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The Newport home of Monique Ryan-Musacchio — the stylish founder of homewares wholesaler Coastal Drift — sold on Saturday having been listed with a $2,495,000 price guide.
The final sale price was not made public.
The single-storey house, at 8 Goodwin Road, is 800 metres from the beach.
It feature four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a fireplace, a private courtyard with a pizza oven, a single car garage, and lush landscaped gardens.
Unbroken ocean views are also afforded from the 796 square metre block. 
Built in 1950, the home was renovated after its 2015 purchase at $1.85 million.
Newport's median house price is $1.7 million.
A 7 bedroom home, at 92-94 Prince Alfred Parade, is the suburb's most expensive residential property, having sold in 2008 for 14.6 million.
Adrian Venturi and Rowena Woodworth, from McGrath Avalon, listed the Goodwin Road property.
 
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Newport home of Coastal Drift founder Monique Ryan-Musacchio sells at auction

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There could be 20,000 first home buyers in 2020 who buy their property with a deposit of as little as 5% under the new Federal Government home loan deposit guarantee scheme.
The number of applicants across Australia will be capped at 10,000 every financial year, but as the initiative begins on January 1, there will be the double opportunity during 2020.
The 10,000 opportunities that allow low-and middle-income earners to participate on a first come basis from January 1 and then from July 1.
Even with 20,000 likely participants in 2020, it is likely some 80,000 first home buyers will need to find their own regular borrowing arrangements.
Sydney first-home buyers wanting to buy next year using the federal government's new home loan deposit scheme will need to buy properties costing less than $700,000.
The price cap will also apply to the large NSW regional centres with a population of 250,000 plus, namely Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Illawarra around Wollongong.
Buyers in the rest of the state can spend up to $450,000 to be eligible to buy under the scheme.
The Sydney house median sits at $900,000 and for units it is $710,000 according to CoreLogic.
It is $600,000 for Melbourne buyers, $500,000 in the ACT and $475,000 for Brisbane buyers.
The scheme to be known officially as the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS) will apply to owner-occupied loans on a principal and interest basis.  
Many first-home buyers are already setting their hopes based on the already available stamp duty tax incentives and available grants, which is centred around a $650,000 purchase.
To be eligible for the (FHLDS) the contract of sale must be dated after 1 January 2020.
It removes the cost of lenders mortgage insurance for FHBs with an annual income of up to $125,000 or couples with a combined $200,000 per year who haven't saved the standard 20% deposit.
There are to be no more than two borrowers on any loan and where there are they must be the spouse or de facto partner of the other borrower.
Off the plan purchases can be made under the scheme.
If the loan relates to the purchase of vacant land, it must also relate to the construction of a dwelling.
The scheme will only apply to Australian citizens.
The loan-to-value ratio will be be between 80 and 95% for loans not more than 30 years.
Repayments will be required for the principal of the loan for the full period except for construction loans where the loan agreement may permit interest-only repayments.
Any building contract requires construction commencement within 26 weeks of the settlement date and the issuance of an occupancy certificate within 15 months.
Treasurer John Frydenberg and Housing Minister Michael Sukkar have been credited with getting the balance right in recognising the variations in markets around the country, between metropolitan and regional areas.
It is however likely more loans will be for apartments than houses.
The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC), who will be responsible for implementing the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, is currently seeking lenders.
No more than two of the major banks will participate along with smaller lenders set to join the lending panel two months after its initial commencement. 
The government guarantees cease once the outstanding loan is at 80% or less.
The information now available should help the first home buyers to start making plans.
This article was first published in the Saturday Telegraph.
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20,000 FHBs set to take up the low deposit scheme in 2020

