A apartment block in the Sydney suburb of Kingsford has sold for $13 million. 

Located at 54-56 Meeks Street, Kingsford, its comprises eight apartments including six three-bedroom apartments and two five-bedroom apartments, plus 14 car spaces. 

The vendor had bought the the 1,391sqm property in 2016. 

The property was sold to a private local investor through Ray White Commercial South Sydney agent Phillip Elmowy. 

The investment block was built in 2010, just a minute’s walk to the University of NSW and Kingsford shopping centre.

Mr Elmowy said there was a potential income of $412,880.

“It also has development approval for a strata subdivision.” 

“Demand for eastern suburbs unit blocks has strengthened  this year, driven mainly by mum and dad investors and family offices wanting low risk, multi-tenanted assets,” the selling agents said

The 1,391sqm property had eight apartments that last sold in one line in 2016 at $11 million

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University proxmity sees Kingsford apartment block fetch $13 million 

Small businesses in the building and construction sector have yet to show an accelerated recovery from COVID lockdowns in Victoria and NSW. 

The data, released by MYOB in its Small Business Health Index, shows continued impacts on the building and construction sector. 

As of 22 October total invoice creation was down 31%, gross pay was down by 23% and employment was down by 16% - compared to baseline. 

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said the data highlighted the challenge for SMEs in construction to manage cashflows.
 
“Digitisation will help small building businesses to better manage their projects so they can more accurately factor in the costs of building products and specialist tradespeople into their quotes,” she said. 

“With the construction industry home to more SMEs than any other industry, meaningful digital adoption will have perhaps the greatest impact in business recovery and improving business resilience. 

“MYOB modelling shows there are nearly 80,000 SMEs in the construction industry with no or very low levels of digitisation of their business processes.
  
“We know that the greatest current challenge for SMEs in construction is managing cashflows given the stresses caused by supply disruptions, COVID delays and a mini housing boom which has meant SMEs have had to take on more work than usual," she said.

The data was released by MYOB in its Small Business Health Index 

Data confirms continued lockdown impacts on the building and construction:  MBA

JLL has sold a 2,987sqm raw residential development site at Lane Cove, on Sydney’s tightly held Lower North Shore.

Adjoining business owners have capitalised on a joint sales opportunity which has been secured by WINIM Funds Management for $25 million.

Located at 1 Gatacre Avenue and 5 Allison Avenue Lane Cove, the site has high density residential zoning, making for an opportunity for a 7,169 sqm of gross floor area. 

JLL’s Capital Markets (NSW) Associate, Harry Sullivan sold the amalgamated site, formerly comprising of a 43-room hotel and licensed restaurant, and adjacent residential home.

“Active developers are focusing on smaller scale high-quality projects in premium locations. Improving conditions are seeing investors return to the apartment market, looking to capitalise on the strength of the broader housing market and rapidly growing prices. 

"Like the existing housing market, more owner-occupier focused smaller apartment developments across much of Sydney have rebounded and performed strongly over the past year. 

“Demand is being driven by owner occupiers. 

"There has been a significant shift towards catering for the owner occupier apartment market, as there is a lack of supply of luxury apartments,” said Mr Sullivan.

According to JLL Research, the volume of all apartment sales in Sydney has increased significantly since 2Q20. 

The number of apartments under construction rose slightly in 2Q21 to 6,560, in an environment where it is generally smaller, high-quality projects progressing to construction as developers continue to focus on the owner-occupier market.

It noted pricing for these development sites had surpassed pre-pandemic levels. 


JLL has sold an amalgamated site at 1 Gatacre Avenue and 5 Allison Avenue, Lane Cove

$25 million Lane Cove apartment project site sold

The property industry got the most re-assuring words it could hope for when the RBA met today.

The RBA will not increase the cash rate until actual inflation is sustainably within the 2 to 3 per cent target range.

This was the message from the central bank after its Cup Day meeting, although it did drop the 2024 mention that has been its time line for the next rate rise.

For the RBA to start thinking of raising rates it will require the labour market to be tight enough to generate wages growth that is materially higher than it is currently. 

