<html><body>
WA's Consumer Protection agency is seeking an injunction against a brother-and-sister team promoting a rent-to-buy property scheme that accepted wedding rings and various family collectables, including a Real Madrid football jersey signed by David Beckham, in cases where tenant/buyers could not afford the upfront fees.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll has lodged a Supreme Court writ and will allege that Patricia and Bryan Susilo of the Perth suburb of Applecross engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of Australian consumer law.
She will further allege that they breached the Real Estate and Business Agents Act by acting as unlicensed real estate agents or implying that they were licensed real estate agents.
Rent-to-buy schemes are targeted at people who don’t qualify for home loans. Buyers agree to pay rent to the seller in return for being able to purchase the property at a later date.
Driscoll says an investigation into the activities of the Susilos indicates misleading statements have been made in advertisements for several properties. Driscoll also says misleading statements have been made about the nature of Patricia Susilo's interest in the properties.


"The alleged misleading statements in advertisements relate to her ownership of the properties and to the amount of weekly payments, which don't match the payments the proposed tenant/buyer was requested to pay. There is also no indication of the upfront option fee or the final price that is payable," Driscoll alleges.
"I am particularly concerned that, in the cases where the tenant/buyers do not have sufficient resources to pay the upfront option fee, Ms Susilo has taken wedding rings and various family collectables as part of the payment for the deposit. These included a Real Madrid jersey signed by David Beckham and a Franklin Mint edition Monopoly board. In another instance, Ms Susilo brokered the sale of a tenant/buyer's vehicle to raise the required deposit funds.

"The proceeds from the transactions are deposited into a bank account of a real estate agent in the eastern states and then transferred to Ms Susilo's personal bank accounts in WA. I am concerned that the funds do not go into a WA trust account and there is no separate account where money is stored for future deposits in accordance with the ‘option to buy' agreements."
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
The action against Patricia Mirawati Susilo and Bryan Artawijaya Susilo follows a successful June ruling against another rent-to-buy scheme instigated by Consumer Protection.

In June WA’s Supreme Court ruled that a rent-to-buy scheme operated illegally because the owners were not licensed estate agents and also misled potential clients.

The landmark ruling handed down by Master Craig Sanderson declared that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/wa-rent-to-buy-scheme-ruled-deceptive-and-illegal-with-other-schemes-facing-investigation/2012060655009">unlicensed promoters of  rent-to-buy scheme No Loan Home Pty Ltd</a>, its sole director Filip (Fil) Butkovic and employee Nikola (Nik) Butkovic, of Nedlands, had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct.

"Consumer Protection would urge anyone who is considering a rent to buy property proposal to seek further legal and financial advice before committing to a rent to buy contract as there are many reasons to be concerned about the legality of some of these schemes,” says Driscoll.

"We would strongly recommend that consumers only deal with licensed real estate agents in regard to purchasing property in WA. This gives much greater protection as there are laws that are designed to uphold consumer rights and safeguard their financial interests."

</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

WA Consumer Protection targets rent-to-buy property scheme that took David Beckham jersey in lieu of deposit

