<html><body>
Drummoyne vendors notched up near 90 percent auctions success in the 2015 December quarter, according to a CoreLogic list of the busiest 195 auction suburbs.
Houses in the inner west suburb have a median of around $1.8 million and units around $900,000 in the suburb that is surrounded by water on three sides.
CoreLogic RP Data noted while Sydney’s auction clearance rate over the December quarter was 59 percent there were pockets of the Sydney market where clearance rate performance sits much stronger than the broader market.
For instance the eastern suburbs came in with the highest clearance rate at almost 75 percent, followed by the inner south and inner west at 67 percent.
But Blacktown and Parramatta were in the low 40s.
The research will be handy when deciding just how to list your Sydney home this year, ie by auction or private treaty.
It would be wise to ask your prospective listing agents not only how their agency went late last year but contrast their results against the overall suburban trend.
<img src="/images/2016/01/19/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-19%20at%2010.26.27%20AM.png" alt="">
<img src="/images/2016/01/19/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-19%20at%2010.26.56%20AM.png" alt="" width="534" height="1330">
<img src="/images/2016/01/19/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-19%20at%2010.29.59%20AM.png" alt="">
<img src="/images/2016/01/19/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-19%20at%2010.30.47%20AM.png" alt="">
<img src="/images/2016/01/19/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-19%20at%2010.31.48%20AM.png" alt="">
Source CoreLogic RP Data
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Sydney's best and worst auction suburb guide

<html><body>
Mirvac Group has exchanged contracts for the sale of 1 Woolworths Way, Bella Vista for $336.45 million, representing a yield of 6.07 percent.
As part of the transaction, Mirvac Projects will remain responsible for the delivery (including cost) of a new multi-story carpark via a development management agreement.
The Woolworths headquarters at 1 Woolworths Way is located 30 kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD within Norwest Business Park.
It is 100 per cent leased to Woolworths Limited until 2031 with Woolworths recently signing a new 15-year lease extension.
South Korean-based property investors, advised by Inmark Asset Management, bought the property which was marketed by Paul Noonan, Rob Sewell and Simon Storry of JLL and Graeme Russell, Ian Hetherington and Ben Azar of Savills.
It had a recent book value of $250 million before the new lease and before the envisaged car parking arrangement.
</body></html>

Woolworths HQ at Bella Vista sold to Koreans

<html><body>
The sale price of the luxurious six-bedroom hilltop Chirnside Park trophy mansion sold last July has emerged as a record setting $5.69 million.
It sold at 10 times the suburb's median house price.
The sale price for Arribri, at 145 Edward Road had remained a closely guarded secret, like an intended move on its backyard chess set.
Quite something for the suburb, the sprawling 2008-bult residence sits on 1.58 hectare grounds featuring an infinity edge pool and tennis court.
The Herald Sun reported it attracted 78,000 YouTube hits and 1000 inquiries after it hit the market for Jellis Craig agent Matthew Lockyer with interest from China, the United States, Russia and India.
The two storey, six bedroom property was listed by a family from China. Title Tattle gleans it was sold to the Fei family from Keysborough.
According to <a href="/news">CoreLogic RP Data</a>, the outer Yarra Ranges, Melbourne suburb's median house price is $550,000.
The prior record was $2.99 million in 2014 for a single storey home on a large 15 hectare lot. 
</body></html>

Record setting Chirnside Park trophy home sells to Keysborough family: Title Tattle 

<html><body>
The ANZ tips there will be RBA rate cuts in May and August this year.
They have noted their expectation for a weakening property market too, in their latest February 2016 ANZ heatmap.
<a href="/images/2016/01/18/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-18%20at%2010.38.06%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to end</a><img src="/images/2016/01/18/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-18%20at%2010.38.06%20AM.png" alt="">
ANZ's heatmap published in February last year (below) predicted a cash rate of <a href="/expert-insights/finance/rba-2-cash-rate-forecast-the-anz-heatmap">2% for December 2015</a>.
<a href="/images/2016/01/18/anz-feb-2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/18/anz-feb-2.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

