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The owners of four adjacent buildings in Potts Point have now joined forces to market a large 2170 sq m residential apartment project site on Macleay Street.
Two apartment buildings at 91-93 Macleay Street (above) and another at 10-12 Hughes Street were originally rushed to market in June.
But now the owners of the two smaller adjacent buildings, also on Macleay Street, have added their holdings to the amalgamated offering.
The buildings are in a mixed-use zone but there is no DA approval.
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The initial disjointed offering was when the owners of the 43 apartments in the Nati Stolliar-built Axus and Reigate, on Hughes St, and its seven retail spaces in the two blocks had listed their properties as a combined site spanning 1242 square metres.
The two substantial holdings are at 91-93 Macleay Street and 10-12 Hughes Street. The latest additions to the site are the former Opium Den restaurant and the Blue Parrot backpacker premises.
There was no public initial price guide for the combined block, but JLL cited Double Bay sales of $45 million and $55 million.
Domain now advises it's a $100 million plus offering, as a supporting local agent R&amp;W comes onboard.
The proposal has been driven by the AXUS body corporate who always sought including all four of its neighbouring properties.
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The AXUS building land area is 940 sqm.
Under current planning controls, AXUS has a maximum allowable GFA of 4689 sqm.
An amalgamated site of all five potential properties has a maximum allowable GFA in excess of 9200 sqm, Brent Heatley from the strata manager, SRC has suggested.
Concept plans created by an unknown leading architectural firm comprises 91 apartments (1, 2 &amp; 3br), ground floor commercial/retail areas, plus two level basement parking for 100 vehicles.
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Given the idea was germinated four years ago, Heatley has advised plans were well advanced in the legal process of renewing the AXUS strata plan, to consolidate the building’s 41 residential and commercial lots into a single market-ready entity.
The Macleay and Hughes Street corner holding, the former La Strada Restaurant premises, and now Spitroast, is not part of the offering, but is set to be listed separately shortly. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

$100 million plus Macleay Street, Potts Point shop top residential site consolidation put to market

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Mortgage debt obligations for older Australians is a growing concern. 
The average mortgage debt of those aged 55 and older has grown by almost seven times since the late 1980s, according to research by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).
Their mortgage debt, after accounting for inflation, rose from $27,000 in 1987 to $186,000 to 2015.
Back in 1987, only 14% of Australians over 55 had a mortgage.
But it doubled to 28% by 2015, AHURI found.
There has been a severe increase in repayment risk, although low interest rates have mitigated the level of current concern.
The mortgagor older population is more prone to material deprivation than outright property owners.
Nearly 8% of older mortgagors have been unable to pay their utility bills on time between 2006 and 2016, compared to around 3% of outright owners.
The blow-out has been made worse by the practice of redrawing equity on their home loans and also extending the length of their home loans.
Between 1987 and 2015, the growth in mortgage debt outstripped both house price and income growth among older mortgagors.
With reduced incomes approaching and on retirement, the average mortgage debt-to-income ratio was 71% in 1987, and 211% by 2015.
The research by found mortgage indebtedness was uncommon among the 55–64 cohort as recently as the 1990s.
The report's lead author, Rachel ViforJ, professor of economics at Curtin University, says these days the mental health effects on the older Australians with mortgages are "comparable to those resulting from long-term health conditions".
The Curtin and RMIT research concluded when older mortgagors experience difficulty in meeting mortgage payments their wellbeing declines. It's more so for women than men. Single status, marital breakdown, ill health and poor labour market engagement all adversely affect women’s mental health more than men.
"There is already significant concern in policy circles about older people’s vulnerability to poverty, particularly single elderly women, who have longer life expectancies than men, but lower superannuation balances," the report noted.
Older retired mortgagors are increasingly drawing down their limited superannuation balances.
As their average superannuation balances tumbled from $471,000 to $271,000 between 2010 and 2014, average equity stakes in their property rose from $621,000 to $667,000. 
The ARUHI modelling predicts an "increasingly tenure polarised seniors population".
Outright ownership will remain an important but weaker pillar supporting living standards in old age.
Outright ownership status will be attained later in life and with lower incomes.
The projections suggest that 1.88 million older Australians could be in before-housing poverty in 2031.
This count falls by 730,000 to 1.15 million on an after-housing cost basis.
The report urges long-term planning for a mortgage debt repayment strategy.
It may prove especially worthwhile for those particularly "vulnerable to biographical disruption, or with weak labour market engagement, or those with higher levels of debt throughout their life course as financial innovations enabled home owners to draw down on the wealth stored in their family home without moving".
Downsizing is, of course, one obvious strategy.
But the report warns stamp duties, pension income and the asset means tests that penalise downsizers, along with a lack of suitable smaller dwellings in the neighbourhoods of older empty nesters and lone persons households, are important issues for state and federal governments.
Home ownership has often been dubbed the fourth pillar of the retirement incomes system.
However, this pillar may be crumbling due to rising mortgage indebtedness, the report concludes.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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Mortgage debt for older Australians is a growing obligation

