<html><body>
Former couple and House Rules contestants Candy and Ryan have put their Emu Plains home on the market.
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-emu+plains-117619615" target="_blank">45 Gough Street, Emu Plains</a>, is selling through Paul Wallace of Property Central Penrith. It will be auctioned on Saturday 30 August.
The three bedroom house was the debut renovation of the show, and the victim of some dubious style choices - including winners Adam and Lisa's incomplete study and unappealing entrance.
The listing photos show Western Australia couple Russell and Carole's challenge-winning kitchen. They ended up in second place for the series, <a href="/expert-insights/building/underdogs-adam-and-lisa-win-house-rules-season-two">behind underdogs Adam and Lisa</a>.
The single storey brick veneer home has a two bathrooms and is set on a 626 square metre plot.
The listing information says the home has been "renovated to the highest possible standards". The house is filled with colour, thanks to Candy and Ryan's fellow team mates.
<img src="/images/2014/08/08/house%20rules.jpg" alt="">
Above: Candy and Ryan's unrenovated home in 2013. Below: Their home now.
<img src="/images/2014/08/08/2.jpg" alt="">
Candy and Ryan purchased the home for $400,000 in August 2013. Selling agent Wallace is not providing a price guide for the property.
The house has been listed following the couple's breakup.
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Candy and Ryan's House Rules home on the market

<html><body>
Last month residential property stock on the market decreased to the lowest level seen since February 2011, according to SQM Research.
Nationally, there were 334,683 unsold properties last month, down 3.6% from the month before and 4.8% from July last year. <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">SQM Research</a> says the market "remains in favour of sellers", with low stock levels pointing to an active market. However, the research firm also notes the rate of decrease has slowed, particularly in Sydney, which saw a yearly stock decline of 8.7%. There, annual stock declines between 15% and 25% were previously recorded.
Of the results, SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher says: "The national housing market overall remains buoyant with real estate listings being absorbed at a fairly fast pace and buyers moderately outnumbering sellers.”
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>City</td>
<td>July 2013 total </td>
<td> June 2013 total</td>
<td>July 2014 total</td>
<td>Monthly change %</td>
<td>Yearly change %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adelaide</td>
<td> 16,453</td>
<td> 15,819</td>
<td> 14,593</td>
<td> -7.8%</td>
<td> -11.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brisbane</td>
<td> 26,150</td>
<td> 26,624</td>
<td> 25,615</td>
<td> -3.8%</td>
<td> -2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canberra</td>
<td> 3,555</td>
<td> 3,250</td>
<td> 3,140,</td>
<td> -3.4%</td>
<td> -11.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Darwin</td>
<td> 1,302</td>
<td> 1,531</td>
<td> 1,582</td>
<td> 3.3%</td>
<td> 21.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hobart</td>
<td> 4,280</td>
<td> 4,137</td>
<td> 4,063</td>
<td> -1.8%</td>
<td> -5.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne</td>
<td> 46,748</td>
<td> 43,237</td>
<td> 41,432</td>
<td> -4.2%</td>
<td> -11.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Perth</td>
<td> 19,353</td>
<td> 21,220</td>
<td> 20,049</td>
<td> -5.5%</td>
<td> 3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sydney</td>
<td> 23,207</td>
<td> 22,504</td>
<td> 21,179</td>
<td> -5.9%</td>
<td> -8.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>National</td>
<td> 351,397</td>
<td> 347,074</td>
<td> 334,683</td>
<td> -3.6%</td>
<td> -4.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 Source: SQM Research
The largest monthly decrease was recorded in Adelaide, where stock on market fell by 7.8% to 14,593 homes. On a yearly basis, Canberra had the greatest decline, with an 11.7% decrease to 3,140 homes on the market. Darwin was the only capital city where a monthly increase in stock levels was recorded. Stock on market climbed 3.3% in July to 1,582. The city also saw the biggest yearly jump of stock on market, of 21.5%. The firm also recorded a small month-on-month decrease in asking prices for houses, of 0.2%. Unit asking prices saw an increase of the same proportion on a national level for July.
</body></html>

