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GUEST OBSERVER
New laws that are designed to protect small businesses from falling victim to unfair contract terms may help tip the balance of power back in favour of smaller farmers, especially when it comes to innovations involving data.
In November 2016, Australia’s current regime of protection against unfair contract terms for consumers will be extended to cover unfair terms in standard pre-printed form contracts for small business. I am studying the impact of these changes on the multitude of standard form contracts that farmers deal with on a daily basis, particularly contracts associated with digital agriculture. 
It won’t be too long before we see swarms of autonomous, collision-avoiding agri-bots, driverless tractors and drones in use on farms. These digital technologies bring undeniable opportunities for productivity gains to farmers.
However for each digital farming technology adopted, a standard form “Terms of Use” agreement is entered into by the farmers. This regulates the collection and aggregation of the farm data by the technology. 
Farm data is being seen as one of the most valuable things that farmers harvest now because it can be used to predictive business models for all aspects of farming. Many of these “Terms of Use” agreements can be one-sided, as they give agribusinesses the ability to develop these models, while farmers lack this information. 
<h2>Extending the law to cover unfair contract terms for small business</h2>
The new unfair contracts term legislation affords protection to small business- defined as those that employ fewer than 20 persons. While there are some notable exceptions, many primary producers operate businesses that would fall under this definition of a small business, this includes the dairy and horticultural industries. 
The unfair terms in milk processing contracts being enforced against dairy farmers in Victoria are just one example of the impact that unfair contract terms can have on an industry. This is also now the subject of an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission review.
Under the most recent changes, a contract term may be declared void and unenforceable if it satisfies these three criteria:
<ol>
<li>the contract is a standard form contract for the supply of goods and services (including financial services) or the sale or grant of an interest in land </li>
<li>where the upfront price payable under the contract does not exceed A$300,000 for contracts shorter than 1 year (or A$1,000,000 for contracts longer than 12 months) </li>
<li>the term is unfair.</li>
</ol>
In terms of the third requirement terms are defined as “unfair” where:
<ul>
<li>they could cause a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations</li>
<li>it is not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interest of the party relying up the term</li>
<li>detriment is suffered, either financial or otherwise.</li>
</ul>
In considering whether individual terms are unfair - how transparent they are and how they relate to the contract as a whole are looked at. Put simply, transparency means the terms are legible, in plain language, presented clearly and readily available to any party affected by the term or contract.
The standard form contracts the new laws apply to, are prepared by one party and presented to the other party who has little or no opportunity to negotiate the terms prior to entry. There are certain contracts between IT companies and farmers that could be considered unfair under the new legislation.
For example, agribusinesses are working hand in hand with IT companies to develop the new digital farming technologies, like business giant Monsanto’s acquisition of Climate Corp (who specialise in digital systems) in the United States. Farmers agree to data contracts from these companies as part of using their technologies. 
Often these contracts the use an agreement where the click of an “I agree” icon signifies consent to the terms of a software licence. This could be considered not a completely thorough or transparent process for understanding the information in the contract.
<h2>How the changes may affect the digital farmer</h2>
The “terms of use” embedded in digital farming technologies are complex, generally non-negotiable and presented on a “take it or leave it” basis when the technology is adopted. Many of the terms in these data contracts (that relate to the ownership, privacy, security, and the sharing of farm data with third parties) are not exactly considered to be transparent in relation to these latest unfair terms reforms. 
The small print in some instances is locked under layers of policies that can only be found on some agribusinesses websites. This then creates a power imbalance between some multinational agribusinesses and small farming businesses. This is because often farmers are not made aware of the terms upon which they are giving access to their farm data.
Farmers have long held concerns about the security and privacy of their data and whether they have a right of access to their data once it has been collected and aggregated. A recent report revealed the majority of farmers saw value in sharing data with their peers but privacy was still one of the main concerns.
The latest extension of the law to cover small farming businesses contracts provides a golden opportunity for large agricultural data companies to review their contracts with farmers’ concerns in mind. Terms that appear excessive in terms of what is reasonable to protect their interests should be reviewed to ensure the privacy and security of farmers’ data is adequately protected. 
Hopefully, these changes will go some way towards a more transparent, fair and equitable contracting environment where conversation and negotiation become part of the future of big agricultural data.
Leanne Wiseman is associate professor, Griffith Law School, Griffith University and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/leanne-wiseman-303086" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Changes to contract laws could give small farming businesses more control of data and innovation

