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Sydney's auction clearance rate stayed below 70 percent yesterday, but the battered McGrath Estate Agency bucked the weekend trend.
There was an overall 69 percent sales rate, though McGrath, whose shares were suspended from trading on Friday, secured a 75 percent success rate. 
Sales across Sydney ranged from $340,000 for a one bedroom Surry Hills unit to a pre-auction $5.775 million five bedroom Woollahra house.
CoreLogic RP Data had 330 scheduled auctions given reduced school holiday activity.
The McGrath agency secured secured sales ranging between $395,000 at Tumbi Umbi to $3.57 million at Coogee, a contemporary five bedroom home which had been tipped to fetch $3.5 million.
The real estate company asked to go into a trading halt until Tuesday as its reviews its earnings forecast from when it was listed on the ASX share market last December.
Floated at $2.10 a share, it last traded at $1.30 a share. 
McGrath, founded in Paddington by John McGrath in 1988, has a network of more than 70 offices.
The suspension came before the Reserve Bank released its half-yearly snapshot of the financial system which warned the growth in big city apartment developments was a key risk to Australia's financial system.
Sydney's declining established home sales activity and the declining auction clearance rate have not helped the McGrath share price.
Sydney's clearance rate last April was well above 80 percent.
CoreLogic figures have put the Sydney clearance rate at below 70 percent for the past five weeks after a strong February start.
Strathfield was Sydney's busiest auction suburb yesterday with the preliminary results showing four of the five offerings finding buyers, with two sales through McGrath.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

McGrath secures auction success

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The RBA says over the past six months, domestic financial risks have shifted from housing lending towards lending for residential development and some other commercial property markets, and there are ongoing concerns associated with the challenges in the resource-related sector.
It suggested a glut of inner city apartments and an influx of Chinese money into the property market was shifting the risks in the banking system.
In its most extensive warning yet of the indirect risks facing the Australian property market, the Reserve Bank's Financial Stability Review warned that the supply of new apartments in major metropolitan cities could "weigh on prices and rents," which could reduce the income of property investors and make it harder for them to sell.
"With the demand for apartments softening in some areas … and households facing tighter access to credit, settlement failures might increase," the RBA advised.
It noted the actions of the regulators since late 2014 have helped induce a tightening of authorised deposit-taking institutions’ (ADIs) housing lending standards, and housing market conditions have moderated since the previous RBA Review.
"In particular, the share of high loan-to-valuation lending has taken a noticeable step down and tighter serviceability metrics have reduced maximum loan sizes.
"ADIs have also increased advertised interest rates for investor loans relative to owner-occupier loans, while providing larger discounts for some owner-occupier lending.
"These developments have contributed to a moderation in the pace of investor credit growth, though the effect on growth of overall housing credit has been largely offset by a pick-up in owner-occupier lending.
"While the household debt-to-income ratio has increased a little further, mortgage buffers in offset and redraw facilities are rising strongly, which helps to mitigate any associated risks.
"While these developments have generally enhanced resilience in the household sector, the tighter access to credit for households could pose near-term challenges in some medium- and high-density construction markets given the large volume of building activity that was started several years ago.
"These apartments are popular with investors and foreign buyers and any concerns over settlement risk and/or a slowdown in demand for Australian-located property by Chinese and other Asian residents could lead to difficulties for particular projects, though there is little evidence of either occurring so far. Risks seem greatest in the inner-city areas of Melbourne and Brisbane, where new supply is most geographically concentrated, and increasingly in Perth."
The RBA noted some other commercial property markets were also adjusting with a lag to a slowing in demand.
"This is most noticeable for office buildings in the resource intensive states, where vacancy rates remain very high as further supply continues to come on line.
"More broadly, commercial property yields have compressed across a range of market segments and there are some questions over their sustainability at these levels once global interest rates normalise."
In the rest of the business sector, the balance sheets of resource-related companies have come under strain following the large falls in global commodity prices over recent years and interest payments are taking an increasing share of earnings for the smaller producers and mining-related services firms.
The RBA noted none of the "domestic risks appears to be enough on their own to seriously degrade the near-term functioning of the domestic financial system, though they could exacerbate a major shock from elsewhere, such as a global economic downturn."
"In any case, Australian-based banks have taken further steps to increase their resilience to potential risks.
"As noted, ADIs have tightened their housing lending standards to align them with the prudential regulator’s expectations.
"While lending to the commercial property sector by the Australian major and Asian banks has continued to rise, many ADIs have tightened lending standards in this area and have reportedly become quite cautious in lending to certain parts of the sector."
The RBA noted banks’ non-performing loans remain low overall: while they have picked up for resource-related lending, banks’ exposures to this sector and to mining services firms are small.
"That said, some foreign banks operating in Australia have much higher shares of their total lending to this sector.
"Bank profitability has also remained high and capital levels have increased substantially in the past year.
"Nonetheless, with banks now competing intensely for lending in a narrower range of markets, it will be important that their serviceability and other lending standards remain appropriate."
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RBA notes concerns about inner city apartment glut