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The golden age of banks controlling the home loan market seems to be ending, with active home borrowers set to be the main beneficiaries.
The market share of the big four banks continues to fall.
According to research from UBS analyst Jonathan Mott mortgage origination via the big four’s branch networks has fallen from a peak of 48% in 2013 to presently around 37%.
ANZ’s branch network experienced the sharpest reduction.  
As a result of the shift, the major banks’ share of new home loans has dropped from 78% to 71% over the past six years.
Mott noted the majors still have 79% share of all outstanding mortgage credit outstanding, but that new lending competition was intensifying as customers migrate away from the major banks.
Reputational damage post the banking royal commission accelerated the trend along with repeated times of not fully passing through RBA rate cuts to its annoyed variable rate customers.
The Hoff, actor David Hasselhoff, was the unlikely influencer that helped turbo-boost the ANZ Bank's recent home loan activity.
The ANZ saw a 30% plus bounce in the home loan applications accompanying the recent two month campaign featuring the 1980s star of Knight Rider and Baywatch.
The cheesy ANZ advertising campaign also promised 300,000 bonus Qantas Points for a loan of $300,000 or more, which could comfortably take a family of four to Fiji return or a couple to New York.
The marketing campaign slogan was "a home loan offer so good you don't need a celebrity".
The two month campaign was perfectly time to capture the spurt in buying interest around the time of the May election.
The multi-media ANZ campaign ran from July until late August, attracting some 1.7 million views on YouTube.
There was certainly some negative social media suggesting The Hoff was a "has been". 
The Hoff, who proposed to his wife, Hayley Roberts at the top of the Harbour Bridge climb in 2012, was back in Sydney for just a day to do the filming earlier this year.
Helping turn the tide on its falling home loan applicants, the ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott credited the campaign.
He noted the Hoff campaign had blown through its volume targets "every single day".
“We think it’s a signal to the market we’re back — to the broker market, in particular, but also to our branches," he said.
Elliott also noted the increased volume came through "operational" improvements and an improved property market.
Before the campaign began, APRA statistics showed ANZ had 15% of the owner occupier home loan market, well behind the Commonwealth Bank's 26% and Westpac with 21%.
"Average (application) levels in the second half were more than 30% higher than the first half," the chief financial officer Michelle Jablko said.
Elliott conceded earlier this year the bank had become too conservative assessing home loan applications.
Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer advised this week that he expects lending to be “relatively flat” over the 2020 year.
Westpac highlighted that the group’s credit quality “remains sound”.
“Nevertheless, we have seen a small rise in 90 day mortgage delinquencies over the year, in part due to low wage growth and slowing economic activity.
"70% of our Australian home loan customers are ahead on their repayments including offset accounts,” he added.
Hartzer said the economy would continue to feel the squeeze throughout 2020 as the residential construction cycle headed towards a low.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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Golden age for big four home loan dominance ending

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The bullied Cairns couple Tess and Luke Struber took home the grand prize as the winners of The Block 2019 after 14 weeks of stressful renovation.

Channel Nine manipulated the reserves which were set at $2.990 million for all of the five three-storey terraces, although the terraces at either end were expected to have the higher longterm value.

The official price guide required by Victorian Government legislation had been $3 million to $3.3 million.

Buyers’ advocate Frank Valentic described them as "very, very comfortable reserves."

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Experienced renovators, Mitch &amp; Mark saw the hammer come down at $3.374 million, which was $384,000 over reserve.

It sold to seasoned Block bidder, Danny Wallis, who previously purchased 403 Dorcas St in South Melbourne on the fifth season of The Block for $1,400,001.01.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=582]

The next auction was the newlyweds Tess &amp; Luke who secured $3.620 million, some $630,000 over reserve.

Barrister Rick Horsley, SC, was the buyer of the Tess and Luke’s terrace at 38B Gray Street. He had bid unsuccessfully last year.

“The first time I walked into this one, I hated it,” Mr Horsley told Nine Entertainment after the auction.

Perth parents El’ise &amp; Matt got $3.450 million, which was $460,000 over their reserve, and the runners-up.

It sold to expatriates who plan on leasing the property out while they remain overseas.

Andy &amp; Deb sold their house for $3.420 million, $430,000 over reserve.

The latest auction was real estate agent Jesse and girlfriend Mel who secured $388,000 over the reserve when their house sold for $3.378 million.

Buyers’ advocate Greville Pabst bought Jesse and Mel’s house on behalf of a Melbourne professional couple.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2807]

Highlighting the limited buyer pool, Pabst also bidding on behalf of Aconex co-founder Rob Phillpot, for whom he bought both penthouses last year, but the tech entrepreneur did not win any of the auctions on Saturday.

Valentic's buyer of Andy and Deb’s house were underbidders in the Gatwick last year. 

Valentic bid on all five properties for a number of investors.

They are a Caulfield North family.

The buyers’ advocate Nicole Jacobs did not have any clients purchase any of the Oslo terraces. 
  
Tess and Luke took home an extra $100,000, delivering them $730,000 in winnings. 

Hocking Stuart Albert Park agent auctioneer David Wood sold Tess and Luke’s home at 38B Grey Street. 

Wood also sold the winning home in the 2017 season.

He said the acoustic separation and self-contained flat at the back of the home secured the victory for 38B.

Host Scott Cam, along with Shelley Craft, are back for the program's 16th series in Brighton in 2020. 
  
The latest winnings taking total prizemoney across 15 seasons to $23.1 million.

