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The former contestant on The Voice Emma Birdsall performed at the launch of the newly refurbished Rendezvous Grand Scarborough last week.
The beachfront hotel, which sees around 20,000 guests each year has undergone a multi-million refurbishment. It was relaunched in a ribbon cutting ceremony by Premier Colin Barnett, with Far East Orchard chief executive Lucas Chow, group managing director of Toga Group Allan Vidor, Far East Hospitality chief executive Arthur Kiong and Toga Far East Hotels chief executive Rachel Argaman.
The hotel has hosted a variety of celebrities over its life, including Bono, Kylie Minogue, Tina Turner, Robbie Williams and Pearl Jam.
At the relaunch, The Voice’s Emma Birdsall was accompanied by a piano once played by Michael Jackson. The celebrations also featured a 1.5 metre high chocolate sculpture by Sisko Chocolate’s Christina Tantsis and celebrity chef Ian Burch of Melbourne’s Burch &amp; Purchese. French and Spanish couvuture chocolate was moulded to make a coastal inspired sculpture.
It was a fitting tribute to the Rendezvous Grand Scarborough, which has oceanfront event spaces. The 24th floor observation deck and suites have views over 32 kilometres of Perth’s coastline. The 300 capacity Mentelle room offers a view across the Indian Ocean thanks to floor to ceiling windows and an adjoining deck.
<img src="/images/2014/05/26/Rend%20Grand%20Hotel%20Perth%20Scarborough%20-Balcony%20view%205.jpg" alt="">
Toga Far East's Rachel Argaman said the group was "delighted to have been able to showcase our newly renovated hotel alongside WA’s food and wine, recognised as some of the best in the world".
"The relaunch of the hotel alongside the redevelopment of the Esplanade’s frontage will help to re-establish Scarborough as a vibrant destination for visitors and locals alike.”
Architects Tema International designed all 336 rooms and suites of the hotel, as well as a new club lounge on the 25th floor. The hotel has also added two new dining venues, the Straits Café and the Lobby Bar.
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Rendezvous Grand Scarborough launches with help from The Voice's Emma Birdsall

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Darwin’s median house price sat at $585,000 for the quarter to April, according to RP Data. 
Sitting just above the median price for all eight capital cities, the Northern Territory's capital was up 0.9% on RP Data-Rismark's Daily Home Value Index, and up 11.7% on a year to year basis. 
Property Observer looks at Darwin sales for the April quarter to see just what $585,000 will buy you in the city.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-moil-115444931" target="_blank">3 TERMANSEN STREET, MOIL</a>  <img src="/images/2014/05/26/main%207.jpg" alt=""> Marketed as an “entertainer’s paradise” by Active Reality, this three bedroom home sold for $575,000 earlier this month. The 1977 build is tiled throughout. Set on 742 square metres, the property features multiple outdoor entertaining areas including a large veranda and undercover spa. The buyers can expect to pay $350 per year in council rates. Price: $575,000 Bedrooms: Three Drive to CBD: 16 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-anula-115343803" target="_blank">12 DRIFFIELD STREET, ANULA <img src="/images/2014/05/26/2.jpg" alt=""> </a>
This four bedroom home was sold for $560,000, after the former owner went bankrupt. The property is located in the Northern Territory suburb of Anula, about 13 kilometres out from the CBD. The air conditioned home has floating timber boards through most of the house and a renovated bathroom. Council rates will set the new owners back $1,380 a year. 
Price: $560,000 Bedrooms: Four Drive to CBD: 15 minutes<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-anula-115343803" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-malak-115938615" target="_blank">5 NEATE COURT, MALAK <img src="/images/2014/05/26/3.jpg" alt=""></a> A house with a downstairs granny flat in Malak sold for $580,000 after a little over three months on the market. Situated on the end of a cul-de-sac, the two level house includes a granny flat on the lower level, with its own separate split level living space. The 819 square metres of land also includes an in ground swimming pool. Price: $580,000 Bedrooms: Four Drive to CBD: 17 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-leanyer-116036127" target="_blank">11 DOTTEREL COURT, LEANYER <img src="/images/2014/05/26/4.jpg" alt=""> </a>
This brick three bedder sold for $580,000. Set on 802 square metres, there is an in ground pool and covered outdoor entertaining area. Inside, the house is tiled throughout. Vendors purchased the home for $540,000 in 2010.
Price: $580,000 Bedrooms: Three Drive to CBD: 20 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-jingili-115875451" target="_blank">4 SANDERS STREET, JINGILI  <img src="/images/2014/05/26/5.jpg" alt=""></a> 
Going for $575,000, this home was sold by Simon Watts of Central Real Estate Darwin, who also sold 11 Dotterrel Court. This raised home is unrenovated, with original tiles, carpeted floorings and light fittings throughout. The three bedroom house was built in 1977 and held by the vendors for almost 30 years. Set on an 817 square metre block, buyers will be paying approximately $1,600 per year in council rates.
Price: $575,000 Bedrooms: Three Drive to CBD: 15 minutes
</li>
</ol>
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What can you buy for Darwin’s median house price?

