cowra results reveal opportunities for $100,000 (for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom offering) up to a $375,000 renovated studio with a blue chip tenant offering a 7% rental return. Gross rental yield: 7.69%
<a href="/news">Deniliquin</a>
$124,000
On the market now: Eight results come up for a search, including some business premises. One of the apartments is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom offering for $85,000. The priciest is a $320,000 opportunity, bringing two apartments to the market each with two-bedrooms, one-bathroom and with $170 and $175 per week in rent.
Gross rental yield: NA
<a href="/news">East Albury</a>
$185,000
On the market now: There are currently purchasing opportunities from a two-bedroom one-bathroom apartment for $129,000, to $239,000 for a well presented two-bedroom unit with a garage.
Gross rental yield: 5.92%
<a href="/news">Griffith</a>
$192,000
On the market now: Currently there are six apartments for $700,000 in total in a listing and a 16 room boarding house for $360,000 plus, with individual offerings spanning as low as $175,000 for a two-bedroom one-bathroom.
Gross rental yield: 6.77%
<a href="/news">Kooringal</a>
$190,000
Currently on the market: With just six offerings, aimed at investors includes a two-bedroom, one-bathroom for $119,000, aiming itself at new investors starting their portfolio, and a $253,000 renovated opportunity with two-bedrooms and one-bathroom in a central location. The listing notes it has rent potential of $280 to $300 per week.
Gross rental yield: 6.02%
<a href="/news">Lavington</a>
$138,000
Currently on the market: Currently, there are 35 options in Lavington. A two-bedroom, one-bathroom sits at the bottom of the list at $105,000 with tenants who have been in residence for four years. There are many options around the $120,000 mark, and a couple of multi-unit offerings in the $200,000 to $300,000 bracket. For $215,000 investors can buy themselves a freestanding two-bedroom one-bathroom townhouse.
Gross rental yield: 7.56%
See over page for more
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
<a href="/news">Leeton</a>
$191,000
Currently on the market: A measly three listings comes up when searching for Leeton units, with a one-bedroom, one-bathroom offering for just $69,500 on the edge of town, up to a $147,000 two-bedroom, one-bathroom offering that appears to aim itself more towards owner occupiers.
Gross rental yield: 5.73%
<a href="/news">Lismore</a>
$168,000
Currently on the market: Just one listing comes up for Lismore, with 9 Cathcart Street offering “Cash flow positive flats” saying that they want the market to tell them what they’re worth and asking for offers. They’re expecting that the two dwellings on one title as a ‘flat’ will net two incomes totalling $565 per week in rental income.
Gross rental yield: 7.45%
<a href="/news">North Albury</a>
$157,000
Currently on the market: Offerings from $119,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit – aimed at first home buyers and investors – up to $295,000 for a block of two units, and $189,900 for a three-bedroom, one-bathroom townhouse.
Gross rental yield: 5.96%
<a href="/news">Nowra</a>
$175,000
Currently on the market: Three offerings in Nowra see a $142,000 two-bedroom one-bathroom listing compete with a $235,000 two-bedroom, one-bathroom free-standing villa and a newly renovated CBD $229,000 two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment.
Gross rental yield: 6.84%
<a href="/news">Taree</a>
$155,000
Currently on the market: In total, 19 results (when taking out duplicates) come up when searching in Taree. A whole block of four units is seeking investors to pay $495,000 for the offering. Meanwhile, a $235,000 three-bedroom duplex with no strata is being advertised. There are also many offerings on the other side of the spectrum, with two units (one bed sitter and one studio) looking for $72,500, with most of the cheaper options around the $120,000 mark.
Gross rental yield: 7.38%
<a href="/news">Tolland</a>
$124,000
Currently on the market: Six Tolland results see the most expensive asking for offerings around $195,000 for two-bedroom, one-bathroom and one-garage with a tenant in-situ at $240 per week until January 2015. A $118,000 two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is also up for sale suggesting that the previous tenant paid $175 per week, and also noting that the adjacent unit is also up for grabs.
Gross rental yield: 7.65%
<a href="/news">Vineyard</a>
$165,000
Currently on the market: Just two units are available – both over-55s villas, the first for $165,000, the second for $320,000, both in Windsor Country Village. Another stage of property releases is also noted for the area in Granthan Estate, which notes that stage one’s 111 lots and stage two’s 116 lots sold out, with stage three now to be released with 56 elevated lots. They are priced from $345,000.
Gross rental yield: NA
<a href="/news">Warrawong</a>
$194,000
Currently on the market: Just one option exists in Warrawong right now, asking for offers above $199,000. The two-bedroom top floor unit is in a boutique complex of four and has been recently updated. It notes that strata levies include admin of $570.40 per quarter and $182.25 per quarter for the sinking fund.
Gross rental yield: 6.7%
<a href="/news">West Albury</a>
$198,000
Currently on the market: Four West Albury options from $179,000 to $270,000 are available. The lower priced offering on Padman Drive includes two bedrooms and one bathroom, while on the other end of the scale is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with one garage, with just two units on the block. Gross rental yield: 6.06%
<a href="/news">West Tamworth</a>
$184,000
Currently on the market: No listings currently noted for units and apartments in West Tamworth.
Gross rental yield: 6.78%
<a href="/news">Windradyne</a>
$190,000
Currently on the market: Six opportunities, evenly split between Bathurst Real Estate and the local Ray White office are available. These span from $134,000 to $205,000, the lower being the only one-bedroom, one-bathroom listed and the higher being one of two three-bedroom, one-bathroom offerings. The rental potential of the $134,000 listing is set at $150 per week, with the more expensive listing suggesting an achievable $270 per week.
Gross rental yield: NA
</body></html>

jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

The 19 NSW suburbs with median apartment prices sub-$200,000

<html><body>
The residential land market in South East Queensland is showing signs of a recovery in what would be the first green shoots for the area since the Global Financial Crisis, according to Ray White Commercial head of research Vanessa Rader.
Developers are set to benefit, with improvement in the market on the back of steady pricing and availability of finance.
“The demand for housing declined after the GFC due to more stringent lending criteria,” Rader’s Between the Lines, SEQ Residential Land Report explained.
“But we are now seeing the South East Queensland region’s first period of increase with areas such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Logan City all experiencing a significant rise in lot registrations and lot production,” she said.
The low interest rates, favourable lending conditions and growing demand for residential property has Rader suggesting that an increase in lot registrations and strengthening lot sales will be seen in the next few months.
Over the past year, an increase in sales transactions has had an impact on vacant lot sale values as well in the area.
“The low in the market recorded in 2012 is now behind, with 2013 showing the first period of increase,” she said.
“Looking at each of the regions, Gold Coast is showing a strong comeback increasing lot production by 48.37 per cent in the year after being one of the first regions to decline supply.”
Over 35% growth in registrations across the year for the Sunshine Coast has also been seen, which she attributes to increasing consumer confidence and a stronger local economic climate.
</body></html>

South East Queensland land market picking up for first time since GFC

<html><body>
Palram Australia Pty Ltd has leased an industrial premises in the West Park Industrial Estate, and they are now set to open their new Derrimut facility.
The facility, 34 Buys Court, includes a canopy area, a hardstand with truck circulation and external storage, all accessible from the freeway. It spans 5,178 square metres, and Palram has committed to a five-year term with starting rental at $336,570 per annum.
With the property includes an office, signage opportunity and multiple container height RSDs, according to CBRE’s Harry Kalaitzis who negotiated the lease.
Kalaitzis said that there is increased demand for medium industrial sixed buildings in Melbourne’s west.
This was also seen with the leasing of 89 Derrimut Drive, a 3,857 square metre office warehouse with 500 square metre canopy, shutter doors, recessed dock, handstand area and car parking. This deal was also negotiated by Kalaitzis, in conjunction with Todd Grima, achieving $300,000 per annum for the starting rent and a five year lease term.
</body></html>

