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The changes introduced by Scott Morrison to the age pension regime contained in Joe Hockey's May budget should be wound back, the lobby group representing union-backed super funds, Industry Super Australia says.
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From January next year the asset threshold for a couple to qualify for a part age pension will fall to $823,000 from $1.15 million.
For retirees who quality for a government pension, the amount by which the pension is reduced for each additional $1000 of assets over a threshold will rise from $1.50 a fortnight to $3.
Fairfax Media report ISA accused the government of "ad hoc" policy making.
"The more aggressive taper rate undermines the incentive for people to increase their super contributions since an increase in retirement income from this source will be largely clawed back through lower pensions."
ISA cite ISA-Rice Warner modelling that indicates that the proposed changes to the Age Pension asset test and taper rate in the bill are "misguided" because they reduce the retirement incomes of Australians who currently are on modest incomes, and whose retirement incomes are projected to be below that sufficient for a comfortable standard of living in retirement.
"Over time, the changes would adversely affect about 40 per cent of Australians, and 8 in 10 single women," it suggested.
Adopting the same methodology as Australia’s Future Tax System Review, the bill’s proposal to double the taper rate to a $3.00 per fortnight loss of pension per $1,000 of assets results in an effective taper of 156 per cent assuming a 5 per cent return. 
The proportion of new retirees affected by the proposed change will increase sharply over time, ISA noted.
The proportion of new cohorts of retirees affected by the proposed asset test change increase from one in three today to seven in 10 by 2050. This influx will increase the overall proportion of the Age Pension population who are worse off from just over 10 per cent in 2017 to over 40 per cent by 2055.
ISA noted the policy change over time reveals that:
<ul>
<li>The impacts of the change increasingly fall on those earning below average incomes</li>
<li>For couples due to retire in 10 years’ time, the largest impacts are felt just below average earnings ($62,000 or 80 per cent average full time earnings). They stand to lose around $8,600 a year ($4,300 each) or $224,000 per couple ($122,000 each) over their entire retirement</li>
<li>For those 20 years from retirement (aged 45-49 today) the big impacts start being felt by a couple in decile 4, each earning as little as $45,000 today, who would lose $3,000 ($1,500 each)</li>
<li>By contrast, a couple in decile 9 on $145,000 each experiences the barest of impacts, losing just $113 a year each</li>
<li>Over the long run, there are more people affected on below average incomes than above (5 rungs below average earnings compared with just one rung above)</li>
<li>Within 10 years around half of all new retirees leaving the workforce will be affected by these changes</li>
</ul>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Age pensions changes should be wound back: Industry Super Australia

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The veteran yachtie Matt Allen has cleaned the decks of his prestige eastern suburbs property oversupply by selling Yoorami in Bellevue Hill for $15 million plus ahead of this week's scheduled auction.
It took its time however, having been on the market for just over two years before the Ray White sale of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellevue+hill-121368626" target="_blank">the six bedroom, six bathroom estate</a>.
Allen is now ensconsced on the waterfront in Darling Point after paying $32 million in 2013 for the home of the late Sir William Tyree. Allen is busy lining up for his 26th start in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day in his ocean racer, Ichi Ban.
The 1920s Victoria Road Yoorami has been restored by architect Michael Suttor with interiors by Thomas Hamel, retaining its grand period detail.
The private 2903 sqm gardens come with tennis court.
Matt bought the Yoorami estate for $5.65 million in 1996 from barrister Geraldine Vandeleur, wife of silk Charles Sweeney.
Of course Yoorami came to prominence when builders Bill Shipton and Zaro Elizov were reinventing Sydney's top-end mansions in the mid-1980s.
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Yachtie Matt Allen sells Bellevue Hill trophy home Yoorami 

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It was 1994 when Claremont, the seven bedroom 1886 Burwood, Sydney landmark residence, last sold for $790,000.
Some 21 years later Claremont was listed by Stan Bailey from Bailey Joinery. He's well known for his quality joinery work of period style homes throughout Sydney.
The conservation of the original features of the home has been the main focus of his work over many years.
The two-storey Victorian residence sold through Matthew Nolan at Rich &amp; Oliva Croydon at weekend onsite auction at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-burwood-121309278" target="_blank">2 Ethel Street Burwood</a> for $4,325,000.
It is a tightly held home having previously traded when sold in 1980 to the office furniture supplier Barry Bowerman for $285,000.
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Two storey Victorian era trophy Claremont in Burwood sells for $4.3 million