ANZ heatmap tips RBA rate cuts in May and August 2016

<html><body>
<div align="justify">
Hello Real Estate and Minrex Resources NL have agreed not to complete their proposed reverse takeover, scheduled for January 2016.
Hello Real Estate has instead indicated discussions with a number of private equity firms have "progressed" to raise the necessary capital elsewhere for funding the demand for its home owner controlled real estate sales system.
Hello Real Estate’s growth has in the last three months seen the number of Hello licensees in Australia increase from 12 to 35 prompting its claim as Australia’s fastest growing real estate disruptor through its sale by owner system.
<a href="https://www.hello.com.au/?page=home" target="_blank">Hello, a licensed real estate agency</a> that offers a low fixed fee service for clients to sell their own property, comes with dedicated hands-on mentoring.
</div>
<div align="justify"><a href="/images/2016/01/18/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-18%20at%2010.28.00%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div align="justify"><img src="/images/2016/01/18/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-18%20at%2010.28.00%20AM.png" alt="" width="668" height="346"></div>
<div align="justify">
Hello Real Estate had been set for December 2015 stock market listing with the move by Minrex Resources NL to take over Hello for $6.75 million.
It was anticipated Minrex would change into HelloReal Estate Limited raising $5 million in capital to expand the Hello business.
Hello describes itself as a licensed real estate business "which offers its clients a fixed-fee service to sell their own property supported by a team of professional service providers, covering all aspects of selling, web listings, advertising, negotiation, conveyancing and settlement services as well as professional mentoring."
According to Hello, the system achieves significant savings, less time on market and "the best market price for the property".
Hello launched in 2012 in South Australia and then into NSW in mid-2013.
The intended listed company was to have a new board, headed by Bob Lapointe, the franchise entrepreneur who brought Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Sizzler to Australia.
Now in his 70s, Bob Lapointe has chaired Hello since May 2014.
MinRex Resources NL (“MinRex”) is an exploration company, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, with its principal focus being the exploration and development of gold, base metal and tin projects in Australia.
MinRex holds two principal projects, the Deflector Extended Gold Project at Gullewa in Western Australia and the Heemskirk Tin Project in Tasmania.
The intended Hello Real Estate <a href="/news/gold-mining-company-turns-to-hello-for-sale-by-owner-disruptee-business">stock market listing</a> via MinRex emerged mid last year, with MinRex now consulting with the ASX to resume quotation of its shares as soon as possible and will continue with its current exploration portfolio.
</div>
<div align="justify"> </div>
</body></html>

