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Chris and Jenna's apartment from The Block Glasshouse has appeared on listing websites, revealing their terraces, which haven't yet been shown on television.
The apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-prahran-117921143" target="_blank">2/121-127 High Street, Prahran</a>, is being marketed by Anton Wongtrakun of Dingle Partners. Wongtrakun was previously the agent for twins Alisa and Lysandra for The Block Fans v Faves and The Block Sky High, which they won.
Spaces yet to be revealed on the show are shown in the listing, which describes the couple's lower level entertaining terrace (pictured below): "Framed by towering double storey walls with climbing vines, it has bench seating, a barbeque area, an idyllic water feature, an alfresco bar and ample room for an outdoor setting."
<img src="/images/2014/09/15/prahran_0001_2.jpg.jpg" alt="">
The couple are the only team to have been given a rooftop terrace space due to their lack of external windows. It will have two tiers, with a barbecue area, Vergola roof and bar seating on the lower tier. The asto-turfed lemon and leucadendron lined upper tier is pictured below.
<img src="/images/2014/09/15/image10.jpg" alt="">
The listing describes Chris and Jenna's apartment as "a fusion of custom contemporary style and inspired cutting-edge design".
Marketing is also underway for Simon and Shannon's apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-prahran-117915927" target="_blank">4/125 High Street</a> (pictured below). Jellis Craig Bennison MacKinnon agents Andrew McCann and Carla Fetta are the agents, while the boys have brought back Block regular Damien Cooley to auction the property.
<img src="/images/2014/09/15/main.jpg" alt="">
The brothers' apartment is described in the listing as one that "creates highly desirable spaces that succeed in the game of life". It has 249 square metres of floor space and overlooks High Street. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-prahran-117902235" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-prahran-117902235" target="_blank">Apartment 1</a>, renovated by Michael and Carlene, is being marketed by <a href="/expert-insights/building/michael-and-carlene-stick-with-ray-white-as-the-block-glasshouse-marketing-kicks-off">Matt White of Ray White</a>. The couple are enjoying a three-week winning streak on the show after the judges deemed their living and dining room (pictured below) the best of the bunch.
<img src="/images/2014/09/15/image3.jpg" alt="">
Young couple Max and Karstan have brought Buxton's <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/3-121-127-high-street-prahran/Property-Details-buy-residential-7578426" target="_blank">Karl Gillon back to The Block</a>. The agent returns to the show for the third time this season, after auctioning Brad and Dale's apartment on The Block Fans v Faves.
Darren and Deanne, who have renovated apartment 5, have chosen Biggin &amp; Scott Richmond to market their apartment. Their apartment's listing is yet to appear online.
 
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The Block Glasshouse: Chris and Jenna's apartment listed online

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The median price of an apartment Sydney is now $565,000, according to RP Data.
Sydney's apartments increased in value by 5.4% in the quarter to August, while house values increased by 5.0% in the same period.
Property Observer looks to recent Sydney sales to see just what $565,000 will buy you - and just how much you have to sacrifice to move closer to the city.
INNER RING: 0-10 kilometres from Sydney's CBD: <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-mascot-117245695" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-mascot-117245695" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">6/19 Johnson Street, Mascot</a>
<img src="/images/2014/09/15/1.jpg" alt=""> This two bedroom sold for $560,000 earlier this month. Located in <a href="/news">Mascot</a>, around seven kilometres from Sydney's CBD, this apartment currently rents for $500 per week (4.6% yield).
The apartment, with 65 square metres of floor space, has a bathroom with bathtub and comes with a car space and extra storeroom. It sold for below below Mascot's August median of $580,000.
<ul>
<li>Price: $560,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Two</li>
<li>Car Spaces: One</li>
<li>Drive to CBD: 11 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-marrickville-117258291" target="_blank">203/5-13 Garners Avenue, Marrickville</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/15/2.jpg" alt=""> With one bedroom and one bathroom, this ground floor apartment sold for $564,000 in July. The apartment comes with two private courtyards, built in robes in the bedroom, and a secure parking space.
The apartment, which has approximately 61 square metres of internal floor space, is located within the Netherfield Park security complex. <a href="/news">Marrickville</a>'s median unit price for August was $640,250.
