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It has been increasingly obvious Sydney housing affordability was deteriorating based on the number of years’ worth of income required to purchase a home.
The significant gap also exists between incomes and the cost of renting.
The situation is particularly dire for single income households.
Professor David Adamson, from the University of South Wales, noted in the recent Housing Affordability Income Gap report, that the geography of housing unaffordability was increasingly hurting middle-income families.
Historically rents have been more closely pegged to incomes than property prices, but this link appears to be weakening.
Adamson suggests we have a broken housing system as between 2006 and 2016, Sydney median rents have increased by 76% while incomes have increased by 51%.
"The analysis tells us that this isn’t simply an experience of the few but that occupations often seen as middle-class and well paid are increasingly experiencing housing stress in order to live close to their place of work."
The report concluded typical households face the choice between living a considerable distance from the city, or living in a one-bedroom apartment.
If neither option was practical, these households are effectively forced to accept living in housing stress.
Avoiding stress on a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney’s inner suburbs required a $121,000 income.
The report notes the median rent in Sydney is $530 per week which would be enough to secure a three-bedroom house in Blacktown, but not enough for a two-bedroom unit in Burwood.
The report found two-bedroom units in Sydney’s middle ring are affordable, however affordability income gaps exist in the Canada Bay, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby LGAs. 
Sydney’s outer ring is affordable for renting, although income gaps exist for detached dwellings in Hornsby, Northern Beaches, Sutherland, and The Hills Shire.
Since June 2000, regions in Sydney’s west such as Blacktown and Fairfield have experienced rent increases of 125% and 145% respectively, compared to 87% in Mosman, and 94% in Woollahra.
The effect is even more pronounced in satellite cities on the outskirts of Sydney such as Newcastle, where rents are up 150%, and Wollongong with rents up by 168%. 
With relatively lower incomes, renters of detached dwellings in the outlying locations and regional NSW face housing stress too.
The report acknowledges the 30-year boom in house prices has made a lot of people extremely wealthy, "at least on paper".
It then suggests the wealth effect was "perhaps why so many have been willing to turn a blind eye to the economic and social fallout for so long".
It slammed policy makers for "aiding this wilful blindness by using cheap credit and immigration to create the illusion of an economy running on all cylinders".
The AHIG report noted dwelling prices have experienced modest declines over the year with Sydney leading the way, down 4.5%.
"It would be a mistake however for policy makers to take this as a sign that no action is required," the report concluded, noting for Australian housing to meet any accepted definition of affordability, prices would have to fall by 60% from the 2017 peak.
It conceded any major fall in prices could spark a deep and painful recession.
However a recession "sparked by a housing bust should be viewed as an opportunity to address the systemic problems that enabled the emergence of the crisis in the first place,' it ill-advisedly countenances.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Sydney's rental affordability is hurting middle-income families 