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Sydney's fatigued clearance rate fell for 10 consecutive weeks, but on Saturday gave the first sign things may have bottomed out.
With just one auction weekends remaining, the Christmas break couldn't come quickly enough to stop the marked deterioration in auction success.
The market has plenty of anxious unsuccessful auction vendors who have an unsold property heading into the long summer slowdown.
The latest auction results from CoreLogic RP Data have Sydney’s clearance rate under the 60 per cent mark for five weeks now, possibly heading into the low 50s.
These unsold homes will sit on the market for longer than their vendors ever envisaged, possibly only to sell if there is a considerable price change to attract the keen, yet cautious smaller pool of buyers.
The recent high levels of withdrawn auction listings presents a huge opportunity for buyers who missed out earlier this year, but the absence of enough buyer interest to warrant any auction, suggests these offerings may be B grade, that is houses and apartments that tick fewer boxes than others perhaps based on size, style and location.
The time to offload these was when the market was more robust. There are still buyers around, but as auctioneer Damien Cooley noted average auction registrations slipped from seven to three. And Cooley added only 49% of the sold property actually fetched at or above their reserve.
The beauty of the current conditions is that sellers can put their property up for sale and know they can buy back in, without hopefully paying the crazy prices of mid-year.
John Symond, executive chairman of Aussie Home Loans, says Sydney is now heading into a more healthy market.
"That's what we want.
"We don't want prices going skyrocket month after month, year after year because that inevitably causes problems."
Saturday auctions are scheduled through to December 19 this year, with most agents ideally, or more likely desperately, seeking to seal a deal ahead of the scheduled auction. I see there's seven Blacktown auction scheduled for three days before Christmas.
There's never a huge Santa rally when it comes to property. Just a few too many many December distractions. 
Private treaty negotiations will continue right until Christmas Eve and then a smattering through to New Year's Eve.
I recall the late 1980s guru agent Andrew Gibbons even sold a Vaucluse house on Christmas Day once.
If you are thinking of being a fresh seller in 2016, have a conversation with your agent now about the marketing. 
Select someone with a good track record of selling in market dips. Don't necessarily choose the agent who quotes the highest forecast selling price.
And for mine, yes the early bird does capture the worm. CoreLogic RP Data results show the fresh February auction results are almost always stronger than where December left off. Last December finished off at 69%, and rebounded in February this year at 83%.
It's that optimistic outlook that starts most years that secures a healthier auction outcome, but beware some years then just head backwards from there.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
 
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February early bird vendors will secure the buyers in 2016 

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Melbourne has a record pre-Christmas Saturday auction next weekend with more than 730 scheduled auctions.
Fairfax Domain senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson told Fairfax Media Melbourne was going to finish the year with a lot of confidence while Sydney buyers were "just over it". 
"Melbourne will have a pre-Christmas bonanza – it is a record Saturday before Christmas and I think that really does capture the divergence between the two cities."
Dr Wilson suggested the Sydney clearance rate had stabilised with volumes well down from last year.
"It's a sign it has stopped the precipitous fall."
"Although clearance rates have fallen sharply over spring, consistent results over the past month with rates averaging 57.9% indicate a consolidation of market activity.
"This will provide some relief for sellers and a platform for a rebound in confidence next year," he blogged.
Evident again on the weekend of the continuing stark disparity between higher and lower-priced regional results across Sydney as outer suburban lower-priced markets to the west have been clear underperformers in the Sydney spring market shakeout – an outcome Dr Wilson suggested had been influenced by higher interest rates for residential investors.
The city and east recorded the highest regional clearance rate at 72.7% followed by the northern beaches at 70.6%, the inner west with 68.8 per cent, and the lower north at 65.1 per cent at weekend auction.
The overall 58.1% Sydney clearance rate was just above last weekend’s year-low result of 57.5%bbut well below the 75% recorded over the same weekend last year. 
Auction listings have faded over recent weekends following record levels of activity over spring. The 733 auctions listed on Saturday was well below the previous weekend’s 882 and also significantly below the 998 recorded over the same weekend last year.
Next weekend more than 300 homes are scheduled for auction in Sydney which Dr Wilson said nonetheless presented another challenge to the market just six days before Christmas.
<a href="/images/2015/12/14/Screen%20Shot%202015-12-14%20at%209.21.14%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/12/14/Screen%20Shot%202015-12-14%20at%209.21.14%20AM.png" alt="">
Source APM
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Sydney over it, but Melbourne set for record pre-Christmas auction offerings