<ul>
<li>Price: $564,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: One</li>
<li>Car Spaces: One</li>
<li>Drive to CBD: 15 minutes</li>
</ul>
This story continues on the next page. Click below to continue.
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Middle Ring: 10-20 kilometres from the CBD <a href="https://%20http:/www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-epping-117614747" target="_blank">308/3 Ferntree Place, Epping</a>
<img src="/images/2014/09/15/marrickville-sept-15-breakout.jpg" alt=""> This "near new" 70 square metre apartment was sold for $563,000 in August. The one bedroom, one bathroom unit is located in <a href="/news">Epping</a>, around 18 kilometres north-west of the CBD. Its double bedroom comes with built in robes, and the apartment has a west-facing balcony.
The apartment's complex has an indoor pool, spa, sauna, gym, outdoor tennis court and a barbecue area. This apartment is priced well below Epping's August median of $711,000.
<ul>
<li>Price: $563,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: One</li>
<li>Car Spaces: One</li>
<li>Drive to CBD: 25 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-rockdale-117436003" target="_blank">11/613 Princes Highway, Rockdale</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/15/4.jpg" alt=""> A two bedroom, two bathroom <a href="/news">Rockdale </a>apartment sold for $570,000 in July. The apartment, with a wraparound terrace, has an air conditioned open plan living and dining area and double sized bedrooms with built ins.
The 124 square metre apartment comes with an alarmed single lock-up garage. Rockdale's median unit price was $518,000 for August.
<ul>
<li>Price: $570,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Two</li>
<li>Car Spaces: One</li>
<li>Drive to CBD: 20 minutes</li>
</ul>
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Sydney apartments: How do they compare across the regions?

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On this week's episode of Location Location Location Australia, buyer's agents Bryce Holdaway and Veronica Morgan were tasked with helping out two young couples who knew exactly what they wanted.
The 26 year olds Steven and Amelia had already bought and sold one house, and with Steven a real estate agent they were familiar with Brisbane's property market.
First stop is a two storey weatherboard home in <a href="/news">Camp Hill </a>with three bedrooms, one bathroom and a modern kitchen. It's on the market for $550,000, giving the couple money to add an extra bedroom. The vendor, an investor, had just repainted the house's interior and redone the polished timber floors. Though Steven was initially skeptical of its position on the busy Stanley Road, the house was popular with Amelia, who loved the layout and the style of the home.
Next stop: <a href="/news">Carina</a>, where the couple currently reside. It was a bit further out, and the house Bryce guided them to wasn't to Amelia's taste, but it was much larger and had the full four bedrooms they were looking for. In addition to the main house's four bedrooms and two bathrooms, it came with a separate studio out the back. It was priced at $650,000 - right at the top of the couple's budget. But the couple weren't keen, so it was off to the next house.
The final home was in <a href="/news">Coorparoo</a>, bordering their dream suburb, Camp Hill. The restored Queenslander came with a massive backyard, three bedrooms and a new kitchen and bathroom. It was up for auction at $600,000 plus.  The couple were particularly keen on the character of the house, but it was clear - Steven's heart belonged to Stanley Road.
And so the couple put a bid on the home. It has previously been passed in at $520,000, and the price guide was at $550,000, so Steven gave the order to proceed with a $525,000 offer. However, they were with another buyer, who put in a $550,000 offer, and the selling agent advised Bryce that the property was likely to come off the market at $560,000.
The couple put in a $555,000 bid but were shot down by their competitors' $560,000 offer - more than Steven and Amelia were willing to pay for the home. However, all was not lost - the couple increased their budget by $20,000 and found an an even better home - a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-camp+hill-116941751" target="_blank">modernised three bedroom Queenslander</a> in Camp Hill, pictured below.
<img src="/images/2014/09/12/1.jpg" alt="">
The new option has a $649,000 price guide, but Steven and Amelia weren't the only buyers interested in the home, with two other offers already made. Bryce, knowing the vendor had been recently stung by a buyer whose finance fell through, put in an offer of $672,000 - but with fully approved finance. It wasn't the highest offer put in on the house, but it played to the vendors' needs.
