<html><body>
An investor paid $425,000 for the pre-auction purchase of the weekend's cheapest sale which was 4/11-17 Davidson Street, Greenacre.
It was a three bedroom, one bathroom unit, sold well ahead of auction through Town and Country agent Hui Zhu.
One of just 10 under $500,000 sales across Sydney, it was snapped up within seven days. 
<img src="https://i1.au.reastatic.net/456x342/7a62134dab3905114af1d20f2c291663d35a4b512ad37c6130435a56b70bd540/main.jpg" alt="4/11-17 DAVIDSON STREET, Greenacre" title="4/11-17 DAVIDSON STREET, Greenacre" data-index="0">
It last sold at $175,000 in 2001.
It now is for rent at $450 a week, reflecting 5.5% gross yield.
Eagle Vale was the suburb with the cheapest house sale - $442,000 for a three bedroom on Crozier Street.
 
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

$425,000 Greenacre sale the cheapest Sydney weekend sale

<html><body>
Geelong ranks among the weakest regions, according to the latest CoreLogic RP Data figures.
Recent auctions in the coastal Victorian region sit at around a 37% success rate.
The Mornington Peninsula auction success rate sits at around 68%.
<a href="/images/2015/07/13/RP-_Melbourne.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/13/RP-_Melbourne.jpg" alt="" width="798" height="350">
<a href="/images/2015/07/13/geelong_chart.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/13/geelong_chart.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Geelong ranks among weakest auction regions: CoreLogic RP Data 

<html><body>
The recent inner west auction activity is securing auction sales running at around 90%.
The NSW Central Coast is the weakest region with its auction success rate sitting at around 58%, according to the latest CoreLogic RP Data figures.
<a href="/images/2015/07/13/sydney_RP.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/13/sydney_RP.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Inner west remains Sydney auction room engineroom: CoreLogic RP Data

<html><body>
National auction markets continue to show a slight softening trend with a preliminary auction clearance rate of 76.2%, the third week in a row in which the capital city clearance rate has fallen, according to CoreLogic RP Data. 
The preliminary clearance rate across the combined capital cities compared to 76.8% last week.
At the same time last year the success rate was 67.2%.
The preliminary auction clearance rate for Melbourne was 78.2% this week, with 651 auctions held across the city. Over the previous week, 78.6% of the 640 Melbourne auctions sold, while at the same time last year, Melbourne’s clearance rate was significantly lower, at 66.4% across 567 auctions. Across the individual sub-regions of Melbourne, the strongest performer this week was the Outer East, the only region where the preliminary clearance rate surpassed the 90% mark, with 95.7% of the 46 reported results selling.
For Sydney, usually Australia’s second largest auction market, the number of homes taken to auction this week (765) was higher than in Melbourne. Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate was 81.0%, down from 82.0% the previous week, but higher than at the same time last year (75.6%). Although Sydney currently remains the strongest capital city auction market, over recent weeks the clearance rate across the city hasn’t been as strong as it was in April and May. Across Sydney’s Outer West and Blue Mountains region, there were six auction results reported this week with all properties selling. Following on from this, Sydney’s strongest performing sub-region this week was the Inner West, with a preliminary clearance rate of 90.1%.
Some 53.6% of Brisbane’s reported auctions were sold this week, compared to 63.5% last week and 43.3% at the same time last year. There were 121 auctions held across Brisbane this week, compared to 115 last week and 118 over the same week last year. Meanwhile, across the 29 reported Gold Coast results, the preliminary clearance rate was 58.6% this week.
Adelaide’s preliminary clearance rate was 66.0% this week, across a total of 50 reported results. This week’s clearance rate was lower than last week (69.3%), but higher than at the same time last year (60.9%). Across Perth, 26 homes were taken to auction this week. So far, 13 results have been reported and the preliminary clearance rate for the city is 23.1%, slightly higher than last week’s clearance rate of 22.2%, but significantly lower when compared to last year (44.4 %).
This week, 30 Canberra auctions were held with a preliminary clearance rate of 69.2%.
Across Tasmania, just four results were reported to CoreLogic RP Data, with 3 of these properties sold.
<a href="/images/2015/07/13/rp_weekly.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/13/rp_weekly.jpg" alt="" width="736" height="319">
<a href="/images/2015/07/13/rpcity.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/07/13/rpcity.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Third week of easing national auction clearances: CoreLogic RP Data