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Sydney recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 69 percent at weekend auctions compared to 67 percent in the prior week.
The weekend’s top performing Sydney sub-region was the Eastern Suburbs with a clearance rate of 87 percent, followed by Sutherland on 84 percent and North Sydney and Hornsby at 80 percent. 
Sales across Sydney ranged from $340,000 for a one bedroom Surry Hills unit to a pre-auction $5.775 million sale of a five bedroom Woollahra house.
CoreLogic RP Data had advised there were 330 scheduled Saturday auctions given reduced school holiday activity. 
Sydney's clearance rate in April last year was well above 80 percent. 
CoreLogic figures have now put the Sydney clearance rate at below 70 percent for the past five weeks after a strong February start. 
Strathfield was Sydney's busiest auction suburb yesterday with the preliminary results showing four of the five offerings finding buyers.
Some 880 Melbourne residential homes were taken to weekend auction with a preliminary clearance rate of 71 per cent, falling from 73 per cent last week and lower than one year ago when it was 79 per cent. 
The busiest auction activity was held in the inner region where 170 homes went to auction and 73 per cent of reported auctions were successful.  
Melbourne's results ranged between a $260,000 Ormond one bedroom flat and $4,375,000 for a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-122191682" target="_blank">1960s Brighton home</a> (above) on an 830 sqm Middle Crescent block, that reportedly fetched $900,000 over reserve.
The cheapest house was $267,000 at Drysdale, on the outskirts of Geelong.
The REIV noted the Melbourne outer suburbs have seen a significant increase - about 25 percent - in the number of properties sold at auction this year. 
Reservoir had the highest number of auctions listed with 17, followed by Glen Waverley with 13. Of the 15 reported results, only two of the Reservoir offerings did not sell. Some four did not sell at Glen Waverley's 13 results. 
The preliminary clearance rate across Brisbane was 53 percent, up from 47 per cent and also higher than the 46 percent last year.
Some 145 Brisbane auctions were held, but with the two upcoming public holidays, it is expected that Brisbane’s auction market will be relatively quiet over the next two weeks. 
Adelaide saw 99 auctions with a clearance rate of 66 percent.
Preliminary results for Canberra show the clearance rate for this week sitting at 71 percent, sharing the lead as best selling mainland capital with Melbourne.
The nation's cheapest weekend sale was $67,500 for a one bedroom 40 sqm Eagleby villa on the Gold Coast. It last sold at $85,000 in 2010. 
This week saw 1,667 capital city auctions held.
Preliminary results show that 68 per cent of the national auctions were successful, marking the third consecutive week of auction clearance rates below the 70 per cent mark. 
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Melbourne still strong, but Sydney's auction success rate settles sub-70 percent 

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Entrepreneur Mark Carnegie is looking at buying Ardent Leisure's marinas business as auctioneer McVay Real Estate works on the information memorandum's release.
The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk column revealed Carnegie's firm M.H. Carnegie &amp; Co is preparing its own search for an equity partner willing to team up on a bid.  
"We would be very interested in speaking to an international party working on this as we believe we are strategically well placed," Carnegie told Street Talk. 
M.H Carnegie already owns Breakwater Marina in North Queensland.
Ardent's marina come with a $115 million book value unit. 
Ardent's d'Albora Marinas business is the largest marina group in Australia with seven sites including three on Sydney harbour. 
Private equity giant The Carlyle Group is one of the parties circling the theme park, marina, bowling centre and gym owner, Ardent Leisure. 
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Mark Carnegie seeks Ardent's marinas 

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GUEST OBSERVER
Australia is the great innovator in the world of property ownership.
It was a South Australian, Robert Torrens, who introduced the modern Torrens Title system in his home state in 1857, a system now used across much of the world today. Torrens Title is an elegantly simple concept: all properties are recorded in a land register maintained by the government, and changes in ownership are recorded in the register.
It replaced the antiquated system of a physical and often ancient document known as the ‘title deeds’ being updated each time a transaction occurred – thereby creating a ‘chain of title’ –  and being passed from owner to owner. In the cumbersome pre-Torrens system, the whole ‘chain of title’ needed to be checked every time there was a transfer to a new owner.
Australia also developed strata title law first, in the 1960s. New South Wales was the leader on this occasion.  Strata title legislation underpins the sub-division of most apartment blocks in Australia, allowing individuals to own the portion of the block they reside in whilst having a shared ownership of and responsibility for common areas such as external structures, stairways, hallways and the land the building resides on.
These two legislative developments – around a hundred year apart – epitomises the Australian egalitarian spirit of ‘a fair go.’  By simplifying title rules, they made it easier for Australians to own, trade and subdivide property, which enabled more of us to become landowners.
In a testament to the confidence in which the modern titles system is held, banks routinely lend individuals 90%, 95% and sometimes 100% of a property’s value, effectively based on an ownership entry on a database in the state or territory’s land registry IT system.
But the 1960s isn’t actually that long ago and blocks of apartments began to appear on the landscape from the 1920s and 1930s. So you won’t be surprised that there are some older apartment blocks with title documents that pre-date the strata title system.
When owners of early apartment blocks considered how they could sub-divide and sell individual units, they turned to corporation law for a solution. A company was established which became the registered owner of the property. Unit owners were then sold shares in the ‘company’ which gave them exclusive access to their dwelling and shared use of common areas.
‘Company Share’ apartments are typically older architectural style and they tend to be found in the older suburbs in our older cities – Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne and Adelaide.
There are other forms of apartment titles as well. For instance, In Victoria, in the early 1960s Stratum Title was a forerunner to the strata title regime. It still involved a company share arrangement for common property, but owners also received a title to their unit. And in South Australia, a Moiety or Cross Lease system gave each unit holder a share in the land the apartment block sat on plus a lease to exclusive use of their property.
Beware that these older forms of titles are not just a historical footnote. Banks tend to have tighter lending restrictions – lending as little as 50% of the loan-to-value ratio currently – on non-strata titled apartments, and too often, won’t lend at all.  In the case of company share, banks are concerned that the collateral for their loan isn’t the title of a property but a share in a company. In the case of stratum title in Victoria, although the banks do have a title they can claim on, the stratum title legislation gives the stratum scheme’s service company (akin to the body corporate) first claim on a defaulting borrower’s mortgage to pay outstanding service company fees. Naturally, banks aren’t comfortable about potentially being second in line if there is a default.
Consequently, non-strata title apartment can trade at a discount to comparable strata title properties.  So make sure you always engage a good lawyer when buying apartments to check the title documents.
 