Tess and Luke, the team who couldn’t bear to watch The Block because they’d been so bullied by producers, once said they wished they’d never gone on.

“Tell you what, they love The Block now," host Scott Cam, said after the result, showing he still couldn't help himself. 

Meanwhile the finale ratings fell yet again with 1.924m tuning in.

Last year’s (time-adjusted figures) had 2.021m tuning in while the year prior had 2.462m.

PREVIOUS BLOCK WINNERS 2003 - BONDI – Adam &amp; Fiona, $256,000 2004 - MANLY – Jamie &amp; Andrew, $178,000 2010 - VAUCLUSE – John &amp; Neisha, $305,000 2011 - RICHMOND – Polly &amp; Waz, $115,000 2012 - SOUTH MELBOURNE – Brad &amp; Lara, $606,000 2013 - ALL STARS (BONDI) – Phil &amp; Amity, $395,000 2013 - SKY HIGH (SOUTH MELBOURNE) – Alisa &amp; Lysandra, $395,000 2014 - FANS v FAVES (ALBERT PARK) – Steve &amp; Chantelle, $736,000 2014 - GLASSHOUSE (PRAHRAN) – Shannon &amp; Simon, $435,000 2015 - TRIPLE THREAT (SOUTH YARRA) – Darren &amp; Deanne, $935,000 2015 - THE BLOCKTAGON (SOUTH YARRA) – Dean &amp; Shay, $755,000 2016 - THE BLOCK 2016 (PORT MELBOURNE) – Will &amp; Karlie, $815,000 2017 – THE BLOCK 2017 (ELSTERNWICK) – Josh &amp; Elyse, $547,000 2018 - THE BLOCK GATWICK (ST KILDA) – Hayden &amp; Sara, $645,000
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Rick Horsley SC spends $3.62 million to buy Tess and Luke's The Block Oslo terrace

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Dubbed the “rate cut whisperer­” for his foresight in tipping RBA moves, Westpac chief economist Bill Evans says there will be no Melbourne Cup Day rate cut.
Despite the downbeat economic climate, Evans says the Reserve Bank of Australia will sit on their hands tomorrow.
“There is little chance that the board will decide to cut the cash rate,” Evans (below) advised­ Westpac clients.
While few economists think there is any probability of a November move, Evans said he was “surprised” that the market pricing for a February cut had recently tumbled.
His next forecast rate cut — the fourth since June — is for the February 2020 meeting, when Evans fears the unemployment rate will be trending away from the central bank’s full employment target.
He said the RBA was “mindful” of the recent movement in the Westpac Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index.
The index suggests that, following the consecutive rate cuts in June/July, there had been an ­apparent “spooking” of retail consumers.
While most economists had stridently tipped interest rates to be on hold during 2019, Evans was the first of the big bank economists to break from the pack in ­seeing the need for rate cuts.
Evans has maintained for several months that “there is ample evidence” that the economy is weak.
“But this is not a ­recession with the associated extreme pain for households, businesses and institutions, as experienced in the early 1990s, and 1974 and 1982-83 before that,” he said.
“Fiscal policy has considerable scope to act quickly if the recession signals strengthen; there will be a Budget surplus in 2019-20 and debt-to-GDP ratio at the federal level is low.”
Evans, who joined Westpac as the chief economist in 1991, had previously worked in the RBA’s research ­department.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s weekend auction clearance rate dipped to 79 per cent — the first time below 80 per cent since late September.
There were 672 auctions with 510 results captured and 404 properties sold.
Agents say there have been few signs of obvious hesitancy in the market where 16,000 properties have changed hands since spring began.
“Sydney has been the strongest capital city over the past quarter,” realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida ­Conisbee noted, tipping that “the supply-demand imbalance is reflective of an early cycle that will lead to strong price rises in premium suburbs”.
Last month Conisbee said: “The current correction looks like it is coming to an end. Nervousness about access to finance was the main factor driving a complete shift in sentiment towards ­housing.”
This article was first published in the Daily Telegraph.
 
