<html><body>
The most expensive capital city in the country looks like it'll stay that way for a while.
According to the September Quarter Bendigo Bank/REIA Real Estate Market Facts report, the other capital city housing markets are slowing down, while Sydney's growth forges ahead.
Over the quarter, Sydney's median house price increased by 3.8% to $843,994. All other capital city prices were down for the quarter.  Hobart saw the biggest house price drop of 5.3% down to a median price of $360,000 – less than half of Sydney's median house price.
Bendigo Bank and the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) recorded no change in Melbourne's median house price over the September quarter, which stayed constant at $640,000.
REIA chief executive Amanda Lynch said the cooling market conditions in conjunction with the interest rate climate should provide buying opportunities.
"The release of these figures is very timely given the recent developments last week that saw analysts shift from expectations of a rate rise in 2015 to the possibility of a rate cut," said Lynch.
"The prospect of not only continuing low interest rates throughout 2015 but also the possibility of a cut should stimulate much activity in the housing market with this report by Bendigo Bank and REIA showing the cooling market provides an ideal time for investors and first home buyers alike."
"With moderating prices in all capital cities except Sydney and Melbourne, first home buyers in particular should feel confident in being able to enter the market,” she noted.
Bendigo Bank and REIA's median house figures for the September quarter:
<ul>
<li>
Sydney  - Up 3.8% to $843,99
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Melbourne  - No change to $640,000
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Brisbane  - Down 1% to $465,500
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Adelaide - Down 1.8% to $412,500
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Perth - Down 1.8% to $535,000
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Hobart - Down 5.3% to $360,000
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Canberra - Down 1.9% to $525,000
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
Darwin - Down 1.7% to $610,000
</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Sydney stays hot as other housing markets cool: Bendigo Bank/REIA 

<html><body>
NAME: Tom Jordan<img src="/images/2014/12/10/jordan-dec-10-porfile.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
POSITION: Managing director
COMPANY: Hayball (architecture, interior design, urban design)
 OFFICE LOCATION: Melbourne, Sydney
<ul>
<li>How long have you been in the industry?</li>
</ul>
30 years.
<ul>
<li>What’s happening in the area you specialise in?</li>
</ul>
As a design director I’m involved in the multi-residential sector, with projects in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. There’s a significant re-emergence here of owner/occupier demand for larger apartments, primarily local buyers but also offshore.
<ul>
<li>Describe the most interesting commercial property you have worked on?</li>
</ul>
Trillium Residents Club, which is more than just a building. With leisure facilities for residents in a new suburb north of Melbourne, the club is contributing to a new community as it takes shape. The design program was diverse, and as a project it has a very strong yet elegant architectural response that we held a strong vision for, and we survived a demanding process to see it get through.
<ul>
<li>What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?</li>
</ul>
Having the best people possible you can get around you.
<ul>
<li>What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?</li>
</ul>
The combination of projects being realised, and seeing the practice flourish.
<ul>
<li>Where would you invest a spare $750,000?</li>
</ul>
I’d be looking at commercial and residential property.
<ul>
<li>Which football team do you support?</li>
</ul>
Geelong
<ul>
<li>What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?</li>
</ul>
At work, I’m never far from Nearmap [geospatial map technology]. Away from the practice, it’s Navionics, for electronic nautical charting.
<ul>
<li>How do you use social media?</li>
</ul>
I am increasingly using LinkedIn to stay in touch with business associates. As a company, Hayball maintains a presence on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/hayball" target="_blank">LinkedIn </a>and <a href="https://twitter.com/HayballArch" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. We’re also gaining a strong following on <a href="https://instagram.com/hayball_arch" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, which is a platform I’m really enjoying. 
</body></html>