"This is likely to take some time," it advised.

"The Board is prepared to be patient, with the central forecast being for underlying inflation to be no higher than 2½ per cent at the end of 2023 and for only a gradual increase in wages growth," it advised.

The RBA governor Dr Philip Lowe noted housing prices are continuing to rise in most markets and housing credit growth has picked up due to stronger demand for credit by both owner-occupiers and investors. 

The RBA welcomed APRA's recent decision to increase the interest rate serviceability buffer on home loans. 

"It is important that lending standards are maintained at a time of historically low interest rates," it noted.

The Australian dollar was lower in the wake of the RBA decision.

Speaking about the decision, CEO of Mortgage Choice and Smartline, Susan Mitchell suggested the RBA's decision to unwind its previous guidance on the yield curve control, a key COVID stimulus measure, certainly impacts home loan interest rates. 

"However the extent remains to be seen, noting that the central forecast for underlying inflation to be no higher than 2 ½ percent at the end of 2023 with only gradual increases in wages growth. 

"This is likely to keep the property market buoyant throughout next year,” said Ms Mitchell.

REA Group director of economic research, Cameron Kusher said, “the RBA seemingly abandoned its 3-year Government bond target, which saw bonds shift much higher than their 0.1% target. The repercussions of this for housing is that interest rates, particularly new fixed rates, may see further increases over the coming weeks and months.”

Ms Mitchell said, “We’ve already started seeing a lot of small rate tweaks on home loan interest rates, mainly on long-term fixed rate home loan products and some discounting on variable rate home loans, but today’s announcement suggests that more significant changes are on the horizon.” 

The Board will not increase the cash rate until actual inflation is sustainably within the 2 to 3 per cent target range, the central bank advised after it meeting today

RBA says it will be patient when it comes to next rate rise

 Some 193 hectares of land at Wilton has been rezoned.

Some 1,600 homes will be created at Wilton through the rezoning, bringing the town centre precinct on-line with the rezoned North and South-East Wilton Precincts.
 
“The rezoning brings the 20-year vision for the area a step closer, with the town centre precinct featuring new walking and cycling paths, a public transport hub, and a future school site.
 
“Development of the Wilton growth area will build on the NSW Government’s promise to deliver 18,000 homes in south-west Sydney, across Glenfield, Lowes Creek Maryland, Leppington and Wilton.”
 
The rezoning will come into effect on 31 March 2022 for the Wilton Town Centre precinct, allowing time for a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) to be finalised with the proponent to deliver key State infrastructure. 

The draft VPA will go out for public comment in early 2022. 

Locals have expressed concerns Wilton will become like Jordan Springs – "overcrowded and overpopulated."

The Wilton Town Centre Precinct will be the residential, retail, commercial and entertainment core of the Wilton Growth Area and the largest strategic centre in the Wollondilly Shire.
 
The Precinct has been rezoned, with a commencement date of 31 March 2022.
 
We worked with Wollondilly Shire Council and State agencies to prepare the draft planning package, which was on exhibition in November and December 2020. 
 
The precinct rezoning will deliver a major retail and commercial centre to provide jobs and services; about 1600 new homes with a mix of housing types from detached houses to low-rise apartments; 
6.5 hectare land for a new public school, a new major public open space including sports fields; and protection of 37 hectares of environmentally sensitive land; and provision for a central bus terminal.

Mining rights will be extinguished as part of deed of agreement for rezoning process.

The three major landowners in Wilton New Town are Bradcorp, Governors Hill and Walker Corporation. 

The rezoning of the Wilton Town Centre precinct will take effect on 31 March 2022

Wilton Town centre gets fresh rezoning approval

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes has advised the rezoning of Rhodes Place which will see 4,200 new homes.

Residential apartment towers will be up to 45 stories.

It will come with around 2.3-hectares of open space.

It involves an upgrade to Rhodes Railway Station, along with a proposed ferry wharf.

There will be a site for a new public school.

Stokes said the finalisation of the Rhodes Place Strategy was a key project to help address the city&rsquo;s housing needs.

