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US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has received celestial praise from AMP Capital Investors chief economist Shane Oliver for his handling of the US economy and this week's announcement of new housing stimulus efforts.
Oliver, who is also head of investment strategy at AMP Capital Investors, tweeted:
<a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneOliverAMP" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/olivertweet1.jpg"></a>
Oliver's praise follows the announcement this week that that US Federal Reserve would start buying US$40 billion of mortgage-backed bonds every month.
No end date has been set for the scheme.
The securitisation of mortgage loans (where loans are packaged together and then sold to investors) collapsed in the wake of the GFC and remains in a subdued state. 
“Buying those bonds should translate into lower mortgage interest rates, speeding up the tentative recovery of the housing market,” noted  Peter Coy, Bloomberg Businessweek's economics editor.
“The Fed is betting that a stronger housing market will help lift the overall economy, which remains stuck in low gear more than three years past the end of the 2007-09 recession.”
The Australian government also supported the securitisation of loans when it agreed to buy mortgage-backed securities from Australian lenders. To date the AOFM has invested $12.7 billion in 45 residential mortgage-backed securitisation (RMBS) issues.
For more insights from Shane Oliver, <a href="https://www.ampcapital.com.au/news/olivers-insights.asp" target="_blank">visit a dedicated section of AMP's website.</a>
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Shane Oliver praises God for Ben Bernanke’s handling of US economy: Tweet of the day 

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Mortgage comparison website Mozo is offering its members the opportunity to secure up to 1% off the advertised variable rate of a big four bank in a “mystery bank home loan deal”, but the deal does not seem much sweeter than what borrowers who take up advertised packaged home loan offerings can secure.
“This month we're excited to launch Australia's first ever Mystery Bank home loan deals, exclusively for Mozo members! Right now, a Big 4 Bank is offering Mozo members a secret rate discount of up to 1%, in an amazing value deal that could save you over $100,000,” says Mozo in its promotional material.
Savings are calculated on the current Mozo Mystery Bank variable rate of 5.93% for a $500,000 loan, versus the current average big four bank standard variable rate of 6.82% and assumes a loan term of 25 years.
The bank involved is a mystery, although it appears to be the Commonwealth Bank.
The comparison website has not revealed the identity of the lender, but calls made to the big four banks by the Herald Sun yesterday resulted in outright denials of involvement from Westpac and ANZ, while the NAB noted it had been keen to explore opportunities with Mozo but has "taken the decision that this is not commercially sustainable at this time".
Commonwealth Bank would neither confirm nor deny its involvement in the offer.
After publication by Property Observer this morning, a spokesperson for Commonwealth Bank said the bank would not comment.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/mozo.jpg">
Publicly, the Commonwealth Bank has an advertised standard variable rate of 6.8% with a full offset option.
It offers a 0.8% discount for all customers who take up a packaged offer ( a rate of 6%), which includes some savings on banking fees, a Mastercard credit card with no annual fee but also comes with an annual fee of $375. To be eligible loan balances must be at least $150,000.
Mozo managing director Rohan Gamble is promising huge savings of more than $80,000 over the life of a $500,000 loan or $277 a month when compared with the average big four bank standard variable rate.
But critics suggest the promotion appears to trivialise what is an important financial decision for most borrowers, comparing it with “ ‘mystery hotel’ deals – where five-star hotel rooms can be booked at a huge discount".
A press release issued by Mozo suggests the main winner will be the bank involved.
"The mystery bank service allows the banks to grab fast market share by offering time limited, exclusive deals to rate sensitive borrowers who want to be with a trusted lender," says  Gamble.
"In return, the banks get access to a new source of quality customers without having to broadcast cheap rates to the entire marketplace."
"Unlike mystery hotels, you do find out who the bank is before you apply," adds Gamble.  "So you have plenty of time to change your mind.
"But you won't find this level of discount being offered openly by any of the big banks.  And the rates are so good that you won't find them every day."
Research by Property Observer reveals that all the other major banks are also offering large discounts for borrowers who take up the package offerings.
In addition, rival mortgage comparison website RateCity, says there are almost 400 variable home loans in its database offering  a discount of up to 1.75% for either the life of the loan or a short period.
NAB offers borrowers a 0.7% discount off its standard variable rate for loans of $250,000 or more if they take up its package offering.
Westpac is offering a 0.9% variable rate discount for borrowers who take up its Premier Advantage Package offering. Total borrowings must be $500,000 or more.
ANZ is offering a standard variable rate discount of up to 0.8% for total lending of $500,000 and above and up to 0.7% off the standard variable rate for total lending under $500,000 as part of its Breakfree package.
To become members of Mozo and participate in the offering, borrowers only have to enter their contact details and await a phone call from a Mozo “home loan expert” – Mozo holds its own Australian credit licence – who will provide “factual information” about the loan and then refer borrowers on to the bank.
The offer is available for both new borrowers and those looking to refinance with participants asked to have details of their loan provider and home loan product, property details and employment details handy.
The discount applies to loans up to $1 million and is for a loan product that includes an offset account.
Mortgage products that include an offset account reduce the interest you pay on your home loan by offsetting the balance in your offset account against the balance of your home loan.
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Mozo offers borrowers up to 1% discount in gimmicky ‘mystery’ variable home loan deal seemingly through Commonwealth Bank