The tactic provides a useful lesson for those buying a house: remember that price isn't everything and find out as much about a vendor as you can.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
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Veronica was also helping out a young couple: Sarah, Scott, and their baby.
Sarah and Scott, who have a passion for mid-century architecture and renovations, were after a three bedroom home with a view. They had a $850,000 budget, including renovations.
The couple had been living in Melbourne, but wanted to buy a house in Hobart after relocating back to Tasmania where they grew up.
Their first stop was a 1970s era brick home. It had a big backyard and a great view, but not as much room as the couple would like. However, it was offered at $460,000, which would give them plenty of money leftover for renovations. Neither is particularly impressed.
Next stop is <a href="/news">Howrah</a>, a beachside suburb. Right on the water, only 15 minutes from Hobart's centre. The second house was on a bigger block, and had three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Unfortunately, although it is a mid-century home, most of the character has been choked out of it by renovations. It had a price guide of $750,000, and a spectacular waterfront position, which captured the couple's attention.
But it wasn't enough to eclipse their bad feelings towards the house itself, which Scott would have to bulldoze before he was happy with the property.
So Veronica then took the couple to a larger 1950s brick home, which retained plenty of its original characteristics. From the front it had waterfront views, with an open plan living, dining and kitchen area at the front, and three bedrooms. The house, set on a 938 square metre plot, was on the market for $650,000 - so the couple would have money to update the home.
But despite its qualities, Scott still wasn't excited - and getting him to respond well to a house became the task of the episode. So Veronica and Bryce took them to a long, thin single storey 1960s modernist house, with a living room at one end, a rumpus at the other and three bedrooms in the middle. The 1,381 square metre battle-axe block had a price guide of $550,000, well under their budget.
Many of the original features of the home have been preserved and Scott was finally excited - but the roles were reversed, with Sarah a little apprehensive about the layout and plot shape, which means neighbours on all sides.
In the struggle between the two houses, Veronica suggested an independent source of information - an architect. As they planned to restore and renovate each home, adding on rooms if necessary, an architect was the best person to decide which was a more flexible option. And so, after consulting with an architect, the couple decided to go with the 1950s brick house with waterfront views.
Veronica then moved in with a $622,500 - $27,000 under the asking price - and managed to secure the Hobart house for Scott and Sarah.
Scott and Sarah's search showed the importance of a professional opinion. When hunting for a house, every friend, family member and passer buy will have an opinion on what, where and how you should buy. But for those who are unsure, and especially for those who are hoping to make changes to a house, it pays to get in a professional.
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Location Location Location: Know what you want (and what the vendor wants)

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For first time buyers looking for inner city living, studio apartments can be a tempting choice.
With no walls between the "bedroom" and living areas, studio apartments can be a good deal smaller than one bedroom apartments - and therefore cheaper.
A search for studio apartments in capital cities will certainly throw up cheaper and more central opportunities than can be discovered with any other property type.
This studio apartment at 204/268 Flinders Street in Melbourne is on the market with a price guide of $158,000, <a href="http:/www.realestate.com.au/property-studio-vic-melbourne-117636635" target="_blank">through Spencer Nguyen and Robert Eggers of Dingle Partners</a>. You would be hard pressed to find a non-studio apartment in such a central location.
A quick look at the apartment's floor plan reveals why it's so cheap: The bedroom doesn't share the space with the living room - there is no living room. There's hardly room for a bed, with a total area of around 18 square metres.
<img src="/images/2014/09/12/studio2.jpg" alt="">
While a studio of that size may seem unappealing to live in, they can offer attractive yields. According to the listing information, this studio is currently leased at $1,304 a month, representing a yield of 9.9%. So if you don't intend to live in a shoebox studio but instead want to rent it out, you could be receiving good value - if you feel comfortable renting it out to another person.
Such small studios in central locations are often popular with international students who need to be close to universities and haven't brought a lot of belongings. However, that can mean that the rental income is subject to seasonal variation.
This particular property was purchased for $173,000 in 2005, so the owners will have made a capital loss if it sells for its current asking price.
However, one studio apartment doesn't represent the entire market. There is plenty of variation out there in the studio market, from student shoeboxes to bright warehouse conversions. And of course, the more you pay, the better the apartment.