Hello.com.au Real Estate calls off backdoor ASX listing

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Most mathematical modelling used to guide our economy is simplified and only modified when it becomes so out of touch that it is dangerous.
When the Atlantic cod fishery collapsed the model being used to set fishing quotas was still suggesting the fishery was healthy. In retrospect it seems a kind of madness to have kept using it.
Traffic modelling in Australia is now similarly out of touch. A recent study by the Bureau of Transport Industry and Resource Economics modelled the future of traffic in Australian cities. If it had been a mere academic study it would not be dangerous, but it is now being used to justify massive road spending.
The report suggests that travel times will blow out and road congestion will cost the economy more than A$50 billion. Congestion, it seems, is out of control and will engulf us all, with terrible economic consequences for Australian cities.
<h2>Modelling relies on heroic growth assumptions</h2>
In order to reach these numbers the report had to make assumptions about growth trends in car use per capita. The high-growth scenario is included in the red box in Figure 1 below.
<a href="/images/2016/01/18/image-20160113-8411-b2a1bi.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/18/image-20160113-8411-b2a1bi.jpg" alt="">
As is common in such modelling, a low-growth scenario is also modelled and then the future is taken to be in the middle.
The high-growth scenario can be seen to reverse a trend in car use per capita that appeared to be well set after a peak in 2003-04. This peak car phenomenon has been found in all developed cities and has been analysed by many commentators including ourselves.
Understanding the peak car phenomenon would appear to be a basic requirement before attempting future scenarios that wipe it out completely. However, this report has not ventured into such questions. Instead, it continues the methodology used for the past 30 years.
<h2>Travel time reality means car use has peaked</h2>
The fundamental problem is that the model does not understand how cities work. Travel time is seen as something that just expands as our cities of car-dependent suburbs grow outwards.
However, the Marchetti travel time budget of just over an hour on average has been found to apply universally across all cities. Some people can go beyond an hour and some much less, but the average everywhere is an hour. This has been found over and over to apply in every city.
If people find it hard to live with so much time “wasted”, they move to somewhere more within their travel time budget. If the overall options in housing, jobs and travel become so dysfunctional that people are forced to travel beyond their time budget then the issue becomes highly political: elections are fought over infrastructure and housing options. Cities adjust; they don’t keep expanding travel time.
It is possible to understand the global peak car phenomenon in terms of cities hitting the Marchetti wall. In our data, cities everywhere began to grow in their traffic congestion whether or not they built freeways or extra road capacity. This was because these just filled very quickly.
<h2>Rail projects unclog the urban arteries</h2>
Rail projects, however, could go around, over or under the traffic. Hence, over the past 30 years, rail lines have become more travel-time-efficient than traffic arteries. Many people, especially the young and wealthy, began to move back into areas where public transport was well provided.
The rejuvenation of central and inner areas is not just because they are cool and trendy but because they offer reduced travel time. Car use per capita goes down when there is less need to travel, especially by car.
This model does not consider this to be significant enough to consider in forecasting scenarios for Australian cities. It crudely projects a totally car-based-and-growing set of futures. It barely considers the remarkable global turnaround in the building of rail systems and the rejuvenation of cities.
Scenarios where these urban trends are considered to continue (rather than suddenly dying as suggested by Figure 1, followed by inevitable growth in car use) would make much more sense. This is the way planning is being done in cities like London.
The evidence in London and other cities – with good public transport alternatives and competitive door-to-door journey times – is that with fixed road capacity traffic volumes stay constant (or slightly decline). All the growth goes on to public transport and the car-based share of travel falls – down from 46% for residents of London in the 1990s to 32% now.
The scenarios for London are therefore all about how best to build public transport and land-use options that can enable economic growth to occur sustainably, rather than trying to increase road capacity. Similar considerations can be seen to be happening elsewhere around the world.
<h2>Did an ‘Abbott effect’ skew the modelling?</h2>
So why have we refused to change our modelling and are still trying to justify massive road capacity increases?
Traffic modelling reports like this take about two years to produce. What was happening around two years ago was the election of Tony Abbott with his commitment to spend some A$40 billion on urban roads and nothing on urban rail.
Huge road projects in Melbourne (East-West Link), Sydney (West Connex), Brisbane (Gateway) and Perth (Freight Link) were all announced before any assessment. Their rationale was very shaky and most of these projects have now either failed or are failing.
Each road project also has large impacts on their urban economies. These are dangerous as they destroy so much of the urban fabric necessary for rejuvenation and take away the ability of governments to pay for the more important urban rail projects on their agendas.
The upturn in the graphs in Figure 1 seems to be an Abbott effect. It is rather amusing now that this report came out just as Malcolm Turnbull took over and began talking up urban rail and urban regeneration.
Such models should be put into the museum and as a better sense of where our cities can be going. This report can be easily passed over, but if the thinking behind it stays the impact on our cities will be very damaging.
 