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Fewer Melbourne inner-city and middle suburban residential listings augers well for rising clearance rate and strong demand in the later months of spring, according property advisory group Wakelin.
“A slower-than-usual increase in new residential property supply in spring may well underpin prices and auction clearance rates in the inner and middle suburbs of Melbourne,” says Wakelin in a new blog.
“Our sense, as things stand, is that spring 2012 will be characterised by reasonably good demand.
“That's based on our experience of the winter market which saw robust competition amongst buyers at many auctions in our inner and middle suburbs off the back of improved affordability stemming from lower prices and interest rates.”
Wakelin says that from discussions with a “broad number of industry colleagues, it looks like supply will be tighter than usual at the start of spring, and that the increase in supply we characteristically see in October may not happen”.
“We could be looking at a late run of supply in November and early December,” says the firm.
If Wakelin is right about demand building and constrained supply, this should result in a substantial rise in auction clearance rates rise and “prices firming with the possibility of some early spring capital growth”.
Melbourne achieved an auction clearance rate of 61% from 466 auctions last weekend, with a median price of $710,000 for houses and $540,000 for units.
Momentum is building in September, with 680 auctions listed this weekend and 740 next weekend.
Wakelin, headed by Melbourne property analyst Monique Sasson Wakelin, expects that recovery is likely to felt first in areas where supply is relatively scarce and finite – “established houses and apartments in our inner and middle ring suburbs”.
“Avoid property where supply is plentiful and theoretically infinite such as high rise apartments in the CBD and properties on new estates in our fringe suburbs.
In terms of price, Wakelin expects the sub-$600,000 market to recover first.
"This is where first home buyers and most investors operate. First home buyers, in particular, benefit most from falling interest rates, given their reliance on borrowing and low equity."
Ahead of the spring selling season, Melbourne online residential listings increased by 5.9% to just under 51,194 properties for sale, according to data compiled by SQM Research.
This followed a July decline of 12.6% with listings coming to a total of 48,322.
Year-on-year, Melbourne listings are up 14.% - in August last year there were 44,859 properties listed for sale in Melbourne.
Burrowing down into the SQM data suggests Wakelin may be right on the inner city with postcode 3000 – the Melbourne CBD – showing 891 listings in Melbourne in August, with listings trending down since about March this year.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept141.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept141thumb.gif"></a>
Source: SQM Research
A more pronounced trend can be seen in the suburb of Kensington, about four kilometres north-west of the CBD, dating back to October last year:
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept142.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept142thumb.gif"></a>
Source: SQM Research
Listings are also declining in South Yarra, just south of the city:
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept143.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept143thumb.gif"></a>
Source: SQM Research
However some affluent suburbs like Toorak show a big jump in listings in August, well up on August 2011:
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept144.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/09/sqmsept144thumb.gif"></a>
Source: SQM Research
Wakelin says that spring is often viewed as a testing ground by prospective vendors and buyers and expects that if the property market perform wells in September performs well in terms of clearance rates and pricing, it may encourage other buyers and sellers into the market.
“A late run to Christmas may also set a positive tone for the 2013 market when it re-opens in early February. And this would augur well for prospects in 2013.”
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Strong spring selling season ahead for inner and middle Melbourne suburbs if supply remains constrained: Wakelin Property

