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GUEST OBSERVER
Many Australians want to grow old at home with family and friends. Yet most have homes that are inaccessible. Without intervention now, taxpayers will be asked to deal with the unintended consequences for the health, aged care and disability budgets.
We all know people who go to hospital and do not return home because they can no longer climb the stairs, get down the hall, or use the bathroom. The alternative is an extended hospital stay while they wait for expensive modifications, or placement in some distant residential facility.
<h2>The fix?</h2>
Community and housing industry leaders agreed with the federal government a voluntary national guideline and a plan to provide basic access features in all new housing by 2020. Governments at all levels endorsed this agreement through their housing, aged and disability policies. This includes COAG’s 2010-2020 National Disability Strategy.
Adding these features at the design stage is cheap and easy to do. One cost estimate is A$200-$1,000 per dwelling. This would provide:
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An accessible path of travel from the street or parking area to and within the entry level of a dwelling;
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Doorways, corridors and living spaces on the entry level which most people can use;
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One bathroom, shower and toilet that most people can use, with reinforcement in the walls for easy installation of grab-rails if required.
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The agreement does not solve the housing needs of people with significant long-term disability. This requires more thought. But it does allow most people to manage unexpected disability, illness or frailty until more substantial changes can be made.
Just as importantly, it allows friends and family who have mobility difficulties to visit and be part of family life.
<h2>Voluntary approach isn’t working</h2>
A 2015 review of the agreement indicated that the voluntary approach has failed. It estimated that, without intervention, less than 5% of the agreed 2020 target would be achieved.
There are good reasons for this failure. The housing industry is highly competitive and risk-averse.
Most housing is designed and built long before the buyer comes along. Builders build what has sold in the past and what they think buyers might aspire to in the future. Their experience is that most buyers do not aspire to be old, disabled or frail, so access is not high on their agenda – but it should be.
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These maps demonstrate the speed at which populations are ageing. They show the proportion in each country of people aged 60 or over in 2014 and 2050. UNDESA Population division, World population prospects: the 2015 revision.
Although the features are easy and cheap to install, a change to new practices has its risks and can be expensive. Contrary to the notion that a single builder builds a home, housing construction constitutes a complex web of subcontractors and suppliers. Each is dependent on the other to avoid delays or unexpected costs.
A simple change, such as wider doorways, can throw out the preceding and following trades, and both time and money are lost.
From the housing industry’s point of view, the estimated cost of voluntarily providing these features is much greater. It is simpler to keep doing the same – there will always be a buyer at the end.
The housing industry acknowledges that when change is necessary for the common good, regulation is required. The industry first resists, then makes the change. The “conveyor belt” of housing construction adjusts, and business continues as usual.
A home’s design affects people’s lives throughout its lifetime, so many others bear the secondary costs of inaccessible design. Providing access in a home after it is built is 19 times more expensive than if it was included from the start. But it is the tertiary costs to health, ageing and disability programs that are of real concern.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme and the aged care reforms – Australia’s most ambitious and costly social programs in a generation – are based on the premise that it is both socially and economically responsible to keep people connected. This includes participating in community and family life for as long as possible.
<h2>What now?</h2>
Australia needs only to look to other countries to understand what needs to be done. The UK has legislated for minimum access in all housing since 1999. For three decades, Japan has provided financial incentives for the housing industry to build accessible housing.
Although these strategies are not without their problems, they have clearly changed the housing industry for the better.
The federal government must let go of the voluntary approach, to think long-term and regulate for minimum access features in the National Construction Code for all new housing. The agreed 2020 target can then be achieved.
As a nation that prides itself on embracing difference, a national accessible housing code is a good place to start.
Margaret Ward is research fellow, School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/margaret-ward-129939" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. 
 
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Housing standards are failing Australia's ageing population who deserve accessible housing code