Peter Newman is professor of sustainability, Curtin University and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-newman-1858" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

The ‘one-hour rule’ for city travel - traffic modelling and the Abbott effect in policy madness

<html><body><div class="article__content">
<div class="parsys parsys-article-content-top">
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The online holiday home rental site Stayz has switched to a commission-based model with upset owners considering a switch to rival Airbnb.
Stayz is only offering listing renewal contracts with holiday home owners paying a 10 percent commission, rather than $15.90 a night and an annual fee of $164.
The Australian Financial Review notes Airbnb charges the property owner a three per cent commission and also changes the guest an additional six to 12 per cent on making a booking.
The Australian reports Stayz has around 42,000 registered properties.
The business was sold three years ago by Fairfax Media for $220 million. 
Stayz is ultimately owned by US-based online travel Expedia, which bought its parent company HomeAway for $US3.9 billion last year. 
Stayz boss Anton Stanish told the paper the company was now reviewing after feedback from some owners.
But noting some owners will pay more as "they were getting a steal before," he said.
One holiday home owner said her fees had gone up by 600 percent as a result of the changes to the commission structure for her luxury properties. 
Another noted in the peak Christmas period, the commission paid to Stayz on a $5000 booking for a week-long stay at her property would rise to $500 from $125.30 under the old system.
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

"No more steals" for landlords as Stayz raises holiday home rental commission to 10 percent

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
An overhaul of education and training standards is in the best interests of the consumer and the profession. Responding to the review of training in the property services industry conducted by NSW Fair Trading, REINSW is firmly of the view that the overwhelming majority of issues that attract the attention of the regulator and aggravate consumers, can be resolved by substantially improving the education of property professionals for both entry and continuing professional development. We suggest a higher entry level education standard. It not only better equips the new entrant for the profession, it also allows that new entrant the opportunity to commit themselves to the disciplines required by the profession. This will then, it is submitted, positively impact on a higher retention rate and increase the aggregate competencies of the profession. In order to reduce the churn, which the panel has identified at 80 per cent of new entrants, REINSW proposes new entrants complete an additional three units prior to starting work. This will at least in part address this at the commencement of the new entrants employment and with on-going study together with practical on- the-job experience will grow the new entrant into a capable, knowledgeable and skilled professional. REINSW has also called for additional on the job training. Under the Institute’s suggested educational regime the student will take seven units of competence into the workplace and receive an additional 17 units of competence within the context of practical application and repetition. The complete education, which involves both classroom and on the job training, particularly in a service industry such as real estate is not so much desirable, but essential. Without it the service provider is ill-equipped to respond to the demands and disciplines of the profession. The delivery and assessment of training should be undertaken by trainers who regularly update their property industry work experience and skills. The qualification level of the trainers should be at least a one-step higher level than the qualification currently being taught within the relevant property associated discipline.
 
John Cunningham is President, REINSW and can be contacted <a href="https://www.reinsw.com.au/imis15_Prod/web" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