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New REIV data shows that tenants can repay the mortgage on a $210,000 one-bedroom Carlton property for just $221 a week - $135 less than the suburb’s median weekly rent of $356. 
With a median apartment price of $335,000, one-bedroom apartments in Melbourne are also more affordable to buy than rent with weekly mortgage repayments of $352 - $49 less than the weekly median rent of $401.
Other suburbs offering value for money include two-bedroom apartments in Carrum Downs where mortgage repayments on a $267,750 property are $282 a week while the median rent for the same property type is $310 – a $28 weekly difference. 
These figures are based on median house prices by bedroom, a 10 per cent deposit and a three-year, fixed interest rate of 4.5 per cent. 
REIV CEO Enzo Raimondo said first home buyers are taking advantage of the low interest rate environment to enter the market at a price they can afford. 
“One and two-bedroom apartments allow first home buyers to get a foothold on the property ladder for what they are currently paying in rent,” he said. “Savvy buyers should also consider two-bedroom properties in Sunshine, where the median apartment price is $275,000 and mortgage repayments are $21 cheaper per week than the median rent.”
 
TOP MELBOURNE SUBURBS TO BUY RATHER THAN RENT:
 
<table style="width: 442px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>Suburb</td>
<td>Dwelling Type</td>
<td>Weekly Mortgage (Fixed)</td>
<td>Weekly Median Rent (Sep 2015)</td>
<td>Median Price (Sep 2015)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
<td nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>PAKENHAM</td>
<td nowrap>3-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$294</td>
<td nowrap>$300</td>
<td nowrap>$280,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>CARLTON</td>
<td nowrap>1-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$221</td>
<td nowrap>$356</td>
<td nowrap>$210,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>MELBOURNE</td>
<td nowrap>1-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$352</td>
<td nowrap>$401</td>
<td nowrap>$335,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>SOUTHBANK</td>
<td nowrap>1-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$447</td>
<td nowrap>$465</td>
<td nowrap>$425,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>NOBLE PARK</td>
<td nowrap>1-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$201</td>
<td nowrap>$210</td>
<td nowrap>$191,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>MITCHAM</td>
<td nowrap>1-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$303</td>
<td nowrap>$310</td>
<td nowrap>$288,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>ASCOT VALE</td>
<td nowrap>1-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$265</td>
<td nowrap>$270</td>
<td nowrap>$252,125</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>CARRUM DOWNS</td>
<td nowrap>2-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$282</td>
<td nowrap>$310</td>
<td nowrap>$267,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>SUNSHINE</td>
<td nowrap>2-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$289</td>
<td nowrap>$310</td>
<td nowrap>$275,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>PAKENHAM</td>
<td nowrap>2-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$264</td>
<td nowrap>$273</td>
<td nowrap>$251,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>WERRIBEE</td>
<td nowrap>2-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$246</td>
<td nowrap>$250</td>
<td nowrap>$234,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>CRAIGIEBURN</td>
<td nowrap>2-bedroom unit</td>
<td nowrap>$292</td>
<td nowrap>$295</td>
<td nowrap>$278,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>MELTON SOUTH</td>
<td nowrap>3-bedroom House</td>
<td nowrap>$257</td>
<td nowrap>$265</td>
<td nowrap>$244,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>MELTON</td>
<td nowrap>3-bedroom House</td>
<td nowrap>$258</td>
<td nowrap>$260</td>
<td nowrap>$245,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Source: <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au" target="_blank">REIV</a>
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The top 14 Melbourne suburbs where it's cheaper to buy than rent: REIV