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Events in the world’s two largest economies look set to dominate proceedings in 2016. 
The scale of the slowdown in China and the speed of further US interest rate rises will determine the performance of property markets across developed and emerging markets alike over the next 12- 18 months. 
Last year we correctly anticipated that Sydney and New York would outperform in 2015 rising by 5%-10%. 
Sydney has exceeded expectations, prime prices in the city look set to end 2015 15% higher. 
At 5%, price growth in New York has been strong but mitigated to some extent by the strength of the US dollar which has curtailed foreign demand. 
By the end of 2015, we expect the strongest and weakest performing prime markets to be separated by around 20 percentage points, in 2016 we forecast this figure will slip to 15 points as price growth converges. 
Whilst luxury price growth looks set to converge, monetary policy globally is likely to follow a divergent course. 
The US and UK will be tightening monetary policy whilst the Eurozone, Japan and China are expected to either loosen policy further through additional stimulus measures or are likely to stick to the status quo in policy terms.
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This year our Risk Monitor assesses the likelihood and impact of ten key scenarios on each of our cities. 
As we take the pulse of city markets in December 2015, it is perhaps no surprise that the Fed’s recent rate rise and the impact of terrorism/geopolitical tension on the world’s top cities, are currently considered the highest risks to luxury city markets. 
In previous years, the Eurozone and its potential break-up was the top threat to economic and property market stability but jitters over its demise have subsided as the ECB has announced an extension to its QE programme. Instead, emerging markets and the risk of potential deflationary cycles represent the major headwinds for the global economy. 
For most cities, low income growth and a slowing domestic economy are considered the lowest risks to luxury markets. 
There is a chance that the recent 0.25% US rate rise and resulting strong dollar could spark a new wave of safe haven capital flows from emerging markets to first tier luxury residential markets. However, with new supply in several markets expanding (Hong Kong, London, Miami, New York) we think it’s unlikely we will see prices respond in the same way they did post-Lehman. 
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Of the ten cities analysed in our forecast, only three are expected to see prime prices decline in 2016; Hong Kong, Singapore and Paris.
In both years, Sydney is expected to come out on top, although the pace of price growth is expected to slow from 15% year-on-year in 2015 to 10% in 2016. Australia’s economic slowdown, weaker stock market performance in recent months and the introduction of foreign investment fees explain the lower rate of growth in 2016.
Only London, Paris, Geneva and Singapore are forecast to see stronger price growth (or a slower rate of decline) in 2016 than in 2015.
London’s upturn is marginal, from 1% in 2015 to 2% in 2016. Higher transaction costs (a 3% increase in stamp duty for buy-to-let properties and second homes), political risk around the Mayoral election in May, and ongoing affordability concerns explain our muted forecast.
The recent terrorist attacks in Paris will undoubtedly affect buyer sentiment and will mean some buyers delay investments. With a Presidential Election less than 18 months away, however, we do not expect any radical shake up to the tax structure for foreign buyers and the city remains competitively priced compared to other top global cities.
Overall, prime prices across all ten cities are, on average, expected to have increased by approximately 3% in 2015 but average annual growth is forecast to slip to 1.7% in 2016. This confirms our view that lower returns will become the norm in the short to medium term.
Of the cities analysed, Hong Kong is forecast to overtake Singapore as the weakest-performing luxury residential market in 2016. A number of new developments are due to come to the market in 2016, this new supply coupled with a strengthening HK Dollar (pegged to the US Dollar) will see prime prices soften.
The price decline seen in Singapore’s prime residential market is expected to persist at least until the end of 2016 following the government’s assertion that it has no plans to relax its property market cooling measures. However, the drop in price of luxury properties has presented pockets of investment opportunities. We expect sale volumes to increase in 2016 and, due to the shrinking inventory of high-end homes, price falls within the prime sector will be less pronounced than those across the island as a whole. 
In the current climate of heightened political tension and ongoing tax fluctuations, Monaco’s status as a private and secure retreat continues to appeal to the world’s wealthy. With supply severely constrained on the two-mile wide principality we forecast steady price growth of 5% in 2016 as demand and sales activity picks up.
The Geneva market, along with Switzerland as a whole, has been characterised by levels will keep prices from rising over the next 12-18 months, hence our forecast of 0% growth in 2016, but more stable trading conditions seem likely in 2016 and beyond.
In 2015, the demand for New York’s luxury homes cooled from the frenetic pace observed in 2013 and 2014 due to the strength of US dollar and weaker economic conditions worldwide, although it is not expected to impact price trends until 2017. With the US federal and presidential elections due in November 2016 both New York and Miami are likely to see buyers adopt a wait-and-see approach.
South American currencies and the euro will influence demand/capital flows.
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Liam Bailey is global head of research and Kate Everett Allen is international residential research Knight Frank. They can be contacted <a href="https://www.knightfrank.com/research/prime-global-forecast-2016-3450.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.
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With 10% price growth Sydney tipped to lead the world in 2016: Knight Frank