National stock levels down to three year low in July: SQM

<html><body>
Senator Nick Xenophon's proposed legislative changes to allow first home buyers to access their superannuation funds for a deposit on their first homes have seen many different reactions from property experts.
“With more and more Australians finding it difficult to break into home ownership, adopting the Canadian scheme would make a difference to many thousands of Australians each year,” said Xenophon.
The Canadian scheme allows first home buyers to extract C$25,000 for the purchase of their first home, which must be repaid into the fund within 15 years.
The scheme has been supported by some industry groups and businesses and derided by others.
Property Observer took the question to the experts: Should first home buyers be allowed to access their superannuation to fund the deposit on their first home?
Catherine Cashmore: market analyst <img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Catherine-Cashmore.png" alt="" align="right">
Nick Xenophon, along with other groups, such as the REIA, is advocating a policy that will be responsible for making housing affordability worse.   The procedure in Canada allows eligible buyers to withdraw up to C$25,000 tax-free from their retirement fund, on the condition that they pay it back over a 15-year period.   
If they fail to do this, the amount withdrawn will be taxed as per the income earner's tax bracket. Currently, 35 per cent of Canadians fall into this category. However, according to the CRA, roughly one out of two (47%) contributed less than the required repayment amount over the 2011 tax year.    The Government picks up the added income revenue windfall.
Buyers, buoyed by a rent seeking culture that fools the public into believing such policies are designed to be ‘helpful’, over stretch their budget and are left to carry the can in weak economic conditions.   In short - you borrow money from yourself at 0% interest and in doing so lose 15 years of compounding 'tax free' interest with average returns in the order of 7%.    
Many low to middle-income individuals have inadequate funds to draw upon. So even assuming the scheme were to be effective, the difference it can make to those that need the help is limited.   
But the real ‘nub’ of the issue, which Nick Xenophon has failed to acknowledge, is that the Canadian Home Buyer Plan was never intended to aid affordability.    It was promoted by the real estate industry following the 1990s recession to stimulate land values and benefit the FIRE (finance, insurance, real estate) sector, along with its economic offshoots - renovations, furniture and appliances, moving costs, tax revenue to government and so forth. The FIRE sector has lobbied to keep in place ever since and also pushed for the threshold to be raised.
Craig MacKenzie: RP Data executive general manager commercial, with research analyst Cameron Kusher<img src="/images/2014/08/06/CraigMackenzie.jpg" width="150" height="225" style="float: right;">
Pros:
<ul>
<li>Buyers need genuine savings given the price of housing in cities Sydney and Melbourne and the cost of renting saving deposit is extremely difficult, accessing superannuation would make it easier</li>
<li>Genworth reports that 1 in 4 first home buyers need assistance from their parents to enter the market, by accessing superannuation they remove the burden from the parents</li>
<li>In some instances tapping superannuation would mean that the purchaser doesn’t have to pay LMI on their purchase which would reduce the cost of purchase</li>
<li>The retirement savings pool is one of the largest in the world unlocking a portion of it would enable first home buyers to access one of the most basic human need, shelter</li>
<li>Superannuation is about forced saving for retirement, a home for owner occupation is a long-term investment so the horizons are aligned.</li>
<li>Ultimately the position is neutral with the Canadian scheme seeing the amount withdrawn from Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plan’s (RRSPs) repaid over 15 years.</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul>
<li>Accessing Superannuation doesn’t address the key reason why FHB can’t purchase a home, that is that it is too expensive in many areas particularly those areas close to city centres and around major working nodes. </li>
<li>By accessing Super to purchase a home it would potentially increase home values further, much like the First Home Owners Grant has</li>
<li>Utilising Superannuation would allow FHB to buy in a location they otherwise couldn’t afford to, is this really a good policy given buyers should by in a location which is aligned with their current means to repay a mortgage.</li>
<li>The Canadian scheme doesn’t appear to have any penalty or interest associated with withdrawing that money.  The amount is paid back over 15 years however, that is 15 years over which that money could have compounded if invested elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
It should be noted that Canadian RRSPs are somewhat different from Superannuation as they are set up by individuals and in most instances employers don’t contribute to the plan.  It is about saving for retirement however, there are no compulsory contributions from the employer rather an RRSP is set up by the employee to save for retirement.
 
Turn over page for more responses, from Philip Soos, Helen Hodgson and Peter Bushby.
 