As with any other property, make sure you're not carried away by price. Consider the quality of the apartment you're hoping to purchase, the area and its attractiveness to future buyers and renters (remembering that both offer different gains for you).
If you're hoping to occupy the property, you should be open to compromise, but don't get carried away. Think about whether you would be happy living with a bed a metre away from your kitchen, or if it might be more prudent to save for a few more years before jumping into the market.
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Are studio apartments a good pick for first home buyers?

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Grandparents Carole and Russell Bramston are selling the Boya home that was renovated by their team mates on Channel 7's House Rules earlier this year.
The Western Australian couple were runners up on the series, losing out to <a href="/expert-insights/building/underdogs-adam-and-lisa-win-house-rules-season-two">Melbourne's Adam and Lisa</a>.
They purchased the Boya home (pictured above prior to the House Rules renovation) off <a href="/expert-insights/building/house-rules-would-you-buy-a-home-off-gumtree-without-a-building-inspection-report">classifieds website Gumtree</a> for $360,000, and ended up with a home riddled with structural and superficial problems, including plumbing issues, mould, pest problems and holes in the floors and walls.
Carole told <a href="https://www.watoday.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/house-rules-couple-carole-and-russell-to-sell-boya-home-20140912-10fubi" target="_blank">WA Today</a> that if the couple had won House Rules and had their $290,000 mortgage wiped clean, they would have kept the home. After losing, they're now hoping to offload the home to help them downsize and enter a mortgage free retirement.
The couple said they plan to use the sale of their Boya home to fund a move to the riverside suburb of Ascot, where they intend to build small townhouse.
Earlier this year, Carole and Russell faced accusations that they weren't the "battlers" they were portrayed as on television due to their <a href="/expert-insights/building/house-rules-contestants-hardly-on-struggle-street-say-critics">three bedroom Halls Head home</a> that they were intending to sell for $1.17 million.
However, the couple told WA Today that the Halls Head home "has a massive mortgage over it", and that they could not afford to live in it. It has since been removed from the market, after the asking price was lowered to $995,000.
Carole and Russell are not the first couple from the second season of House Rules to attempt to offload their renovated homes. Candy and Ryan sold their Emu Plains house <a href="/expert-insights/buying/house-rules-candy-and-ryan-secure-190-000-emu-plains-sale-flip-success">sold their house</a> in late August for $190,000 more than the initial purchase price.
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House Rules' Carole and Russell offloading renovated home

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A home in Sydney's west will be built, furnished and auctioned for the first ever Build for a Cure event, held by the Children's Cancer Institute.
The home will get some input from The Block host Scott Cam and 2012 winners Brad and Lara Cranfield, with reality television regular Damien Cooley auctioning the home. Proceeds from the sale will be used by the Children's Cancer Institute to fund medical research in the search for a cure for childhood cancers.
The four bedroom, two bathroom home, donated by McDonald Jones Homes, is being built in partnership with Austral Bricks. The Wearn Brothers group has donated a 500 square metre plot of land in Glenmore Park for the project.
Real estate agency PRDnationwide Penrith is donating all real estate services for the project. Principal Darren Latty said the agency was initially approached by the Wearn Brothers Group for advice on selling the home upon completion.
"Our Team has close connections with the local community making the decision to be involved an absolute pleasure," said Latty.
"Not only have we donated all our services for free, we have also approached our media partners to cover all advertising and marketing costs, and arranged for the auctioneer to donate his services," he said.
The Block's Brad and Lara will be working with stylist Jason Grant to furnish the home, using products donated by Freedom, Electrolux and Panasonic.
The Children's Cancer Institute conducts research to find a cure for childhood cancers and to improve current treatments, working to reduce harm from long term side-effects. It is currently working on a personalised cancer treatment program for high-risk children which is set to impact cancer care in paediatric hospitals throughout the country.
The institute is Australia's only independent medical research institute in Australia entirely dedicated to childhood cancers.
You can donate to the Build for a Cure project <a href="https://www.buildforacure.org.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Real estate agents, charities and The Block stars team up for Build for a Cure

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Auctioneer Damien Cooley will be selling Simon and Shannon's apartment on The Block Glasshouse, marking Cooley's sixth appearance on The Block.