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Immigration trends, vacancy rates, housing undersupply and employment prospects all favour Queensland and Western Australia to lead the next phase of housing market growth over the next two to three years, according to BIS Shrapnel.
But the stars are not lining up in Victoria, with BIS Shrapnel’s team of forecasters and economists tipping up to four years of pain and downturn for its economy and housing markets.
“There is a lot of pain to come for Victoria, and there is a danger of the state going into a longer downward cycle,” warns BIS Shrapnel managing director Robert Mellor.
The pessimistic outlook for Victoria was repeated by BIS Shrapnel chief economist Frank Gelber, who apologised for such a dark outlook for the state given his comments were made in Melbourne in front of Victorian building industry participants.
“The weakness we have seen in Melbourne so far is only just the beginning,” he says.
Gelber is also critical of the Victorian state government for pulling back on infrastructure investment and stimulus measures, including ending the $13,000 first-home bonus at the end of June.
The Queensland state government is also reining in spending and culling its civil service, but the state has the benefit of the mining boom and is also supporting new housing construction through the just-introduced $15,000 first-home owner construction grant.
Taking a look a recent immigration data, Angie Zigomanis, senior manager at BIS Shrapnel, says there is already evidence of a pick-up in overseas migration – not to the 2009-10 high of nearly 300,000, but expected to reach around 250,000 people by 2013-14. A drop in overseas student numbers due to the high Australian dollar will prevent migration reaching previous highs, he says.
“Of this increase, WA and Queensland are expected to see the biggest improvement as their economies post some of the strongest growth and also attract strong numbers of interstate migration,” says Zigomanis.
WA in particular is picking up a great share of new overseas arrivals – 20% currently, compared with a long-run historical average of 13%, according to ABS figures.
The rise in immigration will cause population growth to pick up from around 1.34% in 2010-11 to reach 1.73% in 2013-14, with proportionally greater shares of growth in WA and Queensland, says BIS Shrapnel.
Both these states, along with NSW, also have significant dwelling stock deficiencies, while Victoria has been building too many new apartments and houses.
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="479" colspan="4" valign="top">
Dwelling stock deficiency as at June of year (- indicates oversupply)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
2011
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
2012 estimate
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
2013 forecast
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
2014 forecast
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
NSW
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
28,900 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
38,600 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
49,400 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
52,800 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Victoria
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
4,700 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-6,600 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-12,700 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-15,000 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Queensland
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
4,900 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
14,900 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
29,900 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
45,400 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
South Australia
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-2,100 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-2,400 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-1,500 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-100 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
WA
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
2,300 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
16,900 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
33,800 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
46,000 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Tasmania
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-1,900 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-3,100 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-4,000 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-4,100 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
NT
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
300 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
500 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
1,100 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
1,700 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
ACT
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
0 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-1,200 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-2,300 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
-3,200 units
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Australia
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
37,200 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
57,500 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
93,700 units
</td>
<td width="120" valign="top">
123,500 units
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source BIS Shrapnel andABS
BIS Shrapnel forecasts a 15,000 dwelling unit oversupply in Melbourne by the 2014 financial year, but in contrast a 52,800-dwelling undersupply in NSW, an undersupplyof 45,400  in Queensland and an undersupply of 46,000 in WA.
Also in WA and Queenslands' favour are relatively more affordable capital city housing markets and tightening rental markets. In Melbourne vacancies are rising, while median house and unit prices remain elevated.
"In a suburb like Morley, about nine kilometres north of Perth, the vacancy rate is 0.48%. People have to camp outside a property overnight with the hope of a getting a foot in the door,” says Zigomanis.
Also in Queensland and WA’s favour are strong jobs markets supported by the mining boom and businesses that service this sector – while Victoria has relatively little exposure to the resources boom.
The bottom line is that NSW and the mining states are at different stages of the property cycle than Victoria.
“Victoria and some of the smaller states and territories have supported residential building activity in recent years,” says BIS Shrapnel in its September 2012 residential property report.
“We are now starting to see the situation reversed as their economies slow and recent high levels of construction have created emerging oversupplies in those markets.
“On the other hand NSW and the mining states are coming off relatively low levels of residential building and their economies are set to show strong growth over [the next two-year] forecast period.
“With the demographic need for dwellings expected to pick up in line with stronger population growth in these states, significant stock deficiencies are beginning to emerge, particularly in Sydney.
“This will help drive an upturn in residential building  in these states over the forecast period, which will outweigh the falls experienced in the other states and territories.”
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WA and Queensland housing markets to get demographic boost, but four years of cloudy skies for Victoria: BIS Shrapnel