In profile: Hayball's managing director, Tom Jordan

<html><body>
Is Australia is having a property boom? If so, no one's told the owners of these 10 homes.
Some have had their prices slashed by more than $1 million. Others have been waiting patiently on the market for years.
According to SQM Research, these are the 10 most discounted homes in Australia.
Overvalued or underloved? You be the judge.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-ranelagh-113279035" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-one.jpg" alt="">2 Louisa Street, Ranelagh, Tasmania</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/04/discounted%20list.jpg" alt="">
Clifton, a heritage circa 1865 property, has been on the market for 622 days. Its asking price has halved in that time, from $2 million to $995,000.
The mixed use property has a 25 bed main residence, with two separate cottages. It has at times been used as a farming enterprise and as a bed and breakfast.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-wa-watermans+bay-200498923" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-two.jpg" alt="">63 Flora Terrace, Watermans Bay, Western Australia</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/10/image2.jpg" alt="">
This double title Watermans Bay property was initially listed for $1.45 million, but is now priced at $825,000. A house sits on the 1,012 square metre plot.
It's rented out for $600 per week, representing a yield of 3.7% at its current asking price. Subdivision plans are available on request. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-rochedale-114981059" target="_blank"> <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-three.jpg" alt="">948 Priestdale Street, Rochedale, Queensland</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/04/2.jpg" alt="">
 A 20 paddock rural property, 948 Priestdale street has been on the market for 420 days. When first listed for sale, it had a $2.8 million price guidance.
Now, it's listed 41% lower, at $1.65 million. The property includes a three bedroom main house, multiple sheds and barns.
 <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-wattle+grove-116035107" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-four.jpg" alt="">78 Walters Road, Wattle Grove, Tasmania</a>
<img src="/images/2014/11/26/1.jpg" alt=""> This two titled property on 10 acres is listed at $685,000, 40% down from its initial price guidance of $1.15 million.
The property with a three bedroom, two bathroom house and a separate two bedroom cottage has been on the market for 282 days.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-wa-carabooda-200627671" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-five.jpg" alt="">292 Carabooda Road, Carabooda, Western Australia</a>
<img src="/images/2014/10/1/1.jpg" alt=""> One of two Carabooda properties on the top 10 discount list, 292 Carabooda Road has seen its price chopped by 37% in its 475 days on the market. The 7.1 hectare farm was first listed at $1.65 million, but vendors will now take $1,032,000.
The farm has a three bedroom cottage with a double garage on site.
This article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/28a-malsbury-street-bicton/Property-Details-buy-residential-7962768" target="_blank"></a>
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/28a-malsbury-street-bicton/Property-Details-buy-residential-7962768" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-six.jpg" alt="">28a Malsbury Street, Bicton, Western Australia</a>
<img src="/images/2014/11/26/image3.jpg" alt=""> This West Australian property has also had a 37% price cut. Its similarities with 292 Carabooda Road end there. This Bicton strata unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom has seen a $450,000 price cut, from $1.5 million to $950,000.
It's rented out for $480 a week, representing a 2.6% yield at its current asking price.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-battery+point-108230936" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-seven.jpg" alt="">1/23 Albuera Street, Battery Point, Tasmania</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/09/6.jpg" alt=""> A luxury ground floor apartment in a former school house is listed at $1.4 million. Initially, it was listed a $2.2 million, more than three years ago. The timber-floored apartment has three double bedrooms. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-mawson+lakes-113369071" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-eight.jpg" alt="">35 The Walk, Mawson Lakes, South Australia</a> <img src="/images/2014/12/10/mawsons%20lakes.jpg" alt=""> The most discounted home in South Australia is a four bedroom, three bathroom house in the new residential development of Mawson Lakes.
The house with a "commanding street presence" has decorated 10 foot ceilings and a lot of columns. It's been on the market for 588 days, and was initially listed at $1.8 million. Vendors will now take $1.15 million.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/2-wellington-street-richmond/Property-Details-buy-residential-6093682" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-nine.jpg" alt="">2 Wellington Street, Richmond, Tasmania</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/2.jpg" alt=""> Vendors have been trying to sell Mill House, a historic Tasmanian estate, for more than a year. In that time, its price has dropped by $1 million, from $2.8 million to $1.8 million.
The 3,450 square metre estate has a four bedroom, four bathroom main house, with a separate cottage. The buildings include convict laid brick walls.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-carabooda-114289451" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-ten.jpg" alt="">219 Bernard Road North, Carabooda, Western Australia</a>
<img src="/images/2014/10/1/2.jpg" alt="">
This Carabooda home is now listed for $2,727,000, 35% down from its initial price guidance of $3.5 million. The 15 hectare farm shares a listing agent with its Carabooda cousin further up on the discount list.
The property includes two houses, one described as being "in disrepair".
</body></html>