New Derrimut facility opening from Palram Australia

<html><body>
The IT and facilities company Loc8.com is relocating from their Claremont Street, South Yarra premises to a new Richmond location.
Loc8 is moved to 132 Gwynne Street, Richmond offices, a location that for many decades housed the Rosella Preserving Company and has some character features. It is located off Balmain Street.
JLL’s director of office leasing Michael Simonds, who negotiated a new five year lease for the property, said that it allows for a “unique and unrivalled” opportunity.
“There was no vacancy in this space, and in excess of 30 enquiries without even offering it publically,” said Simonds.
It shows that the tenant market is continuing staff retention by rewarding employees with a different workspace,” he said.
The rental amount remains undisclosed, although is understood to be around $350 per square metre net of outgoings and car parking.
</body></html>

Loc8 relocates to Richmond from South Yarra: JLL

<html><body>
A second New South Wales UNIQLO store has been announced, this time for the Macquarie Centre. It follows their May announcement that their first Sydney store will be in Pitt Street Mall.
The Macquarie Centre, North Ryde store, which will be 1,514 square metres, looks to take advantage of the current $440 million redevelopment of the centre that will house 130 stores.
UNIQLO’s store will include their apparel, including their spring/summer 2014 collection, including men’s, women’s, children and baby wear.
They have recently announced the opening of their second Victorian store, in Chadstone Shopping Centre. Both this, and the Pitt Street Mall store, will open in late-2014.
Their first Australian store was opened in April at Emporium Melbourne.
Shoichi Miyasaka CEO of UNIQLO Australia said that growing the brand in Australia is important.
UNIQLO opened their first store in Singapore in 2009, Malaysia and Taiwan in 2010, Thailand in 2011, the Philippines in 2012 and Indonesia in 2013.
Most recently, <a href="/expert-insights/investing/h-ms-first-sydney-store-set-for-a-16-october-opening-at-macquarie-centre-north-ryde">H&amp;M also announced that they would be opening their first Sydney store</a> in the Macquarie Centre.
</body></html>

UNIQLO to open Macquarie Centre store later this year

<html><body>
Prices for corporate car spaces outside of Melbourne CBDs have doubled as supply dwindles, according to Savills.
The Quarter Times Melbourne Office report from Savills Australia recorded that car spaces in the suburbs, notably within the inner east and south-east and CBD fringe, have seen their rent increased by up to 145%.
In some instances, this looks like a $90 per calendar month car space rent in mid-2009 jumping to between $170 to $220.
Meanwhile, the cost of parking in the CBD is up 27%, from $550 as the top monthly rate in mid-2009, to $700 in 2014.
St Kila Road parking remains at the same rate - $240 to $300 per calendar month.
The huge rises in some areas is noted as reflecting the increasing sale and commercial development of smaller infill sites and allotments that had previously been used as cheap car parks, explained Savills Australia Victorian head of research Glenn Lampard.
“Melbourne has some of the fastest growing metropolitan regions in the nation but governments have been slow or unable to provide the necessary public transport infrastructure. That means our roads become clogged with cars looking for a parking space,” Lampard said.
“Consumers that frequent our vibrant inner city retail strips would only be too familiar with this issue over recent years, with a plethora of parking meters going beyond the retail strip, stretching into surrounding streets,” he said.
</body></html>