When is a pre-purchase building inspection a must?  What do they entail?  How does one interpret the results?  What defects can be fixed and which ones should prompt you to walk away. Jarrod McCabe, associate director, Wakelin Property Advisory and Peter Alexander, building inspector, Safehome Building Inspections present a webinar for Victorian home buyers on April 20. <a href="https://wakelin.com.au/inspection" target="_blank">Click here to register</a>.
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Property 101: Understanding property title with Wakelin Property Advisory

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Is a royal commission into banking required? I think not. There have been many problematic incidents adversely affecting customers in the banking and financial sector in Australia – although whether they are more frequent and more substantive than elsewhere is open to question.
Moreover, examining those incidents, determining whether there are systemic causes, and identifying possible solutions can be done in simpler and potentially more effective ways. Indeed, even to the extent that the objective is to pinpoint responsibility for past wrongdoings, it is not clear that a royal commission has advantages over investigations by well-resourced and empowered financial regulators.
Royal commissions are likely to work best when there is one specific major issue to be addressed or where there is some substantive matter of policy formulation on which a primarily legal, inquisitorial, analysis can shed light. The current and recent concerns involve a wide range of different types of problems resulting in financial consumer detriment.
They involve actions of individuals within various types of financial organisations as well as how the objectives, culture, ethics and governance of the organisations themselves encourage, induce or incentivise particular types of behaviour.
These are not topics that are best addressed from a primarily legal perspective, or analysis of which requires the trappings and powers, and costs, of a royal commission. Rather, there is a need for analysis of what gives rise to these perceived problems and what policy (legislative or regulatory) changes might be made to reduce such problems.
And ultimately, some form of (at least implicit) cost-benefit analysis is warranted since the bad behaviour of concern is a byproduct of institutional arrangements and structures for providing financial services and products to meet the needs of consumers. Designing policy to balance efficiency and fairness in provision with mitigation of adverse effects is not a simple task.
Identifying problems and designing policy solutions can be done either via existing financial regulators with their existing (or enhanced) powers or through some other form of less costly and disruptive method of inquiry.
The recent David Murray-led Australian Financial System Inquiry (of which I was a member) examined the financial sector from a very broad perspective. Its terms of reference included reference to corporate governance and implications for outcomes for consumers of financial products and services consumers. But this was only one item on a long list of issues required to be investigated within a very short time frame.
The Murray Inquiry made a number of recommendations related to improving outcomes for consumers of financial products. One could argue that it would make sense to see whether the recommendations of the Murray Inquiry (once fully implemented), together with ongoing changes in global financial regulatory standards, improve the performance of the financial sector in this regard before undertaking another major review.
On the other hand it might be argued that the Murray Inquiry did not, reflecting the constraints of its terms of reference and short time frame, delve far enough into issues of ethics, culture, and governance. While these were front of mind in its deliberations, its approach was to design policy recommendations which would induce better outcomes.
These included addressing incentives created by conflicted remuneration arrangements, introducing manufacturer and distributor responsibilities for appropriate design and marketing of financial products and services, and improved resourcing and powers of financial regulators. That approach reflected a view that “good” ethics and culture cannot be created by regulation, that they are the responsibility of the leadership of financial institutions, but that policy settings can influence incentives to create and maintain good ethical standards and culture.
If it is believed that the problems are more deep seated, then perhaps further inquiry is warranted – but on topics which hardly warrant or need a royal commission. A number of issues come readily to mind. One is whether enforced structural separation of financial institutions would facilitate improved governance, risk-taking, staff-customer interrelationships, and remuneration and incentive structures.
Another is whether requiring directors of banks to put interests of depositors ahead of shareholders (much as occurs in insurance where policy holders interests are legally accorded priority). Yet another would be what increase in penalties for wrongdoing and increased resourcing for investigation by regulators would appropriately limit wrongdoing while not unduly harming efficient and innovative supply of financial services.
These types of issues require “research” more than “inquiry”. They are not the sorts of questions that a royal commission process is suited to answer. Calling for a royal commission looks to have been a smart political move. But like the Abbott Government’s Royal Commission into Trade Unions it would be tainted by political overtones associated with the inquisitorial nature of the process.
Far better to find an approach that will be seen to reflect the more explicit analytical approach necessary to answer the very complex questions involving the interplay between ethics, culture, incentives, governance and behaviour.
Kevin Davis is research director of Australian Centre for FInancial Studies and professor of Finance at Melbourne and Monash Universities, Australian Centre for Financial Studies and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kevin-davis-3497" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Why Australia doesn't need a banking industry royal commission

