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Leading experts and economists are unanimous in expecting the cash rate will remain on hold at 2%, according to the comparison website, finder.com.au monthly survey.
All 33 commentators in the <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/rba-cash-rate" target="_blank">finder.com.au Reserve Bank Survey</a>, the biggest of its kind in Australia, believe there will be no change to the cash rate, with most of the panel citing an improving economy as the likely factor behind the RBA’s decision to keep the cash rate on hold.
However five of 33 are predicting a rate drop in February, the first Reserve Bank meeting of 2016 – Shane Oliver, AMP Capital; Richard Robinson, BIS Shrapnel; Paul Bloxham, HSBC; Matthew Peter QIC; and Noel Whittaker, QUT.
Around three in five experts surveyed (58%) are believing the cash rate will not rise for at least the next 12 months.
Experts were divided when it came to the future behaviour of house prices; while almost three in five experts (58 percent) are predicting property prices to rise in 2016, 29 percent believe prices will drop next year.
Some 38% of experts predict a decrease in demand for residential property in 2016, while 34% predict an increase in demand. Almost half of these experts (45%) are also expecting rents to rise next year, while 42% say rents will remain the same and 13% think the rental market could lose steam with rents to fall.
“This indicates that, regardless of demand, property prices as well as rent are expected to rise in value in 2016, which is great news for property owners but less so for those looking to break into the ever-competitive market,” Bessie Hassan at finder.com.au suggested.
“The message here is, it’s not expected to get any easier, which is why it’s more important than ever to make sure you do your homework when it comes to researching home loans. Jump online and compare interest rates and product offerings, and get a pre-approval to put yourself in the best position to become a property owner in 2016.”
What the experts had to say in the <a href="https://finder.com.au/" target="_blank">finder.com.au</a> Monthly Reserve Bank Survey:
Melissa Browne, A+TA: "I don't believe there's a case to cut rates at present and certainly no reason to move them upwards."
Shane Oliver, AMP Capital: "Reserve Bank has continued to express comfort with current levels in view of the rebalancing of the economy. Strong October jobs data have likely reinforced this.", "While I checked "house prices may keep rising" in question 6, I expect their rate of increase to slow significantly."
Garry Shilson-Josling, Australian Associated Press: "There is enough evidence that the long-awaited 'rebalancing' is under way for the RBA to sit back and wait.", "The RBA will be looking closely at the employment figures (released November 12). Most likely it will conclude that the labour market really is strengthening, and that while the big rise in employment in October rise incorporated some 'catch-up' from a suspiciously weak September figure, jobs growth may be trending now around 25,000 a month, up from about 16,000 a month over the year to June and 5,000 a month over the previous 12 months."
Peter Munckton, Bank of Queensland: "The RBA is comfortable with the current level of interest rates"
Steven Pambris, Bank Of Sydney: "Will need to refrain at this point as unemployment figures are showing signs of improvement, so will need to hold."
Richard Robinson, BIS Shrapnel: "Strong employment data in Oct and consumer confidence in Nov means they can wait."
Chris Caton, BTFG: "No reason to change."
Michael Blythe, CBA: "Economy does not need any additional stimulus."
Savanth Sebastian, Commsec: "Comfortable about how the economy is evolving. Lower inflation forecasts opens the door for a further rate cut but RBA in wait and see mode."
Dr Andrew Wilson, <a href="https://domain.com.au/" target="_blank">Domain.com.au</a>: "Better unemployment data, better stockmarket, waiting for US decision on interest rates."
Mark Brimble, Griffith University: "Bias remains to the downward movement, however insufficient support for a move at this stage. The equity markets are recovering, property remains buoyant, employment is holding... essentially it is a bit of a wait and see as the economy is delicately balanced."
Paul Williams, Heritage Bank: "Reserve Bank seems comfortable to adopt a wait and see approach to interest rates for the time being."
Shane Garrett, HIA: "Stronger employment numbers and modest inflation."
Paul Bloxham, HSBC: “We’re seeing rates hold at 2% [in December].”
Michael Witts, ING Bank: "The economy is heading in the right direction in terms of what the Reserve Bank is expecting. The recent labour force data means that the Reserve Bank will be on the sidelines for an extended period."
Stephen Koukoulas, Market Economics: "Earlier rate cuts and the low Aussie dollar is filtering into a pickup in economic activity. Further rate cuts are simply not needed.", "The economy is ending 2015 on a more positive note and while conditions globally are fragile, the prospects for the Australian economy to register 3% real GDP growth seem strong."
Peter Jones, Master Builders: "There is sufficient stimulus."
John Caelli, ME: "The Reserve Bank will keep the powder dry until they see very clear signs of the need to stimulate the economy. Stronger than expected employment data mean there is no compelling reason to cut rates in December."
Mark Crosby, Melbourne Business School: "No pressure to raise and with Fed likely to raise no reason to cut either.", "Property market pressures are likely to be localised. still strength in Sydney but weakness in Melbourne high rise."
Katrina Ell, Moody's Analytics: "The Reserve Bank seems comfortable on the sidelines with domestic demand gradually on the mend and the lower Australian dollar starting to do the heavy lifting getting the economy back on track."
Jessica Darnbrough, Mortgage Choice: "Consumer sentiment is currently sitting at it highest level since January 2014. Similarly, business conditions remain relatively robust, giving the Reserve Bank no immediate reason to change the current monetary policy setting."
Chris Schade, MyState Bank: "Conditions in the economy do not presently warrant a rate cut and indeed we've seen some promising signs of improvement recently. Whilst there are some risks to the downside in CY 2016, particularly in the back half, our read is the most likely scenario is that we have reached the bottom and the cash hold will remain on hold for most if not all of CY 2016."
Saul Eslake, independent economist : "Data released since the last meeting has further reduced the perceived need for providing further monetary policy stimulus to domestic demand."
Alan Oster, NAB: "Economy improving."
Peter Boehm, <a href="https://onthehouse.com.au/" target="_blank">onthehouse.com.au</a>: "There does not appear to be a pressing need to drop rates further. A steady as she goes approach would appear to be the prudent way to go to close out 2015. The housing market, inflation, unemployment, the Australian dollar’s exchange rate and the economic and business outlook all seem reasonably positive and a further rate reduction would be unlikely to yield much benefit and leave the Reserve Bank very little room to move if, in the unlikely event, it was deemed necessary to reduce rates further next year."
Linda Phillips, Propell Ltd A JLL Company: "The Reserve Bank must be comfortable with the exchange rate around US$0.71. House price rises in Sydney are slowing, which will be regarded as welcome, but growth is accelerating in Melbourne. While the global outlook is uncertain, it is expected that the Fed will soon start increasing US rates, which will limit the capacity for the Reserve Bank to move on the downside. Some domestic indicators such as unemployment are improving, and the Reserve Bank is reporting a somewhat better outlook. While the markets would like to see rates fall 25bp to offset the mortgage price hikes by the banks last month, on the whole it is likely that the Reserve Bank will be comfortable in waiting until February before making any decision to change rates… The level of volatility in global markets, problems of debt management in developing countries, the threat of expansion of the wars against IS, and uncertainty within the Euro-zone, the latest concern being Portugal, have the potential to upset the base case outlook of a slow but steady improvement in the economy. The risk of "black swan events" is rising, and volatility is likely to remain high."
Jonathan Chancellor, Property Observer: "It is timely to wait and see."
Matthew Peter, QIC: "Having not moved in November, the Reserve Bank will sit and wait for global and domestic developments. A February rate cut is still an option if global conditions deteriorate (especially if the Fed delays lift off)."
Noel Whittaker, QUT: "Mixed economic indicators. With mixed signals in the economy, I think the Reserve Bank is likely to sit pat."
Janu Chan, St.George Bank: "The Reserve Bank is encouraged by signs that the economy will continue to improve so it sees little need at this point to lower rates any further. "Housing market is still likely to face mixed conditions across the country."
Scott Haslem, UBS: "We recently (briefly) flirted with the notion the Reserve Bank could ease again, largely to offset regulatory-driven out-of-cycle hikes by banks. While Reserve Bank's Stevens recently assessed those moves to be worth about half a 25bp hike, it seems given recent better domestic data, including business/consumer confidence and solid jobs trends, the Reserve Bank sees the economy as able to 'cope' with that half-a-hike."
Nicki Hutley, Urbis: "On balance, monetary policy is sufficiently easy to continue to stimulate growth."
Bill Evans, Westpac: "Commentary on the labour market remains positive. Lead indicators such as job vacancies and advertisements continue to point to a lift in employment while there has been a “noticeable increase in the participation rate”. However these offsetting factors mean that the unemployment rate will not fall “for more than a year” before declining gradually."
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No December RBA rate cut: finder.com.au survey