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
Philip Soos: economist, author and Deakin University PhD candidate<img src="/images/2014/08/06/soos-profile.jpg" width="150" height="180" style="float: right;">
<div>I staunchly oppose the suggested policy advocated by Senator Nick Xenophon, which allows potential first home buyers to access their superannuation to finance a deposit. Simply put, it acts likely a privately-financed First Home Owners Grant/Boost, which has the intended effect of distorting (and increasing) housing prices.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>One of the most popular interventions in the housing market has been the use of federal government homeowner cash grants, in one form or another. They are implemented on the pretext of helping Australians realise the so-called dream of home ownership. This is false, however, as housing prices outpace the amount of the FHOG/B by a considerable multiple due to the additional leverage bank credit enables.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Put another way, the FHOG/B is rendered null and void, as it is simply capitalised into higher prices from the moment of its availability. The FHOG has the effect of pulling forward demand for housing into the present, with first home buyers stampeding into the housing market.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The pretext for superannuation is to help retirees, but in reality is designed as a pork barrel for the financial sector, which creams off approximately $19 billion in fees annually. Bankers already benefit from regulations allowing homeowners facing foreclosure to raid their super.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Xenophon’s policy makes it doubly worse – another gift to bankers through higher housing prices, larger loan portfolios, and rising net interest income. This senator owns eight properties; it is clear he advocates this policy out of self-interest, not out of any concern for first home owners. It is designed to increase home prices, not home ownership.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
Helen Hodgson: associate professor, Department of Taxation at Curtin Business School, Curtin University <img src="/images/2014/08/06/Helen.Hodgson.png" width="150" height="167" style="float: right;">
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Secure housing is important to wellbeing in retirement, but as the superannuation guarantee increases to 12% first home buyers hoping to enter the market will find it increasingly difficult to save a deposit. There are three major hurdles to the proposal to allow access to superannuation: 1. Increased demand increases house prices in the relevant price range: as Saul Eslake notes, first homebuyer grants end up in the pockets of vendors. Stamp Duty concessions have been scaled back with some states limiting them to new construction to stimulate housing supply. A similar strategy here could limit house price rises due to increased first home buyer activity. 2. Superannuation is a tax preferred investment, and allowing superannuation withdrawals would exploit this tax advantage. The accumulated superannuation balance is higher than other investments, and a salary sacrifice strategy could take advantage of this. This could be counteracted by taxing withdrawals at the marginal tax rate, less the tax paid by the fund. 3. The funds must be used to acquire and continue to use the property as a residence. There should be a requirement that if the person moves out of the property the funds must be repaid, coupled with compliance measures.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This article continues on the next page with thoughts from Peter Bushby and Terry Ryder. </div>
<div><hr class="system-pagebreak"></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
Peter Bushby, Real Estate Institute of Australia president <img src="/images/2014/08/06/bushby-profile.png" width="150" height="200" style="float: right;">
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It's been part of our (the REIA's) policy for many years now that it should be considered as a possibility, as long as it's packaged correctly, and as long as it doesn't harm, or have a negative effect on superannuation funds, and [first home buyers] would be paying it back in the longer term. We certainly believe it would be a tool to assist first home buyers., It would actually allow a lot of people to take advantage of and enjoy the benefits of home ownership that they can't quite get at the moment. They might be able to get the money at the end of the day, but if they got it earlier, it could be far more valuable to them, rather than renting and paying off someone else's mortgage. We believe that it is a viable option. Of course you'll get a negative reaction from the super funds and so on, but we believe that as long as it's operated properly, it could be very valuable. There are a couple of schemes that operate well around the world. We've identified Canadian and Singaporean schemes that could be translated, though obviously it would work differently here. But the Canadian scheme in particular could be useful to look at. It's about looking at the elements of it that would work best in our market without damaging existing super funds.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Terry Ryder, founder of hotspotting.com.au <img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Terry-Ryder.png" width="135" height="186" style="float: right;"></div>
<div>
<div> </div>
<div>Nick Xenophon is suggesting a solution to a problem that does not exist. And, in the process, weakening the solution to a problem that does exist.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Xenophon's proposal is based on the premise that we have an affordability problem in Australia. All the evidence suggests that we do not.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Before we start implementing solutions, we need to properly understand the "problem". It is assumed that, because first-home buyers are apparently less active than before, there can be only one explanation - that they cannot afford to buy. The evidence suggests another reason: that young adults are not interested in buying. They have other priorities. Their parents were married with kids and a mortgage before the age of 30, and today's generation doesn't want that. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>So we don't need Xenophon's solution which, while addressing a non-existent problem, would weaken the solution to a very real existing problem. And that is the rapidly ageing population and the need for people to fund their retirement - for which superannuation is critical. Superannuation funds should be sacrosanct.</div>
</div>
  
