<html><body>
<div>
<p><span>ANZ Banking Group is raising interest rates on home loans held by property investors. </span></p>
<p><span>The rate change will add $48 to the monthly repayments on a $300,000 mortgage, up by 0.27 percentage points, the most dramatic decision of the current clampdown on lending to restrain the current investor frenzy.</span></p>
<p><span>ANZ on Thursday said its index rate for investor property loans would rise to 5.65%, as part of a move to shift the mix in its loan book towards owner-occupiers. </span></p>
<p><span>ANZ's changes come seven months after the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority forced the big banks to cap their loan growth among housing investors to less than 10% growth a year.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Chief executive of ANZ's Australian operations, Mark Whelan said the bank was trying to reach an "appropriate" mix between its investor and owner-occupied loan book, which with around $65 billion of housing investor loans is the smallest of the big four banks.</p>
<p>"It is very hot," was how Mark Whelan described the investor market when speaking with <em>Ross Greenwood's 2GB Money News</em> today.</p>
<p>The decision re-instated differential price which had existed pre-1998, he advised.</p>
<p>"It's a bit back-to-the-future for the current hot market."</p>
<p>He said it was not related to the <a href="/expert-insights/finance/home-loan-borrowing-rates-set-to-rise-in-2016-after-apras-latest-decision">recent risk adverse requirements sought by APRA</a>, announced earlier this week to take effect mid-2016 .</p>
<p>He described recent investor loans as "very good risk." </p>
<p>ANZ cut various fixed rates for owner-occupiers by between 0.10 and 0.4 percentage points.</p>
<p>Effective Monday, 10 August 2015, <span id="0.38809601520188153">ANZ</span>’s variable Residential Investment Property Loan (RIPL) Index Rate will rise by 0.27% to 5.65%pa (5.76%pa comparison rate).</p>
<p>Fixed rates for new Residential Investment Lending will also increase by up to 0.30%.</p>
<p>Mark Whelan said although interest rates for residential property investors are at very low levels historically, "the decision to raise interest rates for residential investment lending has been difficult but necessary in the current environment.</p>
<p>“It allows us to balance the mix of our lending between owner-occupied and investment lending as well as the impact of changing market conditions.</p>
<p>"This includes a decision to cut fixed rates for new owner-occupied home lending.</p>
<p>“This is a considered decision that takes into account our customers’ position and the criteria we look at when setting rates including our competitive position, our regulatory obligations and the state of the residential property market,” Mr Whelan said.</p>
</div>
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

ANZ raises property investor loan interest rate by 0.27 percentage points

<html><body>
<p><span>Ray White Group joint chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/brwhite" target="_blank"><span>Brian White</span></a> says Ray White’s $3.8 billion June result almost broke the May record of $4 billion.</span></p>
<p><span>"These figures in winter months?</span></p>
<p><span>"Winter is a time for hiatus in the property market isn’t it?," he posted in his monthly blog.</span></p>
<p><span>"Our tradition has been to break records in spring and summer and hold on during winter as spring marketing campaigns start to build.</span></p>
<p><span>"But there is an urgency in the markets today that we haven’t seen in most careers," noting the only sobering data was in the current market in Perth.</span></p>
<p><span>"Just a year or so ago, Perth was in full flight, but the dramatic reversal in the resources industry has clearly had an impact on confidence and jobs in that state, reflected in a market nowhere resembling its eastern state cousins."</span></p>
<p><span>Ray White offices such as Double Bay in Sydney are now reaching close to $100 million sales per month, with an ambition to have a $1 billion year within their sights.</span></p>
<p><span>Reflecting the driving inner city markets, Ray White’s new offices are in Spring Hill and North Quay in Brisbane and in Sydney new offices in Darlinghurst and Circular Quay.</span></p>
</body></html>

