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How well do you know House Rules? For today’s Friday Trivia, we test your reno reality TV recall.
<ol>
<li>Which two couples are in the final? 
</li>
<li>Which couple received the worst scores in the first challenge? 
</li>
<li>What is Maddi’s former profession? 
</li>
<li>Which House Rules contestants own this house? <img src="/images/2014/06/27/ruling-house-june-27-breakout.jpg" alt="House Rules contestants hardly on struggle street, say critics"> 
</li>
<li>How many children do Brooke and Grant have? 
</li>
<li>What far-north town do Maddi and Lloyd call home? 
</li>
<li>Adam and Lisa received a little too much of what décor feature when their house was renovated? 
</li>
<li>Which House Rules couple has split since the show finished? 
</li>
<li>What did Bomber and Mel try, and fail, to install in Brooke and Grant’s boys’ bedroom? 
</li>
<li>What stalled Maddi and Lisa back in the first challenge? </li>
</ol>
The answers are on the next page. 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Think you know the show? See if you got your answers correct below.
<ol>
<li>
Which two couples are in the final? Adam and Lisa and Carole and Russell have both made it to the <a href="/expert-insights/building/who-will-you-vote-for-in-the-house-rules-grand-final">final challenge of </a><a href="/expert-insights/building/who-will-you-vote-for-in-the-house-rules-grand-final">House Rules</a>. 
</li>
<li>
Which couple received the worst scores in the first challenge? Adam and Lisa were the first round losers, thanks to a burnt orange and khaki green entrance and unfinished rooms. 
</li>
<li>
What is Maddi’s former profession? Maddi is a <a href="/expert-insights/building/swimwear-model-maddis-shoe-room-overhaul-as-house-rules-hits-tropical-pallarenda-townsville">former swimwear model. </a> 
</li>
<li>
Which House Rules contestants own this house? <img src="/images/2014/06/27/ruling-house-june-27-breakout.jpg" alt="House Rules contestants hardly on struggle street, say critics"> West Australian grandparents Russell and Carole <a href="/expert-insights/building/house-rules-contestants-hardly-on-struggle-street-say-critics">own this Halls Head home</a>, currently on the market for $1.17 million. 
</li>
<li>
How many children do Brooke and Grant have? Brooke and Grant have seven children between them. They all <a href="/expert-insights/building/tasmanias-biggest-bedroomed-home-listings-for-house-rules-brady-bunch-style-families">share a home in Tasmania</a>. 
</li>
<li>
What far-north town do Maddi and Lloyd call home? Maddi and Lloyd are Townsville residents. 
</li>
<li>
Adam and Lisa received a little too much of what décor feature when their house was renovated? The Melbourne couple asked for wallpaper in their House Rules – and their fellow contestants were <a href="/expert-insights/building/the-wallpaper-house-rules-in-home-decorating-he-said-she-said">more than forthcoming</a>, rolling out reams of clashing wall coverings for all over the house. 
</li>
<li>
Which House Rules couple has split since the show finished? Candy and Ryan have confirmed they are no longer a couple. 
</li>
<li>
What did Bomber and Mel try, and fail, to install in Brooke and Grant’s boys’ bedroom? Bomber and Mel made a valiant attempt at installing a rock climbing wall in Brooke and Grant’s house. Unfortunately, they didn’t factor in fall space, so were forced to go with a few “rocks”, before installing antlers on the wall. 
</li>
<li>
What stalled Maddi and Lisa back in the first challenge? Neither Maddi nor Lisa could drive the manual cars provided for them in the first challenge. The two women received a few driving lessons, before Channel Seven took pity on them and swapped their cars for auto versions.
</li>
</ol>
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