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The latest Australian housing finance statistics back-up what we already know: the national housing market is starting to cool.
Local housing economists have been pouring water on the notion of a “property bubble” recently, arguing instead that rather than a bubble pop, we are on track for a gradual easing.
And at the aggregate level this is what’s happening. Home loan commitments are continuing to grow. However, this growth is occurring at a rate that has been slowing since the middle of last year.
The seven charts below unpick the latest housing finance figures.
<h2>1. National growth in loans</h2>
<a href="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11420-e5y16g.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11420-e5y16g.JPG" alt="">
<h4>Data source: ABS Housing Finance, Australia (5609.0), Released 11 April 2016.</h4>
According to data released this week by the ABS, the overall growth in loans for housing increased a modest 1.5% in February (seasonally adjusted terms). Despite a bounce after the slow January month, growth over the past 12 months sits below the last five years' average annual loan commitments. (It’s the same story if we look instead at the value of loans.)
Where the picture gets really interesting is in the change in commitments to loans for the purchase of new dwellings. The number of loans in this category fell over 15% from January into February. Where this was the fastest growing category of housing finance at the end of 2015, it is now the leading area of contraction.
All-in-all this points to a market that, following a recent upsurge in building, is nearing saturation.
<h2>2. Distribution of loans by state</h2>
<a href="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11437-qbrwu7.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<h4><img src="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11437-qbrwu7.JPG" alt=""></h4>
<h4>Source data:</h4>
The majority of housing finance is going to property purchases in NSW (30%) and Victoria (28%).
<h2>3. Lending and house prices - National</h2>
<a href="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11426-xqj0gm.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11426-xqj0gm.JPG" alt="">
<h4>Data source: ABS Housing Finance, Australia (5609.0), Released 11 April 2016; ABS Residential Property Price Indexes (December 2015); CoreLogic Housing Market Update Figures (April 2016)</h4>
Growth in the value of Australian housing loans over time roughly tracks the Australian house price index.
The rapid increase in building, particularly high-density developments in urban growth centres in Sydney and Melbourne, in late-2015 saw loan value growth outpace broader property prices.
As property prices adjust to a new supply-driven equilibrium, easing loan volumes is expected.
<h2>4. Lending and house prices - State-by-state</h2>
<a href="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11420-z4cl5.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11420-z4cl5.JPG" alt="">
<h4>Source data: ABS Housing Finance, Australia (5609.0), Released 11 April 2016; ABS Residential Property Price Indexes (December 2015); CoreLogic Housing Market Update Figures (April 2016)</h4>
Year-on-year growth in property prices and housing finance by state shows massive diversity. Where Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart (who knew!) have recorded near- and above double digit average property price growth, it is still a struggle for resource-heavy parts of the country.
Brisbane, Perth and Darwin are experiencing the flip-side of the two-speed economy which through the mining boom saw their housing markets pull ahead of Sydney and Melbourne.
<h2>5. Household wealth, income and debt servicing</h2>
<a href="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11461-qtp2ii.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11461-qtp2ii.JPG" alt="">
<h4>Source data: RBA Household Finances (E2)</h4>
Overall, households are getting more wealth, relative to their income. This is coming from a combination of housing asset and financial asset capital gains.
It comes at a cost, however. Owner-occupier debt as a proportion of income is trending higher. Coupled with an increase in late 2015 of the proportion of income going to mortgage interest repayments, housing affordability issues may soon come into play.
<h2>6. First home owners are missing out</h2>
<h4><a href="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11469-1r1oaly.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></h4>
<img src="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11469-1r1oaly.JPG" alt="">
<h4>Source data: ABS Housing Finance, Australia (5609.0), Released 11 April 2016</h4>
As a proportion of all housing loans, the value of loans going to first-home buyers make up around 15% of the national market, and NSW is the worst place for first-home buyers.
The latest ABS figures show that first-home buyers are making up a smaller and smaller part of the loan market. The proportion of loans to first-home buyers decreased in every state except Tasmania in the beginning of 2016.
First-home owners in NSW make up only 12% of the value of housing finance commitments, the lowest of any state and representing a significant drop-off from a high of around 30% in 2009-10 (after which point the First Home Owners Grant was scaled back).
<h2>7. Big banks are also missing out…</h2>
<a href="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11426-i5j6ep.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/18/image-20160415-11426-i5j6ep.JPG" alt="">
<h4>Source data: ABS Housing Finance, Australia (5609.0), Release</h4>
Comparing the performance of the banks against non-bank lenders in terms of owner-occupier loan issuance, the traditional banks are lagging.
Banks are feeling the burn doubly: while their grasp of the market is trimmed by a more competitive offering from alternative lenders, the average Australian loan size is also falling.
Smaller loans are partly a response to a national housing market cool-down. It could also be attributed to APRA’s review of lending practices aimed at mitigating risk of property overvaluation introduced in December 2014.
This means the banks have to work harder (and their stock prices appear to be factoring that in!)
Danika Wright is lecturer in Finance, University of Sydney and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/danika-wright-121868" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Australia’s housing finance in seven charts: Danika Wright