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The housing market concluded 2015 with a whimper, with national house prices falling again at the national level in December. However, strong price growth in the first half of the year meant that prices were still up solidly over the past year.
But the current environment of subdued demand is likely to see price growth remain sluggish as we move into 2016.
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Prices fell across the key markets of Sydney and Melbourne in December in seasonally adjusted terms. Prices in Sydney have now fallen for three consecutive months – the first such run in nearly five years. 
Prices are being driven by softer demand and sentiment in the housing sector. Tighter regulation and higher interest rates have contributed to auction clearance rates falling from their recent peak. As clearance rates dipped further in December, to a three-year low in Sydney, house prices have been correspondingly soft (Figure 1). 
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Falling prices were prevalent across most of the smaller capitals too in December. However, one brighter spot was Brisbane, which experienced rising prices over the past two months. This is consistent with our belief that Queensland’s economy has turned the corner, supporting housing sentiment. In addition, the absence of earlier price growth to the extent of Sydney or Melbourne means that there is less room for unwinding over the near term (Figure 2). 
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Cherelle Murphy is co-head of Australian economics, ANZ and Daniel Gradwell is economist. They can be contacted <a href="https://bluenotes.anz.com/authors/our-economists/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Australian house prices finished 2015 on a whimper: ANZ Research

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Houses in Sydney, Melbourne and Coffs Harbour are in the peak of the market, according to the Herron Todd White December 2015 property clock.
The report suggested that the lure of cheap money and competitiveness of the banking industry have fuelled demand throughout all sectors of the market, particularly the sub $500,000 sector where the demand is strongest.
"This demand has naturally flowed through into the mid to high value range ($500,000 to $1 million) culminating in two beachfront sales in excess of $2 million which is the first in many years," the report said.
The valuation firm noted that the new unit and housing construction sector which was hit hardest by the GFC has seen a strong recovery.
"Park Beach north of the Coffs Harbour CBD has experienced the greatest number of new unit developments with Sapphire Beach topping the list for housing," they added.  
The market conditions in all sectors have been extremely buoyant over the past twelve months which has not entirely been driven by the record low interest rates but more importantly fundamentals such as continual population growth, resurgence in local tourism, upgrading of major road infrastructure, an increasing industrial base and the growing health and education sectors. 
Here's a list of pricey houses recently sold in Coffs Harbour -- postcode 2450 -- that Property Observer found over recent times:
<img src="/images/2015/12/16/700_coffs.jpg" alt="" width="445" height="270">
1. A seven-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/11-charlesworth-bay-road-coffs-harbour-nsw/property-details-sold-residential-8765182" target="_blank">11 Charlesworth Bay Road, Coffs Harbour 2450</a> (above) was sold for $2.65 million, seemingly the district's top sale this year. The property show some growth having last exchanged hands for $1.9 million in 2004.
 <img src="/images/2015/12/16/c2.jpg" alt="" width="540" height="405">
2. A nine-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coffs+harbour-120475877" target="_blank">39 Jarrett Street Coffs Harbour NSW 2450</a> (above) was sold for $1 million. Its previous selling price was $715,000 in 2012.
<img src="/images/2015/12/16/main-1.jpg" alt="" width="531" height="398">
3. A seven-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-nsw-boambee-119476487" target="_blank">19 Middle Boambee Road Boambee NSW 2450</a> (above) was recently sold after 628 days on the market for an undisclosed price. Given its price guide was $2.45 million after listing at $2.5 million in 2014, there seemingly wasn't much price growth. The property last traded in 2008 for $2.35 million
The median house price for Coffs Harbour is $405,000, according to Corelogic RP Data.
Recent sales around the median price are:
<img src="/images/2015/12/16/main-2.jpg" alt="" width="527" height="395">
1. A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coffs+harbour-121478070" target="_blank">12 Hannaford Place Coffs Harbour NSW 2450</a> (above) sold for $430,000. It last sold for $329,500 in 2010.
<img src="/images/2015/12/16/c3.jpg" alt="" width="563" height="422">
2. A three-bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coffs+harbour-116184343" target="_blank">37 Taloumbi Road Coffs Harbour NSW 2450</a> (above) sold recently for $407,000. This one last changed hands for $145,000 in 2002.
<img src="/images/2015/12/16/main-4.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="376">
3. A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coffs+harbour-121264762" target="_blank">10 Zara Place Coffs Harbour NSW 2450</a> (above) recently sold for $412,000. It fetched $350,000 in 2010.
<img src="/images/2015/12/18/main-5.jpg" alt="" width="481" height="361">
4. A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coffs+harbour-120626909" target="_blank">56 Loaders Lane Coffs Harbour NSW 2450</a> (above) recently sold for $415,000. It last changed hands for $225,000 in 2002.
 