How closely were you watching? House Rules trivia

Don’t expect housing prices to always rise: Glenn Stevens

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A new report shows that home insurance companies are more profitable than banks in Australia.
The Fire Services Levy Monitor Allan Fells has called for greater competition in the industry.
“Insurance companies in Australia are more profitable than banks and this suggests an absence of effective competition. One of the things that would help drive effective competition is for consumers to be better informed,” said Fells.
Fells found that insurance consumers don’t have easy access to their coverage level, with no information about their risk assessment from insurance companies.
He called for a number of measures to improve transparency in the industry, including requirements that insurance companies:
<ul>
<li>Explain premium price changes when policies are up for renewal.</li>
<li>Provide more accessible information about what consumers are covered for under a policy and what they are not covered for.</li>
<li>Explain how they assess an individual’s risks like bushfire, flood and burglary – eg low, medium, high, very high risk.</li>
<li>Clearly indicate any statutory charges (eg stamp duty, GST, fire services levy), detailing them separately to the basic premium cost in the quote or invoice.</li>
<li>Explain what additional charges might be incurred as a result of choosing to pay insurance in instalments.</li>
</ul>
Source: The Office of the Fire Services Levy Monitor
According to Fells, Australia’s home insurance industry also need mandatory short form Product Disclosure Statements.
“Information about what is covered in the policy is often buried in a Product Disclosure Statement that are typically over 50 pages long,” said Fells.
“Other financial services products are subject to requirements to provide a more consumer-friendly, short-form Product Disclosure Statement.”
The Consumer Action Law Centre say the new report exposes “high profits, poor product and price disclosure and a severe lack of competition”.
Gerard Brody, chief executive of the Consumer Action Law Centre, says many people are paying too much for their home insurance due to industry practices, with the insurance industry promoting a false image of market competition by offering many brands.
“While there are many insurance brands in the marketplace, most consumers would not be aware that many brands are dominated by key insurers. The report finds that just three insurers—Suncorp Group, Insurance Australia Group, and QBE—had over 70% of the Victorian residential insurance in market in 2012-13,” says Brody.
He says consumers face difficulties comparing products due to complex and lengthy disclosure forms and unfair contract terms.
“For competition to be effective, we need simple products which can be easily compared with other policies. Comparing product disclosure statements is time consuming, difficult and, frankly, beyond the capabilities of many people,” says Brody.
"Policy terms and exclusions also need to be fair. We’ve seen a caravan insurance policy which said the owner wasn’t covered if the caravan was being towed. This type of ridiculous term can be hidden away in a policy document which is why it’s so important to understand your policy,” he says.
“But if consumers have to go through each contract with a fine tooth comb looking for hidden terms, they’re just going to tune out.”
The Consumer Action Law Centre receives a distribution of over-collected fire services levies, as agreed between the Fire Services Levy Monitor and insurers.
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Big profits, bad disclosure in home insurance industry

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Voting is now open to decide the winner of House Rules Season Two.
Last night, Melbourne couple Adam and Lisa proved they are underdogs no more, taking the first spot in the top two for the series grand finale.
They’ll be competing against Perth grandparents Carole and Russell, after couple-no-longer Candy and Ryan were eliminated in a challenge to renovate a holiday home into a Barnardos Australia charity home for foster families.
Carole and Russell have borne the brunt of recent criticism over the authenticity of House Rules’ contestants’ “Aussie battler” status with the <a href="/expert-insights/building/house-rules-contestants-hardly-on-struggle-street-say-critics">discovery of their $1.17 million canal-front home</a>, which is currently on the market. They narrowly beat out Candy and Ryan by just one point, scoring 17 out of 20 for this challenge.
The two teams experienced plenty of distracting drama this week, with Candy and Ryan forced to redesign a room after the Western Australian team changed their minds about the design of a shared wall. Candy and Ryan failed to complete several zones of the home, following Candy’s dramatic hours-long storm off site.
Lisa and Adam received a 9/10 score from both judges, Joe Snell and Wendy Moore.
Now, Lisa and Adam are set to transform a “secret room” in Russell and Carole’s home, while the West Australian couple will travel to Melbourne to do the same at Lisa and Adam’s house.
The judges will score each room out of 10, making up 50% of the final tally for the teams. The remaining half will come from public voters, who are asked to vote for a team based on their work throughout the season at the<a href="https://au.tv.yahoo.com/house-rules/vote/" target="_blank"> show’s website</a>. 
Voting opened at 11:15pm last night and will close at 4:30pm this Sunday 6 July. There is a limit of 10 online votes per person. The winning team will have their mortgage paid off.
Who will you be voting for?
{module Which team deserves to win House Rules?}
Photo courtesy of Channel 7.
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Who will you vote for in the House Rules grand final?