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The former Prime Minister’s Ascot Vale residence is going under the hammer. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-ascot+vale-122285618" target="_blank">75 Maribyrnong Road</a> residence was built for Samuel Bruce, Australia’s eighth Prime Minister in 1887.
During the land boom, elevated land near the Ascot Vale and Moonee Ponds railway stations attracted prestigious villa residences such as this. 
This prestigious two-storey six bedroom, three-bathroom mansion retains many period details, such as wraparound lace verandas, ornate ceilings, a grand staircase, open-fireplaces, marble mantelpieces and leadlight detail. Subsequent renovations include a formal lounge, library and huge open plan living area extending onto an alfresco entertaining zone and formal gardens. Also featured are a music/theatre room, casual living room and cellar space 
The bedrooms are all large and the master includes a period-inspired ensuite. The family bathroom features a large spa, while the powder room caters for guests. Added conveniences include hydronic-heating, split-systems, intercom/alarm, automated double garage and more. 
This historically significant home is going to auction on April 30 and is expected to fetch $2,800,000.  The agents listing this property are Liz Brettell and Noel Kenny of Brad Teal.
 
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1887 Ascot Vale former PM home listed

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GUEST OBSERVER
Auction clearance rates give us insights into many aspects of the property market, but certainly not everything.
As we return to more stable conditions, it is becoming increasingly evident that we cannot rely on clearance rates alone to create the full picture of what is happening in Australian real estate.
Clearance rates refer to the number of properties sold as part of an auction campaign; this includes those sold prior to auction day, under the hammer and sold post auction.
At the end of last year, clearance rates fell to 50 percent in Sydney, triggering speculation of a spiraling market.
But two things were at play distorting these figures.
Firstly, the number of properties being auctioned was at record highs as opportunities to sell in 2015 diminished, giving buyers a lot more choice and lessening competition.
Secondly, auctions only made up 23 percent of all sales in 2015, so a large proportion of properties were being sold through private treaty, a more traditional method of sale.
This year we have seen some robust clearance figures in Sydney consistently around 75 percent, and while volumes are similar to the number listed this time last year, it is significantly less than we saw in the lead-up to Christmas. 
The number of homes being auctioned along the East Coast is expected to remain steady up to the June long weekend, but will be quieter over winter as it usually is.
Victoria last year recorded the highest percentage of auction versus private sales at 33.8 percent, followed closely behind by the ACT at 33.4 percent and NSW at 26.3 percent.
In contrast, auctions in Western Australia and Tasmania accounted for just 2.6 percent of the market.
When determining how property is performing, we can’t just limit ourselves to what is selling under the hammer. We need to look at how many people are attending open homes and the number of enquiries received by agents to determine the market strengths. 
It needs to take into consideration the micro-trends that are now starting to emerge within different capitals. What is happening in one suburb may not reflect what is happening across the city.
Auctions are fundamentally a methodology to market a property – it isn’t just a sales process.
It puts pressure on both buyers and sellers within a four-week time frame and importantly provides the best feedback on what buyers expect to pay.
Whether you decide to go to auction or not depends on many factors. The vendor needs to be happy to invest in both on and off-line marketing to promote the property. This investment is crucial in drawing out buyers.
An agent also won’t go to auction if they don’t feel there is enough competition on the day. Some may, however, run the sales campaign just to allow them to determine the right price and then sell through a private negotiation.
To truly understand the state of the market one should talk to their local agent, as they know intimately know their local market dynamics and the market more widely.
Grant Harrod is chief executive officer of LJ Hooker and can be contacted <a href="https://about.ljhooker.com.au/leadership-team" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Auctions aren’t always a proxy for the market: LJ Hooker's Grant Harrod

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Yields down since last month and almost back to levels in April 2015.
As part of our continued series on interest rates, Secret Agent has been tracking movements in the bond yield curve since late last year. If you don’t know why bond yields are so important for property investors, download our yield curve report.
So far this month, short, medium and long term treasury bond yields are down by between 0.06 percent for 90 day bills and 0.16 percent for 10 year bonds. This is shown in Figure 1.
<a href="/images/2016/04/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-14%20at%202.16.27%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-14%20at%202.16.27%20PM.png" alt="">
Note that lower bond yields are not necessarily a bad thing for bond investors, as yields and prices of bonds move in opposite directions. In fact, over the Easter period in particular, many bonds saw a large increase in price. One major cause was the announcement by the big banks (ANZ in particular) that bad debt charges are higher than market consensus. This drove a lot of investors to seek out bonds as an alternative, in turn driving up bond prices.
The continued downward trend on bond yields means that yields across the board are nearly back to levels seen in April 2015 (Figure 2), which was just before the RBA last cut interest rates.
<a href="/images/2016/04/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-14%20at%202.18.11%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-14%20at%202.18.11%20PM.png" alt="">
This again indicates low investor confidence and a bleaker outlook for the economy. It also increases the likelihood of a RBA interest rate cut before the end of the year.
For more information, <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Bond yield curve indicates possible end of year rate cut: Secret Agent

An entity directed by HSN's Rafi Assouline and Rebel Property's Allen Linz has filed plans for an impressive new precinct in Woolloomooloo.

