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Melbourne had five weekend apartment sales under $275,000 at weekend auction.
The cheapest was $200,500 at Malvern East, according to the REIV.
The <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/3-780-warrigal-road-malvern-east/Property-Details-buy-residential-9530690" target="_blank">3/780 Warrigal Road</a> property was being quoted as set to sell for $200,000 plus through Woodards.
It was an unrenovated one bedroom apartment offered under executor instructions. 
The next cheapest was 2/28 Codrington Street, Cranbourne which sold at $220,000.
The price guidance was $200,000 plus.
Student accomodation at 104/51 Rathdowne Street, Carlton fetched $236,500.
Dingle Partners advised it was presently returning $14,300pa, reflecting six percent gross rental yield.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Warrigal Road, Malvern East ranked Melbourne's weekend cheapest apartment

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A freestanding sandstone terrace in Woollahra listed with $2.7 plus million hopes through Simon Harrison at Belle Property sold at auction.
The <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/4-wallis-street-woollahra/Property-Details-buy-residential-9528754" target="_blank">4 Wallis Street </a>home sits on 280 square metres with a seven metre wide terrace.
"This is Sydney’s version of London’s Chelsea and Kensington, or New York’s Upper West and East Sides mingled," the marketing suggested.
The terrace has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and one car space home is located moments to Queen Street and the Centennial Parklands.
The median price for a home in <a href="/news">Woollahra is $2,105,000</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Freestanding Woollahra sandstone terrace sold

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The Hollywood-based actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Rigg have splashed out $6.5 million on a Bronte home. 

They made the bullish off-market purchase of the recently completed three-bedroom contemporary home last month.

The couple have an apartment on the Ben Buckler peninsula overlooking Bondi Beach and a hide­away at Nashua, in the Byron Bay hinterland.

Before that they owned a Paddington terrace, which was sold in 2007 for $3.3 million.

They had paid $2.63 million for their Bondi bolthole, in an older-style block, in early 2014. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit has a staircase to a 135sq m rooftop terrace.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6201]

Ballina-raised Baker is known to enjoy a surf. Their new Bronte pad was designed to capture beach and ocean views, with approval from Waverley Council in late-2012.

The sale of the hillside 380sqm property with flat-roofed home is the highest price in Bronte since last October. The holding, close to Macpherson Rd village, had last sold in 2005 for just $3.1 million.

It is just a short distance to the fashionable Three Blue Ducks cafe.

The top Bronte sale sits at $16.5 million along the exclusive strip known as The Cutting on the ocean side of Bronte Rd overlooking the beach and ocean.

Baker, who recently undertook his first directorial job, is best known for his lead roles as Patrick Jane in TV series The Mentalist, and as Nicholas Fallin in The Guardian.

He has also promoted brands such as Givenchy and Longines and the ANZ Bank — but it seems in this case there was no need for any local mortgage financing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6798]

The couple relocated to the US in the mid-1990s.

Actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Rigg married in 1998, having met in the early ’90s on the set of Aussie soap E Street in which their characters, Baker’s Constable Sam Farrell and Rigg’s Nurse Amy, were also a couple. Rigg stepped back from her acting career to raise the couple’s children Stella, Claude and Harry.

The couple weren’t sighted around Byron Bay on their recent trip home, perhaps because of their eastern suburbs home search.

But they typically escape­ the paparazzi by heading to their hinterland retreat, having paid $1.5 million for the 7ha property in 2009. The rambling homestead with pool and tennis court was once owned by Northern Rivers royalty, the Scarrabelotti family.

This article and photo first appeared in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Actor Simon Baker upsizes to $6.5 million Bronte trophy home from Bondi Beach apartment

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The renowned Morningside property fronting the picturesque Goulburn River in Nagambie, one of Australia’s most successful thoroughbred breeding properties is on the market.
Shane McIntyre at Colliers International National Director of Rural &amp; Agribusiness, has been appointed to sell <a href="https://morningsidepastoral.weebly.com" target="_blank">Morningside</a>.
The 362ha holding has bred, trained or educated over 35 Group 1 winners, including two Melbourne Cups, having been developed by equine veterinary expert Dr Bill Burns.
There is a four-bedroom homestead is surrounded by sweeping lawns overlooking an ornamental lake.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/10/12/700_morn.jpg" alt="" width="591" height="359">
Its improvements including stables, undercover day yards, cattle yards, horse conditioner, machinery and hay shedding complete the purpose-built infrastructure.
There is 6km of Goulburn River frontage.
Offers close October 30.
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Morningside, Nagambie thoroughbred stud listed 