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The number of investment property loans in Australia has grown by 37% in the past four years against an increase of only 4% in the number of owner occupied loans, according to Roy Morgan Research.
The Roy Morgan Research Consumer Single Source surveys approximately 50,000 people per year. The survey has found that in 2010, 954,000 Australians aged over 18 had an investment property loan. In 2014, an estimated 1.31 million Australians held a loan for an investment property. Over the same period of time, the number of Australians with an owner-occupied loan increased just 4%, from 4.66 million to 4.83 million.
Australians aged between 35 and 64 were the key drivers of the increase in investment property loans, accounting for 78% of the increase. According to Roy Morgan Research, 11.9% of Australians between the ages of 50 and 64 now hold an investment property loan, while 11.3% of 35 to 49 year olds have a loan out for their investment property.
Over the past four years, there has also been an increase in the number of Australians aged 50 and over who have a loan out on their home. The proportion of Australians between 50 and 64 years old who hold a home loan on their primary residence increased from 31.6% to 34% from 2010 to 2014. The number of under-35s with an owner-occupier home loan decreased over the same time period.
According to Norman Morris, industry communications director of Roy Morgan Research, government policy and the economy will be major factors in people’s decision to invest or take out a home loan.
“Older Australians will face the prospect of cuts to pensions, and with the proposal for the pension age being increased to 70, this could impact the investment property market,” he says.
“Younger Australians may continue to find it difficult to enter the property market either for investment or owner-occupied because for both types they are competing with more cashed-up older property buyers.
“The future of negative gearing, increased property investment by self-managed super funds and interest rates are some of the factors likely to play an important role in the attractiveness of borrowing for investment property in the future.” 
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Number of investment property loans jumps by 37% since 2010: Roy Morgan

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Some Queensland councils are charging higher rates to property investors than owner occupiers, prompting a public backlash led by television host and Destiny Financial Solutions director Margaret Lomas.
Brisbane City Council has publically admitted to using a “differential rating system based on property land use to levy general rates” in an exchange on Facebook with investor Andrew Hancock. Upon realising that the council was charging lower rates to owner occupiers, he posted the following on the Brisbane City Council’s Facebook page:
“Can anyone there please give a plausible reason why rates are charged differently to a property for a non-owner occupier as opposed to an owner occupier? I fail to see how there is a difference in providing the exact same service to the exact same property, other than a way to profiteer off owners who aren't owner-occupiers at this time.”
Brisbane City Council’s reply:
“Hi Andrew, thanks for getting in touch. Council uses a differential rating system based on property land use to levy general rates. This is done to ensure that properties that are the principle place of residence of their owners do not pay as much as those which are income producing. Income producing properties also have the advantage of being able to offset such expenses against taxation. Council’s principal motivation is to ensure, through its differential rating system, that the owner-occupied, single unit dwelling sector of the community contribute to a level that is affordable and value for money. If you require any further information, please Private Message me your contact details and I will organise to have a Rates Officer contact you. Thanks, Tom.”
Hancock responded, calling the council’s logic "absurd".
“If you were to apply it to every purchase made in society, everyone would be paying different prices for the same goods and services on everything, as most things are deductible in some way to someone depending on their profession,” he wrote.
“Should I pay more for sunglasses than the consumer next to me because they're deductible in my profession? Should my brother pay more for hair cuts because they're deductible in his?”  
Hancock’s issue caught the attention of Lomas, a Property Observer columnist and host of Sky News Business Channel’s Your Money, Your Call and Property Success with Margaret Lomas, who wrote the following on her<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Margaret-Lomas/171943506190564" target="_blank"> Facebook page</a> earlier today.
“I've known for some time now that in some QLD councils a higher charge is levied on council rates if you are an investor rather than an owner occupier. I admit I had not given much thought to this until I received an email from a ratepayer in Brisbane City Council.”
After copying in Brisbane City Council’s response to Andrew, she continued:
“The rate payer was appalled and frankly, so am I! There is simply no basis for this - the individual tax position of each property owner is of no concern to council, and I am sure the tax office would be interested to know that some councils are using our tax deductions as an excuse to profiteer! As this ratepayer pointed out, a person who can claim sunglasses as a deductible expense due to their job doesn't pay more for those sunglasses, and nor should we for our rates! “We must start an awareness campaign, and band together to force these money- grubbing councils to stop targeting property investors. Our presence in their area enhances property values and provides housing for their constituents, and we should not be penalised for that! “I don't know how you make a post go viral, but let's try to do that with this one and bring shame upon those councils involved in this inequitable and unfair practice!”
As of this afternoon, her post had attracted 53 ‘likes’ on Facebook.
 
