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The housing bubble debate has seen two close allies now take separate corners of the boxing ring.
This morning on twitter its been economist Chris Joye versus mortgage broking entreprenuer Mark Bouris.
"Be careful of reading a beat up story about a housing bubble ! We have only started to recover why can't they give us a break," Bouris tweeted in response to Australian Financial Review columnist Chris Joye's article headed, "Why we should be worried about Australia’s housing market".
"Good confidence readings and low interest rates do not equal bubble . They show recovery and the RBA program is working," Bouris added.
<a href="https://twitter.com/markbouris" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2013/09/12/bouris-tweet-sept-12-one.jpg" width="470" height="80" alt="bouris-tweet-sept-12-one"></a>
Joye had argued he was "worried about Australia’s housing market."
"Very worried. Not so much about the fundamentals, which are solid. Or current performance, which is robust without raising alarm."
But he said he had concerns about what lied around the corner.
<a href="https://twitter.com/cjoye" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2013/09/12/joye-sept-12-one.jpg" width="470" height="77" alt="joye-sept-12-one"></a>
Joye has regularly demonstrated that domestic housing costs have tracked, or slightly under-clubbed, disposable household income growth since 2003.
He noted amid forecasts of catastrophic gloom in 2008 and again in 2011, he attracted criticism for publishing reassuring views.
"But I no longer think the situation is so benign.
"The RBA’s rate cuts have gone too far.
"And if they stay this low for too long, there is a real chance Australia could, belatedly, have an acute housing crash with real consequences for the economy."
He says this is not his current central case, but several factors have given him pause.
"The first is that households have not really deleveraged despite much spruiking about our cautious consumers.
"Australia’s elevated household debt-to-income ratio, which looks set to climb further, is not far off the all-time, pre-GFC peak.
"This highly leveraged consumer is an artefact of Australia’s even more leveraged banking system.
"The major banks are leveraged about 80 times across their $1 trillion home loan books.
"Put differently, they are only holding about $1.25 of true loss-absorbing capital against every $100 – as opposed to the “risk-weighted” value – of their assets.While banks do not “mark to market” their mortgage books with current prices because they account for them on a “hold to maturity” basis, with such extreme leverage you only need a small drop in asset values to make the banking system theoretically insolvent (assuming market prices)."
He noted a third issue was that the banking system was under tremendous pressure to maintain its internationally lofty returns on equity. 
Joye also pointed to "a stunning" 33% of new home loans are being advanced with LVRs greater than 80%.
"In some countries they don’t even allow banks to lend at these levels, period.
"Of course, since the RBA has taken the easy option of slashing borrowing costs to their cheapest levels in history, consumers are being given every incentive to gear back up.
"My fear is that the longer rates remain at all-time lows, the greater the likelihood borrowers will believe that this is some sort of  'new normal'.
"That they will extrapolate out from the recent past to the future.
"The complacency is compounded by the fact that Australians have not experienced a recession in 22 years.
"Most have never endured a bona fide housing rout either," Joye said.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Mark Bouris v Chris Joye in unexpected housing bubble debate

The three bedroom Rapid Creek apartment of&nbsp;the boilermaker Robert Crispe featured in the last series of&nbsp;the&nbsp;LifeStyle Channel&#39;s&nbsp;Selling Houses Australia has been sold to an owner-occupier.

It was after four on-off marketing campaigns over the previous two years all the while the data and the headlines suggesting Darwin was the best price performing capital city in the country.

The then&nbsp;vast, empty penthouse apartment had been on the market since late 2010 with its pre-Selling Houses Australia makeover asking price falling from its lofty $790,000 despite Darwin being&nbsp;in the midst of a property boom.

It&#39;s been recently sold for a respectable $660,000, several months after the show put the apartment to late 2012 auction.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5502 project_image_fid=155330]

It last sold at $275,000 in 2003, thereby reflecting 8% annual price growth.&nbsp;Latest research from RP Data shows over the past decade Darwin&#39;s house and unit prices have increased 10% per annum.

Its $1700 a quarter body corporate rates wouldn&#39;t have helped secure a sale.&nbsp;

The suburb&#39;s median unit price sits at $431,500, up 13% on the year and 37% over the past five years, <a href="/news">according to RP Data</a>.