The major mixed-use development would transform a prominent William Street site into a new residential village anchored by affordable housing and a large public park.

The proposal, submitted as a State Significant Development Application, covers 164-172 and 174-194 William Street, a 6,398 sqm site between Forbes Street and Dowling Street on the southern edge of Woolloomooloo.

Designed by fjcstudio in collaboration with Bangawarra, Studio Bright and Tribe Studio Architects, the scheme would deliver 227 apartments across four residential buildings ranging in height up to 18 storeys, alongside retail space, public domain improvements and a new publicly accessible park.

<img alt="Rebel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0eb59b7c-914a-4a5c-b849-3a56749f5e93" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-12%20at%2011.18.51%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=mxM6EEqeoLjrCiTlCzTKTvzpKuh6kSkH" />

It's another design scheme for Rebel, who took <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-rebel-property-group-takes-woolloomooloo-precinct-to-nsw-government">concept plans to the NSW Gov late last year</a>.

The latest plans will be a mix of 167 build-to-sell apartments and 60 affordable apartments, with the affordable housing component representing 15 per cent of the project's gross floor area. The apartment mix includes 12 one-bedroom, 53 two-bedroom, 89 three-bedroom apartments and 13 penthouses, while the affordable housing component would comprise 42 one-bedroom and 18 two-bedroom apartments.

<img alt="Rebel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3b3d4553-8a8c-4af5-aa8c-519ffb1e28c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-12%20at%2011.20.12%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=_Yb6ibN7eDnOtQjCNDK2eviORa4qzgv." />

Rebel Property is seeking to take advantage of the NSW Government's infill affordable housing bonus provisions under the Housing SEPP, which provide additional floor space and height in exchange for the delivery of affordable housing for a minimum of 15 years. The planning pathway allows a 30 per cent increase in floor space ratio and building height where 15 per cent of the development is dedicated to affordable housing.

&nbsp;

At the centre of the development is a 1,356 sqm sunlit public park designed to become a new community gathering space at the gateway to Woolloomooloo. The park would be complemented by a network of pedestrian laneways connecting William Street with the surrounding streets, improving permeability through what is currently a largely impermeable block.

<img alt="Rebel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="257af931-a393-4007-8c6d-7219796df58d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-12%20at%2011.20.51%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=KAHy94GrhaReFsWTGDKfy39EDJ8gEEv4" />

The design team says the public domain has been heavily influenced by the site's topography and Aboriginal cultural heritage, drawing on the escarpments, gullies and landscape characteristics that historically defined the area before urbanisation. The landscape design has been developed in partnership with First Nations consultancy Bangawarra.

The project would be delivered across four separate buildings. The William Street East and William Street West buildings, designed by fjcstudio, would contain the majority of the apartments. Melbourne-based Studio Bright has designed the Forbes Street building, while Tribe Studio Architects is responsible for the Dowling Street building.

Rebel had secured approval for the concept plans late last year.

Joel Robinson

First look: HSN, Rebel, advances Woolloomooloo precinct plans

A locally heritage-listed furniture showroom on Water Street is set to become the centrepiece of a new mixed-use residential development as local developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/keylin-group">Keylin</a> seeks approval for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lotus-on-water-street-290-water-street-fortitude-valley-qld-4006">Lotus on Water Street</a>, a 15-storey project on the Fortitude Valley side of Spring Hill.

The proposal spans 290 Water Street and 137-141 Warry Street, combining several properties into a 2,869 sqm site that sits between Fortitude Valley, Spring Hill and the rapidly evolving Victoria Park precinct. Keylin's plans would deliver 132 apartments alongside new retail, hospitality and commercial space, while retaining and repurposing the historic Brunswick Home Furnishers Showroom that fronts Water Street.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/jackson-teece">Jackson Teece</a>, Lotus on Water Street comprises a 12-storey residential tower rising above a three-storey podium and communal rooftop terrace. The development includes 76 apartments classified as multiple dwellings and a further 56 units proposed as short-term accommodation, designed to be flexibly used as either accommodation or permanent residences. The apartment mix comprises six one-bedroom, 54 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom homes.

<img alt="First look: Keylin unveils heritage-led Lotus on Water Street tower in Fortitude Valley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9822bb79-6c49-49c9-95ba-319e8c8d81c3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/fortitude%20valley%20front.png?VersionId=ioW8zbN4UVebbLetTFuv92t.HkdgfR5e" />

Residents would have access to an extensive rooftop recreation level spanning more than 1,200 sqm of communal open space. Plans include a pool, gym, sauna, infrared sauna, yoga area, library, private dining room, barbecue facilities and landscaped entertainment spaces, making the rooftop the project's largest shared amenity offering.