Rhodes is an important Strategic Centre in the Eastern City District Plan, after the City of Canada Bay Council nominated Rhodes in 2015 as an area for potential renewal.

The Rhodes Place Strategy is a plan for the development of the Rhodes Precinct over the next 20 years.&nbsp;

Excellence in design and sustainability, including dual reticulation for development, incentives to exceed BASIX targets and tree canopy targets were pinpointed in the draft place strategy exhibited for feedback between 31 August and 9 October 2020.

The Rhodes Place Strategy builds on earlier work for the 2018/2019 exhibition and 2017 exhibition. 
&nbsp; 
The finalisation of the place strategy allows landowners to submit development applications (DAs) to Council to begin renewal of the precinct.

The finalisation of the place strategy allows landowners to submit development applications (DAs) to Council to begin renewal of the precinct

Rhodes Place gets rezoning approval

Metropolitan Melbourne&#39;s median land price increased by 1% in September to $337,000, up 5% annually, according to Red23, one of the country&#39;s leading land sales agencies.

&quot;This is back to the same median land price achieved in early 2019, but has not reached the peak of $349,000 witnessed in September 2018,&quot; said Terry Portelli, the founder and managing director of Red23.

The latest report noted the median land size continues to decrease, down 0.26% to 387sqm, less than the 400sqm median land size three years ago.

Portelli reckons APRA&rsquo;s increase in the minimum interest rate buffer will have little effect in the short term on the demand for housing in the greenfield areas as demand in these regions remains strong.&nbsp;

&quot;But it will have a negative effect on first home buyers who are already on the backfoot because of swift price increases.&quot;

In September land sold in the Melbourne growth areas have taken approximately 1.5 months to sell from the time it is released to the market; in comparison to 2.6 months in June.

Wyndham sold over 1,200 lots in the third quarter, which is double of the same time last year.&nbsp;

Melton sold close to 1,000 lots in the third quarter, same as 12 months ago.&nbsp;

Casey achieved a similar number to Melton.

In Metropolitan Melbourne, over 4,700 lots were sold in the third quarter, similar numbers to quarter two but and down 990 lots on the first quarter.

The Red23 report noted demand for land remains strong, but stock availability continues to be tight, at record lows of approximately 1,000 lots available at any given time.

Greater Geelong has already sold over 2,000 land lots which is 400 more than the total number sold in 2020.

Regional and semi regional areas remain strong as indicated by the price growth in areas such as Greater Geelong and Mitchell.

Greater Geelong is the biggest mover this month, up 12% to a median land price of $351,000 and an increase of 23% YoY.

Portelli suggest APRA’s increase in the minimum interest rate buffer will have a negative effect on first home buyers 

Metropolitan Melbourne's median land price heading towards 2018 peak: Red23

Affordability issues appeared to have curbed borrowing activity of first home buyers and owner occupiers, but not investor loans in September, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

The value of new home loans dropped for the second month in a row.

In September, $30 billion of new mortgages were settled, down 1.4 per cent from August, in seasonally-adjusted terms.

Owner-occupier lending dropped 2.7 percent from August.

Investor lending continued to climb, reaching its highest level since April 2015 with $9.62 billion in loans settled in September, up 1.4 per cent month-on-month.

Increased investor loan commitments were seen across most states, with particular strength in Queensland (up 4.2 per cent), South Australia (up 16.4 per cent) and Western Australia (up 7.3 per cent). Smaller rises in investor borrowing were seen in Victoria (up 1.4 per cent), New South Wales (up 0.1 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (up 1.0 per cent) and Tasmania (up 1.4 per cent). 

For the eighth conscutive month, the number of owner-occupier first home buyer loans fell, down 5.6 per cent in September, to be down 27.1 percent since the January peak.

Ratecity noted Victoria, in lockdown, led the retreat with the number of first home buyer loans dropping 16.7 percent in the month, while NSW dropped by 3.1 percent.

Western Australia fhbs had the largest rise of 5.9 percent, while Queensland rose 2.1 percent and South Australia rose 4.3 percent.