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For those who are after a fancier breed of farms, there are plenty of Australian truffieres on the market.
Earlier this week, New South Wales farmer found a whopping 1.172 kilogram black truffle, taking Title Tattle on a trip through the NSW Southern Highlands for <a href="/news/southern-nsw-truffle-producing-properties-where-to-buy-into-the-truffiere-trend">other truffle bearing properties</a>.
But there are truffle farms to be found all across the southern half of Australia, if you (or your pig) know where to look.
Victoria
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-apollo+bay-115631335" target="_blank">415 Sunnyside Road, Apollo Bay</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/07/03/2.jpg" alt=""> This Apollo Bay truffle farm offers about a hectare of 200 oak trees, each inoculated with Pernigold Black Truffle in 2001. Sunnyside Road has been producing black truffles for the past seven winters, with 30 kilograms of truffles harvested last year.
Owners Mikhiala Slade and Steve Earl, of the nearby restaurant La Bimba, moved into the 36 hectare property in early 2010, using a Wessex saddleback (pictured below), to sniff out the treasured truffles that were already harvested on the property. In 2011, Earl told The Australian that Dolores the pig identifies hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars’ worth of truffles every year. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/07/03/2a.jpg" alt="">
The main residence is a double storey cedar construction home, with three bedrooms and, of course, an impressive kitchen. There’s also a two bedroom self-contained home on the property, for visiting relatives and friends.
The farm has plenty of other crops aside from the truffles – there is a berry patch, a vegetable garden and orchard with pear, apple, lemon, plum, quince, persimmon and kiwi fruit trees.
The sprawling estate also stocks a 45 heads of cattle and a flock of sheep. Beyond the main farm, there are fern gullies and pools, complete with stone paths and picnic areas. Slade and Earl are hoping for $2.35 million for their estate.
Tasmania
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-tas-westbury-7660367" target="_parent">Tulloch Lodge, 1 Dexter Street, Westbury</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/07/03/4.jpg" alt=""> While Gai Waterhouse’s Tulloch Lodge may be a little better-known than this one, Tulloch Lodge in Tasmania is also a high class horse haven.
The estate at 1 Dexter Street, Westbury currently operates as a dressage establishment, with an Olympic sized arena, six stables and a wash bay, with horse safe fencing and shelter for every paddock.
A single storey colonial homestead sits on the property, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
The 3.57 hectare estate also holds a full sized tennis court and a 700 tree truffle orchard.  It’s located on the outskirts of Westbury, a 1,476 person strong town 30 kilometres west of Launceston. The farm is on the market for $695,000.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
South Australia
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-sa-montacute-113841815" target="_blank">Montacute</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/07/03/1.jpg" alt=""> This 10 acre farm doesn’t just grow truffles, but also two acres of Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc grape vines, which are used to create the property’s unique vintage, providing for, as the listing says, “the budding vigneron”.
There are other natural fruit trees on the property, including cherry trees.
The farm’s recently renovated homestead has five bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a vast open plan living and dining area. Outside, there’s a woodfire pizza oven – perfect for cooking your own truffle-adorned pizzas while you sip some of your own personal vintage of Sauvignon Blanc.
The Montacute farm is on the market for $799,950.
Western Australia 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-wa-pemberton-7653163" target="_parent">7721 Stirling Road, Pemberton</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/07/03/5.jpg" alt=""> The state that hosted the annual <a href="https://www.trufflekerfuffle.com.au/" target="_blank">Truffle Kerfuffle</a> festival just last weekend is home to plenty of truffle farms.
This truffiere in the south West Australian town of Pemberton is one such property. Five years ago, the owners planted 50 oaks infused with truffles on the property. According the Australian Truffle Growers Association, “black diamonds” commonly begin to appear about four or five years after planting, depending on the technology used, which means that the buyer might be in for quite the housewarming gift.
There is also a small orchard on the property, and plenty of grazing room for future livestock. Like the Montacute farm, there is also a small vineyard on site, with a purpose built wine shed that has allowed the owners to produce their own wines. With three dams on site and water flowing all year, this West Australian farm offers plenty of agricultural prospects for the future owners.
The 27 hectare farm also contains a solar powered timber mill cottage, with water and valley views. It’s on the market with mid $700,000 expectations.
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On the hunt for Australia's truffle farms