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Four landowners in the NSW hamlet of Sutton Forest have failed in their attempt to stop the South Korean owned Hume Coal gaining access to their land.
The Land and Environment Court hearing ruled against their claim that Hume could not get onto their properties due to "significant improvements”.
The Act defines “significant improvement" as meaning “any substantial building, dam, reservoir, contour bank, graded bank, levee, water disposal area, soil conservation work or other valuable work or structure”
Under section 31(5) of the Mining Act, significant improvements provide the only ability for landowners in possibly preventing mining companies accessing their properties.
"Hume may access the plaintiffs’ properties as proposed and prospect at the identified locations in accordance with terms of the licence under any binding access arrangements made pursuant to Div 2 of Pt 8 of the Mining Act," the court ruled.
"The plaintiffs’ interpretation of s 31 which would identify all driveways and improved pastures as “significant improvements” is in effect inconsistent with the objects of the Act.
"Such an interpretation has the potential to inhibit or sterilise the development of mineral resources over vast areas of rural land which are paddocks and if made roads and tracks cannot be used and new tracks and roads need to be made for the purposes of access for prospecting do anything other than minimise impacts on the environment."
There was an order that the plaintiffs pay the defendant’s costs of the proceedings unless the plaintiffs apply to the court registrar to relist the matter for hearing argument as to costs.
The court was asked to rule that the significant improvements included stock-proof fences, formed roads and tracks and cropped or improved paddocks. 
The plaintiffs were Peter Martin, Phillip Pollicina, Ross Alexander and the Roche family. 
One of the Southern Highlands property is an equestrian eventing course of Olympic standard owned by Kathy and John Roche, that has been developed over the past 20 years.
Kathy and John were recently named the NSW Eventing Volunteers of the Year.
The five day hearing in September 14 included a site visit. 
The case was intended to be precedent setting, Peter Martin, from <a href="https://www.shcag.com.au/home">SHCAG</a> envisaged.
He said it was the first time that a group of property owners had got together in NSW to challenge a mining company’s ability to access all of their properties for exploration because of the significant improvements.
"These properties are all highly developed and we contend that Hume Coal has no right under s31 to come on and drill holes given the inconvenience for landowners, disruption to day-to-day operations and potential significant damage to the properties concerned,” he said before the hearing.
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Hume Coal win Sutton Forest land access court case