ABS head of finance and wealth, Katherine Keenan, said the average loan size for owner occupiers has grown, but the value of new loan commitments for owner-occupier housing fell for the fourth month in a row, to $20.7 billion in September.

"Affordability constraints are biting in the first home buyer space, with dwelling prices rising by over 20% on an annual basis," the Comm Bank said.

NSW owner occupiers borrowed an average of $750,000 in September which was a record high.

The big banks are all now applying stricter loan criteria on applications as of November 1 given lending requirements imposed by APRA.

There has been positive growth in investors taking on mortgages since October last year

Investors return to property with six year borrowing high: ABS 

A three level Brighton townhouse sold on the weekend at $2.55 million.

But it was not the priciest Melbourne sale as a Richmond townhouse fetched $3,005,000 at Friday auction.

The four bedroom 1A/60 Tanner St, Richmond townhouse was in a contemporary, award winning, architecturally designed inner city project.

It is arranged around a central atrium featuring a pool.

The complex was designed by the Mora family alongside De Campo Architects in 2000.

The developed a contemporary building that houses their art gallery, a townhouse and two studio apartments.

The 75B Cole Street, Brighton listing had been updated by its builder vendor.

The 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom town residence came with a heated pool/spa along with rooftop terrace boasting views of the city skyline.

The townhouse sold through Ross Walker at Buxton Brighton.

There was a development application costing $175,000 approved last year.

It had been last sold at $1.76 million in 2019.

Brighton has been an active market for new developments including Awaken, the latest boutique apartment release from developer Skelton, who recently undertook the Avenue town houses &nbsp;in Brighton East.

The former Brighton International function centre is being transformed into a 58-home complex named The International.

Lucent Capital&#39;s Slate House, a low-rise, three-floor complex with 14 residences, is set for completion later this year.

The tri-level townhouse came with city views


Richmond townhouse pips Brighton townhouse to top weekend sale results

The pandemic-driven desire for extra living space may have been reflected in bigger apartments being built.&nbsp;

Covid-19 may have influenced home size, although it is still relatively early days in the construction cycle, according to Craig James chief economist at CommSec in the CommSec Annual Home Size Report.

&quot;The experience with Covid-19 has certainly caused more families to look for bigger homes and caused others to add extra rooms to existing homes.&nbsp;

&quot;More Aussies want to achieve a situation where family members are able to live, work and relax at home.&nbsp;

<a href="/news/vic/four-new-melbourne-city-apartments-super-upsizing-the-competition">Read more:&nbsp;Four new Melbourne city apartments super-upsizing the competition</a>

&quot;No doubt, builders and architects have been quick to respond to the new demands by families,&quot; James said.

The average new apartment completed in 2020/21 was at an 11-year high of 138sqm, up 0.4 per cent over the year.&nbsp;

By comparison, the average free-standing house completed in 2020/21 was 229sqm, down 2.9 per cent from 7-year highs.

CommSec commissioned the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to supply data on the average floor area of new homes built in Australia.

While quarterly data is more volatile, national home size hit a 7-year high of 201sqm in the June quarter 2020 and stood at 200sqm in the December quarter.&nbsp;

<a href="/news/vic/four-new-melbourne-city-apartments-super-upsizing-the-competition">Read more:&nbsp;Four new Melbourne city apartments super-upsizing the competition</a>

Apartment size and house size also spiked higher in the June quarter, especially apartments.&nbsp;

Apartment size spiked to 146sqm in June quarter 2020 &ndash; a record high in the 10 years of available quarterly records and a result on par with the high set 17 years ago for financial year records.&nbsp;

The average size of an apartment hit record lows in 2017/18.

The biggest apartments can be found in Victoria 156sqm followed by South Australia 149sqm and Northern Territory at 141sqm.

The smallest can be found in Tasmania at 91sqm.

The size of NSW apartments built in the last financial year sat at 126sqm, up 3.3 percent.

&middot; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

CommSec commissioned the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to supply data on the average floor area of new homes built in Australia

Bigger apartments begin to emerge given impact of pandemic: CommSec's Craig James

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

Joel Robinson

Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <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>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

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La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

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The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

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Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

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Jonathan Chancellor

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