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Direct property investment has never been a passive occupation, buyers advocate Richard Wakelin says.
"Unlike shares or bonds, one can’t set and forget for years on end.
"Tenants must be found, served and replaced from time to time.
"Checking in regularly with the managing agent should be an ingrained discipline to maintain an even keel and avoid surprises. 
"And, every few years, the property will require renovations."
Richard Wakelin says depending on the starting point and the size of the property, a modest renovation can often be done for as little as $5,000 and typically for between $10,000 and $20,000.
"You tend not to achieve the same magnitude of uplift in rent level and property value as the designer-level renovation delivers, but with rents often jumping by 20 per cent or so, the percentage return on the outlay may well be superior. 
"Moreover, less ambitious renovations are also less likely to over-run, go wrong or be rejected by tenants.
"Good property managers know what the pool of renters is looking for.
"And they also use the best tradespeople. 
"So if your property is tired, book a makeover meeting with your property manager," he said.
RICHARD WAKELIN is the director and founder of <a href="https://wakelin.com.au/" target="_blank">Wakelin Property Advisory</a>.
Richard is hosting a webinar on how to prepare to sell your home or investment property this spring at 8pm Wednesday, August 12. You can sign up <a href="https://wakelin.com.au/webinar" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Direct property investment is not a passive occupation: Richard Wakelin

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House renovators hoping for a quick profit run the risk of underestimating the cost of the flip.
But Cherie Barber, a professional renovator who runs a company providing renovation courses, remains optimistic about buying for renovation and sale.
Barber says it is always possible to renovate for a profit.
"You cannot talk about a single Australian market," she recently told The Australian Financial Review.
"There are more than 4000 suburbs and as many markets."
She says renovating to sell or hold depends on individual markets, which means analysis of the costs and benefits of the property, street and suburb.
Research suggest about 6 per cent of residential properties sold in Australia sold again in less than two years.
Across the country, CoreLogic RP Data noted homes that resold recently at a loss had an average length of ownership of 6.0 years.
Across resales of homes throughout the March 2015 quarter, those homes that were held for only a short period of time proved to be much more susceptible to loss.
Although home values increased over the past 12 months, 13.0% of owners who purchased and resold in the same year recorded a gross loss.
Any flip investment needs to estimate value the time involved and also the risks on the costs of acquisition, holding, renovating and selling.
Cherie Barber says she can complete a 10-day complete makeover of a house that would take other renovators between six and 12 months at double the cost.
She suggests not to pay the invoices in full until you are 100% happy with the works being completed.
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The renovation flip is still doable: Cherie Barber

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A six-bedroom, four-bathroom Turramurra sold for $5,105,000, $305,000 over the reserve at weekend auction, a suburb record.
Robert Ward of LJ Hooker Wahroonga said there were five registered bidders.
Three were Asian buyers and two were local, and a local Dutch couple who'd lived in Wahroonga for about 10 years secured the propety.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-turramurra-120201061" target="_blank">40 Ku-Ring-Gai Avenue</a> house was originally built in 1898 on one of the north shore's finest streets and was last renovated in 2009.
The near 2000 square metre holding has a tennis court and a pool. It last sold in 2006 at $2.95 million.
Originally built in 1898 it was first renovated by Slayter &amp; Cosh Architects in 1902. The property was further renovated by Arthur Stanton Cook Architects in 1929 and again by the current vendors in 2009 through Lindsay Little Architects. 
Property Observer gleans the prior record was $5 million.
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Record Turramurra trophy home sale

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Robin Barker, author of the best-seller Baby Love, has listed her Queens Park Californian bungalow.
The Bourke Street home was bought by Barker, then a child health care nurse, and her husband Roger for $170,000 in 1986.
<img src="/images/2015/08/11/07.jpg" alt="" width="932" height="621">
 
Dasha Goldman of Richardson &amp; Wrench Bondi Junction expects the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home to fetch about $2 million at its September 3 auction.
 