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An award winning architects Jackson Clements Burrows-designed home has sold in Richmond.
The early 2000s design maintained the traditional Victorian aesthetics and contrasted them with contemporary design.
The property sold for $4.32 million at auction after selling agents Andrew Macmillan and Jodie McCarthy of Jellis Craig Real Estate.
They had initial hopes of over $3 million. It last traded at $398,500 in 1998 when bought by the vendors whose son is the architect Jon Clements.
Four bidders took the weatherboard property onto the market at $3.5 million.
The modern four bedroom, three bathroom home at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/38-richmond-terrace-richmond/Property-Details-sold-residential-9705048" target="_blank">38 Richmond Terrace</a> includes a service lift, a library and a home office.
The living and dining areas are surrounded by landscaped outdoor gardens with ample dining areas on the 547 sqm block.
The property features a rooftop terrace with 360 degree views of the streetscape and the entire city skyline.
One of Richmond’s largest residential properties, Araluen, at 207 Lennox Street, hold the suburb record having recently sold for $5.13 million.
Araluen last sold in 1958 when bought by the Ballerini family. <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/207-lennox-street-richmond/Property-Details-sold-residential-8634864" target="_blank">The five bedroom 1856 home</a> had been listed through Abercromby's agents Jock Langley and Hugh Hardy. 
It is one of Richmond’s earliest homes sitting on a substantial 1478 square metres on the corner of Goodwood Street, about a kilometre from the CBD.
Title Tattle gleans it has been bought by Scott and Julia McKay, descendants of the industrialist inventor of the Sunshine Harvester.
The comedic radio broadcaster Hamish Blake and wife Zoe Foster Blake, the author wife, had held the previous record $4.25 million in Richmond for a home (below) featured on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.completehome.com.au/articles/grand-designs-australia-richmond-inner-city-house/36365" target="_blank">Grand Designs Australia in 2013</a>. 
The three-bedroom, four-bathroom Richmond house was designed by neilarchitecture for Darren and Ruth Rogers.
<img class="js-first-image" src="https://b.domainstatic.com.au/w800-h534-8733637_1_pi_150319_100547" alt="79a rowena parade richmond VIC 3121">
They built the home on a block bought in 2009 for $920,000 with the works cost estimated at $3.3 million.
 