Ray White's Brian White sees buyer urgency in winter property markets

<html><body>
<p><span>NSW Fair Trading was more interested in grabbing headlines than seriously address the issue of underquoting, Malcolm Gunning, the president of the Real Estate Institute of NSW said.</span></p>
<p><span>"The state has had legislation prohibiting underquoting since 2002, however, Fair Trading have failed to comprehend or address the issue," he said saying Fair Trading did not understand the issues. </span></p>
<p><span>"Fair Trading has been completely and totally ineffective in its approach and policing of underquoting for the last 13 years.</span></p>
<p><span>The industry has been tarnished by Fair Trading’s failure to properly understand and address the problem.</span></p>
<p><span>"Fair Trading have preferred to grab headlines rather than seriously address the issues.</span></p>
<p><span>Fair Trading’s persistence with the same old tired strategies do not serve the consumer or the property industry, he said.</span></p>
<p><span>"The greatest challenge is for the Fair Trading to admit its failings to date and commence a constructive and cooperative dialogue with industry.</span></p>
<p><span>"REINSW is ready for this change in direction and we would welcome the opportunity to work together to develop strategies to address underquoting which is a blemish on our industry and damages consumer confidence." </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Malcolm is president of the Real Estate Institute of NSW and Principal of Gunning Commercial, which has offices in Hurstville and Surry Hills in Sydney.</span></p>
</body></html>

REINSW says NSW Fair Trading ineffective on agent underquoting

<html><body>
<p><span>The penthouse apartment beside Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe's Toorak pad has been sold.</span></p>
<p><span>The <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/98a-st-georges-road-toorak-vic-3142-2012011466" target="_blank"><span>98A St Georges Road </span></a>apartment was sold by Deloitte executive. </span></p>
<p><span>Daniel Radcliffe's pad on St Georges Road was taken off the market earlier this year.</span></p>
<div class="cT-imageLandscape">
<p><img src="https://i1.au.reastatic.net/456x342/60fe4ab083266250daae83bd07fbe35a98ad4505307ac2a173239c3f69e528e8/main.jpg" alt="98A St Georges Road, Toorak" title="98A St Georges Road, Toorak" data-index="0"></p>
</div>
<p><span>The elegant four-bedroom apartment was listed at $3.1 million through Melbourne Real Estate's Georgina Mellick and Tom Aylward.</span></p>
</body></html>

Daniel Radcliffe's Toorak neighbour sells

<html><body>
<p>Domain's senior economist, Dr Andrew Wilson, calculates house prices spiked 8.4 per cent over the June quarter to a $1,000,616 Sydney median house price.</p>
<p>The May RBA rate cut helped the spurt in Sydney's median to be now sitting, according to the Fairfax Media spin, higher than than average house price in London and fast approaching New York, the Domain House Price Report, released on Thursday, said.</p>
<p>The median house price has increased by close to $200,000 in a year or 22.9 per cent, which exceeded the boom time results of the early 2000. <span>The spike from $814,285 a year earlier ranks as </span><span>the quickest pace of gain since the late 1980s.</span></p>
<p>The $1 million median had been <a href="/news/nsw/only-in-sydney-ticker-showing-countdown-to-1-million-median-house-price">tipped for next year</a>, according to the <span>Fairfax Media-owned </span>Domain Group's ongoing previous forecast. Its countdown clock is still <a href="https://doctorandrewwilson.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/countdown-to-sydney-1000000-house-price" target="_blank">showing it is 326 days off</a>.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%209.08.03%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2015/07/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-07-23%20at%209.08.03%20AM.png" alt=""></p>
<p>Property Observer anticipates it is possible the more subdued winter sales will rebalance the median to below $1 million in the next quarter.</p>
<p>AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver told Fairfax Media the $1 million median house price was a milestone that would reinforce perceptions that Sydney was beyond reach for many homebuyers.</p>
<p>Sydney's annual rate growth was more than double the nearest capital city, Melbourne's 10.3% jump to $688,030.</p>
<p>The NSW capital reportedly sits pricier than London, where the equivalent was $900,000, but below New York, where it was $1.5 million, and Paris, where it was about $2 million.</p>
<p>June Quarter Medians </p>
<div id="chart">
<div>$1,000,616</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="0">Sydney Houses
<div> </div>
<div>$686,078</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="0">Sydney Units</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>$668,030</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="1">Melbourne Houses</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="1">
<div> </div>
<div>$443,549</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="1">Melbourne units</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>$490,855</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="2">Brisbane Houses</div>
<div>
<div> </div>
<div>$371,508</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="2">Brisbane Units</div>
 </div>
<div>$479,285</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="3">Adelaide Houses</div>
<div>
<div> </div>
<div>$292,399</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="3">Adelaide Units</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>$605,089</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="4">Perth Houses</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="4"> </div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="4">
<div>$405,417</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="4">Perth Units</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>$616,313</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="5">Canberra Houses</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="5"> </div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="5">
<div>$382,350</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="5">Canberra Units</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>$325,972</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="6">Hobart Houses</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="6"> </div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="6">
<div>$272,932</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="6">Hobart Units</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>$654,270</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="7">Darwin Houses</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="7"> </div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="7">
<div>$471,789</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="7">Darwin Units</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>$701,827</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="8">National Median Houses</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="8"> </div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="8">
<div>$516,723</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="8">National Median Units</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="8"> </div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="8">{mijopolls 122}</div>
<div data-column="Location" data-row="8"> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="footer">
<div>Source: Domain House Price Report - June 2015</div>
<div>
<em>Methodology:  The stratified median house price - or middle price - is the preferred measure used by Domain Group. House sales over a specific period are stratified - divided into price groups - to generate multiple medians, which are then used to generate a Sydney-wide median. </em><span style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">Details of the background to the Domain Group methodology are described in the Reserve Bank of Australia paper</span><a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2006/pdf/rdp2006-04.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link, opening in a new window, to PDF file." style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;"><em>Measuring Housing Price Growth – Using Stratification to Improve Median-based Measures</em></a><span style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">.</span>
</div>
<div>
<p> </p>
</div>
<div class="footer-right"> </div>
<div class="footer-right">
<div id="chart" class="bar-chart">
<div class="label  series"><span> </span></div>
<div class="label value">
<p> </p>
</div>
<div class="label value"><span> </span></div>
<div class="label value"><span> </span></div>
<div class="label value"> </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Sydney's $1 million house median arrives 326 days early