<img src="/images/2015/08/11/2.jpg" alt="">
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Baby Love's Robin Barker lists Queens Park

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Burrawang's Old School House has been listed for sale by Tony Harrington, best known as former chief executive of PwC.
The <a href="https://www.margaretmccauley.com.au/property.aspx?Id=613" target="_blank">1878 rustic Gothic-style school</a> closed in the 1980s, and operated over the years as a tea-room, antique show room and residence.
Set on 3953 square metres, the five bedroom, four bathroom house comes with the Great School Hall with open fire, stone walls and original floorboards.
Margaret McCauley has it listed with $3.3 million hopes, noting the works over the past 18 months has ensured the flow of three residential buildings now unified.
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Burrawang's Old School house listed in Southern Highlands

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The celebrity photographer Nicholas Wilson and his wife Sally have listed their Zetland terrace.
The four-bedroom terrace is tipped to fetch more than $1.65 million through McGrath's Ben Forsyth at its August 29 auction.
They want more space for their three sons at Kensington. The couple bought <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-zetland-nsw-2017/266497">the Victorian-era home</a> on Portman Street in 2006 for $729,000.
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Celebrity photographer's Zetland Victorian-era listing

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<div class="story-intro">
Rugby player Quade Cooper has sold his Hawthorne, Brisbane home.
</div>
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/8-mcdonald-street-hawthorne/Property-Details-buy-residential-8661210" target="_blank">The Ray White listing</a> followed his $1.845 million purchase of a four-bedroom, three-bathroom Bulimba home.
The contemporary Bulimba house with marina berth had $2.2 million hopes.
The home’s former owner was Place Bulimba real estate agent Shannon Harvey.
Set in the Addison Quays development, the home was designed by award winning architect John Robertson.
Cooper bought in Hawthorne at $1.55 million in 2013, and Property Observer gleans about $1.6 million was paid by a Sydney investor.
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Upgrading Quade Cooper sells Hawthorne, Brisbane home

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Sydney's top weekend auction sale was in Randwick at $5.15 million.
Just the two bidders, though many others took contracts from agent Debbie Donnelly at Phillips Pantzer Donnelley.
With bidding starting with a vendor bid of $5 million, a local family outbid an expatriate family.
She had more than 300 groups inspect the house during the campaign, with people attracted by the land size and the single-level layout of the renovated house.
<img src="https://i2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/e094166eb7e1940995e9b3bb758c1102fe11f0c9931875d80407df725bb0170a/image3.jpg" alt="1 Dangar Street, Randwick" title="1 Dangar Street, Randwick" data-index="2">
Set close to the edge of Centennial Park and Queens Park, the ultra spacious single-level Federation home (photographed above and below) has been renovated and extended on a 835 sqm block surrounded by tall clipped hedges and manicured gardens.
<img src="https://i2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/1152dcbd27e639f3004701319a17817b71b603806cf3777bb0fd9667c74d9671/image7.jpg" alt="1 Dangar Street, Randwick" title="1 Dangar Street, Randwick" data-index="6">
The property has only one neighbouring home due to its side frontage on Huddart Lane and rear frontage on Dangar Lane.
<div>Sydney’s home auction market fell sharply at the weekend weighed down by a record number of August weekend auction listings.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sydney reported a clearance rate of 75.4 percent on Saturday, well below the 79.5 percent recorded the previous weekend and also significantly below the 80.4 percent recorded over the same weekend last year. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>APM reported Saturday's result was the lowest of the year so far and well below the peak rate of 89.2 percent recorded on the May 9 weekend.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"Sydney clearance rates have been trending downwards over the past two months which contrasts to the same period last year when clearance rates began to rise sharply," APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson said.
<div> </div>
<div>"Saturdays weakened result may reflect an extraordinary surge in auction listings with buyers offered unprecedented choice for a late winter market.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"Some 848 homes were offered for auction which is a record for an August Saturday and well ahead of the previous record of 648 set just last weekend.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"The weekend auctions numbers were nearly double the 429 auctions conducted as vendors flood the market driven by perceptions of still strong selling conditions.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"More stern tests await the fading Sydney market with over 700 auctions again scheduled for next weekend," Dr Wilson said.</div>
 