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A new Sydney to Hamilton Island flight service coincides with the launch of a brand new Whitsundays luxury resort.
Tourist spending in the Whitsundays increased to $706 million last year, up 14%. Acting Minister for Tourism Tracy Davis is optimistic about the future of the region, with the new Qantas flights and the newly launched One&amp;Only Hayman Island resort.
“Qantas’ decision to commence two return weekly services between Sydney and Hamilton Island will open the skies to more than 10,000 additional visitors a year,” said Davis.
“Both Qantas and resort operator One&amp;Only clearly believe the future’s bright for tourism in Queensland and I certainly agree with them.
“The Queensland government’s 20-year plan for tourism, Destination Success, outlines the need to deliver quality experiences that delight customers – and that’s exactly what’s happening today in the Whitsundays.
“We have a strong plan for a brighter future and we’re working hard to achieve our goal of doubling annual overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020.”
Vistors to the Whitsunday increased 7% last year, to 687,000, according to local Member Jason Costigan.
“This is the beginning of an exciting new tourism era for a place that I call Paradise with increased access into the region and the opening of the new luxury One&amp;Only resort,” Costigan said.
“My electorate warmly welcomes visitors to our magnificent backyard and the support they will give to local businesses,” he said.
Lyell Strambi, chief executive of Qantas Domestic, said the flights now allow passengers from Sydney to enjoy “direct access to one of the country’s most iconic holiday destinations.”
“Our new service also gives these customers a premium aviation product to complement Jetstar’s existing flights as part of our two-brand strategy,” said Lyell.
Hayman Island is owned by Mulpha Australia, who invested $80 million into the private island resort, and managed by Kerzner International. This is the first Asia Pacific venture for One&amp;Only, which has resorts in Mexico, Dubai, South Africa, the Bahamas, Mauritius and the Maldives.
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Qantas' new flight service to bring tourists to Hayman Island

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An art deco icon of the Great Ocean Road, the Lorne Theatre, sold to an anonymous buyer.
The theatre, built in 1937, was offered for the first time since it was purchased by the vendors in the 1960s, with vendors <a href="/expert-insights/buying/iconic-lorne-theatre-up-for-auction-tomorrow-with-2-5-million-plus-hopes">expecting bids over $2.5 million</a>.
Some Lorne residents have been worried that the sale will bring an end to the landmark cinema. While the theatre was on the market, a public meeting with Heritage Victoria was held to discuss potential development on the site.
Prior to the sale, selling agent Shaun Venables of Burgess Rawson told Property Observer that developers were among the potential buyers, but that most were keen to retain some aspect of the theatre’s heritage.
“Most of the developers we’ve spoken to are sympathetic to the theatre’s current use – they’re considering redevelopment, rather than development,” Venables told Property Observer.
According to Venables, the 530 seat theatre had only been filled once in the past 25 years.
The cinema’s lease is due to finish in 2016, with the operators paying $78,180 a year in rent. The 715 square metre corner site has 56 square metres of dual frontage onto the Great Ocean.
Meanwhile, another Lorne site with development potential and Great Ocean Road frontage is currently on the market.
Colliers International’s Jonathan Lumsden and Andrew Lewis are selling a 3,480 square metre site at 14-16 Great Ocean Road, a three minute drive from the Lorne Theatre.
The Residential 1 zoned plot with a 1980s style five bedroom, two bathroom house at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-lorne-501171687" target="_blank">14-16 Great Ocean Road</a> (pictured below) will be auctioned this Saturday.
<img src="/images/2014/07/02/colliers.JPG" alt="">
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Iconic Lorne Theatre sold