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There were 1,529 homes taken to weekend auction across the country, but just the one was raising funds for charity.
The Gold Coast home auction raised $986,000 with sale price at the no-reserve auction going to Mater Little Miracles, that helps more than 2000 sick babies a year.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom Hamptons-style house at 19 Laurel Drive, Helensvale (above and below), was built by Plantation Homes on the Gold Coast’s northern corridor on land donated by Villawood Properties.
The selling agents Brad Clarke and Siarne Loeve, of LJ Hooker, had 18 registered bidders at the auction where auctioneer Damien Cooley officiated.
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Cooley noted there were 332 homes that changed hands in Helensvale over the last year - almost one new family moving into the suburb every day, attracted by the train station, Westfield, great schools and parklands, all which are big features for families.
It was the eighth house sold to raise funds for Mater Little Miracles.
"The open plan living home effortlessly opens on to the alfresco and resort style pool with sun deck to celebrate the best of Queensland living," the marketing said.
The weekend saw an overall national preliminary clearance rate of 77 per cent, according to CoreLogic, which noted a small decease in offerings on the prior weekend's 1,615 homes taken to auction, with the final clearance rate came in at 70 per cent.
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Ate the same time last year, 1,916 auctions were held across the capital cities with a final clearance rate of just 55.3 per cent. 
"The final clearance rate across the combined capitals has held at or above 70 per cent for the last 3 weeks and this week is set to be no different," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.
Melbourne was host to 769 auctions, returning a preliminary clearance rate of 76.6 per cent. 
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Sydney recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 83.1 per cent across 522 auctions. The nation's top sale was in Sydney when $5,275,000 was paid pre-auction for an architecturally transformed character home in Manly with harbour views.
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The home at 80 Addison Road, Manly (below) came with a separate self-contained flat and cabana with wet bar plus a spa.
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It was set on a 544sqm block in the Eastern Hill precinct.
It last sold at $2.6 million in 2008.
There was a $4.16 million sale when 18 Tindale Road, Artarmon was auctioned through McGrath. The four bedroom 1910 home, with with pool and spa, last sold at $2.1 million in 2009.
The nation's cheapest sale was a one bedroom apartment at 10/109 Mary Street, Richmond that had been listed with a $255000 to $280000 price guidance.
It sold for $302,500.
It was a $300 a week rental in 2017.
The first floor apartment with around 36 sqm space sits in a block of 12.
A Toorak trophy home on a large corner block sold at auction for $4.7 million.
The house was offered with a price guide of $4.2 million to $4.4 million.
Fiona Counsel and Justin Long of Marshall White secured the sale of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-131719694" target="_blank">11 Kent Court</a> (below), a three bedroom, three bathroom home spread across a single level.
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Set on 613 sqm, the cul de sac listing was marketed as providing "an opportunity to move in or redevelop (STCA)."
The northerly oriented home features multiple fireplaces, landscaped gardens and a roof retreat.
Adelaide was the next strongest auction market after Sydney and Melbourne, recording a 76 percent success rate.
Canberra had a 66 percent clearance rate and Brisbane sat on 60 percent, its strongest for some time.
The top sale in Brisbane was a Queenslander in Red Hill. 
The five bedroom home at 28 Bramble Terrace sold through Belle Property at $1,675,000. It had last traded at $756,000 in 2005.
Canberra's top sale was also in its Red Hill.
The 4 Arnhem Place, Red Hill ACT three bedroom house sold through Hayman Partners at $1.4 million.
It had last sold in 2011 at $1.15 million.
It had recently been a $975 a week rental.
Perth was the weakest auction market at 43 percent.
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Mater Little Miracles auction home sells for $986,000