<html><body>
The number of owner-occupier home loan commitments rose by a better than expected 1.8% in August to 45,821 loans, according to the latest seasonally adjusted ABS figures.
That was from an upwardly revised 45,021 loan commitments in July and above economist expectations of a 1.5% monthly rise.
The increase in home loan commitments in August follows RBA cash rate cuts in May and June totalling 75 basis points.
"A modest upward trend in housing finance to owner-occupiers is now apparent. New lending trended 1.2% higher in August, a turnaround from modest trend declines over the first five months of the year," says Westpac. "A greater number of FHBs are likely to enter the market over coming months, in what is the 'spring season', encouraged by improved housing affordability underpinned by lower interest rates.  "With the RBA more concerned about downside risks to economic growth over the year ahead there will be increased focus on the strength of the housing sector upswing and the likely boost to housing construction activity. "
The number of mortgage commitments for the purchase of new dwellings rose by a strong 13.9% to 2,341 in August, according to the ABS.
The number of loan commitments for the purchase of established dwellings rose 1.3% to 38,238.
In value terms owner occupier loans rose 1.3% to $13.65 billion.
Total housing finance by value rose by 0.6%, seasonally adjusted, to $20.3 billion.
On a state-by-state basis, whereas WA was the only state to record a rise for July, strength was more widespread in August, noted Westpac.
"For August, gains were reported for NSW (3.3%), Tasmania (3.3%), Queensland (4.1%), as well as WA (1.2%). Victoria softened for a second month (-1.2% following -1.1%), representing a let down effect in the wake of state government changes to first-home buyer incentives," says  Westpac.
First-home buyers share of finance declined to 18.6% from 19.2% for July, but Westpac says this is likely to be a short-lived dip. 
Loans for investment purposes recorded a 0.8% decline for August.
Housing Industry Association (HIA) chief economist Dr Harley Dale says the 2.6% increase in total housing finance net of refinancing in August 2012 marked the sixth consectutive rise.
"That is encouraging, but the base for the recovery has to date been too narrow.
"A recovery in the number of loans to first time owner occupiers appears to be entrenching itself, but lending to the larger ‘trade-up’ owner-occupier market has been losing momentum since March.”
“On the new home front, lending for the purchase of new dwellings increased strongly in August, which is an encouraging result, although a flat month in terms of loans for construction was disappointing.”
“After posting a strong increase in June, the number of loans for the construction of owner occupied dwellings largely flat-lined in July and again in August.
"Meanwhile, lending for the construction of new investment properties has been trending down since March.
"Hopefully interest rate cuts together with policy initiatives in NSW and Queensland will see a sustained improvement emerge in these key construction lending figures,” says Dale.
</body></html>

Home loan numbers rise 1.8% in August with strong bounce in new home lending: ABS

<html><body>
Harry Triguboff’s Meriton group has acquired a former industrial property in Rosebery in inner south-east Sydney with plans to build 200 apartments.
Meriton paid $21 million for the Rosebery site bringing the number of development sites acquired this year to six and the total amount spent on these sites to $200 million.
Triguboff is also tipping the cash rate to fall 125 basis points to 2%.
“They have to go down,” he says.
This year, Meriton has targeted development site acquistions within a 15 kilometre radius of the  Sydney CBD.
The six sites acquired this year have the potential for 2,000 new apartments worth $1.3 billion.
The biggest site acquired in 2012 is on Thomas Street in Chatswood on Sydney’s north shore, with approval for 547 apartments. Meriton paid $50 million for the Thomas Street car park with plans for two towers of 29 stories each, one of which will be retained by Meriton as serviced apartments – a growing part of the Meriton business.
In July, Meriton spent $48.5 million to buy the controversial Lewisham Estates development site which has amended potential for between 377 and 430 units.
Meriton has also acquired sites in Talavera Road in North Ryde (423 units), South Dowling Street, Zetland (400 units) and McEvoy Street. Waterloo (200 units)
Commenting on the Rosebery acquisition, Triguboff told The Australian it was the only area near the city that can take a large number of apartments.
"In Bondi or North Sydney, you can't get a big site - you are looking at only 100 or even 80 apartments."
Meriton already has a presence in Rosebery with its Valentino Place development on the corner of Epsom Rd and Rothschild Avenue featuring 265 apartments, completed in 2009. A one-bedroom apartment in Valentino Place with city views is available for rent at $510 per week.
Meriton is also reportedly looking at acquiring Brookfield's Sydney CBD site on the corner of Pitt Street and Bathurst Street.
Brookfield paid around $150m for the site four years ago, which has approval for a 65 storey apartment featuring 400 apartments over 65 storeys.
No deal on this acquisition has yet been reached.
</body></html>

Harry Triguboff’s Meriton group plans 200 apartments on newly acquired Rosebery site and tips cash rate to fall to 2%