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GUEST OBSERVER
In October 2016, Treasury released the third tranche of draft legislation to implement the announcements in the Federal Budget. The principal component of this tranche was the new non-concessional contribution rules.
Hidden in the legislation is a very important concession.
I envisage that advisers will only need to apply it a handful of times in their careers. However, when they do apply it, it will be some of the most important and helpful advice that can be provided.
(Note that this article must be read subject to the discussion regarding the AFSL regime at the end.)
This hidden gem relates to structured settlement contributions. More specially, it relates to contributions covered by s 292‑95 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth).
In this article, when I refer to a ‘structured settlement contribution’, I will refer to a contribution covered by s 292‑95. The full official version of s 292‑95 is currently available <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00916" target="_blank">here</a>.
However, for the purposes of this article, it is suffice to say that s 292‑95 covers the following contributions (however, I stress that there are other types of contributions that it covers too):
<ul>
<li>the contribution arises from the settlement of a claim that is for compensation or damages for personal injury suffered by the fund member</li>
<li>the contribution is made by the fund member</li>
<li>the claim is based on the commission of a wrong, or on a right created by statute</li>
<li>the settlement takes the form of a written agreement between the parties to the claim (whether or not that agreement is approved by an order of a court, or is embodied in a consent order made by a court)</li>
<li>two legally qualified medical practitioners have certified that, because of the personal injury, it is unlikely that the fund member can ever be gainfully employed in a capacity for which the member is reasonably qualified because of education, experience or training</li>
<li>no later than the time the contribution is made to a superannuation plan, the member notifies the trustee, in the approved form, that s 292‑95 is to apply to the contribution and</li>
<li>the contribution is made within 90 days of the day of receipt of the payment from which the contribution is made.</li>
</ul>
I want to stress two aspects: Firstly, the above is not the only combination of facts that can be covered by s 292‑95 (ie, be a structured settlement contribution).
Again, advisers should read s 292‑95 in full. Secondly, the clock ticks very quickly.
To be covered by s 292‑95 — and thus to get the benefit of the ‘hidden gems’ that I will discuss in this article — broadly the contribution must be made within 90 days of receipt of the payment.
Clients might not tell advisers promptly when they receive a compensation payment.
Accordingly, advisers should be pro-active about this and upon the first ‘whiff’ that a client might receive a compensation or similar payment, should start alerting clients to these rules.
There are two key concessions for structured settlement contributions.
The first is contained in the proposed s 307‑230(2). Broadly, this provides that, when determining how much money a person has in superannuation (ie, their ‘total superannuation balance’), ignore any money that came from a structured settlement contribution.
Naturally, this important because, under the new non-concessional contribution rules contained in the third tranche of draft legislation, if immediately before the start of the year, a person’s ‘total superannuation balance equals or exceeds the general transfer balance cap for the year’ (which will start at $1.6 million on 1 July 2017), then the person has a nil non-concessional contributions cap for the year.
In short, a person will be able to make structured settlement contributions to superannuation regardless of how large the contribution is or how much money the person already has in superannuation.
(For legal completeness, I note that structured settlement contributions do not constitute non-concessional contributions and so are irrelevant to the non-concessional contributions cap, however, it was a relief to see that the third tranche of legislation did not impact upon this and indeed expressly retained this position.)
The second key concession is contained in the second tranche of legislation that was released in late September.
At the risk of oversimplification, it provides that a structured settlement contribution is a debit to a person’s transfer balance account (see item 2 in the table in the proposed s 294‑70). Effectively, this means that the $1.6 million cap on how much can be used to commence a pension (and thus how much can be covered by the pension income tax exemption) does not apply to pensions funded by structured settlement contributions.
Consider the following example from the draft explanatory memorandum that accompanied the third tranche:
Masayo is self-employed and has been making contributions to her account in her self-managed superannuation fund Couture Super, which is her only superannuation interest. At 30 June 2017 Masayo had not yet commenced any superannuation income streams and the total of her accumulation phase value is $1 million.
In the 2017-18 financial year Masayo is involved in an accident that results in her receiving a structured settlement of $2 million which she contributes to Couture Super on 15 May 2018.
To determine whether she is eligible to make non-concessional contributions in the 2018-19 financial year, Masayo calculates her total superannuation balance at 30 June 2018 as; accumulation phase value ($3 million) less the structured settlement contribution in accumulation ($2 million), equalling $1 million. As Masayo’s total superannuation balance is below $1.6 million Masayo is eligible to make non-concessional contributions in the 2018-19 financial year.
In the above example, Masayo could also then:
<ul>
<li>make a further $600,000 of non-concessional contributions and</li>
<li>commence a pension funded by a total of $3.6 million of capital (assuming of course she had satisfied a relevant condition of release, which she almost certainly would have).</li>
</ul>
The new draft rules contain very important concessions for those who are able to make structured settlement contributions.
Accordingly, advisers need to be very proactive when there is a possibility to make a structured settlement contribution, especially given that there is generally only a narrow 90 day window when such a contribution can be made.
Naturally, advisers must remember all of the usual requirements when advising on contributions, pensions and the like.
One very timely aspect is the AFSL regime. Naturally, I will not discuss this aspect ‘chapter and verse’, however, those advisers who have entered the AFSL regime, may well need to provide a statement of advice and those who have not entered the regime need to think very carefully about how appropriate information can be provided to their client while complying with all relevant laws.
For accountants in the second category, they might consider something along the lines of a letter to their client setting out certain objectively ascertainable facts (eg, the structured settlement contribution rules detailed in this article) along with a recommendation to seek advice from an appropriately licensed adviser and the appropriate disclaimers.
Bryce Figot is a lawyer at DBA Lawyers and <a href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au/" target="_blank">can be contacted here</a>.
 