At street level, the proposal focuses on the adaptive reuse of the heritage buildings along Water Street, where 518 sqm of retail and commercial space is planned across shop, office and food and drink outlet uses. A permeable residential lobby would be positioned between the retained heritage buildings, creating a pedestrian connection between the historic streetscape and the new tower behind.

<img alt="First look: Keylin unveils heritage-led Lotus on Water Street tower in Fortitude Valley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="269cf3e0-7d13-48bf-a318-05a00deb5c10" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/fortitude%20valley%20podium.png?VersionId=DLXmTCLsp6GOcLpQ0h.0z7wKCw59EhN_" />

The heritage retention strategy is central to the scheme. The development application notes that the Brunswick Home Furnishers Showroom and adjoining heritage buildings will remain, with only non-significant structures on the site earmarked for removal under a previously issued Heritage Exemption Certificate. Levels one and two of the new podium are recessed behind the heritage façades to maintain their prominence within the streetscape.

Jackson Teece has drawn inspiration from the site's manufacturing history when designing the podium. The planning documents state that the façade incorporates perforated metal screening that references the woven and rattan furniture historically produced on the site. Cascading and climbing plants are integrated throughout the podium to soften the building's presentation and screen parking levels behind. The landscape strategy also informs the project's name, Lotus on Water Street, drawing on the historic Spring Hollow waterholes that once ran through Spring Hill and the blue water lilies associated with Meeanjin, Brisbane's traditional name.

The proposal also incorporates the neighbouring property at 141 Warry Street, currently occupied by a healthcare service. The existing building would remain, with nine dedicated parking spaces allocated within the new development to support its ongoing operation. In total, Lotus on Water Street proposes 117 car spaces, including 110 resident spaces and seven visitor bays, alongside 100 bicycle spaces.

<img alt="First look: Keylin unveils heritage-led Lotus on Water Street tower in Fortitude Valley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="70cf07bc-4fd8-4e70-92dd-be8b21c4e4f0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/fortitude%20valley%20site.png?VersionId=txlxrJImM0Sm_vTzHVKh5DDUkyL_CiiA" />

The site sits within the Spring Hill East Precinct of the Spring Hill Neighbourhood Plan and is positioned around 650 metres from both Fortitude Valley Station and Exhibition Station. It is also within walking distance of the King Street precinct, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston Quarter and Victoria Park, which is earmarked to become a major venue precinct ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Planning documents describe the location as a key gateway between Spring Hill and Fortitude Valley and highlight the area's increasing importance as new transport infrastructure and Olympic-related investment reshape Brisbane's inner north. The development team argues the project will contribute additional housing supply while activating a section of Water Street that has historically received less investment than other parts of the Valley.

Keylin has become increasingly active across Brisbane and southeast Queensland, assembling sites in strategic inner-city locations. They are currently selling and delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/oria-spring-hill-447-gregory-terrace-spring-hill-qld-4000">Oria Spring Hill</a>, just over 140 apartments due for completion in 2027.

Keylin plans heritage-led Lotus on Water Street apartment development in Fortitude Valley

Roseville is poised for a wave of new apartment development following the NSW Government's rezoning of land around Roseville Station under its Transport Oriented Development program.

The new planning controls have unlocked significant development potential within walking distance of the station, with a number of sites expected to be amalgamated and redeveloped in the coming years as developers seek to take advantage of the increased density allowances.

One of the more restrained developments in the precinct, and set among the first to be delivered having commenced well before the recent changes, is Hyecorp's Juliet. The boutique apartment project is already well under construction and remains on track to welcome residents by the end of the year, offering a markedly different proposition to many of the larger-scale developments now likely to emerge across the suburb.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278194]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet</a> will comprise just&nbsp;34 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments opposite Roseville Station. For Hyecorp, which has delivered projects across Sydney's Lower North Shore for more than three decades, Roseville presented a rare opportunity to address a growing gap in the market.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/roseville-nsw-2069">Roseville</a> has long been one of the North Shore's most tightly held and desirable suburbs, offering a unique combination of village charm, established greenery, excellent transport connections, and proximity to some of Sydney's best schools and lifestyle amenities," Hyecorp said.

"We recognised a growing demand from local homeowners seeking to downsize without leaving the community they have built their lives around. The location presented a rare opportunity to create homes that cater specifically to that buyer profile."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278196]

The six-level development has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a> as a collection of residences that feel more like homes than apartments. The brief centred generous floorplans, abundant natural light, quality finishes, and strong connections to outdoor space.

PBD Architects drew inspiration from Roseville's established garden suburb character, creating a building that sits comfortably within its surroundings rather than dominating them. The architecture incorporates natural materials, soft forms, layered landscaping, expansive balconies, and generous setbacks to strengthen the connection between residents and the suburb's leafy environment.