<html><body>
BIS Shrapnel has revised up its expectations for new home building in NSW due to increased demand for new homes from first-home buyers following the introduction of the $15,000 state government handout on October 1, which only applies to buyers who buy or build a new home.
BIS Shrapnel is now forecasting around 40,000 homes to be built annually by 2015, up from the current average of around 30,000 homes year.
This jump would also lift the NSW residential building industry out of recession, according to the economic research firm.
August HIA figures revealed that the number of seasonally adjusted new detached house sales fell by 7% in NSW, while nationally, new home sales are at a 15-year low, averaging around 3,000 sales per month compared with more than 8,500 per month three years ago.
Since October 1, the state grant has been lifted from $7,000 to $15,000 for new homes valued up to $650,000, while a maximum stamp duty exemption of $20,240 is also available for homes worth up to $550,000.
Building commencements last peaked in September 2010 with 32,950 homes built over the prior 12 months, but has since dropped back 6% to 29,250 over 2011-12.
BIS Shrapnel associate director Kim Hawtrey says the expectations of a lift in residential building activity is based on what “what happened last time buyers of new homes were given special treatment [in 2008]”.
Then, the government lifted the $7,000 first-home owner grant to $21,000 for new homes purchased between October 2008 and January 2010.
''Before the 2008 boost, around 10% to 15% of Australia's first-home owners bought new homes or units,'' Hawtrey told Fairfax.
This jumped to 39% of all homes purchased by first-home buyers following the tripling of the grant.
According to Hawtrey, if the proportion of first-home buyers buying new homes currently jumps from 17% to 39%, as happened in 2008, this would mean an extra 8,200 first-home buyers would buy new homes. This is based on NSW Office of State Revenue figures, which show 37,500 NSW residents took out first-home owner grants in 2011-12.
In its September 2012 residential building report BIS Shrapnel forecasts lower interest rates and a recent fall in house prices has improved affordability to levels last seen in 2001 (excepting at the height of the GFC).


<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Alongside improved affordability, BIS Shrapnel expects a general strengthening of the NSW economy and improving consumer confidence.
In addition, it says a focus by the NSW government to improve planning processes and a desire to release new greenfield land packages will ease pressures on the supply side.
Prior to this expected recovery, BIS Shrapnel notes that residential building in NSW has been “persistently subdued over much of the last decade, averaging only 30,000 commencements annually since 2006”.
“Over the same period Victoria averaged 46,000 commencements, whilst even Queensland managed 34,000.
“Although residential building slumped over this period, population growth remained strong and consequently a significant stock deficiency has emerged, centred primarily in Sydney,”
This deficiency, says BIS Shrapnel, has “created significant pressure in residential property markets, driving price and rental growth and ensuring Sydney remains the least affordable capital city in Australia.
“Affordability has been a significant contributor to the lack of new dwellings built in NSW, alongside a complex planning framework and lack of suitable land releases.”
</body></html>

First-home buyer $15,000 grant to spark recovery in NSW new home building: BIS Shrapnel