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Property 101: Key concessions for structured settlement contributions

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The 2016 spring auction market finished with continued strength despite the late spike in property listings. 
There were 500 more weekend auctions across Sydney and Melbourne, which accompanied by early signs of rising fixed interest rates, did little to dent buyer enthusiasm.
Sydney's preliminary auction clearance rate of 81.9 per cent was up on the prior weekend's 79.6 percent while Melbourne's 76.9 percent rate was slightly down from the prior 79.4 percent rate, according to Corelogic.
The Seddon transformation of celebrity renovation couple - Dan and Danu from The Block - <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-seddon-123982822" target="_blank">failed to sell</a> (below).
<img src="/images/2016/11/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-28%20at%208.46.52%20AM.png" alt="">
The Block regulars Dan Reilly and Dani Wales restored and extended the property at 3 Sydenham St over a two year period.
The three-bedroom property was passed in at $1.26 million. 
There had been a price guide of $1.1 million plus on the now three bedroom home that was previously an untouched Victorian. 
The couple paid $462,000 for the home after filming concluded for The Block All Stars season in mid-2013.  
Their renovation, including updating the Victorian facade, has come at a cost of around $400,000. 
Sydney's auction success rate stayed high on the final spring weekend. 
Sales ranged from $337,000 at Guildford for a one bedroom flat that had been marketed as set to fetch $350,000.
The dearest was a $5,505,000 <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-cronulla-123857510" target="_blank">Cronulla beachfront sale</a> (below) where two of the three registered bidders competed through agent Mark Wigley.
<img src="/images/2016/11/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-28%20at%208.49.07%20AM.png" alt="" width="429" height="342">
It was the former abode of the former sports promoter and administrator Kevin Elphick who paid $4 million in 2013 for the Taloombi Street home.
Melbourne's dearest was in Elwood where a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-elwood-124001262" target="_blank">contemporary house</a> sold for $4.75 million. 
<img src="/images/2016/11/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-28%20at%208.50.16%20AM.png" alt="" width="532" height="361">
The four bedroom 14 Kingsley Street home sat in Jack Merlo gardens. 
Auction volumes increased with 3,367 properties taken to auction this week - the second highest number of reported auctions this year for the combined capital cities.
It was up from 2,987 over the previous week, according to CoreLogic, who noted the volume was still significantly lower than the corresponding week last year's 3,729 offerings. 
The preliminary auction clearance rate, despite the increase in volume, remained strong at 76 per cent, up from last week’s final of 74 per cent. 
The same final weekend of spring last year saw a 60 percent success rate. 
"Every capital city except Perth and Canberra are showing auction numbers to be lower than a year ago, while every capital has recorded a higher clearance rate compared with last year," Kevin Brogan from CoreLogic said.
Across Melbourne, the preliminary clearance rate was recorded at 76.9 percent, down on last week but remaining well above the 65.9 percent last year.
Melbourne was host to 1,618 auctions, which was the second highest reported for Melbourne this year, but lower than a year ago when there were 1,876 Melbourne auctions held. 
Across Sydney, 1,236 homes were taken to auction this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 81.9 percent. One year ago, 1,306 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 56 percent. 
Across Sydney's Inner West region, the preliminary clearance rate was 90 percent, while across the South West had just 59 percent successfully sold.  
Brisbane's preliminary clearance rate was 53 percent, up from 45 percent last week and also higher than one year ago, when it was 47 percent.
A total of 140 Adelaide homes were taken to auction, with a preliminary clearance rate of 66 percent.
Perth’s preliminary clearance rate of 36 percent sits around the same as one year ago.
Canberra’s clearance rate was 72 percent this week across 112 auctions which included a new suburb record for Kaleen when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-kaleen-124034794" target="_blank">45 Onkaparinga Crescent</a> (below) fetched $1,045,000, topping the previous record of $935,000 at 12 Sanford Place last December. 
<img src="/images/2016/11/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-28%20at%208.52.23%20AM.png" alt="">
The weekend sale was a five bedroom, two storey house on a 1637 sq m block. 
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Dan and Dani from The Block miss the spring Super Saturday sales surge

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Housing price growth of between 2 and 4 percent is expected in Melbourne in 2017 supported by growth in detached house prices of between 5 and 6 percent.
Paul Bloxham, HSBC chief economist as an oversupply is expected in the apartment market, particularly in the inner city
"We doubt that oversupply in the apartment market will have much effect on the detached house market, given the lack of substitutability," he said.
"Like Sydney, tighter prudential settings and a pull-back in foreign demand are expected to weigh on prices, particularly of apartments. "
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Melbourne's detached housing price growth to near six percent: HSBC's Paul Bloxham makes 2017 forecast 