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Property developers in areas with strong apartment supply had faced more difficulty in obtaining finance, the ANZ’s head of Australia, Mark Whelan has confirmed.
The lender had dialled down its appetite to ­finance property developers, he told The Australian.
"Six months ago, eight months ago some of the development ­finance deals we were seeing were probably too aggressive for us so we stepped away from it (over) the terms and conditions and pricing.
"Even as I look outside my office in Brisbane, there are a lot of cranes that I can count and they vary from stuff that’s been sold off the plan, pretty much to foreign buyers, to top-end stuff and my experience tells me we need to be judicious.”
His comments come after Stockland chief Mark Steinert noted last week that “a lot of the supply that potentially could cause a problem is not going to be built this cycle because developers won’t get the funding”.
“(It’s) correct," Mark Whelan said.
"I can tell you now when one of the majors stopped doing some lending in the commercial space in NSW recently, some of those deals came back to market — we’d said no to them six months prior,” he said.
There were reports in August that Commonwealth Bank had tightened developer lending standards.
“If you sit down here in the (Melbourne) Docklands … and it gets to eight o’clock at night, there’s not many lights on in some of these apartment buildings so it’s a bit concerning. But we’ve been very cautious with some of those ­commercial developments for a long time.”
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ANZ wary on developer financing in high supply capital city locations

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Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia revealed that its chief executive, Ellie Comerford was leaving the company.
Genworth, which has a market valuation of $1.6 billion, announced Ms Comerford was retiring from the insurer.
She will remain in an advisory role until May 31.
The share price has been trading close to record lows, down 22% in the past year to $2.48
Genworth was only listed in May last year at a 13% premium after Australia’s biggest lenders mortgage insurer (LMI) made its public debut on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Genworth shares were priced at $2.65 in Genworth’s $496 million float.
Its prospectus reported Genworth Australia had been profitable for 46 of the past 48 years.
The company is chaired by Richard Grellman.
Genworth chief financial officer Georgette Nicholas will be acting chief executive.
GMA, through its subsidiary companies Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Pty Ltd and Genworth Financial Mortgage Indemnity Ltd (GMA Group), is the leading provider of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) in the Australian residential mortgage market.
The GMA Group has been part of the Australian residential mortgage lending market for 50 years since Housing Loans Insurance Corporation was founded by the Australian Government in 1965 to provide LMI in Australia. 
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Genworth chief Ellie Comerford departing

<html><body><div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
LJ Hooker has commenced a pre-initial public offering funding round, sources told the Australian Financial Review Street Talk column.
It's understood the firm is looking to raise about $20 million. 
Citigroup and Morgans is advising on the deal. 
The group has more than 700 franchise offices, an iconic real estate firm launched by Sir Leslie Hooker in 1928.
The AFR noted fund managers have been asked to compare LJ Hooker to Realogy Franchise Group, the $US5.5 billion parent company of CENTURY 21, ERA, Coldwell Banker, and Sotheby's International Realty which trades on a forward profit multiple of about 26 times. 
It noted LJ Hooker franchisees had in the past year sold more than $19 billion worth of property and increased the pool of properties under management to about 130,000.  
Sources suggested any ASX listing would not take place until early 2016.
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LJ Hooker readies for 2016 IPO

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The townhouse was long viewed as lesser property choice.
But townhouses in our inner and middle ring suburbs are now categorised as a smart lifestyle choice and making good investments.
They fall between the increasingly prevalent high rise apartments and detached homes on the larger land holding.
Townhouses are the increasing the preferred accommodation for a several competing demographic groups, struggling between the choice of freestanding and high rise.
There was an extraordinary result last weekend when the Glebe townhouse of ABC television personality Leigh Sales went to auction.
It secured $1,705,000 when auctioned by BresicWhitney agent Andrew Liddell.
The Jarocin Avenue property first sold in 1996 for $420,000, reflecting 7.5% annual growth over the near two decade period.
The two level corner property, with two car spaces, last sold in 2009 at $955,000, so the price reflected 9% annual growth over their six years. There had been no sales in the tightly held complex of 10 in the interim.
Leigh Sales, the 7.30 presenter, and her husband, animator Phil Willis, had hoped their townhouse would fetch more than $1.3 million, with plans to upsize to something nearby with more space for their now family of four. 
It sold to unit dwellers from Pyrmont seeking a new home for their young family.
The property attracted 10 registered bidders with around six putting their hands up throughout the auction. 
Many attendees walked away shaking their heads, the price of the 196 sqm townhouse pushed well beyond all expectations given the diversity of the buyers.
There were numerous kinds of buyers in the crowd - the most obvious the family with children at one of the nearby tertiary education campuses. The kids want to move closer to the city, and so too did the parents, so this place was perfect. 
Baby boomer empty nesters looking to downsize were keen bidders. There were those seeking the courtyard space for gardening, or their pet or just for the joy of outdoor space.
Buyers priced out of existing detached homes.
Investors too who viewed the townhouse as a solid low maintenance investments within walking distance to shops, transport and restaurants, all highly sort after by tenants.
There no doubt were also been apartment weary investors.
Townhouses are appealing not just for affordability, amenity and liveability.
There is a sense of individuality about a townhouse that you don't get from high rise apartments.
These properties also have good underpinning land value, as this townhouse sits on a 1500 sqm block of land, yet only has 10 abodes on the block.
The nationwide trend sees the proportion of people living in detached houses falling. Down by one percentage point between 2006 and 2011, with a shift towards more people living in units and townhouses, according to latest ABS census data. 
Of Australia's private dwellings, 75.6% were separate houses, compared with 76.6% in the 2006 census. Meanwhile the number of semi-detached, terraced house or townhouse rose from 9.2% to 9.9%.
Flats too rose from 13.1% of dwellings to 13.6%, and will no doubt show a bigger rise in the next census, I suspect because the development industry sees greater gains from apartment construction, rather than the more costly townhouse option.
In the 2011 NSW census data, some 69.5% were separate houses, 10.7% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses and townhouses with a rising rampant 18.8% were flats.
Sadly there just isn't the required diversity of product in new Sydney housing developments, which ends up placing higher price pressures on what's fast becoming the townhouse sweet spot. 
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Townhouses becoming the housing sweet spot