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The latest results from the <a href="https://myrpdata.com" target="_blank">RP Data-Rismark Home Value Index</a> are, as usual, packed with useful information for property investors.
Here are 10 figures you should keep an eye on:
<ol>
<li>
1% With 1% capital growth for homes over the three months to June, Sydney was the best performing capital city last quarter. 
</li>
<li>
-2.4% Melbourne has the dubious honour of taking out the bottom spot for capital growth, with homes falling 2.4% over the last quarter. 
</li>
<li>
$328,250 Hobart’s median dwelling price of $328,250 makes it the most affordable capital city market in the country. 
</li>
<li>
6.1% The highest rental yields for any capital city were found in Darwin, with a yield of 6.1% for houses and 5.9% for units. 
</li>
<li>
3.4% Despite dwelling values increasing by 23.1% since the end of May 2012, Sydney’s showed relatively modest long term growth. Its home values have only increased by 3.4% per year for the past 10 years. It’s the second lowest rate of annual growth of any capital city, just ahead of Hobart at 2.2%. 
</li>
<li>
$468,000 The median unit price for Melbourne i<a href="/news/vic/what-can-you-buy-for-melbourne-s-median-unit-price">s now $468,000</a>.  Some commentators, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/melbourne-residential-unit-market-oversupplied-and-its-going-to-get-worse-terry-ryder">including Observer Terry Ryder</a>, think Melbourne’s unit market is plagued by oversupply, with property values to fall in the future.  
</li>
<li>
4.3% Melbourne has the lowest yields of any capital city, with gross yields averaging 3.4% for houses and 4.3% for units. 
</li>
<li>
10.6% The middle 50% of the capital city market is showing the highest rate of annual change of any market segment, with 10.6% increase in dwelling values over the past year. Values for the lowest end of the market are up 8.8%, while the most expensive markets increased 10.3%. 
</li>
<li>
7.0% Brisbane home values have increased 7% in the past twelve months. RP Data says that after “relatively sedate” conditions in the city, values are now “gathering some pace.” 
</li>
<li>
5.6% Adelaide saw the smallest capital gain in the current growth cycle, with home values increasing just 5.6% since the most recent market trough. 
</li>
</ol>
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Property values: 10 numbers to know