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Housing price growth of between 4 and 6 percent is expected for 2017 for both detached houses and apartments supported by strong population growth and limited signs of oversupply according to Paul Bloxham, HSBC chief economist.
He said apartment prices are expected to track at a slower pace than detached houses. 
"In the detached house market there is only modest growth in new supply expected," he said.
<a href="/images/2016/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-25%20at%201.07.56%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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"Overall housing price growth should cool somewhat in response to continued tight prudential settings, particularly in the apartment market. 
"Weaker foreign demand, due to a lower RMB, is likely to weigh on the Sydney apartment market. 
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Weaker foreign demand to hit Sydney apartment market: Paul Bloxham's 2017 forecast

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Mirvac Group has been rocked by the departure of its long-time head of residential John Carfi.
The veteran will leave the group to become joint head of global property development at Dubai company Emaar Properties.
The move comes after the listed group unveiled a shift towards more urban regeneration projects in Sydney and Melbourne rather than highrise.
Mirvac holding a record $3 billion of presales and almost 90 per cent of its expected residential earnings secured for this financial year.
Carfi joined Mirvac in 2001.
“I have enjoyed my time at Mirvac and I am extremely pleased to have been able to lead one of Australia’s leading residential businesses for many years.
"The existing business is positioned extremely well to continue to deliver strong earnings and the substantial pipeline will ensure its future success.
"Whilst I am sad to be leaving Mirvac I am looking forward to the opportunity I have ahead of me.”
Mirvac’s chief investment officer, Brett Draffen, who will oversee the residential business in the interim as Mirvac looks to determine a permanent outcome.
Emaar Properties operates in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.
The iconic Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are among its trophies.
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Mirvac loses its longtime head of residential John Carfi

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GUEST OBSERVER
Sydney and Melbourne continue to show solid house price growth while Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth are much weaker.
Even within cities there is divergence, with oversupply in some apartment markets, while detached house markets lack supply.
We forecast national housing price growth to slow from 7 percent in 2016 to 2-5 percent in 2017; trends across and within cities to vary.
<a href="/images/2016/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-25%20at%2012.23.38%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Still cooling, but with divergence across markets
It has always been a misconception to refer to Australia as having one housing market. After all, Australia's population is strewn across a whole continent and each region is affected by different forces. The cycles in Western Australia and Queensland have been driven by mining, while the south-eastern states have larger services sectors.
<a href="/images/2016/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-25%20at%2012.25.11%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Being a currency union, there are clear unifying features, such as the common currency, interest rates and federal fiscal policy and free movement of labour, among other things. As a result, over recent decades, a key rule of thumb has been that mortgage rates drive the national housing price cycle. But this relationship has become more complicated recently, thanks to an unusually large cycle in commodity prices, persistent low global and local interest rates, rising foreign buyer activity, and increased use of prudential settings to tame the lending market.
<a href="/images/2016/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-25%20at%2012.26.12%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-25%20at%2012.26.12%20PM.png" alt="">
A key driver of trends over the past five years has been the rebalancing of growth towards the housing and services sectors, supported by the lower interest rates and AUD following the end of the mining boom. This has driven a substantial ramp-up in housing prices in Sydney and Melbourne since mid-2012, up 66 percent and 49 percent, respectively. Over the same period, housing prices in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth have risen by only 19 percent, 9 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
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The worrisome pace of Sydney and Melbourne price growth, particularly in 2014 and 2015, motivated a tightening in prudential settings, starting in late 2014, which has seen some moderation in loan growth. As a result, both cities saw housing price growth slow from double-digit growth last year to high single-digit rates this year. We expect low single-digit rates of housing price growth in these cities in 2017, although trends are expected to vary across the apartment and detached house markets.
<a href="/images/2016/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-25%20at%2012.28.25%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-11-25%20at%2012.28.25%20PM.png" alt="">
A national apartment building boom, which has been part of the rebalancing act, is likely to deliver some oversupply in the Melbourne and Brisbane apartment markets, which is expected to see apartment price falls in these markets. Detached dwelling markets across the country are set to see further price growth, albeit moderating.
 <a href="https://www.about.hsbc.com.au/hsbc-in-australia/management-team" target="_blank">PAUL BLOXHAM</a> IS CHIEF ECONOMIST (AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND) FOR HSBC. 
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Low single-digit rates of housing price growth in 2017 for Sydney, Melbourne: HSBC's Paul Bloxham