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GUEST OBSERVER
You may have seen recent maps showing how sea level rise may effect coastlines worldwide, including Australian cities. These maps have been produced by US-based website Climate Central.
For instance the video shows what they forecast sea level rise would be like in Melbourne with 4℃ and 2℃ of warming. This is not necessarily sea level rise that will occur over the coming century, but the eventual sea level locked in under particular temperature scenarios. It could take under 200 years or up to 2,000 for sea levels to reach these levels.
The picture isn’t pretty.
Maps such as these have triggered heated debate and discussion in different places in Australia (for instance Eurobodalla and Batemans Bay in New South Wales ) as individuals and organisations wrestled with the implications for property values, policy, long term planning and future risk management of our coastlines.
So is it time to sell up?
Coasts are always changing
This mapping helps us realise that coastlines are not static like property boundaries. They are in fact incredibly dynamic and continue to adjust to changes in sea level. The ambulatory nature of coastlines is a point worth remembering.
It is incredibly important to emphasise that the geomorphological, geological, ecological (i.e. dunes or reefs), or built characteristics of your local coastal environment have a huge influence on how coastlines respond to changing sea levels.
In some places beaches are advancing due to an excess in sand supply, while in other places a lack of sand means a coastline can recede (such as Old Bar on the mid-north coast of New South Wales). Furthermore, coral islands in the Pacific are now known to be dynamic in how they change shape and form in response to rising seas.
The rate of sea level rise is important in this regard. The point is, these maps cannot be taken at face value because they mask locally relevant environmental processes that will impact how sea level rise is experienced at any one place.
How are communities adapting to sea level rise?
In countries like Australia local and regional governments are doing more robust local studies forecasting sea level rise and coastal change. Good examples are the projects Mapping and responding to coastal inundation - undertaken jointly by the Sydney Coastal Councils Group and the CSIRO; and Coastal Vulnerability to Multiple Inundation Sources (COVERMAR) - a partnership between the Sydney Coastal Councils Group and the University of Sydney. Such efforts are much more useful for responding to the threats of sea level rise.
Recently proposed changes to policy and legislation in NSW make explicit the need to consider climate change and the risks it poses to our way of life. The proposed Coastal Management Act goes further and makes explicit mention of the risks posed by extreme storm events (compounded by rising sea levels) to our built environment and life.
The need for local information
Broad-scale maps such as these provide a visceral link between a warmer and wetter world, which can provide the general public with a broad educational tool to help them visualise and grasp what sea level change might look like in their local area.
They are useful for initiating local conversations in communities about the possible locations of critical infrastructure (e.g. nuclear power stations at coastlines) that will have life spans running to hundreds of years or even longer.
But to actually plan for sea level rise we need good, local information. In NSW decisions about coastal management are made mostly by local government. These decisions come about after a detailed study of the local coastal processes and environment, and the values placed on the coastal environment (e.g. property, recreation, aesthetics etc.).
Using a risk-based approach to coastal management and planning will help ensure that new high value development (e.g. infrastructure, power stations etc.) is not placed in areas exposed to rising seas.
The problem is existing development in areas now known to be hazardous with the most comprehensive analyses being presented in the National Coastal Risk Assessment  published by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment. A risk-based planning process should seek to avoid repeating those mistakes, but also allow for continued use of those areas until such time as it is unsafe.
Evaluating and making decisions about those risks is incredibly difficult and fraught with complexity (coastal evolution is the result of multiple factors), ambiguity (whose values matter?) and uncertainty (what really will happen in 100 years?). Having said that, coastal planners all over Australia (and around the world for that matter) are grappling with these issues. But, we still have a very long way to go.
Filippo Dall'Osso is researcher at the Natural Hazards Research Group, University of Sydney and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/filippo-dallosso-206055" target="_blank">here</a>.
Dale Dominey-Howes is associate professor in Natural Disaster Geography, University of Sydney and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dale-dominey-howes-112724" target="_blank">here</a>.
Tom FitzGerald is PhD candidate in coastal hazard risk management, University of Sydney and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tom-fitzgerald-17927" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors for The Conversation.
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The oceans are coming for us: how should Australian communities plan for dire sea level forecasts?

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More young Australians are taking to rent-vesting, a trend where young buyers – typically Gen Y, purchase their first property for investment purposes rather than living in it, says John McGrath in his latest blog in Switzer.
Rent-vesting is one of the most important emerging property investment trends in Australia today.
"Unlike the Gen X and Baby Boomer buyers before them, Gen Y is not willing to sacrifice their lifestyle in order to own real estate," McGrath says.
"While Gen X and the boomers didn’t mind purchasing in affordable locations on the outskirts of a city and often far away from work, beaches and CBD nightlife, Gen Y doesn’t want a bar of it. They certainly share their predecessors’ desire to own property but lifestyle is priority one."   
So they’re buying for investment first in affordable suburban areas while renting in the trendy inner city locations that are priced beyond their means, he says.
Other Gen Ys are remaining at home with mum and dad to save as much money as possible before flying the coop.   
These junior investors are typically buying in middle to outer ring suburbs where rental yields are strong and the bulk of the rent covers the mortgage, meaning little out-of-pocket expenses and minimal impact on their lifestyles while getting great start in property.
"Once you’re in the market, it becomes much easier to buy other properties (either more investments or the dream family home) down the track with accrued equity," he says.
"Hats off to these buyers. This is a fantastic example of markets evolving as property values rise and lifestyle areas become unaffordable for those just starting out in real estate."  
According to McGrath, Rentvesting really took off after the First Home Owner Grant changed. When it was first introduced, the grant was available for all types of first home properties. When the rules changed and the grant became only available to newly built or off-the-plan properties, the incentive for young people to buy their first property for owner occupation was reduced.
A recent Mortgage Choice survey shows rentvesting has increased from 21% of investors to 37% over the past 12 months alone.
McGrath lists two important trends among junior investors.
First, they are getting in early. Domain research shows the average age at which Gen Y buys their first property investment is 25 years compared to 35 years for Gen X and 45 years for Baby Boomers.
Secondly, junior investors are building larger investment portfolios than their predecessors, who typically aimed to own their own home outright with maybe one investment.
The reasons could range from trying to mitigate uncertainty over the future of the pension and the understanding that superannuation is unlikely to be enough on its own when they retire. Hence the need for income assets. 
 