<html><body>
Bongalabi, the 476 hectare Lake Bathurst farm, has been listed for sale.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.domainrural.com.au/listings/details/128476" target="_blank">It has an adjusted $3.2 million asking price</a> through Doug and Ellie Merriman at Ray White Bungendore having had previously $3.55 million hopes.
The Southern Tablelands trophy home is markeed as having "genuine heritage and providence."
The mansion, located on Braidwood Road some 80 kilometres north of Canberra, has eight bedrooms and four bathrooms. 
It was built for the Badgery family, who left the property in 1904.
The property has had five owners - and several different names including Font Hill and St Clair.
Stud cattle breeders Peter and Margie Mullins are the current vendors.
</body></html>

Bongalabi, Southern Tablelands trophy farm

<html><body>
Melbourne house prices are tipped to fall 9%, while Sydney prices will climb further and then hold their value, analysis for an unpublished paper under review for the Economic Record has found.
It covers price forecasts for freestanding houses. 
Sydney prices would "continue to rise till the end of 2015 then start plateauing with no anticipated sharp falls".
But Melbourne prices could begin falling almost immediately, falling 9.2% in the year ahead, while Brisbane's prices will fall 8.1% and Perth's 5.2%, according to the analysis.
Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra will continue to climb slowly.
<div>The research by Abbas Valadkhani of Swinburne University, Ronald Ratti from the University of Western Sydney and Greg Costello from Curtin University looked at monthly house price data back to 1995.</div>
<div> </div>
<div id="adspot-300x250-pos3">"This doesn't predict every see-saw movement," Dr Valadkhani told Fairfax Media's economics editor Peter Martin.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"It only predicts the general direction of prices. If it could predict exact movements we would be multimillionaires and wouldn't need to work in academia. The actual prices could be a little bit above or a little bit below the trend we are predicting."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The authors believe their model is the first to be updatable each month, possibly providing advance notice of turning points.</div>
Asked by Peter Martin why Sydney house prices would keep climbing and then plateau while Melbourne prices fell, Dr Valadkhani said the model didn't give reasons. However, its predictions were consistent with  continuing shortages and oversupply.
</body></html>

Melbourne house prices set to fall during 2015?: academic research

<html><body>
The REIV reported Melbourne's clearance rate as 77% - steady with the 77% last weekend and higher than 69% the same weekend last year.
There were 507 auctions reported to the REIV this weekend, with the number of auctions increasing over the next fortnight to 750 auctions in each of the next two weekends, Enzo Raimondo, the REIV chief advised.
The REIV was expecting about 630 auctions in 225 suburbs on the weekend. The top auction locations were Richmond (13 auctions), Reservoir (11 auctions) and St Kilda (10 auctions).
Houses were again stronger than units.
Total Auctions Houses: 315
Clearance Rate: 82%
Median Price: $700,000
Total Value: $193,501,280
Total Auctions Flats/Apartments: 176
Clearance Rate: 72%
Median Price: $580,000
Total Value: $74,453,100
Source REIV 
Weekend reported prices ranged from $235,000 at Kingsville to <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/20-carrington-street-balwyn-north/Property-Details-sold-residential-9039984" target="_blank">$2,051,000 at Balwyn North</a>.
TOP 5 HOUSES  1. 20 Carrington Street, Balwyn North $2,051,000 2. 24 Kawarren Street, Balwyn North $1,815,000 3. 21 Fraser Street, Glen Waverley $1,680,000 4. 77 Heath Street, Port Melbourne $1,640,000 5. 15 Afton Street, Aberfeldie $1,600,000 
TOP 5 BARGAIN HOUSES 1. 12 Odessa Court, Werribee $288,000 2. 60 Meadow Glen Drive, Epping $365,000 3. 24 Peppercorn Parade, Epping $371,500 4. 54 Woods Street, Beaconsfield $375,000 5. 16 Helpmann Crescent, Epping $376,000
 TOP 5 APARTMENTS  1. 20 Anderson Street, South Melbourne $1,675,000 2. 10/6 Wellington Crescent, East Melbourne $1,380,000 3. 2 Toronto Avenue, Doncaster $1,288,000 4. 15 Parkers Road, Parkdale $1,181,000 5. 9 Norma Barnett Lane, Port Melbourne $1,180,000 
TOP 5 BARGAIN APARTMENTS 1. 4/73 Kingsville Street, Kingsville $235,000 2. 3/81 Hammond Road, Dandenong $289,000 3. 12/35 Glen Huntly Road, Elwood $290,000 4. 6/25A Arthur Street, Coburg North $302,500 5. 2/24 Highland Street, Kingsbury $307,500
 