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GUEST OBSERVER
Construction accounts for one dollar in seven of Australia’s total economic activity, making this week’s construction numbers a big deal.
Australian residential construction fell 3.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis to A$17.6 billion in the quarter to September 2016. Non-residential construction, which is about half the size of residential, fell 10.9 percent. Engineering construction was down, too, leaving the total construction figure down 4.9 percent to A$46.1 billion.
Construction is at its lowest level since 2010. This will surely factor in to upcoming RBA rate cut decisions, especially if they maintain their recent belief that prudential regulation has dampened concerns about property bubbles in Sydney and Melbourne.
In the US, the flash purchasing managers’ index rose to 53.5, well ahead of expectations. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion, so this was certainly good news for the US economy.
The US Federal Reserve minutes were keenly anticipated and pored over by market participants. Most reporting I saw focused on the following quotation:
“Most participants expressed a view that it could well become appropriate to raise the target range for the federal funds rate relatively soon, so long as incoming data provided some further evidence of continued progress toward the Committee’s objectives.” 
That was interpreted as the Fed being quite likely to raise the Fed funds rate by 25 basis points at the December meeting.
Well, perhaps. Elsewhere in the minutes we got some insight into the data the Fed is looking for to prove it is meeting its objectives. The minutes noted:
“Although real GDP growth in the third quarter was appreciably above the slow pace of the first half, it had been boosted in part by transitory factors … Growth of consumer spending had slowed from its brisk pace earlier in the year, residential investment had fallen again, and business fixed investment had remained soft … Participants noted that economic growth in many foreign economies remained subdued, and that inflation rates abroad generally were still quite low. Some participants observed that important international downside risks remained … Participants expressed uncertainty about how long the [labor force] participation rate could be expected to continue rising.”
Translation: the labour market, consumer spending and inflation data better come in pretty strong for the Fed to hike. They copped a lot of criticism for what subsequently looked like a premature hike last December, and they won’t want to make the same mistake again.
It is also clear that there is a real division on the committee, with members in one camp gunning for a hike right away, and those in the other expressing cautious optimism. Fed Chair Janet Yellen is in the latter, and that matters. Whatever happens in December, the next set of minutes will be fascinating reading to gain further insight into how the two camps are interacting, and if there is any shift in group membership.
Vital Signs typically focuses on Australia, the US and China, plus whatever country is causing global economic trouble that week. This week we introduce a new feature, G20 country focus, where we pick a G20 country not regularly featured. This week: France.
<h2>G20 country focus: France</h2>
The French economy, with GDP of US$2.5 trillion, is the ninth largest in the world (adjusting for purchasing power). GDP growth was a fairly anaemic 1.2% in 2015. Inflation in the year to October 2016 was a dangerously low 0.4%, with the economy risking a deflationary spiral.
Unemployment sits at 10.0%, though the youth unemployment rate is a shocking 23.9% (compared to 6.8% in Germany).
In terms of public finances, France is running a budget deficit of 3.6% of GDP, although it has been steadily bouncing back from a level of double that since the financial crisis. Government debt to GDP is 96.1%, which is slightly above the Euro area average of 90.7%.
What should we make of those figures? Since France is a big and important part of the Euro area, and that area is struggling, is is not surprising that France is too. Almost all those figures are concerning – especially because France does not issue its own currency – but not at panic station levels.
Youth unemployment, however, is. Although there are European countries with worse levels (like Spain), having nearly a quarter of young people out of work can lead the social compact to be gravely stressed. First, there is the phenomenon of “hysteresis”, where being unemployed makes it hard to become re-employed. And that is particularly problematic in a rather inflexible labour market like France’s. 
So even if the budget is slowly recovering, debt is manageable and growth is OK, having millions of disaffected youth roaming the streets is never a good idea.
Richard Holden is professor of economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, UNSW Australia and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Construction slump points to cooling economy

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Perth builder Adrian Zorzi is Australia's top house builder. 
<a href="https://www.adrianzorzi.com.au/" target="_blank">Adrian Zorzi</a> took out the coveted 2016 National Residential Builder of the Year at Master Builders Australia's National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards. 
"Zorzi is a thoroughly deserving winner and has been recognised for the highest quality and calibre of his skill and craftsmanship and tradespeople," Wilhelm Harnisch, chief executive officer of Master Builders Australia said. 
"The magnificent quality of the South American Style home which won Zorzi the Award is a showcase of excellence," he said.  
"Every element has been detailed to the tenth degree making the home a masterpiece and Adrian Zorzi truly deserves the accolades that are accorded to him as the 2016 Master Builders Australia Residential Builder of the Year," Wilhelm Harnisch said 
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Adrian Zorzi wins top MBA builder acclaim

