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An Opossum Bay beach house in Tasmania has been listed for sale with expectations above $685,000 through Sancia Dillon at Ripple Realty, Hobart.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-opossum+bay-120377325" target="_blank">120 Spitfarm Road</a> home is located some 45 minutes to Hobart CBD.
The house sits on 1380 square metres area and has two bedrooms and one bathroom, Tasmanian celery top flooring and full wall and roof 300mm insulation.
The property offers private right-of-way access to reserve and beach and views of the Derwent River, Mount Wellington and Arm End.
The median price for a home in <a href="/expert-insights/buying/contemporary-tasmanian-beach-house-listed-at-opossum-bay">Opossum Bay is $412,500</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Contemporary Tasmanian beach house listed at Opossum Bay

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Beacon Lighting's chief executive, Glen Robinson has his three-level Richmond townhouse listed through Marshall White agent Stuart Evans.
The October 17 auction is tipped to yield $1.5 million-plus for the three bedroom, two bathroom townhouse.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/6-allans-place-richmond/Property-Details-buy-residential-9567982" target="_blank">The 6 Allans Place offering</a> has a mix of polished concrete floors and Australian pale wood flooring. 
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Beacon Lighting chief's Richmond townhouse offering

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A heritage 1879 house in Parkville, Melbourne listed for sale with $3 million plus hopes through Nicholas Corby and Paula Beavis at Collins Simms has sold at $3.52 million.
The double-fronted, two-level home with bluestone alfresco terrace and heritage ceilings at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/129-park-drive-parkville/Property-Details-buy-residential-9420342" target="_blank">129 Park Drive</a> sits on 545 square metres.
It is near Royal Park and Melbourne University.
The median price for a home in <a href="/news">Parkville is $1,440,000</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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1879 Parkville home sold at $3.52 million

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GUEST OBSERVER
The federal government’s rekindled enthusiasm for public transport has sent state and local governments across the country scurrying back to their light rail plans – even those that many of us thought would never see the light of day.
It now looks as if the two-year effective moratorium on rail spending under Tony Abbott will be just a relatively brief hiatus. Besides the Gold Coast and Perth, the light rail revival could also involve Newcastle, Parramatta, Bendigo, Canberra, Cairns, Darwin and Hobart.
All have drawn up plans that they hope could emulate the success of light rail in European and American cities (not to mention Melbourne, home of the world’s largest tram system) as a focal point for urban development.
The main reason that so many Australian cities have been trying to copy this model is that it works. Europe has been using light rail as a major tool of urban regeneration, especially in France where many smaller towns have been very successful. In the United States between 1993 and 2011, public transport use grew by 23% (and light rail by 190%), while car use growth peaked.
The key reason for this seems to be the extra speed and capacity created when light (or heavy) rail goes around, under or over traffic that has been getting slower and slower in every major city (see the table below). Meanwhile, urban regeneration around light rail corridors allows people to end their automobile dependence, helping cities grow inwards faster than outwards.
<a href="/images/2015/10/07/Screen%20Shot%202015-10-08%20at%208.16.18%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/10/07/Screen%20Shot%202015-10-08%20at%208.16.18%20AM.png" alt="" width="724" height="576">
Tony Abbott forced the genie back into the bottle by following through on his 2013 pre-election decision to drop all federal rail funding. The move showed scant regard for how modern cities attract talented people to live and work in the knowledge economy jobs that are so necessary for innovation.
Around the world, cities compete on walkability and public transport, because these things make it less likely that young, creative workers will leave for London, Paris or New York. A <a href="https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/walkup-wake-up-call-boston.pdf">r</a>ecent report from Smart Growth America found that in Boston, 70% of young people working in the knowledge economy live in highly walkable areas. Their jobs typically require them to come together with lots of different people in an urban situation, and they don’t have time for long commutes.
So the knowledge economy needs spatial efficiency. Public transport, cycling and walking are spatially efficient; freeways, traffic jams and urban sprawl are not.
<h2>Enough to go around?</h2>
This is precisely the phenomenon on which Turnbull has picked up, by stressing innovation and freeing up infrastructure funding for light rail projects. The genie is out again, but obviously there will not be enough money to make every city’s transport wishes come true. So how can we proceed? 
Cities now need to make a strong case for their light rail projects, based on the benefits of urban regeneration as well saving commuters time. The best way to do this is to attract private funding as well as taxpayers' money, by bringing private investors on board with the financing, who then earn a return on the increased land values generated by rail development. This is called “land value capture” and still has not been done in Australia, although it’s common in the United States and Asia.
In fact, one could argue that the federal government should only release Commonwealth funding if these funds are multiplied many times over by the private sector. So cities could begin by calling for expressions of interest from private companies to design, build, finance, own and operate the light rail link and, crucially, make sure this includes land-development options (rather than letting in outside developers to gain windfall profits instead of directing the money into paying for the light rail).
Government would need to contribute a base grant and an operational fund that could be more specifically focused along the areas where the biggest benefits are felt in the corridor itself, where land values will go up most. Private expertise will ensure that the best sites are chosen for the light rail route.
These land-value increases will flow through taxes into treasury and can be set aside in a dedicated light rail fund for ongoing operations or for raising further finance. This way, with a bit of economic magic, the light rail genie could grant more cities their wishes.
Peter Newman is professor of sustainability, Curtin University, and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-newman-1858" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The light rail genie is out of the bottle, but how many cities will get their wish?