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Melbourne notched up a clearance rate of 74% on the weekend compared to 70% the same weekend last year. 
There were 1113 auctions reported to the REIV, with two consecutive super Saturday weekends scheduled for the coming fortnight, the REIV chief Enzo Raimondo noting.
The median house price sale was $877,500 and the median unit price sold at weekend auction was $605,000.
A Toorak house topped the weekend results at $6.5 million with a Southbank offering the top apartment sale at $2.05 million. More than $1.9 million had been tipped for 1706/26 Southgate Avenue, Southbank, with 164 sqm in Quay West. It first sold at $715,000 in 1996 off the plan, setting in 1999 on completion.
TOP 5 HOUSES
1. 25 Wallace Avenue, Toorak $6,500,000
2. 4 Crossakiel Court, Hawthorn $3,560,000
3. 371 Belmore Road, Balwyn North $3,200,000
4. 40 Kerrie Road, Glen Waverley $3,050,000
5. 38 Hood Street, Balwyn North $3,020,000
 
TOP 5 BARGAIN HOUSES
1. 12 Echuca Street, Dallas $301,000
2. 62 Willora Crescent, Cranbourne West $305,000
3. 16 Rosedale Crescent, Dallas $312,000
4. 20 Rosedale Crescent, Dallas $315,000
5. 1/12 Eureka Court, Kings Park $320,000
 
Flat/Apartment Sales in Detail
 
TOP 5 APARTMENTS
1. 1706/26 Southgate Avenue, Southbank $2,050,000
2. 2 Peacock Street, Brighton $1,840,000
3. 5B Elizabeth Street, Brighton East $1,520,000
4. 4/32 Bourke Street, Melbourne $1,470,500
5. 2/38 Aylmer Street, Balwyn North $1,355,000
 
TOP 5 BARGAIN APARTMENTS
1. 3/780 Warrigal Road, Malvern East $200,500
2. 2/28 Codrington Street, Cranbourne $220,000
3. 104/51 Rathdowne Street, Carlton $236,500
4. 2/50 Tranmere Avenue, Carnegie $265,000
5. 4/243 Gower Street, Preston $271,000
 
Source <a href="/news">REIV</a>
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Southbank reigns as more super Satuday's coming in October: REIV

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Builder Phil Emanuele and wife Nicky have been breaking residential records in the South Coogee area for a decade of so, and now they hope 14a Mermaid Avenue, Maroubra will likewise set a new record.
They reckon the home sets a high benchmark for design and living, so their pricing through Clint Ballard at Ballard Property is $6.5 million plus. 
Set on its 450 sqm block, there is around 800 sqm internal space at the house with innovative rock coat render that doesn’t require painting. Even the external timber is called Parklex from Spain, a treated veneer that never needs any maintenance. Plenty of copper external features too. 
The couple won the Asia Pacific Property award for their last design at 8 Bloomfield Street, South Coogee which was briefly owned by Paul Roos, the former Swans Coach.
Just this week Maroubra benefited from China’s Golden Week with an oceanfront home on Mermaid Avenue fetching $10.5 million, selling to buyers from Shanghai. The oceanfront property was sold accountant Anthony George to buyers had flown into Sydney during the eight-day Chinese holiday period.
The oceanfront home on Mermaid Avenue did have initial hopes of $15 million earlier this year.
The oceanfront property, covering 6156 square metres, was sold accountant Anthony George to buyers had flown into Sydney during the eight-day Chinese holiday period
The seven bedrom home came with four-car garage, tennis court and pool on Mermaid Avenue.
It last traded in 1999 for $3.02 million when sold by lawyer John Gerathy.
The sale tops the suburb’s previous high of $8 million sit in 2007 for the oceanfront house on Waterside Street owned by Leslie Mosca, director of plastics and resin manufacturer Hpfox when sold by the Yu family.
This article fist appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Mermaid Avenue, Maroubra movements 

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