This story continues on the next page.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Speaking to Property Observer, Lomas agreed with Hancock that there was no logic to the council’s stance.
“It’s purely revenue raising,” she said. “There’s no other point to it. The very weak argument given on Facebook is that the rates make housing more affordable for home owners. But there’s absolutely no reason that investors should have to fund owner occupiers.”
According to Lomas, investors in a particular council help support housing in that area.
“My view is that investors actually provide affordable housing, and also add to demand for property, increasing values. And since rates are rated against property values, they are actually assisting councils.”
Earlier this month, <a href="/expert-insights/finance/mackay-investors-win-as-supreme-court-judge-refuses-extra-council-rates-for-rental-owners">Queensland’s Supreme Court set aside a decision by the Mackay City Council</a> to charge property investors increased rates, following a class action suit from investors. 
Mackay City Council is reportedly considering an appeal to the decision. Lomas believes that the Supreme Court’s judgement is likely to affect other councils who use a differential rating system based on land use. While she is only aware of the practice in Brisbane City and Logan City, she says she “does not doubt it happens in other councils”.
It seems that differential rates for investors does occur in other local Queensland councils, with Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam telling The Morning Bulletin that "many councils presently use the differential rating power to categorise residential land based on whether it is used as a principal place of residence, or for investment purposes.” 
As for the council’s argument that the differential rating system is equitable because investors receive tax deductions that home owners do not, Lomas disagrees.
“The fact is that all property investors get different rates of tax reduction. So if they want to make it fair, your rates would have to be linked to the size of the deduction you get. [The practice] is very inequitable, even among property investors.”
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Margaret Lomas heads fight against higher council charges for investors