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Richmond Jackson Clements Burrows-designed home $4.32 million sale

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Jockey Nash Rawiller and his wife Sarah, who are now Hong Kong based, have their empty Maroubra home listed for December 1 auction through Ray White Double Bay agent James Keenan.
There are <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/maroubra/1386948/" target="_blank">$4 million </a>expectations.
Rawiller, who won three Sydney riding premierships after he made the move from Melbourne in 2007, bought on Marine Parade for $3.07 million in late 2012 from media scion Bryant Stokes who had paid $4 million in 2006.
The racing couple had sold in Kensington for $1.96 million.
The four bedroom, three bathroom, three level north-facing house opposite the coastal walk had been recently available for rent at $1900 a week. 
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Hong Kong jockey Nash Rawiller lists redundant Maboubra home

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GUEST OBSERVER
The fall in the volume of construction work done over QIII was larger than market consensus which was for a fall of 2.0% {CBA in line with consensus}.  However, the larger than expected fall follows an upwardly revised 2.1% increase in QII (previously reported as +1.6%)
There were plenty of familiar themes in today’s result – falling engineering construction was partially offset by a pickup in residential construction.  And non‑residential construction remains weak.  This has been the general pattern in the data for the past two years.  The chart opposite depicts these trends.
Engineering construction continues to fall as we work our way through the massive downturn in mining investment.  The drag on growth from falling mining investment will continue through 2015/16 and isn’t expected to lessen until 2016/17.  It’s the hangover from a once in a century mining boom.
<a href="/images/2015/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-25%20at%203.08.10%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-25%20at%203.08.10%20PM.png" alt="">
Residential construction is powering along and is providing a partial offset to declining engineering construction.  We have a big lift in apartment construction underway across Australia.  And the forward looking indicators, namely the building approvals, suggest that this will continue deep into 2016.  Today’s figures show that the volume of dwelling construction is up 12.4% through the year.  The resultant increase in the housing stock from a big lift in residential construction will put some downward pressure on rent and dwelling price inflation over the next year.
The breakdown by public and private sectors construction shows that it’s important to look at the reality rather than necessarily believe the rhetoric.  Despite there being plenty of talk around big investment in public infrastructure the data shows that it simply isn’t the case; at least at the national level.  Public construction work done is down 9.8% through the year and has been a drag on GDP growth since 2010.   
The construction deflators show that inflation in the residential construction sector has picked up a little while it is negative in the engineering space.  It’s unsurprising really given residential construction has picked up sharply while engineering construction is in decline. 
<a href="/images/2015/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-25%20at%203.10.08%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/11/25/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-25%20at%203.10.08%20PM.png" alt="">
Gareth Aird is economist at Commonwealth Bank and can be contacted <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.linkedin.com/pub/gareth-aird/14/790/905" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Fall in the volume of construction work done over Q3: Gareth Aird

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ASIC has remade two class orders that were due to expire in 2016. 
Class Order [CO 00/213] Real estate companies and Class Order [CO 05/1243] Licensing relief for valuations of real estate companies have been remade and consolidated into ASIC Corporations (Real Estate Companies) Instrument 2015/1049.
ASIC Corporations (Real Estate Companies) Instrument 2015/1049 provides relief for vendors, licensed real estate agents and valuers from the licensing and disclosure requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 with respect to real estate companies,
ASIC remade and consolidated the previous class orders without significant change before they sunset in 2016. 
The new instrument will continue the substantive effects of [CO 00/213] and [CO05/1243] with some minor amendments. These minor amendments include:
<ul>
<li>clarifying that the disclosure relief applies to general advice and dealing and the licensing relief applies to general advice only; and</li>
<li>combining the relief provided under [CO 00/213] and [CO 05/1243] into one instrument, giving relief from s707 and 911A(1) and covering vendors, real estate agents and valuers of real estate companies.</li>
</ul>
The repeal of the class orders follows ASIC consultation in August 2015 (refer: <a href="https://www.asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/find-a-document/consultation-papers/cp-237-remaking-asic-class-orders-on-real-estate-companies-co-00213-and-co-051243/" target="_blank">Consultation Paper 237</a> Remaking ASIC class orders on real estate companies: [CO 00/213] and [CO 05/1243]). Only one submission was received.  This submission supported ASIC’s proposals and no concerns were identified.
ASIC’s policy on real estate companies is set out in Regulatory Guide 67Real Estate Companies (<a href="https://www.asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/find-a-document/regulatory-guides/rg-67-real-estate-companies/" target="_blank">RG 67</a>), which has also been updated.
Background
Under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, legislative instruments such as class orders sunset after 10 years unless action is taken to exempt or preserve them. This ensures that legislative instruments like class orders are kept up to date and only remain in force while they are fit for purpose and relevant.
A real estate company is a company formed for the purpose of owning and managing land and buildings. Shares in the real estate company are held by persons who wish to have an exclusive right of occupation and use of a particular area within the land or building owned by the real estate company.  A real estate company is less common than strata title and has historically been used where owners wish to exercise control over occupiers, or where conversion to strata title is not practicable.
The Corporations Act 2001 regulates interests in real estate companies because they involve ownership of shares in a company. Therefore, without relief, vendors of shares in real estate companies, real estate agents who regularly market or sell shares in real estate companies, or valuers who provide valuations of real estate companies would be subject to a regulatory burden that is unnecessary and disproportionate to the need for consumer protection. 
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ASIC remake real estate companies class orders