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A pick-up in new housing construction in Australia is at least a year off, according to forecasts by BIS Shrapnel. 
The economic and building research firm is forecasting 1.4% year-on-year growth in new private dwellings in the current 2012-13 financial year, but then a big jump of 10.6% growth in the 2013-14 financial year. 
This improvement will coincide with an overall pick-up in transaction activity in the property market as a modest recovery kicks in, according to BIS Shrapnel. 
The main beneficiaries of the pick-up are expected be Queensland, WA and NSW – with the first two benefiting from both a historical shortfall in housing construction relative to demand as well as the flow-on impact of overseas and interstate jobseekers taking up jobs tied to the mining boom. This is a new trend, contrasting with new immigrants previously heading to Melbourne or Sydney. 
Undersupply issues will drive the NSW recovery, says BIS Shrapnel.
However, Victoria will not undergo a revival in new housing construction due to a surplus of building from 2009 to 2011, mostly in new apartment projects in the Docklands and the inner city, the firm says.
South Australia is forecast to undergo a third consecutive year-on-year slump in new dwelling construction of 12% in 2012/13, before activity picks up by a modest 7% in 2013/14. 
BIS Shrapnel chief economist Frank Gelber says the new dwelling construction outlook for Tasmania and the ACT are particularly weak.
In the case of WA, the new housing boom will start early with a 26% year-on-year increase in 2012/13 followed by a 17% year-on-year rise in the following year. 
Queensland new dwelling commencements will pick up by 10% in 2012/13 and then by 30% in 2013/14. 
The new housing sectors in NSW and Queensland will also be boosted by the introduction of $15,000 state government handouts for first-home buyers purchasing or building a new home - with the former kicking in on October 1 and the latter already commenced.
 However Victorian dwelling commencements are expected to fall 14% in 2012/13 and then by a further 9% in 2013/14 due to ‘overbuilding in the short term” with BIS Shrapnel figures showing the state built around 49,000 new dwelling per year against demand of just 38,000. 
Gelber says the oversupply issue in Victoria is a relatively modest one and he expects Victoria to grow in line with a second housing growth spurt in the second half of the decade.
“Victoria is paying the price for being overly optimisic," he says. 
“The recovery in private dwelling building at the national level will be welcomed by the building industry, that is expected to remain under pressure due to a few more quarters of week private non-dwelling building and continued declines in public sector building – both dwelling and non-dwelling,” says BIS Shrapnel in its economic outlook report for September.
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New housing construction recovery a year off and will be uneven: BIS Shrapnel's Frank Gelber

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The Reserve Bank is closely watching the housing market and will cut rates until they spark a recovery in the sector and other non-mining sectors, according to BIS Shrapnel chief economist Frank Gelber.
Speaking at the BIS Shrapnel September economic outlook conference, Gelber said he expected there would likely be two more rate cuts in the current cycle, though officially the research group’s position is only one rate cut.
Gelber said there had been some internal debate within BIS Shrapnel about interest rates.
“We need an undersupply of housing and an interest rate trigger to spark a recovery,” Gelber said.
“We need more rate cuts to help the housing sector, which is the sector the RBA is most closely looking at.”
He said interest rates in Australia were currently very high compared with other first-world countries, meaning the RBA had the ability to reduce them to stimulate housing and other non-mining sectors.
However he expected the Australian dollar to continue to remain strong over the next two years, unless there were an unlikely collapse in commodity prices – bad news for trade-exposed sectors like manufacturing, tourism and education services.
Gelber said he believed the mining boom had at least two years of solid investment growth, but after that the picture was uncertain.
During this time other sectors, including real estate, needed to ramp up their investment for the next phase of growth, said Gelber.
According to BIS Shrapnel, real estate is growing at around 3.2 per annum, compared with GDP of 3.7 – performing in the middle range of growth, with the strongest sector being wholesale trade (6.9%), with mining at 4.9% and the weakest being manufacturing – falling 3.1%
"There are huge disparities in sectors," Gelber said.
However, Gelber said that states like Victoria, which now had an oversupply of housing due to be too overly optimistic in the past, would miss out on the next phase of growth for the housing sector.
He expected the beneficiaries of the next growth phase to be the mining states of Queensland and WA, with NSW also benefiting.
“All the other states will miss out.”
Gelber said Tasmania was particularly badly off without any major investment or projects to sustain it.
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Two more rate cuts likely in this cycle, but Victoria to miss out on next phase of housing growth: BIS Shrapnel’s Frank Gelber