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Foreign investment into Australian real estate has attracted more attention than almost any other housing issue in recent times.
Some believe that foreign investors are responsible for rising home prices. Others, like Malcolm Gunning of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales, claim foreign investors are helping Australia’s economy.
Property Observer asked the experts, "What should be done about property investment from foreign buyers?"
Terry Ryder, Hotspotting.com.au founder<img src="/images/2014/07/02/Terry-Ryder-profile.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
Nothing. There is nothing Australia needs to do about foreign investment in Australian real estate.
This is a non-issue. Foreign investment is a minor part of the total property buying landscape and is generally confined to high-rise apartments in the inner-city areas of the major capital cities, plus the Gold Coast.
The claim that they are pricing young Australians out of home ownership is quite ridiculous. Foreign investors (for foreign, read Chinese) are not buying in the same areas as typical first-home buyers. They buy prestige homes and high-rise inner-city apartments.
As I have commented in the past, some people have an issue with foreign investment but only when it comes from Asia. The last time this was an issue was in the 1980s when Japanese investors were active. Until recently, the biggest source of foreign investment in Australian real estate was the United States and no one had a problem with that.
The only step I would like to see taken on foreign property investors is to advise them that, in many cases, they are being sold dud real estate. Many are buying in the over-supplied inner-city markets of Melbourne and are likely to have a bad result. This could have repercussions for the wider market, as rents are likely to fall and prices may follow.
Shane Oliver, AMP Capital chief economist<img src="/images/2014/07/02/shane-oliver-profile.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
There’s less of an issue than many think. There probably are issues around it. And it’s right, I think, to look into whether it’s too easy for wealthy foreign investors to buy into our property market, but never live in the property, but never rent it out.
 I think it’s grossly overstated. These things seem to come up every time there’s a surge in property prices, and Australians like to look to rich people or foreign buyers as a cause.
It seems to me that we’re seeing a pretty normal cycle. Prices were low, interest rates are low, people go to the bank to borrow some money, the banks lend them money, they buy houses, prices go up.
If those things hadn’t happened, if we hadn’t seen the normal cycle dynamic and it was all foreign buying or SMSF [Self Managed Super Fund] buying, then I’d be concerned. But prices are picking up in places where there aren’t foreign buyers.
The bulk of Chinese buying is concentrated in particular suburbs. It tends to be in ritzy areas – in Sydney’s it’s the lower north shore and the eastern suburbs.
And they’re not the places where first home buyers are.
I think there’s a case to look at it, to see if it’s too easy. We have arrangements in Australia where we seem to encourage investment in our assets as a way to gain entry to Australia. So we need to see if those lead to a distortion in our property market.
The chief policy focuses to help the property market should be to decentralise our cities and our population, and to make land more freely available for development. 
This article continues on the next page. Please click below.
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Andrew Wilson, Domain Group senior economist, 2UE's The Property Hour expert<img src="/images/2014/07/02/wilson-profile.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
Much media attention has been directed recently to the level of foreign buyers of Australian real estate – particularly in regard to the Sydney housing market.
Sydney has experienced decade high prices growth the over the past 12 months as record low interest rates have improved affordability, released pent-up demand and activated investors chasing the re-emergence of capital gains.
The drivers of strong prices growth in Sydney and other capitals to a lesser degree have clearly been local changeover buyers and investors rather than has been suggested in some quarters, activity from foreign buyers, particularly from China.
The foreign investment rules are clear - investment in established residential real estate is restricted to those with some form of residency status and therefore by definition not foreigners. Foreigner investors may only buy new property or property that must be redeveloped as new within strict guidelines.
Foreign investment in new residential real estate however is a positive as it adds to the stock of housing which is a benefit in particular for the Sydney market where relatively high prices are a product of an underlying shortage of housing. And temporary resident students who purchase residential real estate add to local economic activity directly through the payment of tuition fees and indirectly as consumers.
Latest FIRB statistics reveal the small scale of foreign investment in Australian residential real estate with 11,668 transactions over the 2012-13 financial year which accounted for just 2.7 percent of total sales over that period.
Andrew Taylor, Juwai.com co-chief executive<img src="/images/2014/07/02/andrew-taylor-profile.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">
I think the debate about foreign investors is really misplaced anxiety about insufficient supply. I met a woman recently. She was Australian born, of Chinese descent. She told me that when she was property hunting, she got nasty looks at auctions from other buyers. Is that the kind of Australia we want to live in?     Here are the three facts that matter. First, the RBA says that foreign investment creates new housing supply for Australians, by making new construction possible. In a market that has long been starved by a housing shortage, that’s great news. It suggests if we are really worried about affordability, Australia needs more foreign investment, not less.    The second fact is that foreign investment in Australian real estate is actually plummeting. It fell by 18% between 2011 and 2013. That's according to the government's own statistics. What’s wrong with Australia that would cause almost one fifth of foreign investment dollars to abandon the country?
American, Singaporean and British investors all cut their investment by half or more. Among the top overseas investors, only the Chinese have not abandoned Australia. Without the Chinese, foreign investment in Australian property would be lower, supply would be lower and prices would be higher.    So, what should be done about foreign investors? We should welcome them into our country because they make more housing available and thus hold down prices for first home buyers.
This article continues on the next page.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The following is Patrick Bright's submission to the senate enquiry into foreign investment.
<img src="/images/2014/07/02/Patrick-Bright-porfifle.jpg" alt="" style="float: right;">Patrick Bright, EPS Property Search Director
I own a Sydney based real estate buyer’s agency, which has been operating since 2001. Over the last 13 years I have represented hundreds of clients and purchased more than $500 million worth of property for home buyers and investors.
As an Australian citizen I am greatly concerned about the current FIRB policy.
It allows foreigners to purchase:
• up to 100% of a new development that has FIRB approval;
• as many new properties as they like;
• established housing with few restrictions.
The question must be asked as to why the government has a policy in place that effectively imports additional pressure onto our housing market when the Housing Industry Association statistics consistently show that Australia has an undersupply of housing to meet the current demand which is already contributing to strong price rises.
The two main concerns I have with the current policy are that it's inflationary and that it will create a generation of renters which will result in other knock on social issues down the track.
There is no doubt that under the current arrangement we are seeing prices being pushed up higher and faster than they otherwise would be without foreign buyers thereby creating an inflationary effect; this is particularly evident in my home town of Sydney however statistics clearly show it’s happening in other states as well. Over the past decade, in particular since 2008 when the FIRB laws were changed to their current state, I have experienced increasing competition as a result of foreign buyers in the real estate market when buying established property.
The National Australia Bank Quarterly <a href="https://business.nab.com.au/quarterly-australian-residential-property-survey-q1-%202014-6136/" target="_blank">Australian Residential Property survey</a> statistics on foreign investment clearly correlate with my experiences with results consistently showing an increase in foreign investment. The latest quarterly survey released in April this year found “A big pick up in foreign buying activity was noted in the market for new property (especially in Queensland) and for established housing (especially in NSW). In terms of total demand, foreign buyers now account for just over 1 in 7 new properties and around 1 in 10 established homes.”
As a nation we have prided ourselves on giving all Australians a fair go. In contrast this current situation is pricing many would be Australian home buyers and investors seeking to secure their future out of the market. It is forcing many to rent now who would otherwise like to purchase and I strongly believe this has already started to increase the percentage of generation X and Y who will never buy a property diminishing for many the great Australian dream of owning their own home.
The flow on effects of the current policy must also be examined as we are likely to see a larger percentage of these generations become far more financially dependent on the government come retirement having not established the financial security of buying and paying off their own home.
Financial modelling for self funded retirees or retirees who need to rely on the age pension has the assumption that they have paid off their home. If they are still renting then it's likely they will require an additional million dollars in super or other investments (be that cash, shares or property) to fund their rental costs, for the rest of their lives. If they don't then it’s highly likely they will be dependent on some form of government housing or additional government financial support to pay their rent.
It's well understood that once families are dependent on welfare it often becomes generational. Clearly more people being dependent on Government financial support is not in Australia's short or long term interest.
My recommendations for adjustments to the policy are that:
<ol>
<li>
The percentage of property allowed to be sold to foreigners must be reduced to a less inflationary level of under 10% for each individual new development
</li>
<li>
Limits need to be put in place as to how many properties any given individual foreigner or corporations that are controlled by or have common foreign shareholders can purchase.
</li>
<li>
Remove the ability for foreigners to be able to purchase established property as this does not add to the housing market or boost the construction industry in any way, it just increases competition for Australian citizens and permanent residents.
</li>
</ol>
These improvements would still allow for some degree of foreign investment. It would also give Australian citizens who just can’t compete with wealthy foreigners the opportunity they deserve to enter the Australian property market as a home buyer or as an investor seeking to secure their own financial future so they will be less dependent on government when they retire.
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Exclusive: What should be done about foreign investment in Australian real estate?