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Borrowers are being encouraged to take advantage of some of the lowest home loan rates in history by shopping around, following a survey by comparison website, <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank">finder.com.au</a>, which found about two in five mortgage holders.
It found 39% of borrowers have not switched providers in the past decade – an estimated 1.17 million households.
"By not switching home loans or asking for a discount with their current lender, these households are potentially wasting a combined $27.4 million per month, $328.2 million per year or a staggering $9.9 billion over 30 years," <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank">finder.com.au</a> consumer advocate, Bessie Hassan said.
She said she was surprised by the complacency of many borrowers.
The survey of 1,351 respondents also found that just 6% of Australians are currently considering switching providers, while just 21% have switched for a better deal within the last five years.
More than half of these borrowers (54%) are content with their lender, while almost one in four (24 percent) hadn’t switched because they couldn’t find the time for all the paperwork.
One in 10 found it too hard to compare products and 13% think it would cost too much.
Comparing generations, Gen Y (18-34 year-olds) were the most savvy, more likely to have switched home loans than any other age group, while Baby Boomers (aged 55-74) were the most loyal to their lender.
Refinanced loans represent 34% of all home loans financed, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Housing Finance data analysed by <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank">finder.com.au</a>.
"That figure has fluctuated between 31 and 34% since the credit reforms were introduced in July 2012, which made it easier for variable rate borrowers to switch providers," Bessie Hassan said.
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Lazy $9.9bn cost as baby boomer borrowers most loyal to the lender: finder.com.au

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The prospect of Squiiz becoming a successful property sales portal has been dismissed by estate agent John McGrath at an REB Leadership Series event for network bosses.
“The electronic classified game is over. REA has won and Domain is a strong second competitor,” he said.
“REA is making hundreds of millions of dollars, and they’re reinvesting it in technology, people, branding and marketing," said John McGrath, who is a non-executive director of REA Group.
The evidence from around the world suggested industry-owned portals such as Squiiz were unable to compete with specialist businesses.
"I don’t think Squiiz was ever going to work,” he said.
Century 21 chairman Charles Tarbey told the event it was too early to dismiss Squiiz, which was fighting for recognition in the same way that the two big portals did in their early days.
“We’ve got to remember that we’re the ones who control the data and we’re the ones who feed that data to REA and Domain,” he said.
“It’s a very hard battle, but Squiiz was never designed to compete with REA or Domain.
"It was designed as a platform for us to consolidate our data as an industry.”
Squiiz, which has just released an app, is confident it can capture 100 per cent of national listings by the end of 2016, its chief executive Nick Christian said.
The site was launched last November with the <a href="https://squiiz.com.au/" target="_blank">Squiiz</a> site having almost 200,000 listings on day one.
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Squiiz future queried by John McGrath