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After looking at the New South Wales border town of Albury last week, Property Observer turns the spotlight to its twin city, Wodonga.
Last year, Observer Terry Ryder <a href="/expert-insights/investing/diversity-is-the-key-to-residential-property-investment-success-terry-ryder">named Albury-Wodonga one of his hotspots</a>, thanks to its diverse economy and location.
“The city's location of the Hume Highway (and the main rail line) between Melbourne and Sydney, with good links also to Canberra, makes it strategically important,” he wrote. “Many transport and logistics businesses are based there.” 
According to the local government, Wodonga has a residential base of 36,629 people. The city recently made headlines after it was revealed to be the fastest growing major regional city in Victoria. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that Wodonga’s population grew by 2.1% in the year to June 2013. Wodonga council’s chief executive, Patience Harrington, told the ABC that the population boost largely came from a growing birth rate.
"We're seeing a lot more young children and young families in our city and certainly those older people in our population are also being sustained," Harrington said.
The city’s population is expected to exceed 50,000 by 2026 – roughly the size of New South Wales’ Wagga Wagga. Together with its twin city Albury, the area had a total population of 82,083 as of 2011.
Wodonga's major employers
<ul>
<li>Manufacturing: 16.5%</li>
<li>Health care and social assistance: 14.1%</li>
<li>Public administration and safety: 13.6%</li>
<li>Retail trade: 11.3%</li>
<li>Education &amp; training: 9.2%</li>
</ul>
Source: REMPLAN 2013
To cope with its growing population, a number of infrastructure investments have been made by the local and state governments. Last year, the Victorian government allocated $250,000 to <a href="/news/vic/victorian-government-injects-250-000-into-wodonga-growth-area-planning">assist the city’s plan for the Leneva-Baranduda growth corridor</a>. 
The government stimulus to link the urban areas of Wodonga to Baranduda via Leneva, south of the city, is intended to build houses for an additional 35,000 people, with 14,000 new homes. The infrastructure project is also projected to create 6,000 jobs in the area.
At its announcement, Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy said the growth corridor would “assist in supporting the commercial development of Wodonga’s CBD, where there is already a major urban renewal project underway”.
The city’s urban renewal projects include a $4.3 million road realignment project. The new saleyard at North Barnawartha, which are due to set the city back $25 million, is another major infrastructure project. The saleyard is set to be completed in December.
The city’s investment in infrastructure has not been without consequences for the area’s budget. The 567 hectare Logic industrial hub in Barnawartha North on the Hume highway has been a big spending point for the city. According to The Border Mail, the site was a major contributing factor to skyrocketing debt for the city. The city of Wodonga’s debt level jumped from less than $10 million in 2000-1 to nearly $33 million in 2006-07.
The city now has almost $31 million in debt, the second highest level of debt of any of the state’s regional centres. The Victorian auditor-general’s office has reportedly deemed the city at medium risk of longer-term financial sustainability since 2007-08.
To pay down debt, the local government has been attempting to sell its assets, including an old police station, park land and industrial land. Land at the Logic industrial site is currently being offered on a lot-by-lot basis.
The total value of construction in Wodonga in the 2012-13 financial year exceeded $145 million, according to local government figures. Manufacturing remains the largest employer in Wodonga, with 16.5% of the workforce devoted to manufacturing, followed by 14.1% in health care and social assistance. For 2008-09, the average annual wage in the city was $40,275, with a labour force of 19,615.
The number of occupied residences in 2012 was 14,480, out of a total 16,786 rateable residential properties.
The median house price for the greater Wodonga area was $215,000 for April this year, according to RP Data. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-wodonga-115851535" target="_blank">This three bedroom, one bedroom house</a> sold in April for $225,000.
<img src="/images/2014/05/22/wodonga.jpg" alt="">
The home in central <a href="/news">Wodonga</a> was previously let at $285 per week. It has polished floorboards throughout and sits on about 575 square metres of land. The owners bought the home for $127,500 in 2003.
Other articles in our suburb spotlight series:
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/suburb-spotlight-albury-market-is-steady-and-strong">Suburb spotlight: Albury market is "steady and strong"</a>
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/suburb-spotlight-melton-council-gearing-up-for-growth">Suburb spotlight: Melton council gearing up for growth</a>
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/suburb-spotlight-joondalup-adjusting-to-moderating-market">Suburb spotlight: Joondalup adjusting to moderating market</a>
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Creative Commons. 
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Suburb spotlight: Will Wodonga's big spend pay off?

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With the news that the Abbott government has <a href="/expert-insights/investing/first-home-saver-accounts-scrapped-what-now">scrapped the First Home Saver Accounts scheme</a> in its first federal budget, many account holders have been left confused about what will happen to their money.
Under the scheme, the government made a co-contribution of up to $1,020 on the first $6000 savers deposited each year. Account holders were also entitled to tax concessions but had restrictions on when they could access their money, which was only to be used for a payment on their first home. Before the budget changes, if savers wanted to withdraw the money in their First Home Saver Account, they had to meet a number of requirements.
Firstly, they had to contribute at least $1,000 a year to the account for at least four (non-consecutive) years, and they had to hold the account for at least four years. Even then, the money could only be withdrawn to pay for a home, unless you wanted to wait until you were 60 years old to access the money directly.
While the proposed budget changes have not been passed by Parliament, it doesn’t look likely that the Opposition will attempt to save the scheme.
If you hold a First Home Saver Account or were thinking of opening one, here’s what you need to know.
<ol>
<li>Accounts opened after 7:30pm on Tuesday 13 May will not be entitled to the government co-contribution or tax concessions. 
</li>
<li>Government co-contributions will now only be earned on deposits made until 1 July 2014. You will still receive your maximum co-contribution of $1,020 if you deposit $6000 for the 2013-14 year, but any deposits made after 1 July this year will not receive a co-contribution. 
</li>
<li>No more tax and social security concessions after 1 July 2015. For the 2013-14 and 2014-15 years any interest you earn on your accounts will be taxed at 15%, but after that, you will be taxed at the usual rate for your earnings. 
</li>
<li>Restrictions on withdrawals will be removed after 1 July 2015. First home savers accounts will be totally abolished on 1 July 2015. Treasurer Joe Hockey said, "As of 1 July 2015, account holders will be able to withdraw their account balances without restriction. Once the First Home Saver Accounts scheme is abolished from 1 July 2015, these accounts will be treated like any other account held with a relevant provider." This seems to mean that as of 1 July 2015, you can use the money in your First Home Saver Account for any purpose you like.
</li>
</ol>
To get more clarity on the status of your First Home Saver Account, contact your bank. 
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Four things you must know about the axed First Home Saver Accounts