This time, he's teaming up with Andrew McCann at Jellis Craig Bennison MacKinnon, a managing director at the agency.
Cooley was most recently seen on The Block Fans v Faves, where he auctioned Kyal and Kara's apartment. The pair won $565,250 after Cooley secured a $2.44 million price for their three storey Albert Park conversion. Kyal and Kara came third overall last season, after winners Steve and Chantelle, who sold their apartment for $2.47 million ($636,000 above the adjusted reserve) and twins Alisa and Lysandra, whose offering attracted a $2,375,000 bid ($616,000 above the reserve).
Tasmanian brothers Simon and Shannon will be hoping Cooley can repeat his performances on the second and sixth seasons of The Block, where he secured wins for Andrew and Jamie and Phil and Amity respectively.
Cooley's debut on The Block came in season two, when he auctioned the winning apartment. Andrew Rocheford and Jamie Nicholson's renovated manly apartment earned the then couple $78,000 plus an additional $100,000 winner's prize.
He returned for the show's third season, auctioning Mark and Duncan's renovated apartment. The duo made the lowest profit of any of the teams that season, with a $47,000 profit.
But Cooley improved greatly on that result with the sale of Phil and Amity's apartment in The Block All Stars.
The winning couple made a $295,000 profit when Cooley secured a $1.67 million bid for the two bedroom Bondi apartment.
Cooley also auctioned Matt and Kim's apartment on The Block Sky High, delivering a $1,205,000 million price for the couple, who took home a $250,000 profit.
The auctioneer is no stranger to television outside of The Block. He has also appeared on The Renovators, Under the Hammer, Hot Auctions and Selling Houses Australia.
All the teams on The Block Glasshouse have <a href="/expert-insights/building/karl-gillon-takes-on-his-third-televised-the-block-sales-campaign">secured agents</a> ahead of their 11 October auctions. Maxine and Karstan have already begun their marketing campaign, advertising their apartment on listing websites. Early in the season, the couple also discussed creating a marketing book for prospective buyers to thumb through on their way through the home.
Ray White agent Matt White has also been busy marketing Michael and Carlene's unit, with two private invitation only inspections. So far, 130 people have inspected the apartment.
White said the apartment received a positive response at the exclusive inspections.
"The inspections weren’t open to anyone, we selected serious buyers and investors, buyers agents and Ray White colleagues with active buyers in the area to view the property," said White.
The public will have a chance to see the apartments for themselves at a rather less exclusive event - the open for inspections. All five apartments will be open to the public on the weekend of 20 September and 21 September.
Picture courtesy of Channel 9.
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The Block's Simon and Shannon bring back auctioneer Damien Cooley

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The Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal has fined a South Perth real estate agency $15,000 and its former property manager $8,000 for their actions surrounding the management of two rental properties and associated trust accounts.
Julia Barratt-Hill, a former property manager at Swan River Real Estate, was ordered to pay court costs of $1,000 in addition to the $8,000 fine after fabricating an owner's statement. She was also disciplined for failing to deal with rental payments in an "organised and competent way" and misleading property owners. 
The owners believed their property had a tenant when it was vacant, and despite repeat requests to keep them informed, Barratt-Hill failed to provide them with information about their lease agreement. 
Prosser Real Estate Pty Ltd, which trades under Swan River Real Estate, was fined $5,000 in relation to the 2011 events and an addition $10,000 for unlawful dealings related to their trust accounts and failing to keep accurate and full accounts that could be audited. Their breaches were the result of Barratt-Hill's actions in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Despite the directors paying back the money they withdrew from the trust accounts, with no clients losing money, Swan River Real Estate's licensee Lorraine Florence Prosser was fined $5,000 for failing to supervise the agency to a sufficient standard. The penalty was also a result of her failure to ensure Barratt-Hill, who was an employee of Swan River Real Estate from 2003 to 2011, complied with the industry Code of Conduct.
Swan River Real Estate was ordered to pay court costs of $2,500 in addition to its $15,000 fine
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll said all licensed real estate agents and their employeers were obliged to adhere to all laws relating to their agency's operations.
“The basic foundation of the Code of Conduct is for agents to have fair, honest and transparent dealings with property owners at all times in terms of disclosure of accurate information about the tenancy, the provision of copies of lease agreements and the timely release of financial statements,” said Driscoll.