Overvalued or underloved? The country’s most discounted homes

<html><body>
Tonight marks the end of an era.
The Architects, which has run for 10 years on Melbourne community radio station Triple R, will broadcast its last show tonight.
Ministers, architects (both international and local) and philosophers have all appeared on the show in the last decade, to talk about the structures that define our environments.
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/Picture%2015.png" alt="">
Hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/stuartnharrison" target="_blank">Stuart Harrison</a> (HAW Architects), Simon Knott (BKK Architects) and Christine Phillips (openHAUS, RMIT) will be joined by Kerstin Thompson, who won this year's <a href="/news/kerstin-thompson-architects-win-with-house-at-hanging-rock">Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture</a>, John Byleveld of Radio Adelaide's The Plan and Peter Mallatt of Six Degrees. The show's international correspondent, Rory Hyde, will be calling in from London.
The show will be broadcast live from Riverland, below Federation Square. You can listen to tonight's broadcast (and previous episodes) on <a href="https://www.rrr.org.au/program/the-architects/" target="_blank">rrr.org.au.</a>
</body></html>

Tweet of the day: Vale The Architects on RRR

<html><body>
Melbourne took out six of the top 10 sales of last week, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
There were three Sydney homes on the list, with Queensland also getting a look in.
This week, there were no luxury apartments in the top 10. The most expensive home was a $4.35 million Hawthorn family house.
The top 10 sales for the week ending Sunday 7 December:
<a href="https://www.59robinsonroad-hawthorn.com/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-one.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> 59 Robinson Road, Hawthorn, Vic</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/1.jpg" alt="">
This Hawthorn home sold for $4.35 million through Marshall White Hawthorn – clearing the second highest sale by more than $1 million. The mid 1920s house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, sitting on 1,034 square metres.
Outside, there is a pool and a separate pavilion with a kitchenette and lounge.
The vendors purchased the home for $1,237,000 11 years ago. In that time, the property has more than tripled.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/49-castle-street-eaglemont/Property-Details-buy-residential-7887756" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-two.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">49 Castle Street, Eaglemont, Vic</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/2.jpg" alt="">
This five bedroom, four bathroom house sold for $3.25 million through Barry Plant Ivanhoe. With spotted gum timber flooring throughout, the home opens with an entry foyer and before leading to a custom built library. The kitchen includes two dishwashers and a concealed butler's pantry with a built in desk and phone charging cabinet.
The home also has a saltwater pool and spa, with an accompanying pool house. It sold to the vendors for $1,003,000 in 2007.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-118424567" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-three.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">31 Macdonald Street, Vaucluse, NSW</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/12/09/3.jpg" alt="">
This Vaucluse home was the most expensive Sydney property to sell this week. Belle Property Double Bay secured $3.2 million for the three bedroom, three bathroom house. It sits on a 525 square metre plot overlooking the ocean, bordered by parklands on all sides. The home includes a covered barbecue station and a Jacuzzi.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/8a-highfield-grove-kew/Property-Details-buy-residential-7908276" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-four.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">8a Highfield Grove, Kew, Vic</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/4.jpg" alt="">
A semi-detached house in Kew sold for $3.15 million through Little Real Estate. The home, near Studley Park, is set over three levels.
Each of the home's four bedrooms have en suites attached, with an additional main bathroom. It also includes a library, home office, marble kitchen with butler's pantry, private lift, home theatre and a north-facing entertainers' terrace and heated pool.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/15-kalimna-street-essendon/Property-Details-buy-residential-7890096" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-five.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">15 Kalimna Street, Essendon, Vic</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/5.jpg" alt="">
Sitting on a 1,115 square metre plot is this five bedroom solid brick house. It sold for $2,917,000 last week, through Nelson Alexander Essendon. The home includes two bathrooms inspired by the house's period features, with timber cabinetry and spa baths.
The house last changed hands 10 years ago, for $1.86 million.
This article continues on the next page. Click below to continue.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/234-danks-street-albert-park/Property-Details-buy-residential-7906386" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-six.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">234 Danks Street, Albert Park, Vic</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/12/09/6.jpg" alt="">
This double fronted Victorian was sold for $2.91 million through The Block alumni Buxton Real Estate Albert Park.
The unrenovated home has five bedrooms and one bathroom, with 13 foot high ceilings and five fireplaces. The listing suggests the 420 square metre plot offers scope for renovations and expansion.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-chelmer-118297883" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-seven.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">60 Laurel Avenue, Chelmer, Qld</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/7.jpg" alt="">