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Housing affordability for first home buyers is a perpetually hot topic. Is there a problem with housing supply, or home buyer expectations? Has investor activity ruined the game for young buyers, or does Gen Y just need to learn how to save? 
While a lot of property commentators have something to say about the first home buyers issue, most bought their first home years ago. So Property Observer took the question to the experts: What would you purchase on a first home buyer’s budget?
To get an idea of what a typical first home buyer would have to work with, we took the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ average first home buyer loan size for March and added a 10% deposit. We arrived at the following budgets for our observers:
New South Wales: $352,880
Victoria: $325,710
Queensland: $317,680
South Australia: $275,440
Western Australia: $364,980
Tasmania: $233,420
Northern Territory: $377,200
Australian Capital Territory: $329,560 
Using the above price guides, four of our Observers have suggested properties on the market that they would purchase if they were first home buyers.
Read on to see what Hotspotting.com.au’s Terry Ryder, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia’s David Airey, Allen Wargent’s Pete Wargent and iProperty Plan’s Mark Armstrong picked.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
TERRY RYDER, FOUNDER OF HOTSPOTTING.COM.AU<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Terry-Ryder.png" alt="" style="float: right;">
Terry Ryder says he would go for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-edens+landing-116999987" target="_blank">this three bedroom home</a> (pictured below) at 16 Sandra-Ann Drive in <a href="/news">Edens Landing</a>, Queensland.
Listed at $329,000, it’s priced just a touch over our estimated average spend for a first home in Queensland of $317,000.
<img src="/images/2014/05/21/edens-landing-may-21-breakotu.jpg" alt="">
Ryder provided the following reasons for his pick:
<ul>
<li>Location in growth corridor between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.</li>
<li>Walk to train station, with links to Brisbane CBD and to the Gold Coast.</li>
<li>Easy access to Pacific Motorway and Logan Motorway.</li>
<li>Quiet, private residential area with solid standard of brick-and-tile housing.</li>
<li>Lots of choices of schools in the area.</li>
<li>Close to Beenleigh town centre.</li>
<li>Close to retail, including a new Bunnings and a new Woolworths.</li>
<li>Plenty of parkland and recreational choices in the area.</li>
<li>Area has a solid capital growth record, with strong rents and low vacancies.</li>
<li>House itself is low-maintenance with an entertainment area at the back (assuming we can trust the agents' blurb).</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Mark-Armstrong.png" alt="" style="float: right;">MARK ARMSTRONG, DIRECTOR OF iPROPERTY PLAN 
For a Victorian property, iProperty Plan director Mark Armstrong picked a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-thornbury-116867983" target="_blank">top floor apartment</a> in Melbourne’s <a href="/news">Thornbury</a>, pictured below.
The one bedroom, one bathroom apartment tucked away from Kemp Street has a private balcony and a secure parking.
<img src="/images/2014/05/21/2.jpg" alt="">
Armstrong says that the picked the property “because first home buyers need to think like first home investors and look for property that will have strong capital growth potential."
“This property is within 10 kilometres of Melbourne and is walking distance to shops, transport, bars/cafes and parkland. The property is elevated and has plenty of natural light and privacy and would provide comfortable accommodation.”
Another one bedroom, one bathroom apartment in Thornbury <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-thornbury-116240195" target="_blank">sold last month for $310,000</a> (pictured below). 
<img src="/images/2014/05/21/3.jpg" alt="">
Read on for more first home buyer picks from our Observers on the next page.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/David-Airey%2023.png" alt="" style="float: right;"> DAVID AIREY, PRESIDENT OF THE REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Working with a budget of $364,980, Airey chose a <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/15-moat-street-mandurah/Property-Details-buy-residential-7120661" target="_blank">three bedroom, one bathroom home in Perth’s Mandurah</a>, pictured below.
<img src="/images/2014/05/21/4.jpg" alt="">
“This property offers excellent value and lifestyle for a first time buyer,” says Airey.
“Although <a href="/news">Mandurah</a> is 80 kilometres from the Perth CBD, it has good freeway access and a fast commutable train service. Situated right in the heart of this seaside village, this property is just a short walk to the marina, shops, pubs, restaurant and cafe strip.
“At more than 800square metres, the block is perfect for raising a young family, growing some veggies or having a dog. It also offers good long-term capital growth. Although zoned as R20, there is plenty of space to add extra rooms in future or create an alfresco area out the back for entertaining.
“Mandurah is a city of 77,000 people and serviced with good schools, recreation and medical facilities. And all of this comes with a country lifestyle, a huge estuary for fishing and crabbing and cool ocean breezes in summer. A similar property on Perth’s northern beaches would be twice the price.
“The average annual growth rate in Mandurah over the last five years has been 0.0 per cent, as it struggled to recover from the market slump and GFC in 2008. However, REIWA data show that it achieved 3.4% growth in the year to December 2013, while more recent REIWA data indicates 7% growth for the March quarter this year. With recovery on the way, it’s a good time buy.”
<img src="/images/authors/fullbody/Pete-Wargent.png" alt="" style="float: right;">PETE WARGENT, DIRECTOR OF ALLENWARGENT
Pete Wargent recommended two <a href="/news">Blacktown</a> properties, to first home buyers, noting that the average first timer budget in Sydney is a little higher than the New South Wales average of $352,880.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/blacktown/Property-Details-buy-residential-7073129" target="_blank">This two bedroom single level villa</a>, pictured below, is priced from $350,000.
<img src="/images/2014/05/21/5.jpg" alt="">
Blacktown is located 36 minutes by train from the city. “If the budget is tight,” says Wargent, “drop down a notch.” He suggests this single storey home at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/43a-177a-reservoir-road-blacktown/Property-Details-buy-residential-6933231" target="_blank">43A/177A Reservoir Road as a cheaper alternative</a> (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/05/21/6.jpg" alt="">
“For $300,000 or under, look for a modern two bedroom unit,” he says. For those who are after something within 20 minutes of the CBD, Wargent would pick a property close to <a href="/news">Campsie</a> train station, “with low strata fees on a quiet, pleasant, leafy street.”
“Entry prices in Campsie range from $230,000 for a quality studio apartment up to $380,000 plus for a two-bedder,” says Wargent.
“A short train ride to the city, Campsie has a buzzing central strip, is gentrifying apace and within a few years will be the new Marrickville.
“People scoff when you make such assertions but that’s a recurring theme in real estate. They said that the suburbs in London’s east end would never gentrify.
“Even half a decade ago people told me when I’d bought in in the inner west in <a href="/news">Erskineville</a> - three kilometres from Sydney CBD - the suburb would be a “ghetto”, and years before that when I bought in <a href="/news">Pyrmont</a>, which is adjacent to the city, that suburb would be a “future slum”.
"Wrong, and I believe they’ll be wrong again about Campsie.”
Our Observers came up with stand alone houses, apartments, and semi-detached homes as close as seven kilometres and up to 72 kilometres away from the capital city centres for their first home buyer picks. What would you buy on a first home buyer's budget?
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Exclusive: First home buyer picks from the experts