</body></html>

Exclusive: The experts on super access for first home buyers

<html><body>
Savills Australia has appointed Shammi Liang to the position of analyst.
Working with Savills' national head of research Tony Crab and Victorian head of research Glenn Lampard from the firm's William Street office, Liang will also provide support to other Savills' divisions.
Liang formerly worked in property management for Ironfish and is currently undertaking a Master of Property degree at the University of Melbourne. She is a fluent Mandarin and Cantonese Speaker.
</body></html>

Shammi Liang appointed at Savills research team

<html><body>
NAME: Robert Lawson <img src="/images/2014/08/05/Robert-Lawson-aug-5-profile.png" alt="" style="float: right;">
POSITION: Raine &amp; Horne Commercial WA associate director, Commercial Property Management
COMPANY: Raine &amp; Horne 
OFFICE LOCATION: Subiaco
How long have you been in the industry?
In total, about eight years.
What’s happening in the area you specialise in? 
Tenant consolidation and retention. So we're trying to retain tenants during a tight market - negotiating to retain them rather than having vacancies. 
Describe the most interesting commercial property you have worked on.
They're all intrinsically different, all set with their own challenges and rewards. From the simplest little office to the largest industrial, you can take pieces from all of them. I get a buzz out of all and sundry.
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
Tough skin, not taking things personally; being organised and trying to get ahead of the curve sometimes.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
The best part of it would be being able to deal with people from all walks - you're dealing with contractors, you're dealing with tenants, you're dealing with owners, you're dealing with lawyers - and the things you learn along the way, because you're dealing with all sorts of people.
Where would you invest a spare $750,000?
It would have to be commercial property.
Which football team do you support?
Fremantle.
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?
I'm not all up on the techno stuff. It'd have to be the mobile email.
How do you use social media?
Limited, don't use it much at all.
</body></html>

In profile: Raine & Horne Commercial WA's associate director of commercial property management, Robert Lawson

<html><body>
When the wearable technology revolution arrived in Australia, it chose Bendigo. More specifically, a Bendigo cafe.
Last week, chief executive of Bendigo Bank subsidiary Community Telco Australia David Joss bought afternoon tea with his Samsung Gear 2 smart watch.
The payment was made through a new Bendigo and Adelaide Bank mobile payment system called 'redy', which has a patent pending. The system, which was launched in June, allows customers to use an app on their compatible smart phone to scan a code displayed on the cashier's Samsung tablet. While doing so, customers earn credits which they can donate to a charity of their choice - what Bendigo Bank head of Customer Lead Connections Andrew Cairns calls "the digital version of dropping some cash into a collection tin".
According to Bendigo Bank's executive customer voice Marnie Baker, the bank believes it's "the first to launch a wearable payments solution that fully completes a transaction".
"We have been able to do this because of the unique way that we have developed the redy payment solution using QR codes at the point of sale.”
At the point of sale, the wearer opens the app on their device (in this case, a watch), the merchant creates a unique QR code for the purchase and the offer is sent to their customer, who scans the code to accept the offer. According to the bank, the transaction is "highly secure" as the merchant never captures any personal information about the buyer.
Chief executive of Bendigo Bank subsidiary Community Telco Australia David Joss, who was the one to make the purchase with his Samsung Gear 2 watch, more and more wearable technologies are expected enter the market.
"Just as mobile phones are becoming more commonplace as payment devices, there is little doubt that wearable technology is the next extension of the customer’s mobility experience," said Joss.
“Although only released for the Samsung Gear 2 at this stage, we will continue to develop for wearable technologies as they continue to enter the market.
“We have an extensive roadmap of developments that will be released through redy over time.”
Bendigo Bank has signed an agreement with Samsung to continue to develop mobile payment processes. Baker said the redy system united the bank's community building initiatives with "cutting edge technology".
"Our bank is built on responding to customer needs and helping its communities to prosper and here we have a device that does both by enabling customers to donate a percentage of the redy transaction fee to the charity or cause of their choosing," said Baker.
"We are leveraging the power of aggregated micro-payments to help communities source new funding streams via a form of crowd funding.
Bendigo also offers a small, mobile EFTPOS device for business called microPay. The pocket sized card reader connects to any available network and allows business owners to make EFTPOS transactions away from their main point of business.
</body></html>