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Australia’s housing market is not heading for a crash but could undergo a decade-long period of stagnation with house prices declining in real terms, according to Residex CEO John Edwards.
Speaking to Peter Switzer on Sky Business this week, he said a stagnation in house prices was likely if “things continue to the way they are going and the government and RBA do not do the things they need to do” to stimulate a recovery.
“In real terms they are likely to fall marginally over the next decade,” Edwards said.
“A little pessimistic, I know,” he added.
According to Edwards, long-term stagnation only occurs during very severe recessionary or depressionary periods.
However, he said given what was happening in Europe and other parts of the world there could be a global crisis.
“We have one now, but it could get worse.”
Locally, he says the key factor is the unemployment rate.
But he tempered these comments by saying that even in periods when things go badly, property tended to do better than other asset classes.
“The stock market is much more volatile – and you see something [like a crash] much more often.
“Housing remains the best in terms of investment and the lowest and safest risk option."
Looking at the current capital city housing market, he said the bottom line was that the housing market had improved somewhat over the last few months.
But he said Residex data indicated the housing market was very fragile.
“It has been improving, but it has been in and out of correction in recent times."
Residex has Australian house prices down around 1.4% to a median of $430,00 for the year to July and unit prices up 0.8% to a median value of $401,500.
Edwards said Sydney was now doing OK and Brisbane is “well out of its correction phase” but Melbourne “looks like it is about to enter a correction phase”.
Edwards said rental rates would rise substantially above inflation due a shortage of rental property.
“Across the market there are good places to be and bad places to be.”
“Generally the unit market is doing better than houses because of better affordability.
“This is the market that is going to perform best provided we don’t have oversupply issues like markets like Melbourne,” said Edwards.
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No Australian housing crash, but market could stagnate for a decade: Residex’s John Edwards