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Bill Evans, the rates ‘whisperer’ says the best bet is no RBA Cup Day cut

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An apartment block in Woollahra has been sold for $7.2 million.
Set on a level 695 square metre block, 3 Trelawney Street comprises of five units.
It included a three and a half-bedroom townhouse, two three-bedroom units, and two one-bedroom units.
The two-storey complex was left to St Luke’s Care and The Garvan Research Foundation in the will of the late owner, Martha Danos.
The property was built in 1948.
The median sale price of individual units in Woollahra is $1.19 million, with a median rental yield of of $700 per week.
Bob Guth, from BradfieldCleary, sold the property.
Earlier this week $14.66 million was paid for two Edgecliff Road apartment blocks.
They had a total of 24 x 1 bedroom units with 12 in each building offering a total NSA: 1,291 sqm internal area.
The total land area was 1,100 sqm.
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Trelawney Street, Woollahra apartment block sold for $7.2 million

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Risland Australia has been successful in its case before the NSW Supreme Court against Bradcorp, after Risland elected not to exercise its option in 2018 to acquire land at North Wilton in South-West Sydney.
Bradcorp took Risland to court.
Bradcorp challenged Risland’s decision that Bradcorp had failed to satisfy a range of conditions precedent to enable the land to be developed.  
The Supreme Court dismissed Bradcorp’s claim, which was taken against Risland, the Chinese backed developer then known as Country Garden.
Bradcorp had owned the land since 1999.
 It is located about 80 kilometres south west of the Sydney CBD.
The court found Bradcorp had failed to satisfy all of the conditions necessary to exercise the option, and that Bradcorp otherwise repudiated the option deed by its own conduct.  
The court case came down to a legal debate on the required time and date, and whether a post 5pm COB advisory was within the required time.
The court even heard legal precedent on birth dates, age, and fractions of the day.
Counsel for Bradcorp claimed one notification was received after 5.00 pm on the required day, so they viewed it as received on the following business day. 
But the Supreme Court judge ruled the cancellation was effective on the required day, 30 November 2018.
Bradcorp will be required to pay damages to Risland which, together with costs and interest charges, is likely to exceed $30 million.
“We are disappointed that Bradcorp was unable to present the land in a way which would have enabled it to be developed in accordance with the required approvals and our vision," a Risland spokesperson said.
“We remain very interested in investing and developing areas around Australia, including the Wilton region”, he concluded.
The proceedings concerned an 870 hectare parcel, currently rural, but is to be developed as part of the expansion of Wilton into a large satellite town.
It was in February 2017 that Bradcorp entered into put and call option agreements over the land with Country Garden.
The aggregate purchase price under the option agreements was $297 million.
Bradcorp purported to exercise the put option early in December 2018, but CG refused to execute the contract of sale, on the ground that conditions precedent to the exercise of the put option had not been satisfied.
Bradcorp claimed damages.
Call option fees of $29.7 million had been paid by CG, and in accordance with the option agreements, $9 million had been released to Bradcorp.
The remaining $20.7 million was held by HWL Ebsworth, the solicitors for Bradcorp on the transaction.
There was a dispute over three conditions including the requirement that the land be rezoned so that at least 5,350 residential lots could be produced by subdivision.
The land was rezoned in November 2018 however there was an issue between the parties on whether the rezoning satisfied the minimum lot requirement.
The second condition concerned an existing mining lease which extended under the land. The condition required that certain rights under the lease be surrendered.
It happened, but the steps to make it happen only took place at the last minute with the dispute on whether it happened in the required time.
Bradcorp had negotiated an agreement with Endeavour to surrender its rights in exchange for payment of $40 million, the court heard.
The third condition concerned access to the property from the Hume Motorway with the parties in dispute also about whether this condition was satisfied.
Bradcorp has issued a press release advising it intends to appeal the judgement.
 
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Risland in win over Bradcorp over abandoned $297 million North Wilton sale

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Chateau Le Marais, a grand European manor set on a private island off Forster on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, was pulled from weekend auction.
The five bedroom French chateau-inspired mansion was built on the 104 hectare Wallis Island by stone masons from Australia and France.
The island is only accessible by boat or air. It features its own helipad, but with a limit of just three flights in and out every month.
Its French influence is evident throughout, with 18th century French chimneys, imported parquet floors that mimic the Palace of Versailles and chandeliers in every room.
The near 1,000 square metre mansion remains listed through Ray White Narrabeen agent Mark Clarke who senses the buyer interest was around $5 million.
There were three parties who weren't quite ready to proceed to bid at auction, Clarke said.
Chateau Le Marais is the island getaway of Adam Dai, who works in the construction industry. He recently undertook a multi-million dollar renovation.
Set some 300 kilometres north of Sydney, the island comes with a 1.5 kilometre beach as well as an orchard with established fruit trees and botanical gardens.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
 
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Chateau Le Marais on private Wallis Island near Forster pulled from auction