Tea time: Australia's first wearable transaction

<html><body>
The former Parker Furniture warehouse in Sydney's Rosebery is set to become 31 one, two and three bedroom apartments.
All 31 of the apartments have been sold.
Construction has commenced on the site at 755-759 Botany Road, which Knight Frank NSW project marketing director Craig Moore says is due for completion in early 2015.
<img src="/images/2014/08/06/roseberry-aug-6-breakout-2.jpg" alt="">
"This stunning complex is rich with history, being on the former site of the original Parker Furniture Warehouse, a renowned Australian furniture designer with a flawless reputation for design, manufacturing and retail," says Moore.
“With this in mind, the Parker Residence has been superbly developed by LivStyle Group and designed by award winning architect, Environ Studio.
“Each apartment encourages open-plan living with stylishly appointed interiors, showcasing attention to detail alongside premium finishes which have been handpicked to create a contemporary and sophisticated space."
The first level of apartments feature private courtyards, while the top floor residences have private rooftop terraces and gardens. Most of the Parker Residence units have north-west facing balconies.
Parker Residence is located within walking distance of the Green Square railway station, with nearby schools, restaurants and pubs.
The development will include two retailers with a courtyard, elevated parking for cars and bicycles and is situated six kilometres from the Sydney CBD.
</body></html>

Construction begins on sold out Parker Furniture warehouse conversion in Rosebery

<html><body>
The average holiday rental property is rented for an average weekly rate of $1,143 for 23 weeks a year, according to a new report from a holiday rental website.
The <a href="https://www.stayz.com.au/" target="_blank">Stayz</a> report says the average traveller takes two to three domestic holidays a year for an average of five nights at a time, with 53% of holiday makers traveling with their family.
According to Stayz marketing director David Dunstan, travelers may have used caravan parks or motels in the past, but are increasingly turning to holiday homes for accommodation.
“This is reaping rewards for property managers or private owners," said Dunstan.
"The average holiday home is netting over $1,000 a week with an average occupancy rate of 23 weeks per year. That’s not a bad return on investment!” 
But according to Dunstan, fewer than half of holiday rental owners generate profits after maintenance and mortgage expenses. However, he does predict further growth for the sector. 
Travelers tend to plan well in advance, a habit rental property owners should take into consideration, commented Dunstan.
“Stayz sees enquiries for summer holidays spike in July and August so property owners and managers need to make sure their holiday rentals are listed as early as six months in advance of peak season to make sure they capitalise on that.
“Word-of-mouth recommendations and personal experience are also important to building trust and we know that once people have a good experience, they are likely to return to the same property again in the future – sometimes multiple times.” 
Dunstan said that some locations were more popular than others on the website, with a strong preference for beachside holidays.
“We have a reputation for being sun-lovers and our bookings bear that out,” he said.  
“Beach breaks are by far still the most popular holiday option for Australian travellers with floods of visitors descending on coastal towns like Surfers Paradise, Port Douglas, Terrigal, Lorne and Fremantle every year to enjoy the sun, sand and surf.” 
The Stayz website sees about 14 million visitors each year.
</body></html>