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​Lendlease has officially reported a slowdown in its Australian residential sales.
Slowing sales in projects were highlighted by its Collins Wharf 1 project which sits at 89% sold.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/project/no-1-collins-wharf-docklands-600012046" target="_blank">The Melbourne project</a> was at 87% sold a year earlier.
It is marketed as one of the city’s most esteemed addresses, designed by architects Bates Smart.
Located within the Victoria Harbour Precinct on Melbourne’s Bourke and Collins Streets, No.1 Collins Wharf is being marketed as poised to set a new benchmark in waterfront living.
It offers apartments on just a 5% deposits. 
Group chief executive Steve McCann conceded "most markets are past their peak" when he presented the latest annual report which triggered a 2% drop in its share price yesterday.  
Mr McCann said there was a tightening of credit due to higher debt costs, and regulatory impacts, partly from the banking royal commission, which had seen inquiries drop off recently.
“We are not calling a massive correction, but we do see a bit of a slowdown,” he told The Australian.
Luxury unit markets offshore had also been soft a for a while, he added.
Lendlease's local apartment completions nearly halved. Completions in the year to June fell to 1314 from 2533 a year earlier.
Apartment projects were completed in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and London.
Presold lots in its big residential communities slowed to 3,231 lots in financial 2018 from 3,896 in the previous period.
Land lot completions across the Australian master planned communities portfolio sat at 3,912.
Key projects included Springfield Lakes in Queensland and Jordan Springs in New South Wales.
And its settlement failures increased. Earlier this year it advised Brisbane was the most challenging inner-city apartment market in the country.
"Inevitably there will be a rise in defaults in this market over the short term," the developer pointed out. 
"We are working through our relatively small exposure at our RNA projects in Brisbane, including identifying potential alternate buyers, or holding the residual units for a period and renting them out."
It has just 15 active projects, with its focus overseas. 
Major property developer Lend Lease is hedging against an Australian slowdown by expanding developments offshore.
In announcing a 4.5% rise in full-year profit to $793 million, Lendlease pointed to its full pipeline of projects in Europe, the US and Asia as driving medium term growth.
About 60% of Lendlease's $72 billion development pipeline is offshore.
The communities pipeline consists of an estimated 52,333 lots across four continents.
The backlog of apartments for sale has grown from 22,000 last year to 26,000.
The listed developer advised it was bracing for rising defaults in Brisbane's oversupplied apartment market.
Its chairman of the board, David Crawford departs following the 2018 Annual General Meeting, having served as chairman since 2003.
Michael Ullmer is his successor.
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Lendlease confirms most Australian residential markets are past their peak

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The typical Australian landlord is an owner occupier, at midlife, in a household with two incomes.
Some 72% own just the one rental property.
They don't see themselves as landlords, but rather investors.
Estate agents manage around 75% of these rental properties, an unusually prominent role compared to overseas practice.
The shift from finding rentals in agency office windows has long shifted online and now new technological innovations are being slowly embraced by agents, given raised demands from tenants and some landlords too.
These digital platforms are offering efficient ways at dealing with tenants. 
The Property Connect website offers the means for online move-in dates, lease terms, and even seek competitive rental pricing through LiveOffer. 
The Trustbond website seeks to replace the cash rental bond with a surety certificate. 
Other tech enabling advancements address scheduling property inspections, collecting rents and and organising repairs. 
There's the prospect of tenants across Australia getting their own online profile promoting their worthiness to landlords.
These days tenants are renting for longer periods with around a third of private renters staying in the rental market for a decade or longer.
Recent research has the market demographics changing quite significantly.
Traditionally it was transitional housing tenure for young people in the time between leaving the family home and becoming home owners, but now the market has moved to catering for many more private renters at mid-life. There are more private renters with children.
There has been an increase in both lower and higher income households seeking out the private rental market.
Interestingly, about one in eight landlords are themselves a private renter.
A new report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute noted the biggest change in landlord ownership was in the financing with owners of rental properties relying more heavily on debt.
This affirms the ultimate purpose of landlords is their financial returns. 
These are currently being challenged, so it will be interesting to see if the landlords stay as dwelling values fall and gross rental yields sit close to historic lows.
CoreLogic has tracked rents for over a decade and the latest 0.4% annual fall in Sydney rents for the year to August was the largest decline on record.
Gross rental yields remain low in Sydney at 3.21%.
The total returns from residential housing are not looking "so attractive", CoreLogic research analyst Cameron Kusher recently noted.
Across the capital cities, total returns are at 0.8%, with total returns in Sydney actually falling by 2.5% in the weakest result since 2009.
After dwelling values fell in Sydney over the past year, it highlights that capital growth largely dictate total investor returns in Sydney. 
Kusher suggests given the decline in returns and an expectation that returns will continue to shrink, investors could seek out housing in other regions of the country where total returns remain positive.
It sits at 6.6% for the combined regional markets across Australia and 6.7% for total returns in regional NSW.
But Kusher warns these returns are anticipated to be far inferior to those recorded over recent times in Sydney.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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Lower and higher income households seeking out private rental market