There were close to 8,100 auction sales in the three months to June 2015 compared to 7,600 for the same period last year. 
The middle ring suburbs to the south east of Melbourne recorded the highest number of auction sales - 1,218 sales from 1,408 auctions held. 
This was followed by suburbs in Melbourne’s inner and middle north regions with 950 and 760 auction sales respectively.
</body></html>

Auction success higher for houses than apartments: REIV

<html><body>
Lendlease's Barangaroo South has welcomed the precinct’s first retailer, Toby’s Estate in the precinct known once as the Hungry Mile.
Lendlease managing director of Barangaroo South, Andrew Wilson said more than 8.5 million construction hours had transformed the former container wharf into the makings of Sydney’s newest financial services hub and foodie destination.
“What has been achieved at Barangaroo South since the first sod was turned in October 2011 is extraordinary.
Its International Towers Sydney (ITS) will have over 23,000 office workers.
Toby’s Estate is the first of up to 90 retailers on site and is well positioned in the lobby of Tower Two.
In addition, the Barangaroo South foreshore has reopened for public access. The Hungry Mile was the name waterside workers gave to Darling Harbour East in the Depression.
The final fitout for Westpac Group, the anchor tenant of Tower Two, will continue throughout July in anticipation of the first employees joining the precinct from next month.
</body></html>