Average holiday home occupied for 23 weeks a year: Stayz

<html><body>
Interest rates will remain at record lows for another month, with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) choosing not to change the overnight cash rate of 2.5%.
The cash rate has remained at 2.5% since August 2013.
The decision will come as no surprise to property industry commentators, with <a href="/expert-insights/finance/start-planning-for-a-rate-rise-finder-com-au">all 20 experts surveyed by finder.com.au</a> predicting the cash rate would stay on hold this month.
Property Observer's editor at large Jonathan Chancellor told finder.com.au that the RBA prefers to "let the economy look after itself as much as possible".
"We probably won't see any shift until 2015 when it will most likely be upwards," he said.
According to LJ Hooker chief executive Grant Harrod, the RBA's decision will keep demand from investors at a strong level.
“It’s a finely balanced domestic economy that has made the RBA reluctant to shift its current ‘neutral’ monetary policy position,” says Harrod.
“It now looks likely interest rates will remain on hold for the rest of the year, barring any unforeseen events and it should boost consumer confidence as we approach spring.
“There is some speculation rates could be dropped even further if the Australian dollar remains high.”
Harrod doesn't expect that rising house prices will cause the Reserve Bank to increase interest rates, so long as inflation remains in the 2-3% target range and the unemployment rate continues at under 6%.
“Price growth has helped boost construction activity and in turn economic growth in general which is essential as we adjust to the fall in mining investment,” says Harrod.
RP Data research director Tim Lawless says the decision comes as value growth continues across the housing market at a moderated pace, with RP Data reporting a 1.1% increase in dwelling values over the quarter to June.
"Although the rate of growth is slowing, policy makers, including the RBA, are likely to be keeping a close eye on the ongoing increases in home values across the two largest cities (Sydney and Melbourne)," says Lawless.
He predicts that the cash rate will remain unchanged until next year.
"It is looking increasingly like the official cash rate will remain at its low setting, at least for the remainder of this year, which should continue to support housing demand.
"Capital gains over the past 12 months were recorded at 10.2% across the combined capital cities, however we are expecting growth rates to moderate over the coming months as natural affordability constraints and low rental yields in the largest capital cities work to slow the rate of capital gains," Lawless notes.
Photo courtesy of Newtown grafitti/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>.
</body></html>

A year of record low rates as RBA leaves cash rate at 2.5%

<html><body>
Borrowers should begin planning ahead for a rate rise, according to comparison website finder.com.au.
Experts surveyed by <a href="https://finder.com.au">finder.com.au</a>, including senior economists from the big four banks, all agreed that the cash rate will most likely remain on hold at 2.5% this month.
The majority of the 20 respondents to finder.com.au's survey expect the cash rate to increase next year, with two experts predicting that rates will rise before the end of 2014.
Seven of the 17 experts who predicted a rate rise for 2015 believe it will happen in the first half of the year, while six think it won't come until after June 2015. Three were undecided, while one did not comment.
A senior economist from Commonwealth Bank and an expert from Urbis both expect rates will rise before 2015.
According to Michelle Hutchison, money expert at finder.com.au, interest rates will likely increase by 1.5 percentage points from next year.
“While lenders are competing harder to lock in borrowers with a fixed home loan, the finder.com.au monthly Reserve Bank Survey shows that we can expect to see interest rates rise to a new normal level of 150 basis points higher from next year," says Hutchison.
“Most of our experts believe the cash rate won’t reach the historical average of about 5%, but rather reach around 4%, which is 150 basis points above the current cash rate of 2.50%. And with 17 out of the 20 respondents betting on rates to start their way up from next year, borrowers need to ensure they can afford the extra cost.”
The website's database shows that more lenders have dropped the rates on their five-year fixed loans to under 5% this week, following NAB, Commonwealth and Westpac which all dropped their rates to 4.99% following last week's CPI announcement.
St George Bank, Citibank and St George Bank have all reduced their five-year fixed rates to 4.99%. Newcastle Permanent now offers a 4.95% rate on its five-year fixed loan, and Mortgage House's five year product is offered at a 4.97% interest rate.
Hutchison says borrowers should take advantage of the low rate deals before they change.
“Interest rate hikes are on the horizon and look set to start rising very soon, so borrowers need to start preparing now before it’s too late. For instance, variable rate borrowers with a $300,000 mortgage will need to factor in an extra $300 per month to keep up with repayments should their interest rate increase by 150 basis points," she says.
“Fixed home loan rates are among the lowest levels we’ve ever seen so if you are concerned about rising rates and higher repayments, it could be worthwhile locking in before these potential savings are gone.
“We calculated that borrowers with a $300,000 mortgage who switch from the average variable rate of about 5.50 percent to the lowest five-year fixed rate of 4.95 percent, could save almost $16,000 in five years if variable rates rise by 150 basis points," explains Hutchison.
</body></html>

Start planning for a rate rise: Finder.com.au

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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

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

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News