<html><body>
<p><span>Marketed as Australia's most affordable Woolworths, Burgess Rawson have the George Town, Tasmania premises listed for August 5 auction.</span></p>
<p><span>The 8 Bathurst Street, George Town tenants come with an established lease with 20 + 10 year lease through to 2042. </span></p>
<p><span>The rent is $336,682 pa.</span></p>
<p><span>The 1978 square metre Woolworths at <a href="https://www.burgessrawson.com.au/3P1087#.Va8OqSqqqko" target="_blank"><span>8 Bathurst Street, George Town</span></a> has been described as a "consistent and progressively performing investment" with a captive trade catchment. </span></p>
<p><span>The single tenant offering has minimum management investment with income tax saving depreciation. </span></p>
<p><span>George Town is described as a residential and service centre for major industry including Bell Bay Aluminium generating a 1,500 workforce. </span></p>
<p><span>George Town is a large town in north-east Tasmania, on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Tamar River. The Australian Bureau of Statistics records the George Town Municipal Area had a population of 6,906 as at the 30 June 2011.</span></p>
<p><span>It is also a popular tourist and holiday region providing a seasonal boost. </span></p>
<p><span>The auction will be held at Crown Casino Melbourne.</span></p>
</body></html>

Woolworths cheapest landlord offering? Burgess Rawson 

<html><body>
<p><span>DTZ, the global commercial real estate services company, has announced the acquisition of Queensland real estate agency, Wright Property Group.</span></p>
<p><span>Established in 2002 by Glen Wright, Wright Property has offices in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, specialising in industrial, commercial and retail agency, as well as property management base, project management and research.</span></p>
<p><span>Wright Property employs more than 50 staff in Queensland with over $1.3billion transactions in 2014/15.</span></p>
<p><span>The company will continue to operate under the Wright Property Group brand until the DTZ and Cushman &amp; Wakefield merger closes, which is expected before the end of the year</span></p>
<p><span>This acquisition marks another step in the growth of DTZ’s business in the Asia Pacific Region headed by DTZ chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, James Patterson. </span></p>
<p><span>The combined businesses will now employ 1,550 staff across Australia and New Zealand and will generate revenues of more than $295 million. Following a number of recent facility management successes, James Patterson said DTZ was expecting to grow into a 1,800 strong workforce by the end of 2015.</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p><span>The global company completed $63 billion in transaction volume globally in 2014 on behalf of institutional, corporate, government and private clients. Headquartered in Chicago, DTZ has more than 28,000 employees who operate across more than 260 offices in 50 countries.</span></p>
<p><span>DTZ announced an agreement to merge with Cushman &amp; Wakefield in May 11.</span></p>
<p><span>The new company, which will operate under the Cushman &amp; Wakefield brand, will have revenues over $5.5 billion, over 43,000 employees and will manage more than 4 billion square feet globally on behalf of institutional, corporate and private clients. </span></p>
</body></html>