<html><body>
Online lender loans.com.au has cut the variable rate of its ‘Dream Catcher’ home loan by 19 basis points to 5.46% and says it is offering the lowest standard variable rate home loan since July 1968.
The lender references the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.loansense.com.au/historical-rates">loansense.com.au</a>, a website that tracks the movement of home loan rates dating back to 1959.
In July 1968, the average standard variable interest rate was 5.38%.
According to mortgage comparison website Ratecity.com.au, another online lender eMoney is offering a variable rate of 5.40% on its pro pack 75 loan. The lender cut the interest rate on this product by 20 basis points.
A spokesperson for loans.com.au maintains that its offering is the lowest genuine standard variable rate home loan in Australia.
He says the real story is not the loans.com.au offering, but that variable rates on average are at their lowest level since 1968.
Loans.com.au managing director Marie Mortimer says borrowers would have to go travel back in time to the Mexico Olympics to find a cheaper variable home loan interest rate.
“The last time we saw rates this low, the number one record in Australia was Sadie by Johnny Farnham, Rod Laver had just beaten Tony Roche to win Wimbledon and Lionel Rose beat Fighting Harada in Tokyo to become the world bantamweight boxing champion,” she says.
Firstmac is an Australian lender based in Brisbane that has been involved in providing home loans for 30 years. It was founded by Kim Cannon. Firstmac obtains its funding from residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) market, also known as securitisation.
Loans.com.au also announced it has cut its three-year fixed home loan rate to 5.35% (comparison rate 5.74%).
On Friday, ANZ cut its standard variable by 20 basis points to 6.6%
Here’s a guide to the lowest standard variable home loan offerings:
Lowest variable rate offerings:
<table width="470" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="134" valign="top">
Provider
</td>
<td width="124" valign="top">
Loan name
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
Rate
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="134" valign="top">
eMoney
</td>
<td width="124" valign="top">
Pro Pack 75
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
5.40%
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
5.73%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="134" valign="top">
Loans.com.au
</td>
<td width="124" valign="top">
Dream Catcher
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
5.46%
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
5.74%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="134" valign="top">
State Custodians
</td>
<td width="124" valign="top">
Standard variable offset
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
5.64%
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
5.81%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Lowest one-year fixed-rate offerings
<table width="470" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Provider
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Loan name
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
Rate
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Greater Building Society
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Ultimate Home  Loan Package Standard Fixed 1 year
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.29%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.04%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Greater Building Society
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Great Rate Fixed 1 year
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.34%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
5.89%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Newcastle Permanent
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Residential Fixed 1 year
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.38%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Lowest three-year fixed-rate offerings
<table width="470" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="133" valign="top">
Provider
</td>
<td width="133" valign="top">
Loan name
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
Rate
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133" valign="top">
Loans.com.au
</td>
<td width="133" valign="top">
Three-year fixed home loan
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
5.35%
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
5.74%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133" valign="top">
Newcastle Permanent
</td>
<td width="133" valign="top">
Residential Fixed 3 year
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
5.38%
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.04%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133" valign="top">
ME Bank
</td>
<td width="133" valign="top">
Super Member Fixed Three years
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
5.39%
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.05%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: Ratecity.com.au
*A comparison rate includes both the interest rate and the fees and charges relating to a loan, combined into a single percentage figure.
For information on refinancing, watch our free webinar <a target="_blank" href="/news">Refinancing and the Interest Rates Riddle</a>
</body></html>

Loans.com.au cuts standard variable offering to 5.46%: A guide to the lowest home loans in 44 years

<html><body>
The Adelaide detached housing market may be about to turn the corner but the unit market outlook is weaker with take up of new apartments remaining sluggish, according to the WBP Property Group.
The valuation and advisory firm places Adelaide houses at six o’clock on the property clock, indicating that the market has just bottomed out.
However, it says the unit market is still at five o’clock indicating that supply still exceeds demand.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/10/clock-generic.jpg">
<ul>
<li>At 12 o’clock the market is at its peak (demand exceeds supply)</li>
<li>At 3 o’clock the downswing has set in (an evenly supplied market)</li>
<li>By 6 o’clock it has bottomed out (an oversupplied market)</li>
<li>At 9 o’clock the market is rebounding (supply tightening)</li>
</ul>
WBP says the Adelaide residential market is showing “some signs of recovery, in particular well located stock that has realistic market expectations”.
"Property values appear to have stabilised in most parts of metropolitan Adelaide," says WBP.
However, it adds that recent announcements regarding BHP Billiton’s shelving of the Olympic Dam mining project expansion “may have a negative effect on the state economy and confidence”.
WPB says the Adelaide unit market is relatively flat “with a number of new unit apartment projects struggling to get off the ground as a result of lack of pre-sales and other funding issues”.
“Existing stock remains slow to move, with significant price reductions being experienced,” says WBP.
One of the biggest Adelaide apartment projects is the recently announced Mayfield mix-used urban regeneration project in the heart of the CBD, which will feature 427 apartments – including one-, two- and three-bedroom residences.
“Ongoing stamp duty incentives will only help projects like this succeed,” says WBP.
Under a two-year trial, stamp duty has been abolished for people who buy an apartment off the plan for under $500,000, but only in the Adelaide CBD and North Adelaide.
The $240 million Mayfield project covers the 7,377-square-metre site of the former Mayfield Electrics factory bordered by Sturt, Gilbert, Norman and Myers streets and is being developed by Sturt Land, having been designed by architects Woods Bagot.
In her departing speech as presiding member Adelaide City Council Development Assessment Panel (DAP) earlier this month, Shanti Ditter said developers needed to build a variety of dwellings including those that cater for families.
"DAP has expressed its concern that if that were to continue, the city will see lots of one and two bedroom apartments which will drive a particular sector of the market or demographic and potentially leave out another sector of the demographic that might be interested in living in the city,” said Ditter in a speech reported in The Australian.
According to the latest RP Data-Rismark monthly index, Adelaide house prices are up 1.1% to $385,000 for the three months to September 30 while unit prices have risen 3.4% over the same time frame to a median value of $315,000.
Adelaide first-home buyers can access the $7,000 first-home owner grant as well as up to $8,000 under a bonus grant that will cease from July 1, 2013.
</body></html>