“It is also an obligation of licensed real estate agents to operate their trust and operating accounts in a way that complies fully with the law. Financial records should be kept up to date and organised in such a way that allows for easy checking and auditing.”
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South Perth real estate agency fined over trust account and property management deception

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After seeing double digit price growth in the past 12 months, do Sydney's property prices still have growth left? Or have we seen the top of the market's cycle?
After Sydney recorded 5.0% price growth over the August quarter and 16.2% in the 12 months to August with falling yields, RP Data's research director Tim Lawless noted that better investment opportunities may now be available in the <a href="/expert-insights/investing/investors-should-look-to-smaller-capital-cities-for-returns-rp-data">country's smaller cities.</a>
“Potentially there are better investment returns to be had in the smaller capital cities where the growth trend is less mature and yields are also healthier,” he said.
Property Observer asked five leading property experts whether the Sydney property market still has room to grow.
<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Margaret-Lomas3.png" alt="" style="float: right;">Margaret Lomas, founder of Destiny Financial Solutions
The Sydney market has heated up to now being considerably above the affordability for the average family. Depending upon how it's measured, the median Sydney house price is now around $130,000 more than the average Sydney family can afford. When this happens, all but very low value pockets stabilise and, where buyers have rushed in in the midst of buyer frenzy, some areas experience short term values losses.
For investors, this overheated market also now offers very lacklustre rental yields, most below 4% and many at around 3%. The combined effects of stabilising prices and poor rental yields removes the attractiveness of many Sydney suburbs for investment.
In order to gain any value from the Sydney market at this time, a buyer must be looking in outer suburbs where median prices remain below the affordability level and where rental yields remain high. These areas can also often offer larger blocks which can later be subdivided or added to via a granny flat which can also boost yields.
Now is the time to also be considering the ripple effect - already the Wollongong and Central Coast markets, which both remain highly affordable with strong rental yields, are seeing increased attention and property value increases
Andrew Wilson, Australian Property Monitors senior economist<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Andrew-Wilson.png" alt="" style="float: right;">
I think we've seen the top of the cycle in terms of the rate of growth, and that was over the December quarter last year.
That's no surprise: that's when the peak of that pent up demand maximised itself with the low interest rates. Growth has been bubbling along since, but it's certainly not at the same rate of growth of last year. The rule of thumb is that after the peak, the rate of growth will halve each year. We saw about 15% to 16% annualised growth last year; this year, we'll get about half that, and we'll see around 4-5% next year.
Depending on how the economy goes, it'll hold there at around the rate of inflation, and turnover will flatten a bit.
There's no doubt that price growth is moderating, and will be around about 8-9% this year, maybe 10%. It's still going to be clearly the strongest of all capitals.
That means it's been about 20% price growth over two years, which is a pretty good result for homeowners. But it's also unsustainable - income growth is barely keeping up with prices growth.
Investors are Sydney's "X factor" - that's what's continuing to keep prices higher than income capacity would allow. It's sort of a self perpetuating thing. Investors are attracted by higher prices, and it's only when there's a clear sign that price growth is slowing that they leave the market.
Price growth is back to being higher in the outer suburbs. A lot of that is investor activity.
We've seen five weeks in a row of 80% clearance rates in Sydney - it's certainly risen over the last months. We've got higher numbers of listings coming through - August had a record number of listings - and we'll probably break the September record. So activity is holding up.
But we're not going to see the prices growth we saw a year ago.
Article continues on the next page with responses from AMP Capital's Shane Oliver, hotspotting.com.au's Terry Ryder and SQM Research's Louis Christopher. Please click below.
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Louis Christopher, SQM Research managing director<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Louis-Christopher.png" alt="" style="float: right;">
Yes, it does - there are a couple of reasons.
While I know Sydney's had a strong run and there's been a lot of concern, compared to historical averages over the past thirty years, its valuation is in line.
It's been far more overvalued, as recently as 2009, and in 2003, than what it is today. On a valuation basis, we do agree that it's looking expensive, but historically, it's not at its worst.
We've also got a situation with regards to current population growth trends. Sydney is growing by 60,000 people per year. That's a solid rate of per year growth. Where do all those people go?