 DTZ acquire Wright Property Group

<html><body>
<p><span>Adrian Lane-Mullins is the incoming chairman of the RE/MAX Australia and New Zealand Board of Directors replacing the late Phil Kirby who stepped down in the past year due to health concerns.</span></p>
<p><span>The managing director Michael Davoren was interim chairman.</span></p>
<p><span>Lane-Mullins’ is managing director of Customercorp P/L Business Consultancy, a company he began 16 years ago.</span></p>
<p><span>Its client list includes RACQ-GIO Insurance Ltd and QBE Insurance Ltd.</span></p>
<p><span>RE/MAX managing director Michael Davoren said the board intentionally chose an independent chairman from outside the real estate industry.</span></p>
<p><span>Lane-Mullins sat in three board meetings before taking up the chair this month learning the complexities of real estate franchising.</span></p>
<p><span>RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with 100,000 agents and more than 6600 offices provide RE/MAX globally across reach of 100 countries. </span></p>
</body></html>

Adrian Lane-Mullins appointed RE/MAX chairman

<html><body>
<p><span>A 160-room Hyatt Place hotel and conference centre is envisaged for Essendon Airport.</span></p>
<p><span>Owners Lindsay Fox and Max Beck are adding the country's first Hyatt-branded business hotel to Melbourne's second terminal. </span></p>
<p><span>The Essendon Fields chief executive Chris Cowan told <em>The Australian Financial Review</em> it was intended to meet the needs of business people in the north-west of Melbourne "who have very limited options."</span></p>
<p><span>The $60 million investment is the largest project for the airport which originally intended for closure after the opening of Tullamarine.</span></p>
<p><span>Essendon Fields, which was privatised in 2001, is a 300-hectare site.</span></p>
<p><span>There are also plans for a $20 million hangar project to service the growing private jet market.</span></p>
</body></html>

Hyatt Place hotel for Essendon Fields

<html><body><div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<p><span>The latest NAB Quarterly Australian Residential Property Survey found foreign buyers were less active in new residential property market acquistions, but had reputedly increased their presence in established markets, especially Victoria.</span></p>
<p><span>The percentage of foreign buyers in the new property market dropped from 15.6% to 12.8% in the latest quarter, according to the NAB survey that gathers feedback from property industry professionals on the current market.</span></p>
<p><span>NAB Group chief economist Alan Oster noted foreign buyers had increased their established home purchasing status, up from 7.5% to 8.6%.</span></p>
<p><span>Most foreigners buy newly built apartments and houses because of FIRB limits on non-Australian citizens buying established housing. Permanent Australian residents can, ofcourse, buy established houses and temporary residents can buy established houses too, but need to sell when they depart the country, under newly enforced FIRB regulations. </span></p>
<p><span>Alan Oster suggested foreign buyers accounted for high sales volume especially in Victoria.</span></p>
<p><span>Units were favoured by foreign buyers, accounting for 16.1% of all apartment sales nationally in the second quarter.</span></p>
<p><span>Foreign buyers secured 28% of all new apartment purchases in Victoria and 16.5% in New South Wales. The July 1 Victorian Government tax on foreign buyers is likely to be behind some of the higher Victorian volumes coming in the weeks before its introduction.  </span></p>
<p><span>In Queensland they accounted for 13.1% of buyers and in Western Australia around 12.9%.</span></p>
<p><span>More than three quarters of foreign investors bought apartments valued at less than $1 million, with around 41% of those priced below $500,000.</span></p>
<p><span>More than 16% of all apartment sales were in the $1 million to $2 million price range.</span></p>
<p><span>Though NAB noted it was higher in New South Wales where foreign buyers were responsible for one in four purchases at that price and close to 12% at more than $2 million.</span></p>
<p><span>The figures are based on a National Australia Bank survey of 300 people working in areas such as real estate management, development and asset management.</span></p>
</div></body></html>

Foreign buyers securing 28% of all new apartment purchases in Victoria: NAB

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]</p>

<p>Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]</p>

<p>While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]</p>

<p>Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]</p>

<p>Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.</p>

<p>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.</p>


Joel Robinson

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

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]</p>

<p>Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.</p>

<p>"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]</p>

<p>A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]</p>


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

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."</p>

<p>Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.</p>

<p>"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.</p>

<p>"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.</p>

<p>"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.</p>

<p>"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]</p>


Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]</p>

<p>“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.”</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]</p>


Jonathan Chancellor

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News