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The Chinese property developer at the centre of an Independent Commission Against Corruption political donations inquiry, Huang Xiangmo, has denied he's ever shopped at Aldi, let alone donated $100,000 cash to the Labor Party.
The inquiry at ICAC has heard that Huang, whose Australian resident return visa was cancelled last year, was the alleged donor of the cash delivered in an Aldi bag after a 2015 fundraising dinner.
As a developer, Mr Huang was not allowed to make political donations.
Huang was here in Australia previously heading Yuhu Group.
Speaking for the first time since the inquiry started from Hong Kong where he now resides, Mr Huang reportedly exclusively told The Australian Financial Review reporter Su-Lin Tan the donation had "absolutely nothing to do with him".
“I am not the source of the alleged donation. I do not know any of the alleged donors of the sum or any of the 'straw donors' as referred to in recent reports, nor have I ever had any contact with them," he said.
The AFR advised Huang never visited an Aldi supermarket when he was living in Australia, let alone used an Aldi bag.
"Some Australian media outlets are taking advantage of me to sensationalise the story ... while I understand the media's need to produce content, I hope it will direct its attention to pushing for reforms and get on its useful role as the fourth estate," he said.
The Australian newspaper advised a statement had been posted by a Chinese community website, Today Media in the name of Huang.
Earlier this year the exiled Chinese billionaire spoke about being banned from living in Australia because of his alleged connections to the Chinese government.
In the exclusive AFR article he told Su-Lin Tan that he demanded that $2.7 million in official donations he gave to both major political parties be returned so he can donate them to charity.
In July the paper's Su-Lin Tan reported exclusively that the Huang family had "exited its equity interests in two towers, Jewel on the Gold Coast and One Circular Quay in Sydney but will continue to complete the projects." However this has been denied by the development company.
In 2018 the AFR claimed it exclusively revealed Sydney developer Yuhu Group had acquired Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda's Sydney and Gold Coast residential and hotel mixed-used projects for $1.13 billion.
His wife Huang Jiefang recently bought one of Hong Kong’s most expensive residences, paying $HK520 million ($95 million) for a newly built house in Repulse Bay.
Mr Huang’s former Mosman abode is also held in his wife’s name since it was bought new in 2012 for $12.8 million.
 
 
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Huang Xiangmo denies ever shopping at Aldi or donating $100,000 cash to the NSW ALP

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The Agency is seeking shareholder approval to pay fees owed to its consultants, including its external PR firm, by issuing further equity in the cash-strapped publicly listed company. 
The Agency - whose backdoor listing began as the Namibian Cooper mining company from the west - seeks to pay over $700,000 in fees owed to consultants.
The proposed fees-to-equity conversion will be put to shareholders at a September 23 meeting.
It follows a $5.6 million equity raising in July along with an agreement with some creditors to convert $5.8 million in debt to new equity.
The Agency seeks approval to pay its Perth-based public relations firm Chapter One Advisors through shares, covering a near $50,000 media relations bill.
The proposal is to issue up to 769,231 shares to Assert Corporate &amp; Investor Relations Pty Ltd Trading as “Chapter One Advisors."
Chapter One Advisors managing director David Tasker, The Agency's media spokesman, told The Australian Financial Review it was "reasonably common" for suppliers to take payment through equity in the company.
He said it was a sign these suppliers wanted to back the company and ultimately believed the share price would go up in the long term.
The Agency also seeks to pay about $16,000 to consultant Robert Brierley; $65,000 to solicitor Torq Murray and $100,000 to Sydney-based corporate advisory firm Transocean Group. 
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It is proposed 11 million new shares will be issued at 6.5¢ for these consultants, just above the last closing price of 6.4¢.
The proposed fees-to-equity conversion is among 24 resolutions that will be put to shareholders to assist the agency gets through its cash-strapped expansionary phase that comes soon after its listing and rapid expansion strategy.
The issuance of new options are also proposed:
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Shares in the The Agency have fallen since peaking at 31.9¢ in September last year following a share consolidation.
The group has a market cap of just  under $8 million. 
The proposed fees-to-equity conversion is among the 24 resolutions to be put to shareholders at a general meeting on September 23.
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Yesterday The Agency reported a <a href="/news/the-agency-reports-bigger-loss-and-announces-2-8-million-cost-cutting">loss for the financial year and announced $2.8 million worth of cost cutting measures</a>.
The accounts were unaudited.
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The Agency shareholders asked to issue shares to pay $50,000 PR fees