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New South Wales team Shay &amp; Dean have secured the winning Block combination, Damien Cooley and Andrew McCann of Jellis Craig Real Estate, to sell their penthouse apartment on The Block. 
The couple have already showed their strength in the game winning the first two rooms on the renovation reality television show.
This will mark Damien’s eighth appearance, the most booked auctioneer on the show.
Damien and Andrew will be aiming for their third win together having won the last two series’ for brothers Shannon &amp; Simon and All Star couple Deanne &amp; Darren.
Damien will personally be going for his fifth win on the show.
“We’re really excited to have Damien Cooley as our auctioneer, he’s got a great track record on the show and we know he will do a fantastic job,” the contestant couple said.
“Our apartment is extremely different from every other floor, we’ve taken risks where others haven’t and being on the top level we have amazing views across South Yarra and the city.”
“We can’t wait to see how the auction goes at the end of the series. We’ve put our heart and soul into this apartment and it’s something we are very proud of.”
“I had a call from a few of the other contestants but for me for me the NSW connection, and in particular the Newcastle connection, played a big role in our decision to choose Dean &amp; Shay," Damien Cooley said.
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Damien Cooley set to auction Shay and Dean's Blocktagon, South Yarra apartment

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There's a significant cooling of expectations for residential construction - and price growth - in the upcoming December quarter, according to the ANZ/Property Council Survey.
The ANZ expects housing starts to peak at 215,000 in the year to December and ease back to a still elevated 200,000 by end of 2016.
ANZ senior economist David Cannington said the latest survey taken after Malcolm Turnbull became Prime Minister showed a significant shift in outlook for residential property.
"The property sector expects the growth to disappear over the next 12 months," he told the Australian Financial Review. The nation’s leading measure of confidence in the property industry - which accounts for 11.5 per cent of GDP - was completed by over 2200 respondents across Australia this quarter.
While nationally confidence remains well in the positive range, it has edged downwards over the four quarters for 2015.
New South Wales still leads the nation in terms of confidence and Victoria is holding steady.
Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory all recorded rises in confidence for the quarter.
Tasmania and South Australia fell while Western Australia flatlined.
Property Council of Australia Chief Executive Ken Morrison said the results should be closely read by policymakers.
“The economy has relied on strong housing construction, so any softening would have a broader national impact particularly in terms of jobs and economic activity,” Mr Morrison said.
 “In the December quarter we saw a drop in debt finance availability expectations across the board, which is evidence that our regulatory safeguards are functioning as intended.
“We need to keep a close watch on the many factors impacting activity levels, particularly in residential construction.
“Only recently have we started to chip away at the housing supply deficit that built up over a decade as supply fell well short of demand.
“Housing affordability into the future hinges on maintaining a high level of new residential construction to meet the demands of our growing population.
“The results from this survey make the task of removing the major roadblocks to further growth in the property industry more urgent.”
ANZ co-head of Australian Economics Cherelle Murphy noted respondents in the majority of states including NSW and Victoria (which together contribute more than 50% of Australia’s GDP) are less optimistic than 12 months ago. 
"Those in the residential sector recorded a larger decline in confidence in the last 12 months than any of the commercial property sectors.
“As the housing sector softens, support to aggregate employment growth from hiring in construction and a range of services industries benefiting from housing activity is also expected to wane.
“Without above average employment outcomes in the rest of the economy, the unemployment rate could push higher."
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Debt finance availability to impact price growth and residential construction: ANZ/Property Council Survey