The bottom line is, they need housing. That means demand for residential accommodation, by rent or by sale, and it will continue to increase for the forseeable future. For the next year at least, we're probably going to under-constructing to meet that demand. The supply side is going to seriously respond in 2016, and there will be a question mark for the Sydney property market for 2016, but we don't believe that there will be an oversupply situation for 2015.
The state economy's also been improving. New South Wales has one of the lowest unemployment rates by state, and the state budgets are looking good. We've got some very large infrastructure projects in the pipeline, including the North-West Rail Link, the second airport - of course, that's some time away, but the planning for that will start in earnest.
Historically, yes it is expensive, but it's far from the worst it's been.
Recent current indications such as stock on market, auction clearance rates and asking prices are all pointing to one thing: the market continues on with its current momentum.
Just like the stock market, property prices are never too high to go higher, and they're never too low lower.
Terry Ryder, founder of hotspotting.com.au<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Terry-Ryder.png" alt="" style="float: right;">
There’s no doubt the best time to buy in Sydney has long passed. There will still be growth but buyers need to be more selective about location.
The pattern of sales across the metropolitan area shows that the momentum in Sydney has shifted from the millionaire suburbs to the middle ring and outer suburbs.
Locations with the greatest upside include the Blacktown, Parramatta, Liverpool, Penrith and Campbelltown municipalities – all of them in the west or south-west of the metro area. The exception is the Baulkham Hills LGA in the north-west.
The Price Predictor Index published by hotspotting.com.au shows that many of the so-called prime markets with median prices above $1 million have been downgraded, as sales levels moderate. In the past four quarters in Killara, for example, sales volumes have fallen from 111 to 106 to 81 to 65.
By contrast, sales in humble Minto in the Campbelltown LGA have risen from 35 to 45 to 50 to 66 in recent quarters, a pattern of rising activity likely to produce price growth.
Longer-term, investors in Sydney should focus on the areas set to benefit from new infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure, as this is the single biggest driver of real estate growth.
The Rouse Hill precinct will benefit from the North West Rail Link while locations in the Liverpool and Blacktown precincts are most likely to be boosted from infrastructure development for the Badgerys Creek airport.
Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital<img src="/images/2014/09/11/shane-oliver-profile.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
I think it's getting pretty close to its peak. You've got to be wary, because it's possible rates will stay this low well into next year. So we could see another 9 months or so of decent gains in prices. But once they start to go up, a lot of the heat will go out of the market. But even before that, they'll slow down,  due to affordability issues.
With current rates of income growth and the prospect of interest rate increases, it's understandable that price growth will fall back to a slower pace. In the next six months we'll start to see that.
But the property market goes in spurts. A couple of years ago, Sydney lagged, and had been for a long time. After 2003, it took a back seat to the rest of the country. New South Wales' economy is picking up, so the fortunes of the state have turned around, so you can sort of understand why after a decade of lagging national house price gains, you're starting to see growth again.
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Exclusive: Does Sydney's market still have growth left?

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A one bedroom apartment in Hawthorn has topped <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">SQM Research</a>'s list of Victoria's most discounted properties.
The student apartment in the Varsity complex near Swinburne University has seen its price cut by 40% to $99,000, after more than four years on the market.
Despite its 25 square metre size, it's described as "larger than most" by listing agent Nick Pane of O'Donoghues First National.
It's not the only student accommodation to make the list of Victoria's most discounted properties. Of the top 10, four are within walking distance of a university.
<a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">SQM Research's</a> 10 most discounted Victorian properties: <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-hawthorn-106622918%20%20%20%20" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-one.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-hawthorn-106622918">320/1 Queens Avenue, Hawthorn, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d1.jpg" alt=""> The fully furnished one bedroom apartment is currently rented out for $215 per week, representing a net yield of 7.3%. It was initially offered at $165,000 and has been on the market for 1,533 days. It comes fully furnished.  <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-two.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-notting+hill-114753895" target="_blank">D26B/662 Blackburn Road, Notting Hill, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d2.jpg" alt=""> Another Melbourne student apartment has made it onto this week's top 10 discounted properties list. The asking price of this one bedroom unit near Monash University has dropped by 25%, and now has an asking price of $180,000.