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The cheapest auction offering across the capital cities at weekend auction was in Melbourne's West Footscray.
Buyers snapped it up the day prior at $210,000.
The sale was a spacious one bedroom apartment.
Having last sold in 2013 at $173,500, the price guidance for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/unit-18-436-geelong-rd-west-footscray-vic-3012" target="_blank">18/436 Geelong Road</a> (pictured) had been $196,000 to $215,000.
Its most recent rental had been a $220 weekly asking rental in 2017, but the selling agent Taylor Romao at Tas Stevens Real Estate had suggested it now potentially sat at around $250 a week, reflecting a six percent yield.
Melbourne's dearest sale was $4.67 million in Malvern East.
It was announced on the market at with three bidders competing for the 68 Central Park Road property after the announcement by the Jellis Craig auctioneer.
There was a sale, but no price disclosure when the retired AFL forward Jarrad Waite and his wife Jackie sold their Strathmore house.
The former North Melbourne and Carlton star was seeking $1.35 million to $1.46 million for their home of three years.
Situated at, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-strathmore-131702750">2 Head Street</a> (pictured below), it last sold in 2016 for $1.4 million.
Alexkarbon director Charles Bongiovanni was marketing the post-war home.
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Melbourne returned a preliminary auction clearance rate of 76.1 per cent on the last weekend of winter as volumes increased across the city.
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There were 769 homes taken to market across Melbourne, up on the 662 auctions held last week when a higher 77 per cent sold as at final figures.
There were 1,605 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities this week, increasing on the week prior when 1,415 homes were auctioned. 
CoreLogic reported the higher volumes saw the preliminary clearance rate soften, coming in at 73.6 per cent after the week prior returned a final auction clearance rate of 74.2 per cent; the highest since April 2017.
In Sydney, 584 homes were taken to auction returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 78.9 per cent, increasing on the 503 auctions held the week prior when it returned a final clearance rate of 78.1 per cent.
Across the smaller auction markets, Adelaide saw 62.5 per cent of homes sell at auction, making it the best performing of the smaller auction markets, 
Canberra wasn’t far behind with a preliminary clearance rate of 61.5 per cent, with a top sale of $2.25 million in Red Hill.
It was a five bedroom house at 16 Roebuck Street which Belle Property sold.
A pre-auction sale of a Woollahra trophy home topped the recorded weekend prices when Jacinta McDonell, the entrepreneurial co-founder of Anytime Fitness Australia, and her partner, Matthew Connolly, founder of Concept Projects, secured $7.35 million for their recently refurbished home.
The couple bought the home for $5.5 million.
The buyer emerged in under two weeks of marketing. It was listed with a $7 million price guidance. The couple installed a lift which Phillips Pantzer Donnelley agents David Tyrrell and Alexander Phillips suggest is was what you “would expect in a high end renovation’’.
Their renovation on View Street saw every tradie donate a percentage of their works contract to The Human Kind Project, a non-profit foundation that funds life-changing projects in Africa. 
The renovation raised more than $65,000 for the African community.
McDonnell set up the foundation in 2015.
A large top-floor one bedroom Punchbowl unit was Sydney's cheapest sale at $320,000.
The Matthew Street deceased estate was just 58 sqm space, plus an enclosed garage. 
The apartment last traded in 1976 the late factory hand paid $19,750.
One-bedroom apartments are few in Punchbowl, with less than 10 being sold in the last year, one fetching $310,000 in March.
Michael Ristevski and Simon Keremelevski of Professionals Punchbowl Real Estate secured the sale. 
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$210,000 West Footscray unit the weekend's cheapest sale

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The last auction of winter, a tightly held historic home in Warrawee, drew just the one bidder when auctioned in the drizzly twilight of Saturday. The five-bedroom Bangalla Street home, built in 1938 on its 1764sqm block, had only ever been offered once before.
It was in 1975 when Dr Charles Matthews paid $110,000 to the original owner, the late architect Eleanor Cullis-Hill.
After meeting architect husband Grandison at the University of Sydney, she designed 30 houses on upper north shore.
Her family home, Rathven was built in the 1936 Chiltons Orchard estate.
The only bid taken from the small crowd gathered on its rear sandstone terracing, overlooking the tennis court and pool, was $3.75 million. There was then a $4 million vendor bid, with Chadwick Real Estate agent William Zhang briefly continuing negotiations with a family who reside just a few doors away. The median house price is just over $3 million.
This article was first published by the Daily Telegraph.
 
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Tightly-held 1938 Rathven, Warrawee trophy home passed in on $4 million vendor bid

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A roofless three bedroom North Parramatta home, gutted by a fire, fetched $785,000 at auction at weekend auction.
The buyer of the Bourke Street had increased their bid from $780,000 to secure the 535 sqm property under the hammer.
It last traded for $597,500 in 2013.
The original 1960s owner, the Walter family were in attendance at the onsite auction.
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Ray White Parramatta agent Rowan Thredgold had said before the auction he hoped it wouldn't rain given there was no roof, but the rain stayed away.
CoreLogic had estimated its value as somewhere between $785,000 and $1.06 million, owing to its proximity to the expanding Parramatta CBD, proposed light rail station, and the newly built Bankwest Stadium. 
 