The only Queensland home to make this week's top 10 list was a $2.9 million house sold through Place Graceville.
This 1922 Queenslander has five bedroms and three bathrooms. According to its listing, the former home of Queensland's Post Master General served as a "quiet getaway from the mania of the war rooms in the MacArthur Building headquarters in Queen Street" for General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Pacific during World War II.
Donaedie has since been extended and renovated by the vendors, who paid $675,000 in 1993. It sits over 1,629 square metres on four allotments, which it shares with a tennis court, in-ground pool and a <a href="/expert-insights/building/end-of-jacaranda-season-offerings-at-grafton-he-said-she-said">Jacaranda</a>.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-clontarf-118530387" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-eight.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">23 Allenby Street, Clontarf, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/8.jpg" alt="">
Buyers paid $2.8 million for this five bedroom Clontarf home, sold through Richardson &amp; Wrench Seaforth. The two storey house is set on a 1,024 square metre northerly corner block. It includes formal and informal living spaces, with glass-topped atriums and a cabana with a wet bar.
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/sold/house/vic/albert-park/?adid=2011605669" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-nine.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">352 Montague Street, Albert Park, Vic</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/9.jpg" alt="">
A Victorian terrace in Albert Park sold for $2.71 million through Hocking Stuart Albert Park (another Block veteran). The three bedroom, one bathroom house was sold with permits for a third level extension, which would deliver city views to the home. The house was purchased by the vendors for $955,000 in 2001.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-strathfield-118422571" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-ten.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">55 Mintaro Avenue, Strathfield, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/09/10.jpg" alt=""> 
Vendors secured $2,686,000 for this Strathfield house, sold through Georges Ellis &amp; Co Strathfield. The six bedroom, four bathroom residence is set on an elevated 772 square metre north-facing plot, with an in-ground pool. The house features marble tiles, a games room and a double garage.
</body></html>

Melbourne beats out Sydney in most expensive sales of the week: CoreLogic

<html><body>
Unit prices in Hobart took the biggest dive of those in any Australian capital city over the November quarter, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
The Tasmanian capital's unit values fell by 5.7%. They're the cheapest capital city units in the country, with a median price of $247,000. A buyer in Sydney can expect to pay more than double that for an apartment.
Property Observer looks to recent unit and apartment sales in Hobart to see just how far $247,000 will go.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-battery+point-113415219" target="_blank">10/64 St George's Terrace, Battery Point</a> <img src="/images/2014/12/08/1.jpg" alt="">
This north facing one bedroom unit is located on the third level of a block. It has built in wardrobes in the bedroom overlooking Mount Wellington. Internal windows separate various living areas. The 63 square metre apartment sold for $262,500 in October.
Price: $262,500
Bedrooms: One
Drive to CBD: Five minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-battery+point-116957911" target="_blank">1/11 Trumpeter Street, Battery Point</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/12/08/battery-point-dec-8-breakout.jpg" alt="">
Set over two levels, this unit in a block of 11 has one bedroom and one bathroom. It was built in 1972 and has a recently renovated kitchen and a living area, with the bedroom and bathroom upstairs. Buyers paid $275,000.
Price: $275,000
Bedrooms: One
Drive to CBD:  Seven minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-tas-hobart-118034815" target="_blank">6/9 Sackville Street, Hobart</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/08/hobart-dec-8-breakotu.jpg" alt=""> Vendors sold this first floor apartment in the Hobart CBD for $240,000. The studio apartment with a pull out bed was built in 2000 and features a glass brick wall. The unit has 35 square metres of floor space, with an additional 7 square metre laundry.
Price: $240,000
Bedrooms: One
Drive to CBD: N/A
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-bellerive-117978611" target="_blank">2/7 Lower River Road, Bellerive</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/08/bellereive-dec-8-one.jpg" alt="">
On the other side of the Derwent river is this two bedroom unit. One in a four unit complex, it sold for $260,000 in October. The two bedroom unit has a single carport with lock up storage, an open plan living and kitchen area, and a rear garden. There are 77 square metres of internal living space.
Price: $260,000
Bedrooms: Two
Drive to CBD:  12 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-hobart-116949351" target="_blank">1/67 Barrack Street, Hobart</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/12/08/hobart-dec-8-two.jpg" alt="">
A ground floor apartment in a block of four sold for $280,000. The two bedroom Hobart unit has an open plan, with timber flooring throughout. It was sold with white goods and also includes a basement garage. It's leased at $300 per week, representing a yield of 5.57%.
 Price: $280,000
Bedrooms: Two
Drive to CBD: N/A
</li>
</ol>
</body></html>