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There is a diverse array of homes and apartments to buy under the magical $300,000 mark, according to valuers from Herron Todd White (HTW).
According to July ABS housing finance figures, the average size of an owner-occupier home loan in Australia fell $1,100 over the month to sit just above this benchmark at $300,500.
In Sydney, recommendations range from studio apartments in the highly regarded inner suburbs of Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills to less fashionable 1960s and 1970s units in The Shire.
Current listings under $300,000 include this Potts Point north-facing studio (pictured below) with “a pleasant outlook over a common courtyard and located only minutes to the action and chic nightlife off Potts Point or Darlinghurst”.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/09/wardave.jpg">
It is being offered for sale by James Peach from BresicWhitney Estate Agents Darlinghurst, who is seeking offers in excess of $245,000. It last sold for $166,000 in September 2005. Local agents Laing Real Estate have no listings under $300,000 on its website, but did sell an <a href="https://www.laing.com.au/wp-content/plugins/Realty/display/elements/print_property_pdf.php?property_id=154387">$280,000 Roslyn Gardens </a>studio Aquarius apartment earlier this year. It was a 26 sq m apartment which was shortly after available for $320 a week.
For investors looking for something around $300,000 mark in the Shire, Justin Buck from Cronulla Real Estate is offering a one-bedroom apartment in an older-style brick block of 10 with an asking price of $310,000 (pictured below). The property last sold for $114,000 in 1997. It sold for $18,500 in 1976.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/09/croydonst.jpg">
According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.htw.com.au/">HTW</a>, rental returns for a $300,000 investment can be fairly attractive in inner Sydney.
“You can generally expect to get a 5% to 7% rental return on your property and vacancy rates are extremely low for most areas of inner Sydney.
“The type of property purchased at this price point is likely to be low maintenance due to the basic level of accommodation being either a studio or one-bedroom unit.”
HTW says it sees many investors at the $300,000 price point lured in by these low vacancy rates and good yields and they therefore tend to dominate this price point.
“The downside of investing in these types of properties is the relatively low capital growth.”
Here’s a rundown of what you can buy with $300,000 in your “Hello Kitty coin purse” in NSW:
1. Cronulla (southern suburbs): a basic 1960s or 1970s with no car accommodation
2. Lakemba and Wiley Park (outer inner-west ring suburbs):  standard two-bedroom unit with a car space
3. Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills (inner city): a studio unit of 30 square metres or less
4. Ultimo (inner city): Accommodation in Unilodge complex is leased to students with prices starting from $160,000 for a 14-square-metre, very basic room
5. Penrith and St Mary’s (outer west): plenty of two- bedroom units under $300,000. However, in certain pockets just under $300,000 can secure an entry-level dwelling (fibrous or vinyl clad) on a good-sized land parcel.
6. Blacktown/Mount Druitt (outer north): units in this price range with $350 to 400 per week
7. Liverpool and Fairfield: lots of affordable units under $300,000, with a high rental return and plenty of public transport and shops, investors and first-home owners are potential buyers
8. Wollongong: older-style houses in southern suburbs such as Unanderra, Cringila, Berkeley, Warrawong, Dapto, Warilla, Mount Warrigal and Barrack Heights. These will generally be 1950s to 1960s brick or fibro two and three- bedroom dwellings in fair condition and without major updates. Those properties closer to the beach offer better long-term capital growth and rental returns of around 5% gross.
9. Wollongong CBD and North Wollongong: One and two-bedroom units. These will be older 1960s to 1970s walk-up style units generally with off street or single car parking.
10. Central Newcastle: Around $300,000 will buy you an older style small unit comprising one or two- bedrooms.
11. Kurri Kurri, Weston, Cessnock, Medowie and Telarah (Newcastle satellite areas): entry level properties
12. Wyong (central coast): recent sales under $300,000 include an older, three- bedroom home with garage and carport, a two- bedroom villa
13. Halekulani, next to Budgewoi (central coast): bursting with properties priced at around the $300,000 mark, with HTW calling these two locations “the unsung heroes of the region” with good shopping, schools, lake and beaches. A partly renovated three-bedroom hardiplank with garage recently sold for $281,000, which HTW says is a good representation of the values. Gross yields in this area are approaching 6%.
14. NSW mid-north coast: Houses can be picked up for $215,000 in Taree and $200,000 in Kempsey. In both of these inland centres vacant land typically sells for around $75,000 to $125,000, meaning “all but the most modern of dwellings can be acquired for under $300,000". HTW says former Department of Housing dwellings usually sell for under $150,000 while a wide selection of houses dating from the 1960s and 1970s are affordably priced at around $200,000.
15. Taree West: HTW recommends solid 1980s brick houses in and around Ritchie Crescent that are priced around $225,000.
16. Port Macquarie: detached houses are limited to smaller, older houses in central locations around Hills Street and Hudson Avenue. “We consider these quite reasonable value for money given their good location and potential for redevelopment,” says HTW. Alternatively the valuation firm says location can be traded for comfort, and a small modern three- bedroom single garage house on the city fringe in areas near Sherwood Road or Greenmeadows Drive on small blocks of land under 400 square metres in size.
17. Forster: a wide selection of small dated houses on small blocks that can be acquired for around $225,000 in and around Short Street. HTW recommends property in and around Forster Primary School for just under $300,000.
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From Potts Point to the central coast: 17 property investment options in NSW for under $300,000: HTW 

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<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/2point4m.jpg">
The price paid for 485-square-metre premises occupied by KFC and Video Ezy at 770 Albany Creek Road, Albany Creek in Brisbane’s outer north-west. The property stands on a 2,619-square-metre site and includes 18 car bays. Annual net income is $168,000, reflecting an initial yield of 7.05%. The property was sold by Sam Hatcher from Jones Lang LaSalle. It was sold from one private investor to another.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/200kplus.gif">
How much a 60-square-metre medical strata unit at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast is expected to sell for when it goes to auction later this month. The property at 4/2437 Gold Coast Highway will be sold as part of Colliers International Gold Coast spring auction portfolio, to be held in the Colliers International office at Circle of Cavill in Surfers Paradise on September 20. The strata unit is in a complex of around a dozen. Unit four in situated on the ground floor of the two-level building. It was previously occupied by Brisbane-based Psycare. James Crawford of Colliers International is running the auction campaign for the property and says it would be ideal for an owner-occupier, with rates possibly lower than what is being paid in rent to a landlord. The unit includes underground car parking and has three consulting rooms, as well as a reception area and a kitchen.
 