The fully furnished apartment, which includes a basement car park and a balcony, has been on the market for almost a year. The listing information notes that it can be rented for $1,043 per calender month, representing a yield of 6.9%. <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-three.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-docklands-107755171" target="_blank">226/9 Wharf Street Docklands, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d3.jpg" alt=""> Vendors are seeking $650,000 for this Docklands townhouse, which has two bedrooms and three bathrooms. Its asking price has dropped by 24% since it was initially offered 846 days ago.
The Harbour Town unit has an open plan living area and kitchen on the lower level and two bedrooms with built in robes and en suites on the upper level. The property comes with two car spaces. <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-four.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-cheltenham-116563711" target="_blank">2/3 Mackenzie Street Cheltenham, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d4.jpg" alt=""> This two bedroom apartment in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs is currently advertised at $369,000, down from its initial asking price of $440,000. It's been on the market for 147 days.
The ground floor apartment is within walking distance of the nearby train station and the local shopping strip. Both bedrooms have built in robes, and the apartment comes with a car space. <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-five.jpg" alt=""> <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-bundoora-115922108" target="_blank">38 Waxflower Crescent Bundoora, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d5.jpg" alt=""> Currently leased until January 2015, this two level Bundoora townhouse has seen a 23% price cut, from $410,000 to $315,000, after 259 days on the market.
The townhouse has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with timber flooring throughout, and access to a courtyard and barbecue area. Its located within walking distance of RMIT's Bundoora campus.
The townhouse was purchased in 2009 for $396,500.
This article continues on the next page.
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<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-six.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-110148953" target="_blank">1308/31 A'Beckett Street Melbourne, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d6.jpg" alt=""> The asking price for this one bedroom, one bathroom apartment in the Melbourne CBD has dropped from $455,000 to $350,000, after 875 days on the market.
The apartment has an open plan kitchen and living area and built in robes in the bedroom. The apartment complex is one block from RMIT's main city campus and within walking distance of the University of Melbourne. <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-seven.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-taylors+hill-116555327" target="_blank">28 Jamieson Terrace Taylors Hill, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d7.jpg" alt=""> Initially listed with $688,000 hopes, this Taylors Hill home now comes with an asking price between $525,000 and $560,000.
The four bedroom, two bathroom home has a television room, a rumpus room and a upstairs retreat. It is set on a 700 square metre plot, within walking distance of a school and a bus stop. The house was purchased for $342,000 in 2005. <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-eight.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">  <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-garfield-111637803" target="_blank">1110 Nar Nar Goon - Longwarry Road, Garfield Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d8.jpg" alt=""> This house on a 16 hectare plot has an asking price of $850,000, down 23% from its initial $1.1 million price guide. According to the listing information, the house can be rented out for $500 per week, representing a yield of 3% at the current asking price.
The four bedroom house is accompanied by 11 small paddocks, four large paddocks, a hayshed, a three bay carport, six stables, a tack room, a feed room and five horse shelters. It's been on the market for more than two and a half years. <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-nine.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-prahran-116613907" target="_blank">211/8 Porter Street Prahran, Vic</a>
<img src="/images/2014/09/11/d9.jpg" alt=""> A studio apartment Prahran has had a 22% price cut. Vendors are now seeking $185,000 for the apartment, after 139 days on the market. The apartment is partially furnished, with a microwave, television and study table.
It comes with access to a common room and common balcony, with city views. The listing information states that it recently returned $1,180 per calender month in rent, representing a yield of 7.6%.  <img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-ten.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"><a href="https://www.barryplant.com.au/property/84871/23-sandells-road-tecoma/" target="_blank">23 Sandells Road, Tecoma, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/11/d10.jpg" alt=""> Initially listed with a $460,000 price guide, this home now has an asking price of $360,000 after three months on the market. The two to three bedroom house on a sloping lot was once set up to house two families.
It includes a galley kitchen, two living rooms, a veranda out the front and a deck out the back. The property has remained in the same name for 34 years - it was purchased by the vendors for $22,500.
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25 square metre "larger than most" apartment the most discounted property in Victoria: SQM

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <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> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Jessie Richardson

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