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Some 5.7% of sales across Melbourne over the June 2015 quarter were at a price lower than the previous purchase price.
This was down from 6.6% a year earlier and 6.4% at the end of the previous quarter, according to the recent CoreLogic RP Data Pain &amp; Gain report.
The Macedon Ranges, Mitchell and Murrindindi council areas were the only regions across the city to record no resales at a loss over the quarter.
The regions with the highest proportion of loss-making resales were Melbourne (20.0%), Stonnington (12.0%) and Moonee Valley (10.3%). 
Melbourne CBD vendors lost $7 million in their sales that went backwards.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Melbourne CBD vendors lose $7 million in resales: CoreLogic RP Data Pain & Gain

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Jill Garner has been appointed as Victoria's new government architect, set to have a major role in assessing major development and infrastructure projects across Victoria. 
Ms Garner, the associate Victorian Government architect since 2010, replaces Geoffrey London, who stepped down last year after two three-year terms.
Prior to working for the state government, Ms Garner was at an architecture firm she co-founded, <a href="https://garnerdavis.com.au/" target="_blank">Garner Davis Architects</a>.
She has also taught design, architectural history and contemporary theory at Melbourne University and RMIT. 
Garner Davis Architects is a St Kilda based architecture studio, established by Jill Garner and Lindsay Davis in 1990.
"I am also happy to announce today that the Office of the Victorian Government Architect's Design Review Panel will be given a stronger role in the development of our city, and will be charged with independently assessing new significant development applications in the central city," the Planning Minister Richard Wynne said.
"Their assessment will be made publicly available."
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Jill Garner appointed Victoria's government architect

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A new Deloitte report says that while negative gearing gets the blame, it is the 50% capital gains tax discount that has been mostly under-appreciated for frenetic property speculation.
Doubling the length of time an asset has to be held before it is eligible for a capital gains tax break - from 12 months to 24 months - was an option that needed consideration, the report suggested. 
Another options suggested for reform included reducing the size of the discount to 33.3 %. 
"The current . . . discount is too generous, to the extent that it undermines the very principles of this nation's progressive income tax system," the Deloitte report says.
It suggests 33.3% as this is what super funds are eligible to receive. 
Currently capital gains on an asset sold within 12 months are not eligible for any CGT discount.
It is the second "myth-busting" report released by Deloitte as part of its contribution to the tax reform debate.
While overused, negative gearing was not the "evil" force many believe it to be, the report advised. Shares and other assets can also be negatively geared.
Another "skeleton in the closet" for the Australian taxation system are the carried-forward capital losses, the report suggested.
The ATO calculates carried forward losses as at 2012-13 at $8 billion for individuals, $35 billion for companies and $33 billion for super funds.
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Capital gains tax discount more to blame for property bubble than negative gearing