What will Hobart's median unit price buy you? 

<html><body>
Construction companies could be fined up to $22,000 if they don't comply with a new cash retention trust scheme in New South Wales.
New South Wales will soon become the first state in Australia to require construction companies to hold retention money in trust funds to pay subcontractors.
Usually, the contractor holds a portion of the subcontractor's payments until the work is completed. The new scheme will attempt to stop contractors from using that money for other purposes or withholding it from subcontractors if they become insolvent.
NSW Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox says Fair Trading will be looking over audit reports to make sure head contractors are holding retention money in their own accounts.
In addition to fines, the NSW government will also consider making company directors personally liable for any breaches of responsibility for the trust accounts.
"This will end the widespread industry practice of using subcontractors' trust money for the head contractor's working capital purposes," says Mason-Cox.
"At the end of the day, this money belongs to subcontractors and it's about time it was protected as such.
"This principle underpins the proposed retention trust scheme and is widely supported by industry.''
The changes, initially applying to contractors for projects valued above $20 million, are part of the government's response to Collins Inquiry into Construction Industry Insolvency.
"While most builders do the right thing and pay their subcontractors on time, we need to protect subcontractors' retention money if a construction company collapses,'' he explains.
According to Mason-Cox, the government will next year begin a full review of the Security of Payment Act.
Building is a $40 billion industry in New South Wales.
</body></html>