"The focus was on designing spacious, house-like residences for discerning owner-occupiers and downsizers who wanted to remain on the North Shore without compromising on comfort, privacy, or design," PBD said.&nbsp;

"Every apartment was to feel considered, timeless, and highly functional."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278195]

Inside, residences feature engineered timber flooring, stone kitchen benchtops and splashbacks, integrated Fisher &amp; Paykel appliances, ducted air conditioning, and large outdoor entertaining areas designed to take advantage of district and treetop views.

Residents will also have access to a rooftop barbecue and lounge area, alongside practical amenities including parcel lockers, EV charging capability, bicycle storage, a dog wash bay, and a basement car wash facility.

The majority of purchasers so far have been local owner-occupiers from Roseville, Lindfield, Chatswood, Killara, and the broader Upper North Shore, many of whom are transitioning from larger family homes.

"Buyers are looking for spacious, house-like apartments that allow them to downsize without feeling like they are sacrificing comfort or functionality," Hyecorp noted.

"They value large kitchens, generous living areas, ample storage, quality finishes, secure parking, lift access, and low-maintenance living."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278204]

Juliet sits directly opposite Roseville Train Station and within walking distance of Roseville Village, while Chatswood's retail and dining precinct is only minutes away. The development is also surrounded by some of Sydney's most established schools, including Roseville College, Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College, and Knox Grammar, as well as nearby parklands and golf courses.

Juliet is currently more than 75 per cent sold ahead of its anticipated completion in late 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7395]

Juliet to sit quietly amid Roseville apartment boom

Sherpa Property Group has unveiled the third instalment of its Flourish series, securing full approval for the two-tower, $500 million Flourish Soleira development in Palm Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-1150-1154-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> will rise from a prominent site in the commercial heart of Palm Beach, the long-time home of Cash Converters and a range of local retailers.

The project will introduce a new retail and dining precinct at ground level, beneath 286 apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370959]

“We’re very committed to not only providing affordable residential offerings that are much needed in Palm Beach, but also delivering a vibrant new commercial heart that complements the extraordinary growth of the southern Gold Coast,” Sherpa Property Group founder Christie Leet said.

The development will sit under Sherpa's Flourish brand, which is aimed at providing a pathway into the beachside suburb for locals, first-home buyers and downsizers. In a move designed to assist first-home buyers entering the market, Sherpa has reserved all one and two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments exclusively for eligible first-home buyers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

“Our vision through Flourish is to create a vibrant retail and lifestyle focal point within the Palm Beach centre zone, delivering thriving communities underpinned by lifestyle-rich locations,” Leet said.

“So far, Flourish has been an incredible success, and we hope to carry this momentum as we progress the next two Flourish projects in Palm Beach.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=371430]

Located across 1150-1164 Gold Coast Highway and 3 Sixth Avenue, the development will comprise two towers. The northern tower will deliver 154 apartments, while the southern tower will add a further 132 residences, helping address ongoing demand for new apartments in the tightly held coastal suburb.

Flourish Soleira will also feature the most extensive rooftop amenity offering ever delivered in Palm Beach.

The two towers will be connected by a skybridge, with residents gaining access to a rooftop recreation deck featuring a full-width swimming pool, hot and cold plunge pools, wellness spaces, a gymnasium, private dining facilities, massage treatment rooms, barbecue areas, a basketball court, golf simulator, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, sun lounges and extensive landscaping.

LPS Group is expected to start construction later this year.

Sherpa is already well advanced on construction of its debut Flourish project, Flourish Amargo, located just around the corner from Soleira. Meanwhile, Flourish Oasis, positioned opposite Amargo, recently commenced construction and has nearly sold out its collection of 47 apartments.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa unveils $500m mixed-use Palm Beach precinct, Flourish Soleira

Are mortgage holders set to get a reprieve from the RBA in 2026?

Big Four bank NAB believes so. They are now expecting the next move from the RBA to be a cut, rather than a hike, which they had pencilled in for August. They are unsure of the timing of the cut however, they note in their latest&nbsp;NAB Economics RBA Watch.

NAB Chief Economist, Dr Sally Auld, said recent data suggests the economy has lost momentum and the outlook for rates has shifted, noting that the broader economic backdrop has changed since earlier in the year.

“The next move in the cash rate is likely to be down, but the timing is uncertain," Dr Auld said.

"In February, growth was above trend, the economy was operating above capacity and there was uncertainty over the restrictiveness of rates. None of these conditions exist today,” she outlined.

Dr Auld said recent data pointed to softer momentum across the economy while acknowledging that at the same time, uncertainty remains a key feature of the outlook.

“Both Q1 GDP data and the NAB business survey suggest momentum in the economy has slowed, meaning that growth has likely peaked for the cycle. That said, we are cognisant there is still considerable uncertainty around the outlook, both with respect to activity and inflation.”

Dr Auld said inflation risks and labour market outcomes would be important to watch.

“On the prices side, we are still forecasting above target core inflation through to mid-2027. Margins will compress and weaker labour market outcomes are a risk.”

She said tighter financial conditions are expected to weigh on housing and activity.

“Tighter financial conditions will be reflected in a slowing in house price growth and housing credit growth. In summary, we have greater conviction that the next move in rates is down, but less conviction on the timing.”

Jonathan Chancellor

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