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GUEST OBSERVER
A recent application for an eight-room boarding house in the leafy north Sydney suburb of Cromer attracted over 800 objections from residents and the school community.
Proponents of the project, including governments, may be tempted to dismiss these residents as NIMBYs – members of the not-in-my-backyard brigade.
Our research, however, found that ignoring residents' concerns and failing to allay their fears helps nobody – least of all those in dire need of affordable housing options.
Misconceptions and stereotypes
We investigated what makes opponents tick and how proponents – including planners, developers, councils and other levels of government – can allay the fears of residents who opposed affordable housing development in their suburbs.
We looked at four council areas where residents had opposed affordable housing developments – Parramatta in NSW, Port Phillip in Victoria, and the Queensland cities of Brisbane and Cairns. We interviewed opponents and affordable housing residents and read submissions from residents who fought the developments.
We found that many objectors had misconceptions about prospective affordable housing tenants, assuming they were mostly deviants and undesirables. While this generalised portrayal of boarding house tenants has probably never been fair, it is particularly untrue of the new generation of boarding houses. They are very different products and they target different sections of the community.
New names for new designs
Most people are more familiar with traditional boarding houses that offer short-term lodgings with shared bathrooms and informal agreements, like a bed in a backpackers’ dorm.
But new boarding house developments, like those proposed in Cromer and throughout NSW following new planning controls and registration requirements, are a very different product.
The rooms are typically self-contained with kitchenette and en-suite, more akin to studios or “micro-apartments”. They are now also subject to formal occupancy agreements that offer tenants (and landlords) more security and certainty.
With these improvements, however, new boarding houses come at a higher rent and so are often out of reach of the most down-trodden, historically catered for by this form of cheaper accommodation.
As it happens, the new boarding house rules were launched in Sydney around the same time as “micro-apartments” in New York. The two have a lot in common, in both physical form and social purpose, but the difference in reception is stark. New Yorkers have largely hailed them as an innovative response to unaffordable housing; the Sydney case got us to the Cromer and Parramatta protests.
It shows what a difference a name can make.
New designs for new households
New boarding houses have these different features because they target a very different market.
A growing section of Australia’s population don’t live in nuclear families, and the housing stock is shifting alongside this. High-density built forms are part of this shift. But there is need for more diverse choices for people who want to continue to enjoy the amenity of suburban neighbourhoods, and keep their existing social networks there.
It’s too early to know for the Cromer case specifically, but in the cases we studied the boarding rooms were intended to meet demand within the local community. These people aren’t looking for family houses and often can’t afford them. However, they are seeking the same “local character” that we found opponents often fear will be lost by the development. It is not in the interests of the landlord or tenant to see the neighbourhood’s character tarnished, nor to have a business model that relies on a diminishing pool of prospective tenants.
Our research also found that opposition often stemmed from the perceived impacts of boarding houses, like additional noise or traffic. However, these impacts come with the people, not housing stock. In many instances, a purposely designed and managed boarding house will be better equipped to minimise, for example, the impacts of noisy students than if those same students were renting a family home.
Neighbourhoods will accommodate their changing community more painlessly if the housing stock is designed to mitigate any impacts. And if residents are informed that affordable housing is intended to ensure their adult children or parents or divorced friends can continue to live locally, they’re less likely to imagine the worst.
Information is the best defence
Housing diversity need not threaten established neighbourhood character or social values.
When change occurs, people often fear the worst. There are no guarantees that better engagement measures will allay everyone’s fears but we found that when affordable housing developers don’t engage well with communities, residents let their imaginations run wild.
Engaging with the most vocal opponents instead of dismissing them as members of the NIMBY crowd will make a difference. At best, affordable housing proponents can get them onside and make them vocal supporters. At the very least, proponents can limit the extent to which fear is spread.
 
Edgar Liu is research fellow at City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Australia and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/edgar-liu-32200" target="_blank">here</a>. Ryan Van den Nouwelant is senior research officer and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ryan-van-den-nouwelant-199969" target="_blank">here</a>. Both are authors for The Conversation.
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Don’t fear boarding houses: they’re probably not what you think

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When Australia’s Reserve Bank board meets on Melbourne Cup day next week, the question at hand is whether the RBA will seek to offset recent bank rate raises with a cut to the cash rate. With a cut, the hope is banks will then reverse their decision and get mortgage rates back to where we were before.
First Westpac, then Commonwealth Bank, now all of the big four have raised their variable home loan rates, purportedly in response to more stringent capital requirements being imposed upon them.
In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis regulators around the world concluded banks didn’t hold enough capital as a buffer against potential losses.
The Murray report wisely suggested banks should hold more capital, but it doesn’t come free. The investors who provide it need to get paid – which raises the question: “by whom?”
It could be bank shareholders who might accept a lower rate of return on their investment. Indeed, since the extra capital requirements make banks safer this might not be unreasonable: the risk-return tradeoff has changed.
But the big four have decided their customers should pay. Costs have gone up, and those costs (or perhaps a bit more) are being passed on to home loan customers. Kudos to Malcolm Turnbull for pointing this out last week.
<h2>Time to cut</h2>
I’m on record as suggesting the RBA should and probably will cut rates at least once in the coming months. That comes from my view that Australia is suffering from <a href="https://theconversation.com/have-australian-bankers-bought-the-secular-stagnation-theory-29765">“secular stagnation”</a> – the idea that the speed limit of the economy (or more technically, the equilibrium real interest rate) has changed because, globally, there are too many savings chasing too few productive investment opportunities. This is enough of a reason to cut rates in and of itself, but the big four rate hike makes it all the more likely, and important.
That’s all simple enough, but it raises two important questions: (i) what are the implications for the RBA; and (ii) what does this say about our banking system and the regulation of it. The common thread in the answer to those questions is the B-word: “bubble”.
For the RBA, cutting rates by 25 basis points would offset the big four’s recent hikes (not quite exactly, but close enough). But, of course, the big four’s variable mortgage rates are not the only things affected by the cash rate. A 25bp cut should flow into commercial lending and it should also allow cuts by other mortgage providers. That would stimulate the economy.
Still, the RBA is clearly balancing the desire to stimulate the economy through lower rates, and concerns about asset price bubbles – especially in residential property. In that regard, the big four move is good and bad. It should cool the potentially overheated property market, but it also forces the RBA’s hand. And it takes away the stimulatory effect a cut would have had, absent the big four’s preemptive move.
The second, and deeper question, is what all this says about the competitiveness of our banking system. The fact that customers, not shareholders, are on the receiving end of the cost of holding more buffer capital shows how much market power the big four have.
That’s not necessarily a terrible thing – spreads on home loans are a little, but not particularly high by international standards. It’s not easy to make the case that the Australian public is getting ripped off by the big four.
They have, however, been willing to lend people a great deal of money, relative to their incomes, to purchase residential property. Go to any of the big four’s online calculators and see how much you can borrow with your income, and then try the same thing at a large American bank (like Bank of America). Australian banks will lend you a lot.
And therein lies the rub. It’s one thing to raise prices a bit, and then have those offset by an RBA rate cut. That will have little or no effect on borrowing behaviour. It’s quite another to reform lending practices and stop letting people borrow staggering sums against frothy assets.
And it is the latter practice that we should be focused on.
 