The presenter Andrew Winter initially said the penthouse&nbsp;was a 1970s time capsule before its five days of renovations.

Andrew Winter&#39;s Selling Houses Australia described the Darwin apartment offering&nbsp;on its initial appearance as&nbsp;like a remand centre with the&nbsp;roofed terrace of a prison exercise yard.

But it attracted no bids at the filmed auction and was then listed with a&nbsp;$699,000 asking price&nbsp;through&nbsp;Shun Hatton at O&#39;Donoghues First National.

The 151-square-metre, three-bedroom, two-bathroom 1979-built unit was being marketed as&nbsp;having<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nt-rapid+creek-112221983" target="_blank"> &quot;wow factor&quot;.</a>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4939 project_image_fid=152578]

Located close to amenities including beaches, quality schools, university and transport,&nbsp;O&#39;Donoghues&#39;s&nbsp;property managers estimated prior to its sale to an owner occupier that the potential rental was $850 plus&nbsp;per week furnished.

The Rapid Creek block&#39;s most recent sale was $388,000 for a two bedroom 74 square metre unit which was listed late last year with a $420,000 plus asking price. It was put up for rent at a $480 a week asking rent, which has since been reduced to a $430 a week asking rent, reflecting a 5.7% yield.

The prior sale in the block was in 2011 at $350,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom 74-square-metre garden unit, which was recently available at a $430 a week asking price lease. Its rental in 2002 was $170 a week.

Even Selling Houses Australia's Andrew Winter-renos didn't turn the tide on Rapid Creek, Darwin apartment offering

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Ercildoune Homestead, the Victorian property has been listed with reduced $3.5 million expectations having been listed earlier this year with $4 million-plus hopes.
The restored heritage-listed, Scottish baronial-style Burrumbeet property dates back to 1838 when built by brothers Thomas and Somerville Learmonth.
The granite manor surrounded by traditional English gardens, 80 hectares of farming land and restored farm cottages including stables and shearers’ quarters, last traded in 1999 when bought by Melbourne legal identity John Dever and his wife Christine.
Its other owners have included pastoralist and later British MP Sir Samuel Wilson and Sir Alan Currie, a former chairman of the Victorian Racing Club who in 1930 innovated with the installation of a hydro-electric power scheme drawing on the natural spring and interconnected lakes. The series of waterways was where Sir Samuel Wilson developed his fish hatchery, believed to be one of the first trout hatcheries in Victoria.
Sir Samuel Wilson was the owner of the property from 1873 to 1920 and Sir Alan Currie lived at the property from 1920 until his death in 1942. Lady Currie continued to live there until her death in 1962.
Set on 73 hectares about 30 kilometres west of Ballarat, the two-storey homestead at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prh.com.au/property-details?listing_id=441">973 Ercildoune Road</a> has nine bedrooms, and features ballrooms and a library.
There's also a self-contained three-bedroom residence in the former maid's quarters along with numerous outbuildings.
It was listed for May auction through Peter Hawkins, of Pat Rice &amp; Hawkins, in conjunction with Charles Stewart.
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Burrumbeet's Ercildoune Homestead expectations trimmed to $3.5 million 

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The cool climate Lerida Estate winery overlooking Lake George near Canberra, with Glenn Murcutt-designed buildings, has been listed by Colliers International agent  Tim Altschwager.
<a target="_blank" href="https://rca.colliers.com.au/property-commercial+farming-nsw-lake+george-500860655">The expression of interest campaign closes October 10 </a>with strong interest expected from Chinese interests.
The Lerida brand and business operations are part of the sale. 
Renowned for its pinot noir and shiraz viognier wines, the 16 hectare winery is off the Federal Highway on the Cullerin Escarpment in the Canberra District wine region.
<a href="https://www.leridaestate.com.au" target="_blank">The escarpment estate</a> has eight hectares planted by vendors, Jim Lumbers and Anne Caine in the years since 1997.
Their inspiration was Dr Edgar Riek’s work over 20 years at Lake George Winery, the adjacent vineyard.
The name, Lerida was first given to the Lake George region by the Scottish-born explorer and surveyor of South East Australia, Major Thomas Mitchell. Mitchell served in Portugal, and during this period travelled in Spain, including around the area of Lerida.
In 1827, Mitchell took up the position of Surveyor-General of NSW, and in this position, he travelled to the Lake George region and named a creek a few miles north-west of Lake George Lerida Creek because it reminded him of Lerida in Spain.
Subsequently, Hamilton Hume called his property on the creek Lerida. Jim and Anne picked up this name for their vineyard.
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Lerida Estate winery at Lake George listed