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GUEST OBSERVER
Many housing types are totally at odds with how people live today because people don’t have as many material goods as they used to. 
Those under 30 may not own much at all. Music is digitised and streamed (Sonos, Spotify), treasured photo albums live in the cloud or within applications (Dropbox, iPhoto), tools are pooled (Open Shed), vehicles and rides are shared (Flexicar, BlaBlaCar, Uber), there’s no landline phone or TV cable, kitchen appliances are redundant with the ubiquity of food delivery services (Foodora, Deliveroo) and pets are borrowed (DogVacay, BorrowMyDoggy). 
The young are also likely to be renting their accommodation. Data from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research reveal that barely 50 percent of Australians lived in a house they owned in 2014. If this trend continues, many of today’s young Australians will never own their own home.
With transformations in digital technologies and housing-price pressures changing living habits, people will not only possess fewer physical objects in the future, but new apartment dwellers will be more likely to occupy less space at a later age. These private domestic spaces are decreasing in size to become more efficient, hopefully more affordable and, for some restless millennials, more desirable.
<h2>Corporatising the co-living model</h2>
One model to emerge in the trend towards downsizing private domestic space is branded co-living spaces. Examples include The Collective (London), Zoku (Amsterdam) and Roam (London, Madrid, Miami, San Francisco, Tokyo, Ubud). In the corporatised co-living model, occupants rent private bedroom space (some bedrooms are as small as ten square metres) on a rolling contract for weeks or months, but share living and working spaces. 
These collective spaces are often programmed with extracurricular activities such as yoga, business workshops, cooking classes and guest talks that promote social exchange between renters. 
Systems of logistics, such as apps and chat platforms, facilitate the sharing of objects and space. Access to the co-living space is granted if you are part of a tribe (students, communes, families or business people). 
One of the global market leaders in co-living arrangements is the Chinese You+. The company has built over ten co-living spaces and claims to house more than 10,000 people across 25 branches. Private bedrooms (with bathroom) range in size from 20 to 50 square metres. The minimum stay is six months at an average monthly rent of A$470. 
At You+, people over 45 are discouraged. Couples with children or those who are anti-social are not permitted. Tech entrepreneurs tend to be given preference.
Subscribing to a co-living or dormitory arrangement such as You+ can mean lower rental costs (relative to renting a single-bedroom apartment on an above-average income), a surfeit of potential friends and a flexible rental contract. For some, this may be a genuinely desirable option. For others it may be the only option in a competitive rental market at a time when there are few affordable housing options.
<h2>Blurring the public-private divide</h2>
As private interior space contracts and shared domestic spaces become more common, the public realm is also changing.
Formerly private activities such as working and communication are occurring more frequently outside of the home, while the public sphere is taking on characteristics of interior or domestic settings: intimate spaces, interior furnishings and finishes, pocket parks, guerrilla gardening. The idea of what constitutes a home may be changing and expanding to consider urban space.
A lot of hyperbole surrounds the branded co-living spaces like You+ that have emerged under the so-called sharing economy – also known as the communal, collaborative, inclusive, gig or social economy. But there is a tension between the realities of the model and the benevolence of the act of sharing. 
At the behest of the property owner, co-living spaces tend to have less fixed furnishings and cheaper construction. They also have more occupants because typical apartment spaces (living room, laundry, kitchen) are compressed. Behind You+ and its ilk there are venture capitalists looking for high returns.
Co-living arrangements are transforming the physical typologies and financial models of housing and are the latest in a long tradition of collective housing arrangements, from the kibbutz to student dormitories to share houses, baugruppen and boarding houses. 
With lone-person households to account for more than a quarter of all Australian households by 2031, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we need to rethink how we build collective and individual space in a denser city that reflects how many people want to live today – and tomorrow. 
We can see that market and societal demands are pushing people towards sharing space, but many co-living arrangements do nothing to improve housing affordability in the long term.
Timothy Moore is PhD candidate, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/timothy-moore-292089" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Reinventing density: co-living, the second domestic revolution

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Joel Robinson

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Investors may soon find themselves with fewer reasons to buy established property and more incentives to look towards the new apartment market.

Proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions would see new and off-the-plan apartments retain access to the tax benefits, while established properties would miss out, creating a clear advantage for buyers purchasing newly built housing.

The policy direction aligns with what many developers have been saying for several years. Australia needs more housing supply, and governments are increasingly looking for ways to encourage investment into new stock rather than existing homes.

The challenge for investors is that suitable product is becoming harder to find.

For much of the last decade, one-bedroom apartments were the cornerstone of investor demand. They offered a lower entry price, strong rental appeal, and were a common feature across most apartment developments.

Today, the development pipeline looks very different.

Across both New South Wales and South East Queensland, developers are increasingly targeting owner-occupiers and downsizers, delivering larger two, three and four-bedroom apartments in response to changing buyer preferences. While one-bedroom apartments still exist, they now form a much smaller portion of many new projects.

That shift has created a shortage of investor-friendly stock, particularly in well-located projects close to transport, employment hubs and lifestyle amenity.

At the same time, rising apartment prices have pushed many new developments beyond the reach of traditional investors. On the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find new apartments priced around the $1 million mark, particularly those offering strong rental fundamentals and long-term growth prospects.

We've rounded up four new apartment developments where investors can still secure a foothold in the market for around $1 million or less.

<h2 data-end="1140" data-start="844">Flourish Soleira</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $1.07 million</h2>

Popular Palm Beach developer Sherpa is soon to officially launch its newest local apartment development, Flourish Soleira.

The one-bedroom apartments in the building were only offered to first home buyers rather than investors, and all of those have been snapped up. The two-bedroom apartments will start from $1.07 million, and the three-bedrooms, still a good investment given the popularity of Palm Beach for owner-occupiers, starting at $2,045,000.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

Flourish Soliera will comprise 153 apartments across two buildings, connected by a skybridge, the first ever delivered in the suburb.