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GUEST OBSERVER
Before You Bid allows you to search for a property and buy your independent building and pest, strata report and contract review without picking up your phone.
The website was created after the personal experience of spending thousands of dollars without getting close to buying a property.
I was concerned not just with the cost of these reports, but also the quality. People don’t want to allow others to buy their reports because there is nothing in it for them. That is why we set-up a cash back model so that everyone pays the best possible price.
We have also set up an Uber-style rating system so our customers can give direct feedback on their reports and we can feed that through our service providers to continually improve the quality.
Service providers can apply to Before You Bid to be on their panel and have their qualifications and insurances checked. In one instance there was an inspector who had a builder’s license number on their website and it was fake. We take those worries out of the consumers’ hands. 
And how do they address the independence issue?
We found in the ACT that the agents have a tendency to pick report inspectors who write favourable reports. We have contacted a number of inspectors who admitted that their agent-instructed reports were not as thorough as their buyer ones. We don’t think they are worth the paper they are written on and that buyers deserve better. That is why we don’t allow agents or vendors to have any influence over our panel of report writers and don’t accept any money from them for advertising. We are exclusively buy-side focused.
With our share cost model interested parties can pay as little as $149 for an independent building and pest inspection and $79 for an independent strata report or contract review. We consider this an innovative solution to a market failure.
Rhys Rogers is co-founder and chief executive officer of Before You Bid and can be contacted <a href="https://www.beforeyoubid.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Uber-style report rating system for building, pest and strata reports