NSW subcontractors to get greater protection against builder collapse

<html><body>
Owning your own home may be a dream, but is it the best first move?
Many first time buyers aren't looking for a home to live in – instead, they're seeking investment properties.
If you can purchase an investment property while living with your parents – and are happy to continue living there – you can generate a tidy secondary income or build equity with few outgoing costs.
Some prefer not to live with their parents, or are unable to do so. For those eager to get into the property market, it may seem the pressure is on to settle down in a permanent home. The other option is to rent – but rent money is dead money, right?
Not necessarily. In fact, renting while building an investment property portfolio is a well worn strategy. But what are the pros and cons of buying an investment property and renting before purchasing your first home?
Firstly, it's useful to consider the reasons many choose to make their first property purchase their own home.
<h3>Owning your own home first:</h3>
The pros
<ul>
<li>First home owners grants and concessions</li>
</ul>
Depending on the type of property you are hoping to purchase and where you live, you may be eligible for a <a href="/expert-insights/buying/first-home-owners-grants-set-for-2015-changes-state-by-state-round-up">first home owners grant</a>.
In order to claim a first home owners grant, most buyers will have to live in their home for at least six months (12 months, in some places).
In some states, including Queensland, you will not be able to receive the first home owners grant for a property purchase that isn't your first, even if your first property buy was an investment property.
You may also be able to claim land tax concessions on your first home purchase.
<ul>
<li>Caring for your own home</li>
</ul>
Owning your own home also allows you to dodge many of the worst parts of renting. You're free to decorate, upgrade and make alterations to your own property. Home owners don't have to wait for a property manager to give them permission to make improvements or have that faulty plumbing fixed.
You can also keep pets and welcome additional inhabitants without seeking your landlord's approval.
Property isn't all about money – homes have emotional value. The appeal of owning one's own home is obvious to many.
<ul>
<li>Stability and security</li>
</ul>
Another downside of renting is the lack of security or a consistent lifestyle. Within three months, you could find yourself without accommodation, at the whim of your landlord.
Purchasing a home does not guarantee you will always be able to live there. You may be uprooted for work or be unable to make your repayments. However, generally speaking, you are responsible for ensuring you can continue living in a home you own.
While renting, the length of your stay in your home is totally at the discretion of your landlord.
If you're making your mortgage repayments comfortably, you can then use the spare money to invest in other assets, knowing that you have a stable home.
<ul>
<li>Capital Gains Tax exemption</li>
</ul>
When upgrading and selling your primary place of residence, you don't need to pay capital gains tax – something you will have to do if selling an investment property.
The cons
<ul>
<li>Fewer tax exemptions</li>
</ul>
While owning your own first home will allow you to dodge capital gains tax, you also have fewer tax exemptions available to you than you would if investing. As your home is divorced from your income, you won't be able to claim deductions for interest payments or upgrades to your property.
<ul>
<li>No income</li>
</ul>
Unless you rent out some parts of your house while you live in them, your house will only deliver you cash on the day you sell – and even then, it may not.
What you gain by owning your own home, you lose in cash flow.
<ul>
<li>The growth/lifestyle trade off</li>
</ul>
Some are willing to sacrifice a lot to live near the CBD, or their parents, or their friends, or their child's school.
Unfortunately, the best places to live may not be the places you can afford, or places that have good investment potential. If you're sure you won't be happy unless you live in the inner city, but can only afford to buy in the far western suburbs, buying a home may not be for you.
The places that make the best places to live – for many reasons ­– are not necessarily the best places to invest. Nine years down the track, you may realise your dream home hasn't appreciated in value at all in the time you've lived in it.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
<h3>Buying an investment property and renting</h3>
The pros
<ul>
<li>Cash flow</li>
</ul>
An income generating property, if managed properly, can pay for itself (literally). If cash flow positive, the rental income you receive could cover outgoing costs and your mortgage payments (including interest). If it's generating a healthy rent, it could even cover your own rental payments.
Not all investment properties will be positively geared, particularly if they're recent purchases. As your investment property is an income generating asset, you can claim interest payments as tax deductions if your property is negatively geared. If you back your property to appreciate and generate capital growth when you sell it, and your taxable income is considerable, this could be a worthwhile strategy.
<ul>
<li>Tax exemptions</li>
</ul>
Beyond negative gearing, an investment property has many other tax benefits. Outgoings including maintenance, improvements and repairs can be claimed as deductions, as can depreciation. Speak to your accountant before making an investment to see what you will be able to claim.
<ul>
<li>Flexible purchasing arrangements</li>
</ul>
If you're purchasing a home to occupy, it's unlikely many people, beyond your co-inhabitants, will be willing to contribute. But if you're buying an investment property, you may be able to work with family members, or friends, splitting the income generated. If you're considering this option, make sure you know the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/should-i-buy-a-property-with-a-friend-six-things-to-consider-first-ask-margaret">potential draw backs</a>.
<ul>
<li>Equity</li>
</ul>
If your investment property is positively geared, you can use the income to pay off your mortgage, building equity faster than you may be able to if you were paying off the mortgage of your own home using just wages.
That equity can then be used to expand your property portfolio.
The cons
<ul>
<li>First home owner grants</li>
</ul>
Many grants and concessions will not be available to you for your first purchase if it is not your primary place of residence. Even if you do buy a home to live in later on, you may find that you are no longer eligible for a first home owner grant due to your first purchase.
Some first time investors choose to live in their newly acquired property for six or 12 months to get the first home owners grant before moving out and renting the home. However, if the tax office can successfully prove you never intended to make the property your principal place of residence, you may be required to pay back the grant.
<ul>
<li>Volatile costs</li>
</ul>
Part of the allure of renting is never having to pay for maintenance (unless, of course, an issue is your fault). Leaks, mould or flooding isn't your problem, it's your landlords. Of course, if you rent and buy an investment property, suddenly you are a landlord – and all those problems with your investment property are now your own.
Don't underestimate the time and cost of maintaining a rental property. If you have a good property manager, you may have relatively few surprise costs. But for some unlucky property managers, the first time they hear about a leak is six months after it was reported, when the pipe has burst and the ceiling is ruined – blowing a small cost into thousands of dollars.
If you're purchasing an investment property, make sure you have plenty of time and money to deal with maintenance.
When renting and owning an investment property, you get all the frustrations involved on either side of the fence.
As a renter, you also face uncertain costs. Mortgage payments are generally quite regular, even with rate changes. The rent your landlord chooses to charge is not necessarily so consistent. If your landlord decides not to renew your lease, you are also tasked with finding new accommodation (and, normally, paying bond and a month's rent up front).
<ul>
<li>Capital Gains Tax</li>
</ul>
You will be required to pay capital gains tax when it's time to trade any properties that are purely investment assets. You aren't required to do so when selling your primary place of residence.
<ul>
<li>Relinquishing control</li>
</ul>
As many renters can attest to, living in a property you don't own can be a frustrating experience. Maintenance seems to take double the time it should, costs can go up unexpectedly and you can't customise your home the way you would like.
<ul>
<li>Which is a better strategy?</li>
</ul>
The answer will, of course, depend on the property you're hoping to purchase, your priorities, and your investment goals.
For some, the first home owners grant is negligible when compared to potential rental income. For others, the frustrations of maintaining a property that you don't have control over just isn't worth it, especially if you have no experience in property. Negative gearing benefits may not make a difference to someone on a low income, and if you're disinterested in renovations, you may be very happy to rent for the rest of your life.
Purchasing your first property is a complex investment and big financial responsibility – make sure you do your research. Speak to an accountant and be honest about your personal goals before jumping into the property game.
</body></html>