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The country’s housing market remains a source of economic strength, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) May board meeting minutes.
Indicating strong growth in housing investment in the first half of 2014, dwelling approvals and commencements remain at high levels despite a recent decline. The RBA noted that housing price inflation had eased in past months from its recent “rapid pace”, citing softening auction clearance rates and stabilising housing loan approval numbers.
Demand for both established and new housing remains strong according to other indicators, including turnover, first home owner grants and loan approvals.
The board noted a lower than expected inflation outcome for the March quarter. This followed on from a “surprisingly high” quarterly inflation figure for December of 0.8%. Underlying inflation in the March quarter was around 2.5-2.75% in year-end terms. The board's forecast for underlying inflation remained consistent.
According to the RBA, the price increase for tradable goods was consistent with the depreciation of the exchange rate over the past year. Price inflation for non-tradables had softened to 3% in year-ended terms, markedly down from the 4% average of the past decade. The board cited declining wage growth over the preceding two years as a key factor in the decline.
Following late 2013’s pick-up in economic activity, indicators for labour market conditions showed some improvement. The unemployment rate was down for March, though it is unclear whether this is due to monthly volatility. However the board also noted strengthening employment growth and an apparently stabilising participation rate over the past few months.
Driven by strong export growth, economic activity increased over the previous six months. Economic growth is unlikely to continue at the same pace over the next few quarters, given that export growth is not expected to remain at the same high levels.
Growth in retail sales seems to have stabilised following strong increases at the beginning of the year. Household consumption remains supported by low interest rates and rising housing prices, with consumer sentiment staying around long-run average levels.
According to a number of surveys, business sentiment remains at average levels after climbing from mid-2013 lows. The board noted that business investment in construction could pick up, despite declines in non-residential building approvals in recent months.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth over 2014-2015 is expected to be slightly below trend, given the decline in mining investment and planned budgetary tightening. However, economic growth is expected to “pick up to an above-trend pace” in 2015-16 due to the contributions of non-mining business investment and liquefied natural gas exports.
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RBA notes strong housing market in May board minutes