Leases jump by up to 145% for car spaces outside Melbourne CBD: Savills

<html><body>
Industrial property’s total vacancies continues to increase, according to Knight Frank Research, with 2.17 million square metres on the eastern seaboard available.
For perspective, this is 29% higher than Knight Frank recorded 12 months ago in their Industrial Vacancy Analysis.
Much of this vacancy rise has been a result of Melbourne’s market – which has increased by 29%.
Knight Frank national director of Research &amp; Consulting Matt Whitby said that rises have also been seen in Brisbane, and in Sydney, which has stopped an improvement previously being recorded.
“As at July 2014, the Melbourne industrial market continues to account for the highest proportion of east coast industrial vacancies with a 37% share of available space followed by Sydney which accounts for 36% of vacant space and Brisbane accounting for a share of 27%,” said Whitby.
“Although the level of prime grade industrial space across the Australian East Coast market remains marginally lower than secondary accommodation, the gap continues to narrow.”
Whitby also said that firm enquiry is still being seen for sub-2,000 square metre leasing options, and tenants are continuing to upgrade to prime industrial stock.
“This reaffirms the trend, in evidence since late 2013, where companies are increasingly making decisions for the longer term off the back of greater confidence levels, rather than taking short term space within secondary buildings as a hold over measure,” he said.
“With some further speculative supply in addition to several pending vacancies forecast to be added to the vacancy count in the October quarter, the market will be looking to an improvement in leasing absorption to prevent a further increase in the level of available space”.
Total vacancies of prime stock, as of July 2014, is at the highest level since the series began, and accounts for 49% of east coast vacancies, the report explains. This is 34% higher than just two years ago.
However, managing director of industrial Greg Russell said that it’s actually a promising outlook across the east, as tenant requirements begin to pick up.
“Not only is prime available industrial space well above the long term average, but speculative development (both completed and under construction) increased sharply over the past quarter, rising by 56% to total 277,452sqm and now accounts for 13% of all East Coast industrial available space,” said Russell.
Despite this, the pipeline of “speculative development” under construction has almost doubled over the past quarter and is at the highest level since the beginning of the series.
“More options continue to emerge for larger space users in Sydney, with 18 prime opportunities above 10,000sqm (compared to 14 last quarter), while 15 over 10,000sqm exist in Melbourne (down from 16 options), and there are nine prime vacancies above 8,000sqm in Brisbane (compared to eight last quarter),” he said.
In Sydney, CBRE research has suggested that a significant number of new developments will prove a positive for the industrial property market, with their 2014 Industrial MarketView Q2 report suggesting it will be a strong base.
They noted that by the close of 2014, 600,000 square metres of new supply over 5,000 square metres will be added to the market.
CBRE research manager Mark Lafferty has said that the scheduling of the projects would be a positive, but that there is uncertainty around the funding of some projects.
“As a result, the surrounding industrial markets are positioned to benefit from a lift in investor sentiment levels, as well as stronger demand for industrial space,” he said.
“The greatest additions of new supply are in Sydney’s outer west, where 58% of the 2014 supply pipeline is being delivered,” Lafferty said.
“Future supply is being built to best service the growing transport and logistics sector, with a focus on super prime logistics facilities that have sound accessibility to existing and planned transport infrastructure.”
Major projects include the $11.5 billion WestConnex project and the $3 billion FS-M2 tunnel link.
Sydney’s industrial sales activity also saw an uplift, with $395 million selling over the three month period – up 73% from the same quarter in 2013.
See over page for a state-by-state breakdown.
Turn to page three for information about industrial sector yields.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
KNIGHT FRANK’S BRISBANE, MELBOURNBE, SYDNEY AND PERTH ROUND UP
Brisbane
<ul>
<li>Available space up to new highs over past quarter 
</li>
<li>Above-average take-up of space</li>
</ul>
Knight Frank managing director of industrial Greg Russell:
The take-up indicated that there is been a welcome return to the market of smaller to medium size tenants with ten of the 17 vacancies absorbed over the quarter under 5,000sqm, which is the lifeblood of much of the Brisbane market. At the same time, there is also strong demand at the larger end of the scale, which was dominated by retailing or logistics occupiers who are currently focused on newly built accommodation.