A&nbsp;Luigi Rosselli-designed&nbsp;Woollahra home sold under the weekend auction hammer for $7.13 million - at $130,000 above reserve.

The five-bedroom home at 63 Wallaroy Road was sold by the Parker scrap metal merchant family.

Some four registered bidders competed at the on-site auction, with it sold to a local buyer through&nbsp;McGrath agent Ben Collier in&nbsp;a rare offering of&nbsp;the&nbsp;architect&#39;s work.

The home on 822 square metre was listed with $6.5 million plus hopes having last sold at $6.5 million in late 2006. It was built in 2003 with&nbsp;Rosselli&#39;s trademark&nbsp;curves, angles, glass and sandstone features.

The&nbsp;three-level contemporary residence is on an elevated section of Wallaroy Road, between Glendon Road and Weeroona Avenue,&nbsp;hidden from the street by a high security gate.

All bedrooms are doubles with built-ins, and the master bedroom comes with ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and terrace.

Yes the sale represented around&nbsp;1% annual growth&nbsp;over the past six years or so, but the weekend sale does suggest there may have been a turnaround in Woollahra&#39;s recent woes.

After all it was only late last year&nbsp;when the nearby&nbsp;heritage residence,&nbsp;Glen Rhoda&nbsp;fetched&nbsp;$5 million having&nbsp;traded at&nbsp;$6.15 million in 2004 when the&nbsp;Tassone bought it from INXS&nbsp;drummer Jon Farriss.

But there has been no real rush by vendors to test the market&nbsp;with just the four officially registered sales&nbsp;above $4 million so far this year topped by the $8.6 million Dahdah rag-trading family purchase also on Wallaroy Road.

Designed by architect Iain Halliday of BKH, the 2011&nbsp;completed&nbsp;three-level residence&nbsp;on a 1049 square metre block&nbsp;had been was listed with ambitious $12 million&nbsp;hopes&nbsp;in 2011.

There&#39;s also been the as-yet unrecorded sale of the Dahdah&#39;s redundant residence on Wallaroy Road which was passed in on a $4.6 million vendor bid at its May auction. And another as yet unrecorded sale of&nbsp;a six-bedroom Victorian terrace on Ocean Street&nbsp;that sold recently for more than $7 million, and possibly close to $7.25 million.

The Halliday-designed sale&nbsp;represented $8200 a square metre&nbsp;compared to the weekend&#39;s Rosselli-designed&nbsp;$8700 a square metre result.

Heritage Glen Rhoda, that sits on 1205 square metres&nbsp;with a magnolia reputedly as old as the 1863 house, represented&nbsp;$4150 a square metre on it most recent sale.

Luigi Rosselli-designed Woollahra trophy home sale tops recent BKH and heritage sales