Adelaide detached housing market has bottomed out but sluggish unit market still in a downswing: WBP

<html><body>
Finance broker Darren Moffatt has launched a beta-version of his social networking property site Housenet.com.au
The website bills itself as Facebook and Twitter for the property industry and is aimed at linking property owners, vendors and estate agents in an online community.
Moffatt says his aim is to get 20,000 members signed onto <a href="https://www.housenet.com.au/" target="_blank">Housenet.com.au</a> by January.
He said the estate agent response has been strong, but consumers and investors are now the fastest-growing sector of the user base.
“The number of listings has exceeded expectations at this early stage,” he says.
Housenet's features include a "property people" page where estate agents, mortgage brokers, developers and anyone involved in the industry can create a profile of themselves, connect with "friends" in the industry and link through to their property listings in the "marketplace".
<a href="https://www.housenet.com.au/" target="_blank"><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/stories/2012/10/housenet2.jpg"></a>
Other features include an industry directory, blogging platform, forums and industry discussions groups.
Current users include property commentator, author and investor Jane Slack-Smith, McGrath agent for Ballina and Byron Bay Daniel Parker and regular Property Observer contributor and Richardson &amp; Wrench agent Robert Simeon. 
The website, which is based on a year of development and talking with people in the property industry, allows members to control their Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles from their Housenet account.
All content created on a user's Housenet profile can be distributed to their various social networking presences simultaneously.
Moffatt says this aspect of the website is revolutionary and cannot be done anywhere else.
Housenet also includes a marketplace, which provides an opportunity for Housenet.com.au members – be they consumers or estate agents – to list property for sale, rent or available as share accommodation as well as the opportunity to sell household goods.
Businesses and organisations can also create a profile on the website, and there is also an events calendar for open for inspections, open houses, industry events or social drinks.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
Century 21 Australia, eChoice Home Loans and a number of Elders Real Estate branches have pages on Housenet.
Estate agents can upload statistics about their sales – prices, clearance rates, types of properties sold – which are then turned into charts on profile pages.
The site provides for the ability for others to rate and comment on listings, but also for the ability to switch off this function.
A basic subscription is free for both industry participants and consumers.
A free subscription includes the ability to join via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, list property for sale with up to four images and create a profile page for a house or rental property.
Add-on features for consumers are charged at $20 per month and include the ability to create a featured listing with more photos and video content and send emails to others Housenet members.
A full industry sign-up is $79 per month or $49 for more restricted features.
Agents can also create their own ads and purchase traditional banner advertising on the site.
The site includes property news and hotspots features provided by Property Observer, industry news from SOLD magazine, mortgage news from Australian Broker and property information and trends provided by Residex.
In an interview with Greg Vincent of real estate technology site Business2, Moffatt said the aim of the site is to empower real estate agents and other property industry professionals and consumers and bring them all together in a way that has not happened before.
“We are trying to create a new category of social real estate…and bridge the gap between property portals and social media,” says Moffatt.
For estate agents, Moffatt says it’s a way for agents to brand themselves and tell their story online.
He says on the big property portals “everybody looks the same” and it’s very hard to get your own personal brand out there.
“It creates more depth for your digital identity and expands your digital footprint, which will help drive business your way,” he says.
</body></html>