True to Sherpa's booming Flourish brand of apartment projects, Flourish Soleira will have extensive rooftop amenity across both buildings including a&nbsp;wellness centre with gym, work from home, yoga, pilates, a&nbsp;heated pool, private dining rooms, pizza oven and barbecues, basketball court, and golf simulator.

<h2>Corallo, Palm Beach</h2>

Priced from: $841,500

Nearby Flourish Soleira is Changfa Group's beachfront-inspired Corallo development. They still have some one-bedroom apartments remaining, priced from $841,500.

The 105-apartment project on Palm Beach Avenue is otherwise dominated by larger two and three-bedroom residences, many of which are aimed at owner-occupiers and downsizers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112194 project_image_fid=808]

For investors, the appeal lies in Palm Beach's continued transformation from a laid-back beachside suburb into one of the Gold Coast's most sought-after residential markets. Residents at Corallo will be within walking distance of Palm Beach's surf beaches, the recreational amenity of Tallebudgera Creek, and the increasingly popular collection of cafes, restaurants and boutique retailers along the suburb's central dining precinct.

<h2>Corner House, Stones Corner</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $880,000</h2>

One of only two Brisbane apartment developments to make the list with prices under $1 million is DeMartini Fletcher's Corner House development in Stones Corner.

One-bedroom apartments start from $880,000 within the 88-apartment development, providing investors with exposure to one of Brisbane's most established inner-south locations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149098 project_image_fid=330594]

Stones Corner has long been supported by strong tenant demand due to its proximity to major employment and education destinations. The suburb sits less than five kilometres from Brisbane's CBD and is within easy reach of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Queensland Children's Hospital and several university campuses.

The project's location within a walkable urban village environment, surrounded by retail, dining and public transport infrastructure, continues to attract both professionals and healthcare workers seeking accommodation close to work.

Parkdrive Apartments, Chermside

Priced from: $749,000

The most affordable apartments across Brisbane's new and off the plan market are in Chermside where developer AusDev is selling one-bedroom apartments from $749,000, and two-beds from $929,000, at its recently launched Parkdrive development.

The development is strategically positioned in one of Brisbane's largest employment and retail precincts, placing residents within easy walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and the suburb's major bus interchange.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Already under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2028, Parkdrive benefits from Chermside's ongoing evolution into Brisbane's northern metropolitan centre. The suburb continues to attract significant public and private investment, supporting population growth and underpinning long-term rental demand.

For investors focused on yield and tenant depth, the combination of healthcare, retail and transport infrastructure within close proximity provides a strong foundation for occupancy and rental performance.

Investors to turn to new apartments after Federal Government changes spark hunt for Queensland's best $1 million apartments

A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Often when it comes to purchasing property, the biggest barrier to entry is the deposit. Buyers of established homes typically aim for a 20 per cent deposit to avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance, while most property transactions require around a 10 per cent deposit when contracts are exchanged.

The off-the-plan market works differently, with buyers typically paying a deposit during construction and settling the balance upon completion. As completion approaches at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fabbrica-fitzroy-369-gore-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fabbrica Fitzroy</a>, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace</a> is making it easier for buyers to secure a residence through a deposit-matching incentive. Purchasers need only contribute a five per cent deposit*, with Pace matching the remaining five per cent.

The offer comes as Pace unveils a completed display apartment and townhouse, now available for inspection by appointment ahead of the project's Spring completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371009]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/winwood-mckenzie-architecture">Winwood Mckenzie</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, Fabbrica draws on Fitzroy’s industrial and manufacturing history, incorporating references to the former Argyle Shirt Factory and Life Savers Confectionery Company that once occupied the site.

The development comprises 85 residences, spanning low-maintenance apartments through to larger-format townhouses with private street access and double lock-up garages, a relatively uncommon offering in Fitzroy’s higher-density apartment market.

Pace says the project has been designed to appeal to buyers seeking inner-city convenience without sacrificing space, flexibility, or amenity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371016]

Inside the residences, Winwood Mckenzie has focused on adaptable layouts and integrated detailing, with features including custom joinery, and concealed storage solutions. The material palette leans into warm, tactile finishes intended to complement the building’s industrial architectural language.

Fabbrica’s rooftop amenity is a key part of the project offering. Spanning around 800 sqm, the communal rooftop includes a private dining room, communal kitchen, lounge spaces, work-from-home zones, and outdoor dining areas overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371017]

Landscape architecture studio Acre has introduced a layered rooftop garden designed to soften the urban setting while creating a more communal environment for residents.

The Fitzroy location also positions residents within walking distance of Brunswick Street, Smith Street, parks, cafés, galleries, and public transport, while remaining only minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. The project has an enviable Walk Score of 96.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371025]

Pace, which is also delivering the project as builder, has developed more than 100 projects across Melbourne over the past three decades. The vertically integrated approach has become increasingly common among developers seeking greater control over construction delivery amid broader market pressures affecting the apartment sector.