There has been good absorption of both speculatively developed and D&amp;C offerings in recent months, and while this is a positive in terms of demand, the backfill space left by these larger tenants has been a factor in the vacancy increases.
Take-up was strongest in the South and South West markets, as the South saw significant take-up of secondary space and the South West saw solid absorption of prime assets, boosted by speculative construction in the region. Good take-up of speculatively developed space is expected to trigger more commencements in the South West, South and TradeCoast markets.
Sydney
<ul>
<li>Vacant property levels up 12.6% over the past quarter 
</li>
<li>Now at 770,014 square metres total vacant space 
</li>
<li>Increase in available speculative stock</li>
</ul>
Knight Frank managing director of Western Sydney Derek Erwin:
Gross take-up for the quarter to July measured 98,276sqm, which is 17% below the average level since the series began in 2011. Additionally, the absorption figure continues to be boosted by some vacant possession sales to owner occupiers. Absorption of prime stock has outpaced secondary by a factor of two to one over the past 12 months (excluding D&amp;C’s).
Fifty-three per cent of take-up (excluding D&amp;C’s) over the past 12 months has occurred in the Outer West, while additional deal activity in the region has also been achieved in the pre-lease market given land availability. It is noted, however, that land supply is expected to start seeing some of the pre-lease demand move into the North West and South West regions in the short to medium term.
Melbourne
<ul>
<li>Three months to July 2014 saw available industrial space increase by 10% 
</li>
<li>Total of vacant space now at 807,269 square metres 
</li>
<li>This is the highest level in almost five years 
</li>
<li>It’s 38% above the historical average 
</li>
<li>Take up has been stable for the past three quarters 
</li>
<li>Increase in available speculative stock</li>
</ul>
Knight Frank’s state industrial director Gab Pascuzzi:
The second quarter total take-up of 82,107sqm across eight buildings greater than 5,000sqm, remains 41% below the historic average of 138,961sqm. Notably, gross absorption recorded over the quarter was entirely within backfill space.
Speculative space under construction grew by 20,299sqm to reach 61,771sqm, 27% above its long term average. Four out of the seven projects currently under construction are located in the South East, while in contrast there are no speculative developments under construction in the West.
Perth
<ul>
<li>Over the quarter, available industrial space increased by 8% 
</li>
<li>Available space now totals 303,562 square metres 
</li>
<li>An influx of sub-lease space has entered the market, up 42% on last quarter 
</li>
<li>Sub-lease space available totals 69,776 square metres – 23% of the total</li>
</ul>
Knight Frank state industrial director Jarrad Grierson:
A growing number of vacancies has offset relatively strong leasing take-up over the three months to July 2014, as an increasing number of smaller secondary assets become available in the Perth Industrial market.
See over page for information about the leasing environment for the industrial sector.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
New information from JLL has looked into the currently available yields for investors looking towards industrial property, noting that the stable fundamentals are attractive to many.
According to their quarterly research statistics, transaction volumes are indeed up 35% in the first half of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, with almost $1.6 billion in industrial sales year-to-date 2014.
Melbourne and Sydney have led the sales activity in the second quarter of 2014. Construction wal also noted to be accelerating, with new supply to get to a record high since 2008 levels, and average rents to remain steady.
JLL head of industrial Michael Fenton said that investment activity is at present very solid, with capital allocation to the industrial sector exceeding available product by five times.
The average sale price in 2014 totals $18.4 million, with a $21 million record per sale set last year.
 “Our expectation is that vendors will increasingly be encouraged by price signals and the depth of capital evident in the market to selectively bring assets to the market to crystalize gains made over recent years or to exit underperforming assets,” said Fenton.
“Buyers remain led by the major and smaller domestic A-REITs and their managed funds, mid-tier boutique funds, syndicators and some high-net worth private investors.”
In the second half of 2014, the expectation is that larger offerings will see offshore interest, and Fenton predicts one or two new entrants without current exposure to Australian property.
Upcoming expectations include the first time that more supply has been completed in Brisbane than Sydney, and the first time since 2006 that Melbourne has overtaken Sydney.
Softer leasing is being experienced in Melbourne and Brisbane for both rental growth and market incentives.
Minimal evidence of rental growth over the past few quarters was recorded, with flat average face rents.
</body></html>