</div>
<img src="https://i3.au.reastatic.net/800x600/4826b349671d914cb7ccb389d04f6bd3128bf04a4c0c2008a831ca62fe2473d3/main.jpg" alt="1 Dangar Street, Randwick" title="1 Dangar Street, Randwick" data-index="0">
<h2>Auction highlights this week</h2>
Saturday, 8 August 2015
<table style="width: 605px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<thead><tr>
<th>City</th>
<th colspan="2">Location</th>
<th>Sold</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most expensive
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_0" colspan="2">1 Dangar St, Randwick NSW 2031, 4 br House, PhillipsPantzer Donnelley</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0">$5,150,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_1" colspan="2">41 Atkins St, Kew VIC 3101, 3 br House, Jellis Craig Hawthorn</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_1">$4,325,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_2" colspan="2">3 Hulbert St, Hove SA 5048, 5 br House, Gary J Smith RE Glenelg</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_2">$950,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_3" colspan="2">21 Outlook Cr, Bardon QLD 4065, 4 br House, Place West</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_3">$1,150,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_4" colspan="2">18 Dirrawan Gdns, Reid ACT 2612, 4 br House, IPG Woden Weston Creek</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_4">$1,900,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most affordable
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_0" colspan="2">70 Manoa Rd, Halekulani NSW 2262, 3 br House, Coastlink Real Estate</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_0">$308,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_1" colspan="2">C16/1-5 Grantham St, Brunswick West VIC 3055, 1 br Unit, Pagan Real Estate</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_1">$165,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_2" colspan="2">5 Florence Tce, Rosewater SA 5013, 3 br House, LJH West Lakes</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_2">$336,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_3" colspan="2">11 Rosemary St, Caboolture South QLD 4510, 3 br House, PRD Moreton</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_3">$225,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_4" colspan="2">31 Mellor Cct, Florey ACT 2615, 3 br House, FN Capital</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_4">$470,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Source APM 
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Randwick top sale at $5.15 million through Phillips Pantzer Donnelley

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A Warwick Farm sale at $340,000 was the cheapest Sydney sale on the bumper auction weekend.
Currently tenanted at $290 per week rental return, it sold to a Liverpool Hospital nurse first time buyer who will keep the tenancy, but move in later.
The price of the 65 sqm two bedroom, one bathroom apartment reflected a 4.4% rental yield.
<img src="https://i3.au.reastatic.net/800x600/58bba93d53cc83a47f8442936b1ce3d724c545be3e49700358fe083a6d54103b/main.jpg" alt="4/5 Lachlan Street, Warwick Farm" title="4/5 Lachlan Street, Warwick Farm" data-index="0">
The early 1970s last sold in June 2013 at $234,500, but without any alterations in the meantime.
The sale - at 18% annualised price appreciation - was secured by McGrath agent Camden agent Glen Craigie and Rick Mancini.
Glen Craigie told Property Observer he'd adjusted his price expectations slightly lower - from $320,000plus to $299,000 plus - during the auction campaign given the amount of competing stock that came on the market which offered investors greater choice.
<img src="https://i2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/8f1730a3eb23ff01db5d1aff8d9a5f01aac67be80a0047833408324d97eb69c9/image3.jpg" alt="4/5 Lachlan Street, Warwick Farm" title="4/5 Lachlan Street, Warwick Farm" data-index="2">
There were five registered to bid, but just two bid after the $270,000 opening offer.
There were 11 sales under $500,000 across Sydney amid the 800 plus weekend auction offerings.
The cheapest notified auction sale was outside Sydney at Halekulani, near Budgewoi at $308,000 for 70 Manoa Road. 
<img src="https://i1.au.reastatic.net/456x342/c6e3e9de9a7817f6a2f2ebf560d796602eeb8a98370fbdb8a56ba4eadac38fa2/main.jpg" alt="70 Manoa Road, Halekulani" title="70 Manoa Road, Halekulani" data-index="0">
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Warwick Farm $340,000 sale as Sydney bumper auction weekend's cheapest

<html><body>
House and apartment rents are growing for landlords at the slowest pace since at least 1995 - and actually fell in July - according to CoreLogic RP Data.
Tim Lawless, CoreLogic's head of research, described rental appreciation was sluggish, on average less than 1 per cent a year, due to the boom currently underway in dwelling construction along with record participation in housing by investors, both domestic and foreign purchasers.
Rental rates fell by 0.3% in July 2015 across the combined capital cities. 
The current annual rate of rental appreciation has reached a new record low of 0.9% and is continuing to trend lower. 
Sydney and Hobart recorded the greatest increases in weekly rents.
Dwelling rental rates across the combined capital cities are sitting at $486 per week after they fell by 0.3% over the month of July. 
However, weekly rents are up by 0.3% over the first seven months of the year and have increased by just 0.9% over the past 12 months.
At a combined capital city level, gross rental yields were recorded at 3.4% for houses in July 2015 and at 4.3% for units while house rents are currently at a record low level.
One year ago, gross rental yields were recorded at 3.8% for houses and 4.6% for units across the combined capitals.
“With capital growth likely to continue outpacing rental growth, we expect that rental returns could push even lower over the coming months. From an investment perspective it means that capital growth is going to be much more important for a return on investment,” Tim Lawless said.
CoreLogic RP Data started its rental statistical collection in 1995.
 
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National rental growth sluggish: CoreLogic RP Data

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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