Real estate agent education, training overhaul needed: REINSW

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Sydney’s first Muji store opened in 2015 and with it came attractive minimalism, simplicity, and functionality – a kind of consumption that was somehow about consuming less.
The Japanese retailer offering home-wares, furniture, clothing, and stationery describes its formation as the “antithesis to the habits of consumer society” and sells items that have undergone a “careful elimination and subtraction of gratuitous features”.
It is hard not to be seduced by long-lasting items that challenge the planned obsolescence of products – the in-built limitation of a product’s use, functionality, or desirability at the stage of design (just think about how often earphones need to be replaced).
<h2>Clear your mind by tidying your closet</h2>
The Japanese “organising consultant” Marie Kondo’s best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (2010), encourages readers to adopt a certain relationship to objects: if it doesn’t “spark joy”, discard it. Her latest book, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (2016) adopts a similar ethos with practical tips about tidying.
Websites can show us the aesthetic pleasures of decluttering with before and after photos of newly tidied household interiors. One-on-one organizational coaching is available for those who want professional guidance on decluttering.
A number of do-it-yourself websites, articles, and books encouraging simplicity and minimalism have also popped up, with mantras such as “bust clutter”, “let it go”, and “clear your mind”. What these slogans have at their heart is the idea that our things mean more than just the functions they serve.
Our things tell us about ourselves. As accumulations of memories, souvenirs from another place or mementos from another time, they somehow reflect back on us. Who we are, have been, or would like to be, how others know us, and where we belong are all things that are tied up to our relationship with objects. In the shadows of this trend is the idea that you may be perceived as being too involved with your possessions.
<h2>Scientific housekeeping</h2>
The US documentary television show Hoarders (2009-), now in its eighth season, involves staging interventions for those categorised as having a psychologically disordered personality linked to their tendency to accumulate.
The United States idea of a hoarder as participating in “material deviancy” came about in the mid-20th Century. Scott Herring’s 2014 book The Hoarders: Material Deviance in Modern American Culture explores the idea of “scientific housekeeping”, which involved the promotion of social, personal, and material hygiene that advocated efficiency, cleanliness, and material orderliness in the home.
Decluttering, the natural heir of scientific housekeeping, can therefore be seen as a form of distancing yourself, physically as well as socially, from things that often have negative connotations: disorder, dirt, deviance, hoarding, as well as the kinds of people and bodies that are usually seen as in need of transformation in order to “better fit” with certain social ideals.
In decluttering we are not only throwing away things but associations. In decluttering we re-draw the boundaries between ourselves and others, and between our things and what they mean to us.
There is also something to be said about how the movement is tied up with our ideas of Japan, of Zen living, and the way that spirituality and a philosophy of living are evoked. How we imagine a Japanese way of life to be simple, organised, and orderly also forms part of the appeal.
<h2>Anti-conspicuous consumption</h2>
The trend is open to interpretation. Is it about stripping back to the “bare essentials”, to a supposedly more “authentic” way of being? Is it driven by an interest in the growing movement towards sustainable living? Is it fuelled by an anti-consumerism akin to James Wallman’s idea that we are living in an age of “stuffocation”? Perhaps it has to do with the idea that by discarding and re-organising, we will become renewed, more efficient, and more productive? A New Year’s resolution all-in-one.
Or perhaps its popularity has to do with the feeling of being refreshed and renewed after decluttering – an idea that leads one commentator to describe decluttering (unflatteringly) as “the new juice cleanse”.
The recent trends towards decluttering encourage us to change our relationship to the things we surround ourselves with and to be more discerning about what we include and exclude from our homes and from our perception of ourselves. However, where do these things “go” when decluttered?
Do they become “out of sight, out of mind” as they head towards landfill? Do they become clutter in other people’s homes? If our objects are holders of memory, stories, and biographies will our memories of them be erased? Will we regret giving them away in moments of scarcity?
What is a necessity now may become clutter in the future, and what is clutter now may be of use later. Will there be a lingering nostalgia for that possession that was once discarded but is now painfully longed for?
Karma Chahine is PhD student in Department of Gender and Cultural Studies, University of Sydney and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karma-chahine-217805" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