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First-home buyers wanting to buy next year using the federal government's new home loan deposit scheme will be limited to properties sold for less than $700,000 in Sydney and $600,000 in Melbourne.
First home buyers in Queensland will be able to purchase properties in Brisbane up to $475,000 in value.
The scheme to be known as the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme will apply to owner-occupied loans on a principal and interest basis. 
Property price caps under the scheme set appropriate price thresholds in capital cities, large regional centres with a population over 250,000 and regional areas.
The capital city price caps will also apply to large regional centres with a population in excess of 250,000, namely the Gold Coast, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, the Sunshine Coast, Illawarra (Wollongong) and Geelong.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">
State/territory
</th>
<th scope="col">
Capital city and regional centres
</th>
<th scope="col">
Rest of state
</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
NSW
</td>
<td>
$700,000
</td>
<td>
$450,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
VIC
</td>
<td>
$600,000
</td>
<td>
$375,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
QLD
</td>
<td>
$475,000
</td>
<td>
$400,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
WA
</td>
<td>
$400,000
</td>
<td>
$300,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
SA
</td>
<td>
$400,000
</td>
<td>
$250,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
TAS
</td>
<td>
$400,000
</td>
<td>
$300,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
ACT
</td>
<td>
$500,000
</td>
<td>
-
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
NT
</td>
<td>
$375,000
</td>
<td>
-
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Under the draft rules, the scheme will allow low-and middle-income earners to buy property with a deposit of as little as 5 per cent.
Treasurer John Frydenberg and Housing Minister Michael Sukkar released the government's draft Investment Mandate for the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme.
It revealed the "appropriate price thresholds" for properties depending on city and region around Australia.
The threshold is well below the median house price for capital cities.
The number of applicants will be capped at 10,000 each year.
The initiative begins on January 1, 2020.
It removes the cost of lenders mortgage insurance for FHBs with an annual income of up to $125,000 or couples with a combined $200,000 per year who haven't saved the standard 20 per cent deposit typically required by banks.
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How to buy your first home with 5 percent deposit

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There were very few Chinese property buyers flying out of Sydney after the recent Golden Week.
It is the annual early October period when Chinese tourists, taking advantage of their national holiday, have often departed Sydney with an investment property.
Agents advise there aren't as many Chinese apartment buyers, and those interested don't have the same buyer intensity they once did. There is also the desire for privacy which appears to becoming a paramount concern.
Prior years saw Australia's top agents pull out all stops with their welcoming red carpet. Chauffeurs in Bentleys were at the airports to then tempt the Chinese holidaymakers to make a residential investment purchase, sometimes even then throwing in apartment site inspections by helicopter.
For a few years now, data from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has shown a reduction in investment.
There have been changing push and pull factors over recent years. Consecutive federal governments headed by Kevin Rudd, through to Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have obliquely or expressly sought to dampen Chinese investment to allow locals to have a shot at buying.
In 2010, the Assistant Treasurer Senator Nick Sherry announced a hotline for members of the public to report suspicious property buyers, amid measures to ensure foreigners did not put "pressure on housing availability for Australians".
The former Treasurer Joe Hockey ratcheted up the issue when he suggested one of his Hunters Hill neighbours be investigated by the FIRB after he became suspicious of the circumstances surrounding a purchase.
The sentiment of successive governments had been accompanied by a string of new and higher fees for foreigners.
The past few years have also seen significant policy changes in China, including tighter capital controls, such as limiting the outflow of foreign currency.
All these changes are likely to prevent foreign buyer activity rebounding anytime soon to its previous peak.
But it is significant that buyer website search activity from Hong Kong on realestate.com.au has been rocketing over the past six months.
Due to unfolding political unrest in Hong Kong, buyer search interest sits at its highest level ever recorded on the site, REA Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee has noted.
But while searches from Hong Kong are up, the same cannot be said for China.
Over the past 12 months it has dropped by over half.
Conisbee suggests factors at play include there being fewer Chinese developers being active in Australia.
She says there was also "a general negative sentiment towards Australian property".
The current Hong Kong turmoil reminds many of the heightened purchasing interest in Sydney property in the lead up to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, when the United Kingdom ended administration of the colony.
For several years after 1997, the property market in Hong Kong did fall sharply, in part because of the unease about China's political grip on its regained territory. 
But the 2020 econo­mics of migrating and investing in Sydney, or the cheaper capital cities like Melbourne, makes sense to many in Hong Kong and China who are looking for a more affordable place to live.
Earlier this year, the Econo­mist Intelligence Unit ranked Hong Kong as the equal most-­expensive city in the world.
And a modest two bedroom apartment in China with no car park costs at least $1 million in most places in Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Shenzhen, according to Michael Yang at the GiFang website.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.  
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Potential property buyer numbers from Hong Kong soar

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Jonathan Chancellor

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