'Facebook' for housing market launched by mortgage broker Darren Moffatt

<html><body>
The Melbourne property market tread water over July, August and September with house prices rising 1% and unit prices falling 0.7%, according to the latest data from the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV).
In the September quarter, the Melbourne median house price increased from a revised June quarter median of $525,000 to $530,000 while unit prices fell from a median $445,000 to $442,000.
The previous unrevised June quarter median was $535,000.
REIV CEO Enzo Raimondo says once consumer confidence returns, capital growth will return.
Currently though, he says, prices remain stable as home buyers and sellers continue to act cautiously.
“The pattern this year has been low transactions and prices at the level they were in early 2010,” says Raimondo.
“A combination of lower interest rates, lower prices, an improving clearance rate and small improvements in consumer confidence should sow the seeds of a recovery in the residential housing market.”
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width: 470px;">
<colgroup>
<col width="373">
<col>
<col width="102">
<col>
<col width="119">
<col>
<col width="96">
<col>
<col width="113">
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="21">
<td width="373" height="21">Inner Melbourne Median Prices</td>
<td width="102"></td>
<td width="119"></td>
<td width="96"></td>
<td width="113"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="64">
<td height="64">House Prices</td>
<td width="102">Sep-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="119">% chg to last q</td>
<td width="96">Jun-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="113">% chg to quarter last year</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Original</td>
<td>$830,000</td>
<td>-3.3%</td>
<td>$858,250</td>
<td>-2.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Seasonally adjusted</td>
<td>$832,089</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
<td>$840,196</td>
<td>-3.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Trend</td>
<td>$834,211</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
<td>$837,646</td>
<td>-3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="64">
<td height="64">Unit and Apartment Prices</td>
<td width="102">Sep-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="119">% chg to last q</td>
<td width="96">Jun-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="113">% chg to quarter last year</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Original</td>
<td>$486,000</td>
<td>-1.8%</td>
<td>$495,000</td>
<td>-2.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Seasonally adjusted</td>
<td>$487,631</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>$487,533</td>
<td>-2.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Trend</td>
<td>$487,248</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
<td>$488,157</td>
<td>-2.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Middle Melbourne Median Prices</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="64">
<td height="64">House Prices</td>
<td width="102">Sep-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="119">% chg to last q</td>
<td width="96">Jun-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="113">% chg to quarter last year</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Original</td>
<td>$585,250</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>$585,000</td>
<td>-1.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Seasonally adjusted</td>
<td>$590,535</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
<td>$581,986</td>
<td>-1.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Trend</td>
<td>$589,705</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
<td>$583,673</td>
<td>-1.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="64">
<td height="64">Unit and Apartment Prices</td>
<td width="102">Sep-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="119">% chg to last q</td>
<td width="96">Jun-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="113">% chg to quarter last year</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Original</td>
<td>$465,000</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
<td>$460,000</td>
<td>-1.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Seasonally adjusted</td>
<td>$461,335</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
<td>$460,653</td>
<td>-2.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Trend</td>
<td>$461,874</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>$459,161</td>
<td>-1.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Outer Melbourne Median Prices</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="64">
<td height="64">House Prices</td>
<td width="102">Sep-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="119">% chg to last q</td>
<td width="96">Jun-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="113">% chg to quarter last year</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Original</td>
<td>$422,000</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>$422,000</td>
<td>-1.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Seasonally adjusted</td>
<td>$426,617</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
<td>$421,162</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Trend</td>
<td>$426,289</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
<td>$422,649</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21"></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr height="64">
<td height="64">Unit and Apartment Prices</td>
<td width="102">Sep-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="119">% chg to last q</td>
<td width="96">Jun-12 Quarter</td>
<td width="113">% chg to quarter last year</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Original</td>
<td>$346,500</td>
<td>-2.4%</td>
<td>$355,000</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Seasonally adjusted</td>
<td>$347,861</td>
<td>-1.8%</td>
<td>$354,205</td>
<td>-0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Trend</td>
<td>$350,475</td>
<td>-0.3%</td>
<td>$351,365</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The REIV has also, for the first time, introduced seasonally adjusted and trend quarterly data.
Seasonally-adjusted data takes into account seasonal, calendar-related movements while trend data reflects the long term movement of the median price and is considered as the underlying direction of the median price.
REIV spokesperson Robert Larocca says the seasonal data is more applicable to the December and March quarter data, when it will reflect seasonal variations.
“We have a lot more auctions in the December quarter and a lot fewer in March, which means that movement in the median price, in original terms, tends to be overstated in December and understated in March.
“It gives an additional level of analysis."
On a trend basis Melbourne house prices rose 1.8% while unit prices rose 0.8% with the more affordable middle and outer suburbs trending up and the more expensive inner city properties trending marginally down.
“REIV analysis of the market shows prices are beginning to trend upwards, particularly in the middle and outer suburbs. In trend terms the inner city median has dropped by 0.4% this quarter compared to an increase of 1% in the middle suburbs and 0.9% in the outer suburbs,” says Raimondo.
The highest growth was recorded in Thornbury where the median has increased by 11.4% to $750,000, in Yarraville with an 8.8% increase to $615,000 and Preston which recorded an 8.2% increase to $598,000.
The fringe suburbs of Mitcham, Cranbourne, Croydon, Greensborough and Rowville also recorded strong growth in demand and median prices over the quarter.
“Improvements in the middle and affordable price segments are also reflected in the fact that the median price of a house sold at auction dropped by 1.3% to $691,000 whilst one sold by private sale increased by 0.2% to $461,000.
In regional Victoria the median house price rose by a marginal 0.7% to $307,000 but are trending flat (-0.1%) while regional unit prices fell 1.7% in original terms to a median of $242,000 with prices trending down (-0.8%).
The three main regional recorded mixed results with the median price of a house in Ballarat increasing by 1.8% to $285,000, in Bendigo it dropped by 2% in the quarter to $301,000 and in Geelong there was a 6.1% to $362,000.
</body></html>