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Australia's highest-paid public servant, the Australia Post chief, Ahmed Fahour, has yet to sell his Kew home.
The three level mansion, built on the site of a former monastery, has been marketed with reputed $7 million plus private treaty hopes through Paul Pfeiffer and Warwick Anderson at RT Edgar since mid-August.
It was built by Montage Developments with "epic space and understated opulence" throughout the "resort style" estate, complete with outdoor kitchen, self contained cottage, swimming pool, spa, steam room and north/south flood lit championship court.
The estate covers 2,027 square metres. 
It's whispered Ahmed and Dionnie Fahour are the mystery buyers behind the $22 million sale of Invergowrie, the historic bluestone home in Hawthorn that was an exclusive finishing school for young women.
The off-market sale of the imposing mansion made headlines in April on Property Observer with the buyer undisclosed using solicitors, Arnold Bloch Leibler as their intermediaries
The subsequent $22 million sale documentation has been through a holding company whose address and directors are from the office of the solicitors.
Peter Hill, the skateboarding Globe International co-founder and his wife, Angela sold the colonial-gothic style mansion that sits on 1.1 hectares.
It cost $10.75 million in 2002.
The first president of the Legislative Assembly, Sir John Palmer, began building the estate in 1846 which comes with a tennis court, fountain, botanic gardens and a sweeping driveway.
There were five buildings on the estate, including a free-standing hall, an annexe, stables of convict-mined bluestone converted into a guest house when last sold.
The $24 million sale in 2010 of the former Baillieu family estate on St Georges Road, Toorak to the soft-drink magnate Harry Stamoulis remains Melbourne's record sale. The title of Victoria's most expensive residential property is  held by clifftop Portsea mansion Ilyuka, which sold for $25 million in December 2010.
Invergowrie (pictured below) is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/04/invergowrieapril24one.jpg" alt="invergowrieapril24one" width="470" height="303">
At one time it was owned by theatrical entrepreneur George Coppin, who is said to have tried to demolish it. The building was saved when businessman Sir William McPherson bought it. Sir William (pictured below) rose to political heights as premier of Victoria in 1928.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/04/invergowrieapril24two.jpg" alt="invergowrieapril24two" width="250" height="347">
On his death, the property was handed over to the Association of Headmistresses of Independent Schools when it became the Invergowrie Homecraft Hostel and was later headquarters of the Victorian Post Secondary Education Commission.
It was bought by the Coogi knitwear entrepreneur Jacky Taranto in 1992 for $2.7 million who sold in 2002 to the Hills.
It was last October when the Hill's bought in St Kilda from the former TV personality Steve Vizard.
The St Kilda mansion, Clendore is one of the original three adjoining terraces, the home of Sir Graham Berry, the distinguished radical politician.
Images courtesy of the State Library of Victoria and The Invergowrie Foundation.
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No official change of address yet, as postmaster Ahmed Fahour still to find $7 million plus Kew buyer

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The film director Robert Connolly and his wife, casting director Jane Norris have listed their Camperdown terrace with $800,000 hopes.
The three-bedroom Northwood Street terrace on its 167 square metre block cost $577,500 in early 2002, shortly after his film debut, The Bank.
His most recent directorial endeavours have included Underground: The Julian Assange Story and the ABC series The Slap where the couple collaborated. His next film is the adaptation of Tim Winton's book The Turning.
It has been listed through Anthony Tripodi of <a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/34P0600" target="_blank">Belle Property Newtown </a>for September 28 auction.
It was available for rent late last year at $750 a week as the couple are now based in the Melbourne suburb of Ormond. They bought for $625,000 in 2009.
Norris is the daughter of Melbourne stage and screen veterans Terry Norris and Julia Blake.
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Film industry couple Robert Connolly and Jane Norris lists Camperdown terrace