Richard Holden is professor of economics, UNSW Australia and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The RBA should cut rates, but not because the banks are upping them

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Sydney's spring auction selling season has had an early start with high volumes with auction clearance rate less than the same time last year.  
CoreLogic RP Data had noted the number of auctions across Sydney has on occasion been running higher than in Melbourne, traditionally Australia’s busiest capital city auction market.
Auctioneer have noted there has been a drop in the number of bidders per auction to at least half the winter average of six registered bidders.
There is just one conclusion which is that the increased supply has seen some of the steam is coming out of the auction market.
I am a great believer in auction results doing a remarkable job in reflecting emerging residential market trends - so when auction clearance rates are on the rise, prices are generally going up too. And the reverse of course. 
Auction volume and price momentum can be fickle. Take back in the last real boomtime of 2002 when there were record monthly clearance rates in the very high 70%s. There were 2700 auction offerings in November 2002. Just two years later came the quietest November in the past two decades with just the 1400 offerings - and a clearance rate in the lows 40%s.
No doubting we are still in a seller's market for a little while longer, but I'd suggest it worth buyers being adventurous this spring.
Try to seize on the seller's and agent anxiety with a smart pre-auction offer as the volumes ramp up.
Here's a few tips on getting what you want while keeping a cool head. 
1) Think seriously about a pre-auction offer. Just because a home is advertised with an auction date does not mean you have to wait until the auction to bid for it. Don’t try to be too clever by submitting a bid lower than you know the vendor will accept, but make an offer that you believe is genuinely competitive. You are, after all, trying to avoid competing against the likely auction throng.
2) Keep talking to the listing agent in the countdown to auction day. Ask for an indication of the vendor's possibly changing situation and intentions. The agent can’t and won't disclose everything, but you may be able to get some helpful insights.  
2) Make sure you have done all the due diligence on the contract of sale, sought out legal advice, obtained a building and pest inspection and all other checks. With such preparedness you could get the deal done the same day.
3) Query the agent on what settlement terms the vendor may want. If they’ve already purchased their next property, they may want a quicker settlement than the standard 45 days. 
4) Pre-auction offers are unconditional, so it’s important to approach the opportunity from a position of strength. Put the offer in writing; even attach a cheque for the deposit to show the vendor that your offer is serious and that the vendor may be better off not waiting until the auction day.
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Tips for making pre-auction offers in turning property market