Melbourne property market treads water in September quarter but seeds sown for recovery: REIV

<html><body>
ANZ has cut its variable mortgage rates by 20 basis points today following its monthly interest rate review.
The bank's new standard variable mortgage rate will be 6.0% per annum (6.7% per annum comparison rate). but borrowers must wait until October 19 for the reduced rate to kick in - that's 17 days after the RBA cut the cash rate and the longest wait of all for big four mortgage holders.
It is also five days longer than ANZ usually takes to pass on cash rate cuts, according to recent research by the<a href="/news"> Economic Record</a>. 
The 0.2 percentage point decrease will save customers about $10.75 per week or $560 per year for the average home loan of $280,000.
NAB (new standard variable rate of 6.58%) and Commonwealth Bank (6.6%) have already passed on their rate cuts, with Westpac borrowers having to wait until Monday for the new SVR of 6.71% to take effect.
“Recent stability in wholesale funding markets has been offset by the impact of intense competition for retail deposits as banks seek to improve their funding mix in response to market and regulatory pressures," explanied ANZ Australia chief executive Philip Chronican.
“While this increase in competition is benefiting the majority of our customers through historically high deposit rates relative to the cash rate, last week’s decision from the RBA has provided some scope to once again reduce our variable lending rates."
Variable rates for small business lending will decrease by 20 basis points from October 19.
</body></html>

ANZ cuts variable rates by 20 basis points but borrowers must wait until October 19

<html><body>
Giddy-up punters, short odds are now on a Melbourne Cup Day rate cut on November 6, according to both economists polled by Bloomberg and interest rate futures markets.
The latest Bloomberg poll shows that 21 out of 26 economists polled expect the RBA to cut the cash rate in November.
In addition, swaps traders are pricing in an 80% chance of a cut on November 6.
They’re certainly a lot better odds than Dare to Dream, the three-year-old filly priced at 61 to 1. Mount Athos is the favourite at 8 to 1.
Last year French horse Dunaden won by a nostril from Red Cadeaux. Punters might also remember that the RBA cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.5% on Melbourne Cup Day last yer, the first rate cut since April 2009, when the cash rate fell to 3%.
A rate cut on Melbourne Cup Day this year would bring the cash rate to that historic low, and who knows, perhaps Glenn Stevens, who has been under scrutiny on several fronts, might pick the winning horse as well.
Of the five economists not tipping a rate cut in November – three are well-known foreign-based institutions – Moody’s, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs and another is also a global entity, Capital Economics, a macro-economic research firm.
The only Australian institution tipping rates to remain on hold is Ausbil Dexia, a boutique fund manager.
</body></html>

Punters can more than ‘Dare to Dream’ about a Melbourne Cup Day cash rate cut: Bloomberg

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

<main data-perf-region="main">
Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Larry Schlesinger

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News