The strikingly contemporary Gore Street development is now around 70 per cent complete, with purchasers expected to move into their new homes in Spring 2026. A limited number of residences remain available under the current deposit match offer.

*Conditions apply in relation to the deposit match offer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139552]

Pace offers five per cent deposit match at Fabbrica Fitzroy ahead of Spring completion

Sydney developer Hyecorp's roots on the Lower North Shore stretch back three generations, and that deep understanding of the market continues to shape where and how it develops today.

From high-rise towers to boutique apartment projects, the family-run developer has built its reputation by focusing on a part of Sydney it knows intimately. Founded by Michael Abolakian in the early 1990s, Hyecorp is now led by his sons Stephen, Troy and Patrick.

Stephen Abolakian, joint managing director alongside Troy, has spent more than two decades in the business, overseeing development, planning, finance, marketing and sales.

Abolakian says the developer's disciplined focus on where it chooses to operate has been, and continues to be, one of Hyecorp's greatest strengths.

“We know the buyer profile exceptionally well,” Abolakian says.

“The demographics between places like Willoughby, Chatswood, St Leonards and Roseville are very similar. There are nuances between suburbs and projects, but culturally and from a buyer perspective, there’s a strong overlap.”

That buyer has historically been overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven.

Unlike many Sydney apartment developers that have traditionally relied heavily on investor demand, Hyecorp’s projects have typically attracted downsizers, upsizers, rightsizers and family owner-occupiers seeking long-term homes rather than short-term investments.

“Historically, investors have been a much smaller portion of our demand profile,” Abolakian says.

“We design for owner-occupiers. We don’t design for yield, we design for comfort, amenity, family living and long-term usability.”

That philosophy extends well beyond apartment layouts.

From landscaping and communal gardens to shared amenities and circulation spaces, Hyecorp’s developments are designed around how people actually live, something Abolakian believes has become increasingly important in Sydney’s apartment market.

“There was probably a period where having an approved project in market was enough,” he says.

“There wasn’t as much competition and if you built it, buyers would come. That’s no longer the case.”

“There’s more supply in the pipeline now, particularly with TOD precincts and low and mid-rise reforms opening up opportunities across Sydney. Buyers have more choice, so if you get the product wrong, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110379 project_image_fid=311393]

The shift has forced developers to become more sophisticated in how they approach apartment design, particularly as owner-occupier expectations continue to rise.

For Hyecorp, that means thinking beyond who the buyer is today and designing for who they may become in five or 10 years' time.

“People buying now often aren’t moving in for several years,” Abolakian says.

“You might have a young couple buying today, but by the time they move in they may have children, older children, or changing lifestyle needs. You’ve got to think about how families evolve.”

That thinking also shapes Hyecorp’s approach to amenity, which positions wellness at the forefront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362634]

While resort-style facilities have become increasingly common marketing tools across Sydney apartment developments, Abolakian says the challenge is ensuring amenities are genuinely usable and appropriate for the scale of the project.

“If amenities are done right, they can materially improve the living experience,” he says, adding however that if you&nbsp;overdo it or get it wrong, you can end up with facilities nobody uses that simply create ongoing strata costs.”

That balance is something Hyecorp is aiming to strike with projects like Roseville Avenue, one of the group's upcoming Lower North Shore developments, which Abolakian describes as bringing a resort-style living experience into a metropolitan setting.

“It’s about creating something that feels special without being excessive,” he says.

“Good gardens, quality apartments, thoughtful amenity. Creating that resort feeling in a metro location.”

<img alt="Hyecorp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13c4c0f3-b1b7-44cf-9344-0b3d1d07797a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-02%20at%2012.14.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9OLWjyj2bYkDV35F78WJnyMSPfc2bJ2z" />

The focus on owner-occupier product comes as Sydney’s apartment market continues to navigate a difficult development environment.&nbsp;For Hyecorp, maintaining an in-house operating model across construction, sales, marketing and development management has become increasingly important in navigating that environment.

“We’ve always believed in keeping a lot of the process in-house,” Abolakian says.

“It creates efficiencies, but it also creates quality control. You can make faster decisions and ensure the end product stays aligned with the original vision.”

Despite the challenges, Abolakian believes demand for quality owner-occupier apartments across Sydney remains strong beneath the surface, particularly across established Lower North Shore suburbs where downsizers continue to seek new housing options close to existing communities.

“There are definitely people waiting,” he says.

“Once some of the broader uncertainty settles, whether that’s the global environment or some of the local economic noise, I think the right projects will perform very strongly.”

Hyecorp currently has three residential developments on the market across Sydney’s Lower North Shore.&nbsp;Audrey, St Leonards, positioned opposite Newlands Park, is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents, with the project now almost sold out.

Hyecorp has also recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine Chatswood</a>, an architectural tower, while continuing to deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet Roseville</a>, a more boutique scale of development with just 34 apartments.

Jonathan Chancellor

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