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Coffs Harbour has surprising strength as Sydney and Melbourne house prices also peaking: HTW property clock

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Built at Victoria's Torquay in 2014, the architectural beauty 6 Loch Lomond Crescent has come on the market with $1.35 million plus expectations.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-torquay-121175066" target="_blank">The Hocking Stuart agent Shaun O’Callaghan </a>says its "a raw, architectural two-storey experience of concrete, marble and brass, north-facing double glazed windows and bluestone pavers."
He adds the modern home is a unique combination of low fuss modern living under a roof garden. Around 275 sqm in floor space.
With sheltered central garden, the main home contains three bedrooms plus a study and two bathrooms. A self-contained studio comes with its own access at the top of a winding staircase.
There's plenty of concrete walls plus more concrete in the island bench in the kitchen and a fireplace in the living room.
The 579 square metre block cost $170,000 in 2006, which was less than the $190,000 in 2002.
There was a snappy sale a few doors away at 16 Loch Lomond at $815,000 of a contemporary 2008 built home. Torquay's highest recorded house price during 2015 was $2 million for 261 The Esplanade in March. There was a $2.3 million rural acreage sale too.
The Auhaus Architecture designed property will feature in an upcoming edition of Belle Magazine and GT Magazine.
Even Beacon Lighting's summer campaign.   
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Concrete abounds at contemporary Torquay offering under garden roof

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Interior designer Thomas Hamel's $2.8 million lavish flat in the Sydney CBD block, Broughton House wasn't ever going to be enough for the boutique finance advisor Simon Mordant and his wife Catriona.
The arts philanthropists added the adjoining apartment for $1.3 million last month. Their initial space was 240 square metres, Hamel's one-bedroom apartment with three formal living rooms.
The latest 118 sqm addition means they own a third of the top floor on the seventh of the 19th century converted wool store.
The Mordant's downsized from their $13.35 million 938 sqm beachfront Point Piper apartment.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Simon Mordant continues to splash out on Broughton House property