Buying an investment property while renting: The pros and cons

<html><body>
As the weather heats up, open fireplaces begin to seem a lot less charming.
As does the local public pool, where the overpriced ice creams can't quite make up for poorly ventilated change rooms, other people's screaming kids and mystery floating band aids.
Suddenly, home pools have a lot of appeal. Here are our top five, all currently on the market.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-maribyrnong-118218163" target="_blank">24 Skyline Drive, Maribyrnong, Vic</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/05/maribynong-dec-5-one.jpg" alt=""> This award winning pool runs along the third level of a home designed by owner architect Ferras Raffoul of FGR Architects. The suspended concrete 15 metre lap pool has acrylic walls on three sides, turning it into an aesthetic feature visible from the top-floor living, dining and kitchen area and the front and rear of the house. From the rooftop pool, swimmers have city views.
The vendor is seeking offers over $2.5 million.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-116759895" target="_blank">23 Power Avenue, Toorak, Vic</a> 
 <img src="/images/2014/12/05/2.jpg" alt="">
A far cry from its brutalist cousin in Maribyrnong, this tiled lap pool is bordered by flowers, a tennis court and a sunny paved area. The infinity pool shares a 1,600 square metre Toorak plot with a five bedroom 1930s Arnaud Wright Regency house. There is also a separate outdoor spa and two pergolas – one with electric blinds, and the other with in-built heating.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-darling+point-118504959" target="_blank">21 Eastbourne Road, Darling Point, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/12/05/3.jpg" alt="">
Part of a "dedicated resort area", this pool is accompanied by a separate kitchen, men and women's changing rooms, a steam room and a theatre. The pool itself directly overlooks the water, bordered by palm trees and an outdoor lounge. The three level house has six bedrooms and eight bathrooms in total.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-daintree-117495083" target="_blank">Alkira, 3726 Cape Tribulation Rd, Daintree</a> 
<img src="/images/2014/12/05/4.jpg" alt=""> This contemporary home in the Daintree Rainforest is extraordinary for reasons beyond its pool. Alkira was designed by architect Charles Wright and was named The Australian Institute of Architects 2014 House of the Year for Queensland. The concrete house comprises a series of pods surrounding an irregularly shaped in ground central pool, in the middle of a man-made lake.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-isle+of+capri-115255947" target="_blank">57 The Corso, Sunshine Coast, Qld</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/12/05/5.jpg" alt="">
At the other end of Queensland's coast is a six bedroom, six bathroom home on the Sunshine Coast. Its curved pool is adjoined by a massive covered entertaining area with resort-style double height roofs. The pool is mirrored by internal water features within the house, and overlooks the river.
</li>
</ol>
</body></html>