<hr>
 
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/2m.gif">How much Stockland is seeking for three remaining development sites forming part of the Allisee development on the Gold Coast. The three Hollywell properties are being marketed by Darrell Irwin and Scott Zahner of Colliers International special projects division. The three medium-density residential development sites, consisting of lots 6, 7 and 10 at 323 Bayview Street, total 8,679 square metres and are being offered for sale in one line. Lot 6 has a total area of 1,342 square metres, lot 7 has a total area of 2,935 square metres and lot 10 has a total area of 4,402 square metres. Zahner says interest has predominantly come from development groups, both local and interstate. The three remaining parcels of land are located within the secure gated environment of the Allisee residential project, which has 180 metres of direct frontage to the Gold Coast Broadwater foreshore. The Allisee project occupies a 6.3-hectare waterfront site on the corner of Bayview Street and Columbus Drive at Hollywell, on the Gold Coast’s north shore. It comprises 196 two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses over seven six-storey buildings.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/632k.gif">The price paid for a recently refurbished professional office on the southern side of Toowoomba’s CBD. The corner site property at 647 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba, was sold to local business, Retire Invest (RI) Toowoomba, by Mark Wynhoven and John Smith of Ray White Commercial Toowoomba. The refurbished 838-square-metre office site features 203 square metres of gross floor area and was suited to RI Toowoomba’s operations. The building underwent a high-quality refurbishment in October 2009 and is fully air-conditioned and data cabled and features a kitchenette as well as male, female and disabled amenities.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/09/6point3m6point5m.gif">The price a 5,390-square-metre freestanding office/warehouse facility in Huntingwood, Western Sydney, is expected to sell for. It is currently leased to Just Jeans to December 2013. Located at 11 Huntingwood Drive, it has been listed for sale for the first time since it was built. It stands on a total land area of 13,280 square metres and comprises ground floor office space, functional warehouse space, four loading docks, two roller shutter doors and a large yard area.  It is being sold CBRE’s Greg Pike and Matthew Flynn on behalf of vendor Heathley Limited. Pike says the property is being targeted owner-occupiers looking to capitalise on a lack of quality industrial stock being offered for sale across western Sydney. The property is situated within the prime Western Sydney location of Huntingwood, in close proximity to the Great Western Highway and M4 Motorway. It is offered for sale by private treaty.
 
 
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Commercial hammer prices: Stockland seeks $2 million for three Gold Coast development sites

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Australian dwelling starts rose by 4.6% in the June quarter to 34,116 – the first rise in five quarters – boosted by a 19% rise in apartment starts, which reached 13,011, according to new ABS figures.
However, in the more depressed detached new housing sector, starts fell 1.7% to 20,523 to be at their lowest level in more than a decade (June 2001 quarter).
New housing starts are down 10.7% year-on-year, while unit starts are down 4.9% year-on-year.
Over the year to June 139,349 dwellings were commenced down 2.7% on the prior year.
The 11-year low for new housing starts comes a day after the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/the-%2415000-queensland-first-home-owner-construction-grant-what-first-home-buyers-need-to-know/2012091156510" target="_blank">Queensland state government introduced a new $15,000 first home owner construction grant</a> taking effect today.
A similar scheme will take effect in NSW from October 1.
“The announcement of additional assistance to Queensland’s housing construction sector in the 2012?13 State Budget is likely to see a sustained increase in Queensland housing construction,” says Commonwealth Bank economist James McIntyre.
“Our broader housing construction outlook already incorporates a recovery in Queensland activity levels.”
Peter Jones, chief economist at Master Builders Australia (MBA), which successfully lobbied the Queensland government to introduce the new $15,000 construction grant, says the June figures are cold comfort for builders who continue to face very difficult operating conditions.
“Builders are struggling and with little joy in the forward indicators there is an urgent need for policy action at all levels of government.
“Further rate cuts from the Reserve Bank are needed to turn consumer pessimism around and ensure that demand recovers.
“Removing policies that work to restrict supply must be a focus for all governments. Policies that prevent the residential building industry meeting the serious undersupply of housing must be addressed. Poor land release strategies and inefficient developer charges should be the first place to start.
“The housing sector has been underbuilding for the past seven years and it is crucial that Australia’s residential building industry now embarks on a major growth phase to overcome the housing shortfall.
“Urgent reform is required to address supply bottlenecks otherwise a strong industry response to meet underlying demand cannot eventuate. This will exacerbate Australia’s housing affordability crisis, increasing rents and house prices as people chase less stock,” says Jones.
On a state-by-state basis, dwelling commencements increased by 25.9% in New South Wales, 2.8% in Victoria, 8.1% in Queensland and 68.8% in the Northern Territory.
HIA chief economist Dr Harley Dale pointed out that improvements in the June quarter were "narrowly based, primarily occurring in the non-detached dwelling segments of New South Wales and Victoria, which recorded impressive increases of 64.5% and 15.8%, respectively.
“This reflects the market’s response to policy changes in these two states," says Dale.
Seasonally adjusted dwelling commencements fell by 9.3% in South Australia, 6.1% in Western Australia, 5% in Tasmania, and 1% in the ACT.
The HIA says the June quarter figures confirm that Australia’s new home building sector fell back into recession in 2011-12
"To lift dwelling commencements off a GFC-equivalent low from 2012-13 requires policy reform and investment from federal and state governments, augmented by further interest rate deductions," says Dale.
"Too few governments in Australia are implementing the policies required to stem the negative consequences a persistently weak new housing sector is having on tens of thousands of Australian businesses and many more labour market participants.”
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Unit starts boost residential construction in June quarter but house starts fall to 11-year low: ABS