For your free Property Observer eBook from RAMS, 12 tips for first-time buyers, covering everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing property, click here.
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Gen Y make early entry into property through rent-vesting: John McGrath

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The Australian Tax Office will be scrutinising property records for the last 32 years in its bid to track down illegal buyers.
In a notice about a data matching program estimated to include 11.3 million people, the ATO said it would acquire details of real property transactions from September 20, 1985 to June 30, 2017 from all states and territories.
The total number of records is estimated at about one million for each year from rental bond authorities and about 30 million for each year from revenue and land title offices, the notice in the latest government gazette said.
The purpose of this data matching program is to ensure that taxpayers are correctly meeting taxation and other program obligations administered by the ATO in relation to their dealings with real property, the notice said.
These obligations include registration, lodgment, reporting and payment responsibilities. 
The ATO's data-matching project comes just a week after the government's amnesty towards foreign investors, who had unlawfully purchased property, lapsed.
 
For your free Property Observer eBook from RAMS, 12 tips for first-time buyers, covering everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing property, click here.
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Foreign investor amnesty over, ATO to now cross-check 32 years of property records

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Crown Group CEO Iwan Sunito has been named Urban Taskforce Australia’s 2015 Property Person of the Year, making him the youngest recipient of the accolade.
"Honored and Amazing Grace is the thought that came to my mind when I reflected on my life's journey from the remote place of Pangkalan Bun Kalimantan to the honor of receiving and be the youngest recipient," said Iwan.
Born in Indonesia in 1966, Iwan spent his childhood in Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo before migrating to Australia to study architecture at UNSW, where he won the UNSW Eric Daniels Prize for Residential Design in 1992. 
Early in his career, Iwan gained experience with Cox Richardson Architects.
He co-founded the Crown Group with business partner Paul Sathio in 1996.
“Iwan has grown the Crown Group in less than 20 years into one of Sydney’s major developers of upper end apartments with a portfolio worth more than $4.5 billion,” said Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson.
Iwan said the award was a celebration of Crown Group’s journey; from its first development in Bondi to an internationally-recognised global brand.
“It is an acknowledgement of many years of commitment to innovative design and quality in everything we do. Our philosophy is not ‘bigger first then better’ but rather ‘better first and bigger will follow," he said.
Crown Group broke company sales records when it sold more than $380 million worth of apartments in one day at the launch of its latest development in Green Square Infinity on August 29.
Its major projects which are underway include a 29-storey V in Parramatta, a 20-storey Skye in North Sydney, an inner-west project Oasis and a 25-storey residential tower at Clarence Street in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.
Iwan has received several awards and significant coverage in the print media and on television in Australia. He has also appeared on Bloomberg Television in Indonesia, on Channel News Asia and numerous media outlets across Asia.
Among his accolades, include the 2013 Ernst &amp; Young Entrepreneur of the Year Eastern Region Industry Category Award, Indonesia’s Property &amp; Bank Magazine Golden Leadership Award 2013 and the 2013 Congress of Indonesian Diaspora Entrepreneur award. Iwan was also appointed to the Global Indonesian Diaspora Board in 2013.
He has authored a book, From Borneo to Bloomberg. A Comeback Story and 13 Principles for Success.
Urban Taskforce Chair Peter Daly said: “Iwan Sunito represents a new wave of entrepreneurial developers who are creating apartment buildings that convey the excitement of urban living."
Past winners include Tony Perich, MD of Perich Group of Companies (2014); Steve McCann, group CEO and managing director, Lend Lease; Ross McDiven, chairman, Brookfield Multiplex; Garry Rothwell , founder and principal, Winten Property; Bob Rose, CEO of Rose Property Group; Harry Triguboff, chairman and MD of Meriton Apartments; Wal King, CEO, Leighton Holdings; Greg Goodman, group CEO of Goodman; Bill Moss, group head and CEO of the Banking and Property Group, Macquarie Bank; Liam Forde, CEO of Baulderstone Hornibrook and Lang Walker, chairman of Walker Corporation.
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Iwan Sunito named property person of 2015 by Urban Taskforce

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.

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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.

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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.

[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.

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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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