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Roofless North Parramatta house sells at $785,000

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The two level penthouse crowning one of the modern blocks on Elizabeth Bay's Billyard Avenue dress circle has been sold by fund manager Michael Hill.
The penthouse was set to go to Cooley Auction last night, but was withdrawn with auctioneer Damien Cooley advising the near empty auction room that there had been "offer and acceptance."
No sale price advisory was given on the offering which was listed with $14 million hopes by Clint Ballard at Ballard Property Group.
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The apartment, atop the Burley Katon Halliday-designed block, dates back two decades. It has five bedrooms and six bathrooms across its 425 sqm of internal space.
It features 375 sqm of wrap around balconies and terraces with views over the boat-filled harbour.
The development was completed in the late 1990s after East Asia Property Group paid $8.5 million for Cardigan, the waterfront mansion of solicitor Cedric Symonds and his socialite wife Elizabeth.
They knocked down the building in 1996 and replaced it with a six apartment development with a pool and private jetty.
The penthouse first traded for $7.1 million in 2001, three years after its completion. It was bought by David Wilkenfield, a ballet clothing manufacturer.
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He doubled his money in five years, selling for $14 million in 2006 to Hal Herron, the former Deutsche banker.
Herron wasn't so lucky however and sold at a $2 million loss, selling to Investec Bank chairman David Gonski for $12 million in 2012.
Gonski only held the apartment for two years before its $12.5 million in 2014 sale.
The last sale in the tightly held block was three years ago when Anthony Hourigan and Monique D'Arcy Irvine from the recruitment company, Hourigan International, bought the third level apartment for $7 million.
 
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28 Billiard Avenue, Elizabeth Bay penthouse sold

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Regulation is coming for the short-term rental accommodation (STRA) industry in NSW, but not before further discussion on how it should work for residential dwellings.
The advent of online accommodation booking platforms has seen the national industry estimated to be worth $31 billion nationally in 2016, with NSW’s share about half of that figure, with short term rentals benefiting the economy and providing income for property owners.
But the shift away from hotels, motels and the traditional bed and breakfast establishments has caused problems for communities. 
At present, STRA is regulated differently in different local government areas across NSW, undermining certainty for hosts and communities.
The new schemes is a long time coming, following a parliamentary inquiry in 2015-16 and an options paper in 2017. 
In June 2018, the NSW Government announced a state-wide planning code permitting the use of dwellings under certain conditions, including limits on the days the rental can take place.
The NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading Amendment (Short-term Rental Accommodation) Act 2018 in August 2018.
There will be a mandatory code of conduct that will apply to online booking platforms, letting agents, hosts and guests.
It was proposed that strata schemes can adopt a by-law that prohibits STRA where the property is not a host’s principal place of residence. 
Any such by-law will need to be adopted by special resolution, with 75% of votes supporting the proposal at a general meeting.
There will be ‘exempt’ and ‘complying’ approval pathways that enable a limit on the number of days possible depending whether the host is present and where the host is not present.
The policy seeks state-wide consistency in the definition and permissibility of STRA, although it will allow regional councils to nominate different day limits for un-hosted rentals,
These council include locations with many coastal location such as in Clarence Valley Shire around Angorie, Yamba and Iluka. Ditto Muswellbrook Shire around Denman and Sandy Hollow. There's also special rules around Lake Macquarie and Ballina Shire.
The presiding departments, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) and Department of Customer Service (DCS)  are now seeking further feedback from the NSW public on the government's proposal.
There are going to be rules that ban hosts and guests in certain circumstances mostly regarding anti-social behaviour. The decision will come from the commissioner who will maintain a registry publicly available on the internet.
The rules require booking platforms and letting agents to keep the full particulars of each accommodation arrangement for five years.
Feedback is sought on matters including the process for registering a property; the information required to be included on the register; who gets access to information on the register and the costs associated with establishing and managing the register.
Given the time that industry may need to develop and establish the register, the regulatory framework won't commence until 2020, although there is some prospect of a staged implementation towards the end of 2019.
The closing date for submissions is September 11. Making a submission at www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/have-your-say-short-term-rental-accommodation-reforms or mail to: Director, Housing Policy NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001.
Meanwhile the government has convened an advisory committee which includes stakeholders including Airbnb; Home Away/Stayz; Property Owners Association New South Wales, Destination New South Wales and the Tenants’ Union of New South Wales.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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NSW short-term rentals set to be hit with new regulations

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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