Hungry Mile turns to Toby's Estate in Barangaroo South tower

<html><body>
Sydney's July 11 weekend auction clearance rate was down to a year low of 80%. It represented the biggest of recent gentle declines amid five of six recent weekends of falling clearance rates.  
Sydney previously recorded an initial clearance rate of 83.3% (revised to 80.6%) and 72.7% recorded over same weekend last year.
The near 600 offerings was a record July volume.
The most popular suburb for auctions in Sydney was Maroubra with 11 followed by Blacktown with eight. There were seven auctions scheduled for Marrickville, Baulkham Hills, Wahroonga, Liverpool and Chester Hill.
Sydney’s south hosted the most number of auctions with 94 scheduled followed by the west with 76, the inner west and the city and east each with 71, the upper north shore 67, the south west 60, Canterbury Bankstown 47, the lower north 38, the northern beaches 33, the north west 31, and the central coast 17.
While Sydney auction clearance rate down to year low 80%, Dr Andrew Wilson at APM noted was Melbourne solid at 79.2%.
With less volume, some 560 auctions in Melbourne on Saturday, Melbourne's preliminary clearance rate of 79.2 per cent on Saturday, higher than the 78.7 per cent of the week before. The Melbourne numbers were just below the 548 auctioned last weekend, but ahead of the 478 auctioned over the same weekend last year.  Reservoir hosted the most number of auctions in Melbourne on Saturday with 14 followed by Richmond 13, Port Melbourne, Glen Waverley and St Kilda each with nine. 
The last weekend of July sees more than 700 homes scheduled for auction in Sydney.
Sydney will struggle with these high numbers to maintain the high clearance rates achieved earlier in the year, Dr Wilson forecasts.
"The preliminary clearance rate for the city was 80 per cent, which, while high in most markets, was the lowest rate of 2015 for a weekend not affected by holidays," he said.
"The reduced clearance rate is another early sign, along with the the surprise drop in home loans recorded in May, which point to a market that is passing the peak of house price inflation," he told Fairfax Media.
Sydney's top sale was $4.45 million for a 1319 square metre Chiswick property, with perched views over Five Dock Bay where its original cottage - three bedrooms plus sunroom - will be replaced with a new home. 
Lochlan Grahame of Cobden &amp; Hayson <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/52-burns-crescent-chiswick-nsw-2046-2012048897?topspot=1" target="_blank">had nine registered bidders</a>.
A four-bedroom apartment atop the Portofino building in Bay Road, Sandringham sold for $3.3 million through Biggin &amp; Scott Brighton, as Melbourne's highest weekend sale.
Brisbane's top $1.7 million sale at Cleveland was an offering on its second auction marketing campaign. It had $1,890,000 plus private treaty hopes since last November's unsuccessful auction.
In Canberra the top sale was a 1975 built family home on a 1417-square-metre block in Beaumont Close, Chapman, 12 kilometres from the city, sold for $1.01 million through Deborah Blaine at Peter Blackshaw Woden and Weston Creek. It had been listed with $875,000 plus hopes. 
<div> </div>
<div>
<table style="width: 605px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"><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">52 Burns Cr, Chiswick NSW 2046, 3 br House, Cobden &amp; Hayson Drummoyne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0">$4,450,000</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">31/49-51 Bay Rd, Sandringham VIC 3191, 4 br Unit, Biggin &amp; Scott Brighton</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_1">$3,300,000</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">69 Avenue Rd, Highgate SA 5063, 4 br House, LJH Kensington | Unley</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_2">$1,230,000</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">16 Raby Bay Bvd, Cleveland QLD 4163, 4 br House, LJH Cleveland</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_3">$1,700,000</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">14 Beaumont Cl, Chapman ACT 2611, 4 br House, Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Woden &amp;</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_4">$1,010,000</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">4/11-17 Davidson St, Greenacre NSW 2190, 3 br Unit, Town and Country</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_0">$425,000</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">6-7 Raymond St, Melton South VIC 3338, 2 br House, Raine &amp; Horne Melton</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_1">$163,000</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">64 Overland Rd, Croydon Park SA 5008, 2 br House, RW Flinders Park</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_2">$373,000</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 Woodview St, Browns Plains QLD 4118, 3 br House, RealWay Property Consultants Metro</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_3">$332,000</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">14/89 Britten-Jones Dr, Holt ACT 2615, 3 br Townhouse, Luton Properties - Gungahlin</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_4">$380,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source APM
 
{mijopolls 120}
 
</div>
</body></html>

Melbourne likely to take strongest auction mantle as Sydney's 80% at year low

<html><body>
Wanda Ridong (Gold Coast) Development today welcomed Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to the Jewel development site on the Surfers Paradise beach front.
Mr Abbott’s visit to the site of <a href="/expert-insights/buying/construction-begins-at-gold-coasts-wanda-ridong-jewel">the $970 million development</a>, backed by China’s largest property developer, comes just weeks after the two nations signed a Free Trade Agreement.
Wanda Ridong managing director, Weimin Xu, said the Prime Minister’s visit was an indication of the significance of the Jewel project to the Queensland and Australian economies.
 
<img src="/images/2015/07/10/700_abbot2.jpg" alt="">
“We’ve said from the start that Jewel is a $1 billion vote of confidence in the Gold Coast, Queensland and Australian economies,” Mr Xu said.
“We were honoured to have the Australian Prime Minister come to our site and gain an insight into how the project will take shape over the next three years.
When completed in the first half of 2018, Jewel will be Australia’s largest beachfront hotel and residential complex, the Gold Coast’s first absolute beachfront location in 30 years. 
Last year Mr Wang, the Wanda China's chief, gifted Prime Minister Tony Abbott with an authentic Auratic china tea set and some Tong Quing Hao tea which is now in use at the Lodge in Canberra. 
Register interest at <a href="https://sasgroup.net.au/index.php?option=com_acymailing&amp;no_html=1&amp;ctrl=url&amp;urlid=120&amp;mailid=548&amp;subid=8737&amp;Itemid=201">www.jewelgc.com</a>
</body></html>

Surfers Paradise crystal inspired Jewel project gets Tony Abbott visit

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

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.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

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

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News