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The Federal Court today made interim orders appointing provisional liquidators to companies associated with Jamie McIntyre and 21st Century land banking companies.
Simon Alexander Wallace-Smith and Robert Scott Woods of Deloitte have been appointed as provisional liquidators to corporate respondents to ASIC’s legal action commenced in August 2015.
The respondents are:
<ul>
<li>Archery Road Pty Ltd (ACN 162 921 735)</li>
<li>Bendigo Vineyard Estate Pty Ltd (ACN 600 088 211)</li>
<li>Secret Valley Estate Pty Ltd (ACN 602 817 532)</li>
<li>Kingsway South Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 159 230 976)</li>
<li>Melbourne Tarniet Estate Pty Ltd (ACN 603 945 393)</li>
<li>Property Tuition Pty Ltd (ACN 129 421 281)</li>
<li>Education Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 129 551 917)</li>
<li>Sourcing Property Pty Ltd (ACN 602 474 779)</li>
</ul>
In addition, injunctions were made preventing all of the respondents, including Jamie McIntyre and Dennis McIntyre from promoting the five schemes ASIC is concerned about. They are: Botanica, Secret Valley Estate, Oak Valley Lakes Estate &amp; Resort, Bendigo Vineyard Estate &amp; Resort and Melbourne Grove Estate.
The provisional liquidators have been ordered to provide a report to the court, ASIC and the respondents within 42 days by November 19 reporting on a number of matters including the solvency of the companies and the schemes, any money owing to investors and the likely return to creditors of the companies.
Jamie McIntyre, Dennis McIntyre and the companies all agreed to the orders made today.
The matter returns to court for a further directions hearing on December 4. A date for the final hearing of the matter has not been set by the court.
The Scheme known as Botanica includes land located at 805 Archer Road, Kialla, Victoria 3631 and involves Archery Road Pty Ltd, Property Tuition Pty Ltd, Education Holdings Pty Ltd and the investors therein.
The Scheme known as Secret Valley Estate includes land located at 1955 Old Sydney Road, Bylands, Victoria 3762 and involves Secret Valley Estate Pty Ltd, Property Tuition Pty Ltd, Education Holdings Pty Ltd and the investors therein. t
The Scheme known as Oak Valley Lakes Estate &amp; Resort includes land located at 124 Booth Road, Brookhill, Townsville Qld 4816 and involves Kingsway South Holdings Pty Ltd, Sourcing Property Pty Ltd, Property Tuition Pty Ltd, Education Holdings Pty Ltd and the investors therein.
The Scheme known as Bendigo Vineyard Estate &amp; Resort includes land located at 51 Andrews Road, Bendigo, Victoria 3551 and involves Bendigo Vineyard Estate Pty Ltd, Property Tuition Pty Ltd, Education Holdings Pty Ltd and the investors therein.
The Scheme known as Melbourne Grove Estate includes land located at 1491 Dohertys Road, Mount Cottrell, Victoria 3024 and involves Melbourne Tarniet Estate Pty Ltd, Property Tuition Pty Ltd, Education Holdings Pty Ltd and the investors therein.
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Jamie McIntyre agrees to 21st Century provisional liquidation for five land banking schemes

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GUEST OBSERVER
There is a big difference in most world cities between rents paid by a creative or digital scale-up and a hedge fund, although the gap is closing. In June 2015 the total annual office rent paid for each member of staff in a hedge fund averaged $22,399 across the 12 world cities covered in this report. This compares to $10,453 per person for a small digital scale-up or creative company, which represents just 47% of the financial sector office rent. This ‘digital discount’ has eroded since 2008. At the end of 2008 the digital and creative industry paid, on average, 42% of what a hedge fund would pay in rent.
The difference between these rents clearly reflects a different scale of revenue between a financial company and a creative company, but we expect the gap to continue to close. This is because the size of the digital and creative sector is growing faster than the finance industry in many of the world cities we monitor, meaning rental growth is higher too.
Meanwhile, it takes time for the nature and location of office stock to change from the type of large, floor-plate corporate premises required for banking to smaller, flexible and altogether more dynamic spaces required by creative and digital occupiers. This means that scarcity value also increases rents.
In some cities the importance of the digital and creative industry would already seem to have overtaken finance. In Sydney, for example, creative industry companies are paying more per person for office rents than finance companies are. Local supply and demand factors will clearly have an impact here. Relatively low demand for financial offices in Sydney means the city has some of the cheapest rents for this sector among our world cities, paying well below the world average per person.
Globally, the average growth of office rents we monitor among our 12 cities was just 1.7% between December 2008 and June 2015. But this average disguises a big difference between the financial sector and creative and digital sector. While office rents in the financial sector fell by an average of 1.8%, the creative sector offices saw growth of 8.6% over the same period. 
 
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Yolande Barnes is director, Savills World Research Team and can be contacted <a href="https://www.savills.com/research/" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Sydney's creative industry pays higher per person rent than finance: Savills' Yolande Barnes  

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Sydney based steel fencing provider, Budget Metals Aust Pty Ltd, will open its first Melbourne branch.
It follows a lease over an industrial facility at Dandenong South in Melbourne’s south-east in a deal negotiated by Savills Australia.
The 1/64-68 Nissan Drive property comprises a 1264 square metre building including a high clearance warehouse with a five tonne gantry crane and a ground level office, drive around access, secure yard space, and on-site parking.
According to Savills, the tenant has taken a three year lease at $89,744 per annum net. The lessor is a private Melbourne investor.
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Budget Metals Australia takes Dandenong lease

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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