<html><body>
Melbourne units sold for a median price of $468,000 for the quarter to June, according to RP Data.
The newly released figures in RP Data-Rismark’s Daily Home Value Index for June show that Melbourne units displayed 2.7% capital growth. However, with a 2.4% drop over the quarter to June, Melbourne units have seen no actual capital growth in the year to date.
Property Observer looks at some recent sales of townhouse villas, units and apartments to see what exactly $468,000 will buy you.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-prahran-117088995" target="_blank">6/8 Grandview Grove Prahran</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/02/1.jpg" alt="">
This one bedroom apartment with a car space is located in the inner south-eastern suburb of <a href="/news">Prahran</a>. It was sold for $468,000 last month.
The north facing apartment has a lounge, separate kitchen and dining area, and a double bedroom with built in robes.
In twenty years, it has more than quadrupled its value – the vendors purchased the home for $95,000 in 1994.
Price: $468,000
Bedrooms: One
Drive to CBD: 20 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-carrum-117002651" target="_blank">25A McLeod Road, Carrum</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/02/2.jpg" alt="">
Located in Melbourne’s south-east, this <a href="/news">Carrum</a> free-standing unit sold for $470,000 in June.
It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a separate lounge area.
The unit, with a double carport, shares the block with one other unit, and is within walking distance of the beach.
Price: $470,000
Bedrooms: Three
Drive to CBD: 43 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-pascoe+vale-116887055" target="_blank">3/385 Gaffney Street Pascoe Vale</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/02/4.jpg" alt="">
This single level brick unit sold for $465,000 at the beginning of June.
Located in the northern suburb of <a href="/news">Pascoe Vale</a>, the three bedroom home is close to the Pascoe Vale shops, train station, Citylink and in the <a href="/news">Strathmore</a> school zone.
Price: $465,000
Bedrooms: Three
Drive to CBD: 22 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-footscray-116809915" target="_blank">G05/277-287 Barkly Street Footscray</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/02/5.jpg" alt="">
In the fast-gentrifying inner Western suburb of <a href="/news">Footscray</a>, this ground floor apartment has two bedrooms and one bathroom. It sold for $465,000 last month.
Located in the Barkly Theatre Apartments, the open plan apartment has its own private outdoor entertaining areas, a galley style kitchen and secure parking.
Price: $465,000
Bedrooms: Two
Drive to CBD: 18 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-blackburn-116800915" target="_blank">2/194 Surrey Road Blackburn</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/02/6.jpg" alt="">
This eastern suburban unit sold for $460,000.
The brick villa with two bedrooms and one bathroom is within walking distance of <a href="/news">Blackburn</a> Village, the train station, primary schools and buses.
The vendors bought the unit for $315,000 in 2008. Price: $460,000 Bedrooms: Two Drive to CBD: 27 minutes
</li>
</ol>
</body></html>

What can you buy for Melbourne’s median unit price?

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

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