Clean your way to minimalist happiness: unpacking the decluttering craze

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
The media recently reported that the Australian housing market had ‘peaked in winter’. While Sydney – the market leader – is coming into a downswing, it is not useful to aggregate the market this way.
Historically, the different dwelling markets around the country have not been synchronised. In fact, assuming the economy was performing steadily, the Melbourne and Brisbane markets would be yet to experience peak capital growth before slowing in late 2016. However, economic uncertainly and lending restrictions may prematurely curb growth in these markets.
November 2015 Summary
<a href="/images/2016/01/14/Table_1_November_Summary_v2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/14/Table_1_November_Summary_v2.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="558">
Growth in Melbourne house market is 12.87% in the year to November, which is up from 11.03% in the year to October.
There is a large growth disparity between Melbourne houses and units. Melbourne units performed steadily with annualised capital growth of 6.13%, however values dropped in the month of November (-0.37%). With a difference of 6.74 percentage points between annualised growth in houses and units, Melbourne’s house and unit markets show the largest growth disparity Residex has on record. This is presumably due to large levels of stock in the unit market relative to demand. Graph 1 presents the growth trend.
Click to enlarge
<img src="/images/2016/01/14/Graph_1_Melbourne_Trend.jpg" alt="">
Annual sales figures for Melbourne indicate that houses are the more desired dwelling purchase. Melbourne houses saw the largest volume of sales in the year to November, with 52,530 sales.
Annual growth in Sydney houses was again significant – with values jumping an enormous 20.53%. However, growth in the November quarter was just 2.93% – the lowest result since July 2014 – and while these figures are still very strong, they indicate a clear slowing in this market. Sydney units have also slowed dramatically, with growth for the month of November at just 0.55%.
Despite the slowing of growth in Sydney, 2016 is unlikely to see a market crash due to strong population migration in New South Wales and Sydney feeding dwelling demand. Even a market correction of 10% would still leave Sydney home owners well off after the latest housing boom.
Interestingly, the regional markets of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Wollongong have seen enormous capital growth, which is most likely a result of spill over as individuals and businesses seek cheaper rent outside the Sydney Metropolitan.
Dwelling markets across Western Australia continue to struggle. Perth houses fell in value by 2.83% for the year and rents fell a significant 5.43%.
Many unit markets across the country have seen a fall in value in November, as can be seen in Table 1. Dwelling markets usually reflect broader trends in the economy.
Brisbane was expected to be a strong performer in 2015. While the market remained in positive growth, it was very slow and subdued for the Brisbane Metropolitan as a whole. Select markets such as those in close proximity to the CBD and in the south-east performed more strongly.
Continued commodity declines have presented enormous challenges for the mining sector and state government revenues. It is for this reason that care should be taken when considering the economic output of the Adani Mine project and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in Queensland. In particular, it should not be assumed that these projects will see long term high capital growth in nearby dwelling markets. This is an important takeaway from recent commodity price crashes.
Indian company Adani is set to go ahead with a coal mine and connecting rail line in Central Queensland’s Galilee Basin. The Queensland Land Court ruled Adani should receive mining leases, however the court agreed that the benefits of the $16 billion project are overstated.
Adani claimed the project would create 10,000 jobs annually from 2024. This has since been revised down to 1,464 full time equivalent jobs. Furthermore, the $22 billion in mining royalties anticipated from the coal mine was based on inflated estimates of the commodity, meaning this figure will be lower.
Challenges also exist for prospects around LNG projects in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
By the time these projects go into operation, the LNG market is forecast to be in a supply glut of approximately 20-30 million tonnes through to 2018, according to Bernstein Research. Oversupply in LNG is partially due to the increase in participating suppliers but also slowed economic growth, especially from China. However, the LNG projects across Australia largely have supply contracts already secured with set prices.
<h2>Economic Outlook</h2>
The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook was delivered by Scott Morrison. The government has increased the budget deficit to $37.4 billion over 2015-16, which is greater than the May budget outlook by $2.3 billion.
Despite the budget deficit, Australia still maintains a sustainable level of debt to GDP[1]. So long as debt is at a sustainable level, it is not thought to have a large effect on economic growth relative to other factors such as investment in education.
Employment in Australia seems to be moving in a positive direction, which has surprised many (including me).
Capital investment and commodities have not performed well this year, leading to a huge reduction in revenue for businesses and government alike, and thousands of people losing work.
However, employment and participation in job searching has improved over 2015, which can be seen in Graph 2.
<a href="/images/2016/01/14/Graph_2_Employment-1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/14/Graph_2_Employment-1.jpg" alt="">
The dark blue line indicates where trends in employment began to move favourably. In a recent interview with the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Governor Glenn Stevens suggested this may be because the sectors behind employment growth may not require large amounts of capital investment, such as services, tourism and hospitality.
Uber is one such example of an emerging service where little large scale capital investment is needed, especially from drivers. Uber reportedly employs 15,000 people in Australia.
As a result, Stevens has revised down expected jobless figures and the need to further reduce the cash rate.
However, I would argue that the nature of employment is not enough to provide a wealth effect that would fuel demand strong enough for housing. Wage growth remained at 2.3% in the September quarter and it is likely that a significant portion of new found employment would be part time work.
As documented thoroughly this year, unaffordability persists across the country in both ownership and rent of dwellings. Unaffordability, combined with higher interest rates and low wage growth means that we probably can’t expect the exceptional growth seen this year in any of the major capital city markets in 2016.
Australia’s economy still faces many challenges before returning to strong GDP growth, and many dwelling markets across the country are also likely to see slowed or negative growth in 2016. However, property is a long term game and we have very diverse markets and opportunities throughout the country. I will aim to highlight more of these unique opportunities in 2016.
Eliza Owen is the market analyst for Onthehouse.com.au. She can be contacted <a href="https://www.onthehouse.com.au" target="_blank">here.</a>
</body></html>