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EIG Developments has moved to affirm the security of deposits paid by buyers in the Elpis project at Truganina, in Melbourne’s west.
The company advised it had secured five buyers through informal referrals by Ausin Australia. 
"The funds obtained from these buyers are well-protected and safely held in Australia, in EIG’s solicitor’s trust fund," a spokesperson advised.
EIG Developments Australia categorically stated that the land packages purchased by these five buyers will proceed to settlement, without any disruption.
The suggestion of deposit tumult in projects across the east coast arose in a newspaper report by the Australian Financial Review.
As an Australian developer, EIG Developments Australia’s focus is on sales for the domestic market, EIG told Property Observer.
EIG was responding to news that <a href="/news/property-deposit-funds-allegedly-misappropriated-ahead-of-ausin-china-collapse">the residential project marketer Ausin China has collapsed</a> leaving a trail of 100s of failed property settlements in Australia.
"Any informal connection with Ausin Australia has been discontinued," EIG added.
Ausin China sold off-the-plan apartments and houses to buyers in China, with an investigation now underway into the whereabouts of the deposits along with settlement monies.
<div>
Ausin Australia, led by founder and chief executive Joseph Zaja, indicated on Friday there was evidence of fraud and the matter has been reported to the Australian police.
Last year new land estates within the Melbourne suburb of Truganina were identified as providing an affordable option for first home buyers, according to HTW’s Month in Review: March 2017. 
The median house sale price in January 2017 was $492,000 in Truganina. It is now <a href="/developments/truganina-vic-3029">$541,000</a>.
</div>
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EIG Developments affirms Elpis, Truganina buyer deposits secure in Australia

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An award-winning residence (above) on the Brisbane River sold under the hammer for $3,050,000 at last weekend's auction.
Ray White New Farm principal Matt Lancashire said there were four registered bidders. 
The 105 Ryan Street, West End home was designed by Conrad Gargett Riddel,.
The striking family residence is a quick bike ride to the West End markets, South Bank, art galleries, parks and trendy cafes.
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/17/west%20end%202.jpg" alt="">
Set on a 683sqm riverfront allotment, the three-level family living comes with four spacious bedrooms, large living zones and gallery and entertainment deck with plunge pool. 
Additional features include polished concrete and reclaimed timber flooring, grid-connected electricity, solar panels and rainwater storage.
 
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Brisbane West End trophy home sale at $3.05 million

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Crimp Knitting Mills, a Prahran inner-city town residence has been scheduled for auction on September 15.
It has been offered by Tom McCarthy from Biggin &amp; Scott Prahran.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-prahran-129096714" target="_blank">9 Mcllwrick St,</a> the original warehouse has been converted to a modern residence.
It comes with the main bedroom or office with ensuite, two other bedrooms, dining and living areas, cook's kitchen, north facing courtyard garden, and double lock-up garage.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/17/prahran%202.jpg" alt="">
Set on a 297sqm allotment, Crimp Knitting Mills is only metres from Chapel Street, Windsor Station and trams.
The suburb's median house price sits at<a href="/news"> $1.5 million</a>, according to CoreLogic.
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Once warehouse, now Prahran trophy home scheduled for auction

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Located in a Dress Circle position in southwestern Canberra, a Pearce house and studio with northerly aspect and valley views has been sold for $1.34 million.
It was sold on July 25 by Andrew Paton from EthicsRealEstate.com.au.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-pearce-128593934" target="_blank">Located at 3 Anstey St</a>, it was formerly inhabited by two of Canberra's most famous cultural identities: internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Rosalie Gascoigne, and her equally esteemed husband, astronomer Ben Gascoigne.
Designed by local Canberra Architect Theo Bischoff, it was designed to be solar passive, light filled and spacious, all on one level and features high ceilings, walls of glass, and warm natural finishes of brick and timber throughout.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/17/3%20anstey%20st%202.jpg" alt="">
The house comes with three bedrooms, north facing living areas, private walled courtyard, and updated kitchen with stainless steel benches.
Separate from the main house, the large studio is suitable for adaptation to a work from home office, gym, teenage retreat or additional accommodation purposes.  
The outdoor living options include a north facing covered patio and the private internal courtyard.
It is close to good schools, shopping and dining experiences, and set in the foothills of Mount Taylor Nature Reserve.
The house previously sold in 2010 for $935,000.
The suburb's median house price sits at<a href="/news"> $835,000</a>, according to CoreLogic. 
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Formerly Gascoigne family home, Pearce house and studio has sold