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The Melbourne restaurateur Shannon Bennett has bought prime Byron Bay residential beachfront land from the entertainment industry entrepreneur John Cornell and his wife Delvene Delaney.
Shannon Bennett, owner of Vue de Monde restaurant, has paid $2 million for the five lot 4,588 square metre holding on the Belongil Beach peninsula.
There had been speculation Shannon Bennett had been in purchasing partnership with Adam Garrisson, the former owner of Melbourne's Windsor Hotel, but the recently settled acquistions are in his name only. An adjoining holding has been bought by Garrison's Wetherby GPO trust company for $2.25 million on extended settlement terms.
Bennett and Garrison are currently creating a six-star eco-resort at the Art Moderne mansion of Burnham Beeches, the 1930s estate on the edge of Melbourne.
<a href="https://byronbay.ljhooker.com.au/7PBF5G" target="_blank">The Cornell couple still have vacant land for sale through Glen Irwin at LJ Hooker Byron Bay</a> including a three lot 2,090 square metre offering with approved plans for demountable module style abodes given coastal erosion concerns.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/09/19/byron-bay-sept-20-one.jpg" alt="byron-bay-sept-20-one" width="470" height="240">
Byron Bay buyers have typically been split between Sydney, and those that cross the border from Melbourne and Brisbane over the past few decades.
Their timing depending on how the micro economies have been performing. 
It's suggested high-profile interlopers aren't encouraged to flash inflated egos or material symbols of their fame.
The Cornell's bought the 26 lot, one hectare holding in 1987 for $375,000 from the developer Peter Kurts. The compound was secured after the exodus of management from the meatworks, the town's previous main industry.
John Cornell has been long known as the Baron of Byron Bay with the entrepreneur, and his mate, the actor Paul Hogan, making their first property foray in the early 1980s, long before the prices of the district's properties took off.
For much of the subsequent two decades they were big buyers, although more recently sellers.
It was 1983 when Cornell, Hogan and another mate first homed in on the Byron district. They spent $265,000 in 1983 on an eight-hectare ocean-front holding, just south of the town on Seven Mile Beach. It sold for $5.02 million in 2005.
<a href="/news">The Cornell couple are also selling 41 housing sites at nearby Ewingsdale</a>, which comes with frontage onto Parkway Drive, McGettigans Lane and St Helena Road.
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Chef Shannon Bennett spends $2 million buying on Belongil Beach 

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So with the election out of the way, and after the approaching school holiday interruption, Sydney auctions can get back on course for the remainder of the year.
Sydney's recent stellar run extended to record levels on the weekend with an 87.6% weekend preliminary success rate, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Just how far into spring the 80% clearance rate holding pattern can go depends very much on the levels of supply.
Recent history suggests clearance rates ought decline the further into spring, and then December, as the year progresses and stock levels rise.
Last year Sydney's first three opening weeks of the September spring had a 58% clearance rate. The clearance rate was down to 53% during the first three weeks of December.
The difference arose as there were 460 auction offerings in those early weeks and 760 weekly listings as the season headed into summer.  
In 2011 it was 52% in September and down to 49% by December. There were 500 weekly auction vendors at the start which had jumped to 750 by year's end.
The most distinct of seasonal turnarounds came in 2010 when spring began with 63% average clearance rates and by early summer had dipped to 51%.
Melbourne doesn't always follow quite the same path, given its enjoyed some enduring auction seasons, but in spring 2010 it went from a 66% opening success rate with 700 listings to a 60% clearance rate with 1000 weekend listings by December.  
The simple takeout is the early bird gets the buyers. 
 
   
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History suggests Sydney's auction clearance rate will decline as supply increases the further into spring

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The trophy Palm Beach home of businessman Paul Nankervis and his wife, Rosie has been sold, presumably the summer resort's eighth double digit sale since 2007.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-palm+beach-112880483" target="_blank">Set on sought-after Sunrise Hill, it is one of the best houses on the peninsula</a>. 
The property was listed for sale with $14 million plus hopes through LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David Edwards and Peter Robinson earlier this year.
They have declined to indicate the sale price, but Property Observer gleans its been sold for possibly close to $11 million to a Mosman resident.
Designed by architect Susan Rothwell, the three-level residence features six bedrooms and six bathrooms. It was built by the then Mosman based Nankervis couple who previously had a weekender at Whale Beach.
There is a lift to each floor in the Sunrise Road house that sits on a 1891-square-metre block with the full northerly panorama of the Barrenjoey headland with its landmark lighthouse.
The Nankervises bought the property 11 years ago for $2.4 million becoming only the third owners since the Byles family built a house in the early 1900s.
The home incorporated heritage elements of the original Byles cottage.
The new house was designed as a permanent home for Paul and Rosie Nankervis, as well as a holiday home for their three children, their spouses and 10 grandchildren.
Its surrounded by terraced gardens designed by landscaper William Dangar.
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Trophy home sale on Sunrise Road, Palm Beach

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6RNt3AvtBpI?si=JUhuCV2ZRXsYaoJZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351027]

The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

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For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351024]

As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149637]

Joel Robinson

Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
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The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
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Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
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"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

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"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

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PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
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"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

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Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

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The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

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The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

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The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

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Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

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From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

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While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

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Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

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Jonathan Chancellor

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