2016 unlikely to see property market crash in Sydney: Onthehouse's Eliza Owen

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=350986]

The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=359152]

The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

A rooftop pool and spa overlooking the Brisbane CBD, private dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens and a residents' lounge are set to crown <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/callista-on-park-west-end-49-mollison-street-west-end-qld-4101">Callista on Park</a>, the final residential building within Brisbane's West Village precinct.

The rooftop amenity collection has been designed as an extension of the lifestyle already established throughout West Village, providing residents with a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that capitalise on the building's elevated position above West End.

A swimming pool and heated spa form the centrepiece of the rooftop offering, surrounded by landscaped gardens developed through a collaboration between developer Sekisui House and ASPECT Studios. The design incorporates expansive lawn areas surrounded by English garden-inspired planting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370648]

Residents will also have access to two barbecue and outdoor dining areas positioned to take advantage of views across Brisbane's skyline, neighbouring Mollison Park, and the surrounding inner-city landscape.

For larger gatherings, the rooftop includes a private dining room centred around a substantial stone island bench, complete with a full kitchen and a 10-seat dining table set beneath four-metre-high ceilings. The space has been designed to overlook both the rooftop gardens and the Brisbane CBD skyline.

A separate residents' lounge provides an additional indoor retreat connected to the broader rooftop amenity offering, creating another space for residents to work, relax or entertain guests.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370647]

The attention to detail extends beyond the rooftop.

Upon arrival, residents will enter through a lobby featuring a bespoke ceiling light installation developed in collaboration between Sekisui House and Alcorn Middleton Architecture. The arrival experience is complemented by private resident mailboxes and carefully considered interior finishes designed to reflect the premium positioning of the building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=372541]

The amenity offering forms part of Callista on Park, the final residential release within the decade-long transformation of the former Peters Ice Cream Factory site into West Village, one of Brisbane's most established mixed-use communities.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>, Callista represents the most premium residential offering within the masterplanned precinct.

Construction is now entering its final stages, with scaffolding beginning to come down and completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Prices for the three-bedroom plus MPR apartments start from just over $2.6 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=351535]

Callista will mark the final opportunity to purchase within West Village, where residents have direct access to more than 35 retail, dining, wellness and medical operators including Harris Farm Markets, Woolworths, Function Well and Goodlife Health Clubs, Metro Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants and cafés.

Located just 800 metres from the Brisbane CBD, the precinct also places residents within walking distance of South Bank, West End's dining scene, riverfront parklands and major public transport connections.

For Sekisui House, which has delivered more than two million homes globally, Callista serves as the concluding piece of the West Village masterplan, bringing together the precinct's heritage character, parkland setting and emphasis on walkability in a final collection of larger-format residences.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134800]

Rooftop pool, private dining and skyline gardens to crown West Village's final apartment release, Callista on Park

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=262183]

Transport connectivity supports the suburb’s liveability without compromising its quieter residential character. Wahroonga and Turramurra train stations provide direct rail access into the Sydney CBD, while the nearby Pacific Highway and M1 motorway strengthen links across the North Shore and broader metropolitan area. At the same time, the heavily treed streetscape and low-density character continue to distinguish the precinct from more urbanised parts of Sydney.

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate forms the first stage of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a>’s broader masterplanned vision for the precinct, delivered alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=364995]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>, the development integrates landscaped communal spaces including a pet-friendly Green Spine, resident lounge, BBQ pavilion, and direct bushland access, reinforcing the project’s focus on outdoor connection and community-based living.

Now under construction by Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate will deliver a collection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $990,000, with completion anticipated in 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Jonathan Chancellor

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News