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Brookfield Place Perth was named the Australian Development of the Year at the Property Council Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence awards last weekend.
The 45 storey office development also took home the SAS International Award for Best Office Development and S4B Studio Award for Best Heritage Development. Positioned in the centre of the Perth CBD, the development has about 74,500 square metres of premium grade commercial space, making it one of the country’s largest commercial office buildings.
Fitzpatrick + Partners in collaboration with Hassell Architects designed the project, which includes the refurbishment of five heritage buildings containing offices, restaurants, bars and fashion retailers. Construction of the development’s second tower is currently underway.
Other big winners at the gala dinner in Sydney on Saturday included the Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre, which received two awards. The $46.6 million Victorian recreation centre was awarded the Best Tourism and Leisure development by Ryan, while the City of Glen Eira took home the ISPT award for Government Leadership.
Meriton’s Soleil apartments won the Gough Recruitment Award for Best Residential Development. Another Brisbane development by Harry Triguboff's Meriton, the Infinity tower, was<a href="/expert-insights/buying/harry-triguboff-s-tallest-brisbane-creation-wins-best-high-rise-award"> recently named Australia’s best highrise development</a> at the Asia Pacific Property Awards.
The winners of this year’s Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation &amp; Excellence awards were drawn from 83 finalists across 16 categories.
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Brookfield Place Perth takes out top prize at Property Council of Australia awards

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Winter’s start is set to see strong real estate sales results thanks to strong April appraisal figures, according to property group Raine &amp; Horne.
April’s national average property appraisal figures were up by more than 21% from February.
Angus Raine, executive chairman and chief executive of Raine &amp; Horne says that appraisal figures are an indicator of the level of sales strength two or three months down the track. According to Raine, a significant proportion of buyer activity can be traced back to record low interest rates, improved consumer confidence and strengthening employment outlooks.
“The upshot of current appraisal levels is that we are anticipating very strong settlement results in May and June, although there is still a shortage of listings, which indicates that some owners are wary that a winter sale will not deliver an optimum price.
“Winter is often overlooked as a good time to sell in many markets around Australia, and despite our strong appraisal numbers, you could be competing with 15-20% fewer homes for sale than in traditionally high volume periods such as early autumn or spring,” says Raine.
“It’s also a fallacy that committed buyers are put off by winter chills, while outdoor factors will have little impact on smaller homes and apartments, for instance.
“However, vendors would do well to heed the advice of their real estate agent when settling on the pricing of their homes to ensure a timely sale this winter.”
New South Wales saw the biggest jump in appraisals between April and February, with appraisals up almost 26%. Victoria appraisals were up 22% for the same period, while Queensland appraisals rose by 15%. Raine &amp; Horne also cited a specialist marketing campaign conducted by the company as a factor in the lift in appraisal and listing activity.
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Strong selling conditions for winter: Raine & Horne

The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

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

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

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

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

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

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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

Jessie Richardson

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