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GUEST OBSERVER
Through ATO ID 2015/27 and ATO ID 2015/28 the ATO seem to have cemented their position in relation to the application of s 295-550 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) to related party limited recourse borrowing arrangements (‘LRBAs’). 
Importantly, the ATO has since <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Super/Self-managed-super-funds/In-detail/News/Non-arm-s-length-limited-recourse-borrowing-arrangements" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">confirmed</a> that their approach to this issue in future private rulings and litigation will be consistent with their view in ATO ID 2015/27 and ATO ID 2015/28.
In December 2014, DBA Lawyers director Daniel Butler noted that: 
SMSFs that are not benchmarked should consider doing so before any ATO audit activity occurs. Hopefully, the ATO may provide an amnesty to encourage SMSFs to benchmark to arm’s length. The big question here is whether the ATO will require retrospective adjustment.
Well it appears that the hoped-for amnesty has arrived. At a meeting of the Superannuation Industry Relationship Network on 10 November 2015 the ATO confirmed that SMSF trustees should review their LRBAs to determine whether they were established and maintained on terms that are consistent with an arm’s length dealing. While not certain, it also appears that the ATO <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Super/Self-managed-super-funds/In-detail/News/Non-arm-s-length-limited-recourse-borrowing-arrangements/" target="_blank">will not require retrospective adjustment</a>, stating that
We will not be selecting an SMSF for review for the 2014-15 year or earlier years purely because the fund has entered into an LRBA.
The ATO is to be commended for this pragmatic and fair approach. Allowing SMSF trustees to review and amend their loan terms seems fair and reasonable, particularly given various uncertainties that existed up until recently regarding related party LRBAs.
The amnesty is not open ended however, with SMSF trustees being encouraged to take the actions suggested before 30 June 2016. From that time:
The Commissioner may allocate compliance resources to review an LRBA of an SMSF for the 2015-16 year or later years.
Further, while the ATO is not dedicating compliance resources to review an LRBA of an SMSF until 1 July 2016, if the ATO come across an SMSF with a non-commercial LRBA via their usual activity in the meantime, the income of the SMSF might be taxed at the non-arm’s length income tax rate of 47% in accordance with s 295-550 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth). It is clear then that it is in the best interests of SMSF trustees to get their house in order sooner rather than later. 
So what does this mean for SMSF trustees with an LRBA related party loan?
We understand that with a diminishing number of banks willing to lend to SMSFs, related party loans may seem like an appealing option. However SMSF trustees need to be careful to ensure that related party loans are strictly on an arm’s length basis to prevent SMSF income being NALI.
For those looking to enter into a new LRBA with a related party lender, proper benchmarking is crucial. In practical terms this means approaching a number of bank/unrelated lenders and obtaining quotes for the kind of loan terms they would offer to the SMSF in their particular circumstances, and then ensuring that the related party loan mirrors the terms offered by the unrelated lenders. For those who have already entered into an LRBA with a related party lender, now is the time to closely review your LRBA to ensure that it will stand up to ATO scrutiny. 
Favourable loan terms which may suggest that a related party loan is not on an arm’s length basis include:
·         <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/view.htm?docid=%22AID%2FAID201528%2F00001%22" target="_blank">loans with 0%</a> or low non-commercial interest;
·         <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/view.htm?docid=%22AID%2FAID201528%2F00001%22" target="_blank">high loan to value ratios</a>; and
·         <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/view.htm?docid=%22AID%2FAID201527%2F00001%22" target="_blank">single lump sum repayment</a> at the end of the loan term rather than regular periodic repayments.
Further Training and Assistance
Advisers can brush up on the key considerations by signing up for <a href="https://www.dbanetwork.com.au/dbalawyers/seminars3/2712/3722/SMSF-Core-Course" target="_blank">Unit 10: LRBAs in the DBA Lawyers Core Course</a>. DBA Lawyers also offers a <a href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au/smsf-borrowing-alter-terms/" target="_blank">service of altering the terms of an existing LRBA borrowing</a> and also <a href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au/smsf-borrowing-loan-refinance/" target="_blank">prepares documents to refinance an existing LRBA borrowing</a>.
Those who are concerned that the favourable terms of their related party loan may give rise to NALI should seriously consider changing the terms of their loan to ensure that the parties are in the same position they would have been in had they dealt at arm’s length. While the ATO are yet to define a ‘safe harbour’ it is certainly prudent to mitigate the risks by having well-documented ‘benchmark’ evidence to indicate arm’s length terms and conditions.
Philippa Briglia is lawyer and Bryce Figot is director, DBA Lawyers and can be contacted <a href="https://www.dbalawyers.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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ATO to act soon on related party LRBAs

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The historic sandstone cottage, Jeeda at Palm Beach has been sold again and at same price as last time.
The buyer this time was neighbour and architect Susan Rothwell through David Edwards at LJ Hooker. Chinese interests bought the Sunrise Road property from the art dealer Roger McIlroy, the former head of Christie's in Australia in 2014 for $4.32 million.
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/40-sunrise-road-palm-beach-nsw-2108-2009047176" target="_blank">The three bedroom, two bathroom cottage</a>, which had been in the McIlroy family since 1922, sits on a 1534 sqm site. It was approved for demolition in 2012 by Pittwater Council.
The site now provides one of the last prime building sites of Sunrise Hill, where Susan has been quite active designing for the summer set.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
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Sandstone Jeeda sold at Palm Beach

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Steve McCann, chief of the international property group Lendlease, has secured the snappy $6.33 million sale of his four level Cremorne property.
Steve bought the then newly completed home on the southern shores of Long Bay from Platino's George Revay in 2009 for $5.6 million, shortly after becoming the group's chief executive.
The four level property was a surprise quick sale as it features two inclinations, which makes it quite hard  to secure any sale.
The home, on 859 sqm comes with numerous terraces leading to the boatshed with slipway, plus a 100 year old sandstone tidal pool.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-cremorne-nsw-2090/280604" target="_blank">Piers Van Hamburg of McGrath Neutral Bay</a> had the listing with $6 million plus price guidance. 
The harbourfront comes with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, two offices and a library. 
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Lendlease chief Steve McCann sells Cremorne waterfront

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Despite the surge in confidence, sentiment in the property market for the past few months has been soft on the back of major banks raising rates and the expected increase in stock on market, the REIV noted.
<a href="/news">Every month the REIV surveys members</a> on the current and future expectations of the performance of the market. 
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Estate agencies more pessimistic than actual Melbourne market: REIV

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.

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[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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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