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A Bilinga property sold for $4 million last week.
The seaside mansion on Pacific Parade sold just days before its scheduled auction on ­Saturday.
It marks a record sale for the street, with the previous record set by former Queensland governor ­Leneen Forde’s property of 25 years.
Member for Currumbin Jann Stuckey bought the earlier record setting property for $3.1 million in February.
The No.252 offering sold through Ray White Mermaid Beach agent Troy Dowker.
More than 40 groups inspected the trophy home during the month it was on the market.
There were three offers.
Two locals and one from interstate.
A local buyer living on the southern Gold Coast was the buyer of the property with 16m ocean frontage on the 506sq m block.
Kay and Dr Trevor Johnson bought it in 2007 then commissioning architect Paul Uhlmann to design the five ­bedroom, three bathroom home that was built in 2011.
Another beachfront home at Bilinga sold for $3.3 million under the hammer also sold earlier this month.
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Bilinga trophy home sets a record and sells for $4 million

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After being owned for 37 years by the Vrisakis family, Phalaris Stud at Rylstone is listed for sale with $2 million hopes.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-nsw-rylstone-7980430" target="_blank">169ha Central Tablelands offering</a> has extensive horse facilities built by the former bow-tied Sydney lawyer Aleco Vrisakis and wife Mary Jane.
Inglis listing agent Sam Triggs says the property is ideal for equine pursuits as well as for Charolais beef production. Set 60km from Mudgee and 237km from Sydney, the farm is sown to phalaris, clovers and lucerne pastures.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/20/phalaris2.jpg" alt="">
There is a 2000-built architect designed home and the facilities include nine box stables, an Olympic-size sand dressage arena and a 51m horse pool.
There are views over the Cudgegong Valley from the home located at the end of a driveway of Claret Ash and London Plane trees.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
</div>
 
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Vrisakis family list Phalaris Stud at Rylstone 

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The luxury Toorak build of former boxer turned millionaire home builder Gary Simonds and his son Mark has been sold.
The development father and son duo spent $6.65 million on a 1960's Teringa Place home in 2016 and went about building an opulent glass encased home (above and below).
The property last sold for $4,105,000 in 2010.
Teringa Place only holds five homes. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/20/teringa1.jpg" alt="">
Retail tycoon and Rivers boss Phil Goodman sold to the Simonds family who had the curved front facade by FGR Architects.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-128192390" target="_blank">contemporary curved home</a> with over 1,020 sqm of living space has five bedrooms, each with their own walk in wardrobes and ensuite. The interiors have been overseen by the property styling company Leloft.
On the ground level there's a formal lounge, study, open plan kitchen and dining room and an informal sitting room which opens to a private north facing rear swimming pool and spa, overlooked by an outdoor entertaining area.
There's a gym, theatre and seven car basement garaging.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/20/teringa2.jpg" alt="">
RT Edgar Toorak agents Oliver Booth and Abby Innes were marketing the home as Toorak's finest, seeking expressions of interest until May 28.
There were almost 400 inspections during its extended campaign.
Construction was only completed a week before it was listed.
They had a guide of between $15.5 million to $17.05 million.
Gary Simonds founded Simons Property Group, where Mark is a non-executive director.
 
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$15 million plus Teringa Place, Toorak spec home sale by the Simonds family

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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;

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;

Jonathan Chancellor

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