Industrial property vacancies continue to rise, but overall outlook promising: Knight Frank

<html><body>
CBD office markets in Australia are still seeing substantial foreign investment interest, with sales to foreign investors recently topping their 10 year record, according to Savills.
Approximately $12.8 billion of office sales, including those outside the CBD, were recorded in the 12 months to June 2014. Foreign buyers were responsible for 39% of the sales - $5 billion, explains Savills national head of research Tony Crabb who compiled the information.
<img src="/images/2014/08/06/savills-aug-6-one.gif" alt="">
During the 12 months, 246 properties were purchased. In the 12 months prior, the total was 199, and the five year average was recorded as 191.
Of $6.8 billion of CBD office transactions nationally, foreign investment totalled 47% of the purchases, or $3.2 billion, with much of the capital coming from Europe and South East Asia, as well as Mainland China.
<img src="/images/2014/08/06/savills-aug-6-two.gif" alt="">
Savills International Investments’ Ben Azar said the results were positive for the market.
“This is a very good sign for the Australian property market and as a result in key markets such as Sydney and Melbourne we anticipate further yield compression particularly in respect to quality long leased landmark assets,” said Azar.
"With such a depth of buying power we expect the off-shore capital to become even more competitive over the balance of 2014," he said.
</body></html>

Australia’s CBD offices maintain place on foreign investment radar

<html><body>
The Blue Buddha is a new vegan offering to Melbourne’s café scene.
Officially opened on 27 July, the vegan café is located opposite the Queen Victoria markets.
With a focus on Fairtrade, organic and vegan coffees and food, the store’s fit out also includes recycled materials for their tables, chairs and crockery.
The food includes raw cakes, such as avocado chocolate cake, and a shitake mushroom based vegan bacon.
Located at 30/1 O'Connell Street, North Melbourne, it is a small 44 square metre site now painted with a frontage of a blue Buddha, to match the shop’s title.
<a href="https://sha.com.au/view.php?listing_id=5624" target="_blank">Upstairs is currently available for lease</a> as student accommodation in the Victoria Terrace Apartments development with 15 studio and 12 one-bedroom fully furnished apartments from $280 per week through Student Housing Australia.
</body></html>

Blue Buddha, vegan café opens in North Melbourne

<html><body>
A new record land rate for North Melbourne, of $6,358 per square metre, has been set by a Chinese buyer who paid $13.2 million for an office building on the edge of the CBD. This totaled 32% over reserve, according to Savills Australia selling agents Clinton Baxter and Nick Peden.
The property, 13-21 Bedford Street, was owned by Engineers Australia and is currently leased to six tenants totaling 52%.
It is a 2,219 square metre building on 2,079 square metre site. It is zoned mixed use, which has the potential for development of up to 24 metres or approximately eight levels.
It isn’t clear what the buyer intends to do with the site in the long-term, however redevelopment is a clear option. In the short to medium term, the property will be leased.
“The price of $13.2 million reflects a new land value record for North Melbourne of over $6,000 a square metre and is an indication of the immense competition for high quality properties with strong development fundamentals,” said Baxter.
In total, the campaign attracted 125 enquiries and 29 inspections.
There were then 11 expressions of interest, and Peden notes that the top three buyers were off-shore located.
“We have had enormous enquiry from off-shore buyers for similar properties with development potential and so it was no surprise that there was such strong foreign interest in this property,” he said.
</body></html>

Chinese buyer pays 32% over reserve, a record land rate, for North Melbourne office site

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

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

Joel Robinson

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.

&nbsp;

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

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>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

Jennifer Duke

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News