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=350986]

The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=359152]

The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

A rooftop pool and spa overlooking the Brisbane CBD, private dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens and a residents' lounge are set to crown <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/callista-on-park-west-end-49-mollison-street-west-end-qld-4101">Callista on Park</a>, the final residential building within Brisbane's West Village precinct.

The rooftop amenity collection has been designed as an extension of the lifestyle already established throughout West Village, providing residents with a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that capitalise on the building's elevated position above West End.

A swimming pool and heated spa form the centrepiece of the rooftop offering, surrounded by landscaped gardens developed through a collaboration between developer Sekisui House and ASPECT Studios. The design incorporates expansive lawn areas surrounded by English garden-inspired planting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370648]

Residents will also have access to two barbecue and outdoor dining areas positioned to take advantage of views across Brisbane's skyline, neighbouring Mollison Park, and the surrounding inner-city landscape.

For larger gatherings, the rooftop includes a private dining room centred around a substantial stone island bench, complete with a full kitchen and a 10-seat dining table set beneath four-metre-high ceilings. The space has been designed to overlook both the rooftop gardens and the Brisbane CBD skyline.

A separate residents' lounge provides an additional indoor retreat connected to the broader rooftop amenity offering, creating another space for residents to work, relax or entertain guests.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370647]

The attention to detail extends beyond the rooftop.

Upon arrival, residents will enter through a lobby featuring a bespoke ceiling light installation developed in collaboration between Sekisui House and Alcorn Middleton Architecture. The arrival experience is complemented by private resident mailboxes and carefully considered interior finishes designed to reflect the premium positioning of the building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=372541]

The amenity offering forms part of Callista on Park, the final residential release within the decade-long transformation of the former Peters Ice Cream Factory site into West Village, one of Brisbane's most established mixed-use communities.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>, Callista represents the most premium residential offering within the masterplanned precinct.

Construction is now entering its final stages, with scaffolding beginning to come down and completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Prices for the three-bedroom plus MPR apartments start from just over $2.6 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=351535]

Callista will mark the final opportunity to purchase within West Village, where residents have direct access to more than 35 retail, dining, wellness and medical operators including Harris Farm Markets, Woolworths, Function Well and Goodlife Health Clubs, Metro Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants and cafés.

Located just 800 metres from the Brisbane CBD, the precinct also places residents within walking distance of South Bank, West End's dining scene, riverfront parklands and major public transport connections.

For Sekisui House, which has delivered more than two million homes globally, Callista serves as the concluding piece of the West Village masterplan, bringing together the precinct's heritage character, parkland setting and emphasis on walkability in a final collection of larger-format residences.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134800]

Rooftop pool, private dining and skyline gardens to crown West Village's final apartment release, Callista on Park

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=262183]

Transport connectivity supports the suburb’s liveability without compromising its quieter residential character. Wahroonga and Turramurra train stations provide direct rail access into the Sydney CBD, while the nearby Pacific Highway and M1 motorway strengthen links across the North Shore and broader metropolitan area. At the same time, the heavily treed streetscape and low-density character continue to distinguish the precinct from more urbanised parts of Sydney.

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate forms the first stage of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a>’s broader masterplanned vision for the precinct, delivered alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=364995]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>, the development integrates landscaped communal spaces including a pet-friendly Green Spine, resident lounge, BBQ pavilion, and direct bushland access, reinforcing the project’s focus on outdoor connection and community-based living.

Now under construction by Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate will deliver a collection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $990,000, with completion anticipated in 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Larry Schlesinger

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