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Called Charlie, a two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/511-2-mcgoun-street-richmond/Property-Details-buy-residential-9596556" target="_blank">511/2 McGoun Street</a>, Richmond (above) designed by Rothe Lowman architects sold at weekend auction. 
The unit, which is currently tenanted, sold under the hammer after coming with price guidance of upwards of $500,000 through Russell Cambridge and Sam Davenport of Biggin &amp; Scott. It earns a rental of $2,390 per month. It sold at $575,000.
A two-bedroom unit on <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/202-8-balmain-street-richmond/Property-Details-buy-residential-9603320" target="_blank">202/8 Balmain Street</a>, Richmond - marketed with a price range of $500,000-$550,000 by Peter Perrignon and Edward Lloyd of hockingstuart - sold at $585,000.
A two-bedroom apartment with sunny north-facing living areas at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/306-120-palmer-street-richmond/Property-Details-buy-residential-9596318" target="_blank">306/120 Palmer Street</a> was up for auction last weekend with a price estimate upwards of $500,000. The listing through Allan Cove and Russell Cambridge of Biggin &amp; Scott was passed in.
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Charlie, Richmond apartment sale at $575,000

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A late Victorian worker’s cottage in Melbourne's Abbotsford has been listed for October 31 auction.
More than $800,000 is expected by its Biggin &amp; Scott listing agents Andrew Crotty and Claire Parkes.
The freestanding <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-abbotsford-120912905" target="_blank">106 Park Street</a> home has been transformed with its new living areas taking advantage of the six metre width and high ceilings. 
It is lit by skylights and doors that lead to a checkerboard-paved courtyard. 
There are two bedrooms, both with built-in robes. There is a central modern bathroom.
The 138 sqm block has potential for off-street parking from the rear lane.
CoreLogic RP Data puts the<a href="/news"> suburb house median at $775,000</a>.
 
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Abbotsford freestanding cottage for October auction

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Atherfield, the 1870 Darling Point residence has been listed for sale through Christie's International with more than $15 million being sought. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-darling+point-121068946" target="_blank">The five-bedroom Gothic Revival trophy home</a> was first occupied by the Willis family, with an 1880s sketch by James Willis hanging in the Eastbourne Road home. 
With harbour views from its 1150sqm grounds, it was last sold by Di O'Neal, the widow of the late St George Bank chief Ed O'Neal in 2002 to company director Tony Froggart for $6 million. 
Atherfield is just a few doors away from the villa of fund manager Charlie Aitken and wife Ellie who are currently selling through Martin Ross at Black Diamondz Property with $14 million expectations. 
It was 2008 when the couple bought the Mediterranean-style property for $6.95 million from William Penfold, the last of the family members to head the country's oldest stationery company, WC Penfold. 
The Aitken's house, now with Thomas Hamel interiors, sits in gardens deigned by Paul Bangay.
The Froggart's, Tony and Christine, spent $8 million on a Gazebo, Elizabeth Bay whole floor apartment last year.
The five-bedroom Gothic Revival Eastbourne Road property was sold in 2002 when Tony Froggart was heading the UK brewery, Scottish &amp; Newcastle, pubs division. He then served as chief of Heineken UK Limited from May 2003 to November  2007 when he returned to Australia. Froggatt, who holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from Queen Mary College, London and an MBA from Columbia Business School, New York, serves on the boards of Axa Australia and Brambles Ltd. 
It been home to who's who of leading businessmen including David Voss.
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Gothic Revival Atherfield, Darling Point listing

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Builder Chris Knierim's award winning eco-house in Forest Lodge has been listed for November 28 auction.
Featured on the Grand Designs Australia television series, the inner west home comes with $1.6 million plus hopes through Jennifer Aaron of Jennifer Aaron Real Estate.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-forest+lodge-121093190" target="_blank">The 2013 built Foss Street home</a> - just 3.9 metres wide - occupies a narrow gap in a row of heritage-listed terraces.
Designed to minimise its carbon footprint, it was Knierim's dream to build a sustainable three bedroom house for his family, putting to use his knowledge from working on eco-friendly building projects in Europe.
Knierim insulated the ground underneath the slab to store heat from solar panels on the roof to provide heating and hot water for the house.
There's eight metre tall vertical garden walls, 3500 litre underground water tank and extensive use of recycled materials, with the many ensuing awards including the 2014 HIA Green Smart Australian Home of the Year and the Australian Sustainable Project of the Year.
Chris and wife Belinda built on the vacant block next door to their then house. 
"Crowned by a green roof, it presents streamlined minimalism with state-of-the-art finishes and a focus on optimal light and airflow," Jennifer Aaron said.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Chris Knierim's Forest Lodge eco-house masterpiece under the hammer  

The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

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

Jonathan Chancellor

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