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GUEST OBSERVER
RBA Governor Glenn Stevens spoke at an Australian Business Economists dinner and offered a long term look of the big forces, many of them negative, impacting the economic outlook.
When asked about the short term policy outlook, and particularly the February RBA board meeting, Stevens said we should just "chill out" over Christmas and "come back and see what the data say".
Stevens' speech was less positive than the "glass half full" varieties that had been given as recently as 13 October by Deputy Governor Philip Lowe. But his comments were in line with the recent Statement on Monetary Policy in which the RBA's growth and inflation forecasts were lowered.
Crucial to the RBA over the holiday period will be the outcome of the US central bank policy meeting on 16-17 December, the next two Australian labour force reports and the December quarter CPI due on 27 January.
Subject to surprises from those events (especially a continuation of strong employment growth) we maintain our view that in 2016, the Australian economy will be less assisted by 2015's tailwinds. The stimulus from housing and the lower AUD will fade. We also think consumption growth is unlikely to be as strong as the RBA currently forecasts. 
We think the inflation outlook provides no impediment to lower rates. And so, we expect the RBA will implement more cuts. As Stevens said tonight, if growth can be dialled-up to wind-in the economy's spare capacity and "make things better", further rate cuts are appropriate. We maintain our view that cash rate will be cut twice by 25bps, most likely in February and May.
Governor Stevens' speech followed an address by Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Nigel Ray today at the same conference who said that updated population and labour force trends would cause Treasury to downgrade the economy's potential growth. "We now think potential GDP will grow by around 2¾% over the next few years, lower than the 3% estimated at Budget."
This theme was also touched upon by Stevens who reiterated the known weight of the demographic change, but also noted costs such "as the problems of providing retirement incomes" because low yields on fixed income assets mean that it is expensive to purchase a secure stream of future income. He said "this may mean that Australian listed corporates feel the pressure from shareholders to deliver that, even some whose earnings are inherently volatile". 
Stevens also pointed to demographic changes in China, which "are not favourable" as China's total working-age population will shrink over the years ahead. He contrasted this with India where the working age population will exceed China's within a decade.
Other influences on growth highlighted by Stevens were;
The closing chapters of the terms of trade event.
Households no longer being able to lead growth by increasing leverage.
The global legacy effects of debt, after a period of over-confidence and under-appreciation of risk.
A disinflationary or deflationary environment for goods and commodities, and even some services, accompanied by unusually low rates of wages growth.
Extremely low returns on safe financial assets.
High and rising valuations on existing fixed assets.
 
Cherelle Murphy is co-head of Australian Economics, ANZ and can be contacted <a href="https://bluenotes.anz.com/authors/our-economists/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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RBA's Stevens and Treasury's Ray Sombre update on "Big Forces": Cherelle Murphy

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The longtime childhood home of the popular country music trio, the McClymont sisters at Grafton, in northern NSW has been sold.
It's been a while since the three bedroom home hosted them all, so hairdresser mother Toni offloaded the property this month.
Peter and Toni McClymont's paid $45,000 in 1985 for the home which had been in the family with their grandmother since the 1970's. 
It fetched $300,000 when sold to a local first home buying couple through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-grafton-120174573" target="_blank">Ben Hottes of Ray White Grafton</a>.
He never got to meet the girls saying it had been a long while since they'd been around.
The mayor of Clarence Valley Ritchie Williams maintained it was always a privilege to have the girls back in Grafton.
"We at home are very proud of them and everything they have achieved," he said when they launched their album as special guests at a 2012 mayoral reception.
"I know there are only bigger and better things to come for the girls and we always enjoy the atmosphere they bring with them when they come home," he added.
The country music band have have released four albums and won 10 Golden Guitars and two ARIA Awards, a long way from performing at the Gympie Muster music festival in 1997.
Universal Records signed all three of the sisters in 2006.
Recently the girl's mother Toni said to the girls "you’re probably not going to come back and live in Grafton" acknowledging they're making homes for themselves now.
Brooke McClymont and her musician husband Adam Eckersley have lived in the Central Coast since 2009. They bought their three bedroom property for $227,000 and have since spent $130,000 on extensions to their home which is a short walk from Lake Macquarie shores. 
Mollie McClymont and her husband, Aaron Blackburn bought a three-bedroom house in Wollongong in 2014 for $400,000 with a large rear deck with views of Primbee Bay.
Host of Farmer takes a Wife, Samantha McClymont, who is married to pilot Ben Poxon is yet to show up with any property acquisition although is Lilyfield based. 
The McClymont family home, which had been vacanted by the time of the recent marketing, fetched slightly higher than typical town offering. CoreLogic RP Data put the current median house price at $270,000.
And it was among the few without the popular jacaranda purple tree around Grafton which is a hub of infrastructure activity with the construction of a new bridge, new jail and new highway. 
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
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The McClymont sisters childhood home at Grafton sold

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

Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

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

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=359152]

The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

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

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

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

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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

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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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