Ready for a summer splash? The five best pools on the market

<html><body>
If the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW) can't achieve their goals by lobbying political parties, they have an alternative strategy in place: become one.
According to REINSW president Malcolm Gunning, the group is considering the formation of a political party to change legislation regarding the real estate industry.
It is now too late for the industry group to form a political party to run in the March 2015 New South Wales election. However, Gunning tells Property Observer the REINSW has already made connections with the head of one party, which he declines to name.
"We've been approached now by another industry based single party to support them, which we'll consider," Gunning says.
"If we get co-operation by state government, we'll review it. But if we don't, if again we're pushed off, there's the framework in place."
He likens the potential real estate focused party to the Shooters and Fishers party, which holds two seats in the New South Wales Upper House. As a result of their government deals, hunters are now allowed onto public land in New South Wales.
"It's really about putting pressure on both sides of government to make sure property practice and agency practice is in line with public expectations."
The REINSW's potential political ambitions come after their sister organisation, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, was <a href="/expert-insights/investing/tweet-of-the-day-reivs-anti-liberal-campaign-reckless">criticised by some</a> for running an <a href="/news/vic/reiv-locked-in-dispute-with-small-business-body-over-victorian-election-advertising">anti-Liberals campaign</a> ahead of last week's Victorian state election. 
Gunning claims any REINSW affiliated political party won't be campaigning on behalf of any major party.
"We're apolitical, we're policy driven," Gunning says.
"From an REINSW point of view, we prefer to argue policies in both sides of government, and not necessarily back any particular party."
Their main concern, he explains, is the <a href="/news/real-estate-agent-education-in-a-dire-state-reinsw">standard of real estate professionals</a> in the state.
"We've been lobbying state government and various ministers, and the Office of Fair Trading, for some time about improving the educational standards for entry into our industry," he says.
"And it's been really falling on deaf ears."
Gunning says despite the existence many qualified and long-practicing real estate agents in New South Wales, lax educational standards have allowed unqualified or unprofessional agents to practice, particularly in migrant populations.
"Through our international chapter, they're saying there's a sub-market taking place within Melbourne and Sydney's immigrant groups, and it's slipping under the radar of Fair Trading.
"A lot of the immigrants won't report real estate agents, and don't understand the legislation," claims Gunning.
He says the state's poor agent standards extend beyond selling agents, to property managers.
"A profile of a current property manager is a 26 year old female, maybe with a week of training," he explains.
"If that's the case, that young woman, or that person, has got to be mindful of swimming pool legislation in New South Wales, fire place safety, or people hanging themselves with blind cords.
"So you've got people who are assumed to be taking on responsibilities which they aren't equipped for."
He claims the increasing educational requirements for new agents will not negatively impact competition in the industry, with agents previously required to train for 12 months and then have two years of probation.
"So when it came to opening their own business, they were pretty well prepared," says Gunning.
Land tax and stamp duties would be another area a REINSW party would hope to reform after addressing their industry standard concerns.
"There are about 70% of Australians who have some interest in property.
"If you own a bit of real estate, you hope to have a voice in government," says Gunning.
</body></html>

Will the REINSW make the leap from lobby group to political party?

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" dir="auto">
<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" dir="auto">
The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Jessie Richardson

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News