<html><body>
Locations as diverse as inner-Sydney’s Leichhardt, the Northern Territory’s Humpty Doo, home to the Big Boxing Crocodile, and well-to-do Victorian country towns like Kyenton head an exclusive list of just 25 suburbs that have managed average annual price growth of at least 10% since 2009, the end of the GFC.
The 25 suburbs are culled from the Smart Investor magazine’s top 601 suburbs list and include only those that also managed median dwelling growth of at least 10% growth during 2011.
The hotspot list is based on those suburbs where dwelling prices appreciated the greatest over the 12 months to December 2011.
The list is made up of nine suburbs in Sydney, nine locations in Victoria, three in the Northern Territory, two mining towns in Queensland (Moranbah and Blackwater) and one mining town each in South Australia (Ceduna) and Western Australia (South Hedland).
It includes the curious-sounding Humpty Doo, a small Northern Territory town that is home to the eight-metre-high Big Boxing Crocodile and perhaps less well known as housing hotspot.
Humpty Doo house prices have risen by 24.8% on average annually over the past three years, assisted by its close proximity (40 kilometres) to resource boom beneficiary Darwin. However, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Humpty Doo is also on RP Data's list of the slowest-selling localities in the Northern Territory</a>.
The standout performer in the past year is also in the Northern Territory – Tennant Creek, where median house prices increased by 24% over 2011 to a median of $230,000 and have risen by an average of 20.3% annually over the past three years.
The latest figures from RP Data show Tennant Creek house prices up 34.4% over the past 12 months with a median weekly rent of $357 and a median of $215,000 equating to a yield of around 8.6%.
Tennant Creek is one of two 2012 mining hotspots picked by Hotspotting.com.au’s Terry Ryder because of its “cattle properties, tourist attractions and mining sites”. Hotspotting.com.au forecasts annual long-term capital growth of 14% in Tennant Creek.
In Sydney, the inner-west suburb of Leichhardt is the standout performer, while the list is also notable for the inclusion of previously unfashionable locations such as the outlying suburb of Cabramatta, famous for its Vietnamese food and cheap Asian shops.
The Victoria list is notable for its lack of any Melbourne suburbs and inclusion of country towns along the Macedon Ranges route to Bendigo such as Hillside, Kyenton and Gisborne. The Victoria list also includes the Bendigo suburb of Strathdale and the Ballarat suburb of Soldiers Hill.
NSW
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
Median price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12 month growth in median price to Dec 2011
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Average annual growth over three years to Dec 2011
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Leichhardt units
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$617,500
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
22.3%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
16.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Canley Vale
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$443,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
16.6%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Hillsdale units
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$413,750
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
14.9%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Cabramatta units
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$258,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12.1%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
14.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Summer Hill units
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$499,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.6%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
11.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Ashfield units
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$478,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.4%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
11.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Condell Park houses
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$536,250
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.4%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Belfield houses
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$700,500
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.4%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Paddington units
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$600,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.1%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 Victoria
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Median house price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12 month growth in median price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Average annual growth over three years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
McCrae houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$632,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
19.2%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Drysdale houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$400,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
15.9%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
13.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Kyneton houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$380,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12.8%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
White Hills houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$380,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12.8%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
15%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Portarlington houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$415,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.3%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
11.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Castlemaine houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$325,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.2%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
9.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Gisborne houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$450,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
9.8%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
11.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Strathdale houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$360,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
9.7%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Soldiers Hill houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$285,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
9.6%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12.2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 NT
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
Median house price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12 month growth in median price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Average annual growth over three years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Tenant Creek houses
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$230,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
24.3%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
20.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Roseberry units
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$433,500
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
11.2%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Humpty Doo houses
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$525,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
8.8%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
24.8%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 Queensland
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Median house price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12 month growth in median price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Average annual growth over three years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Moranbah houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$615,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
25%+
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
16.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
Blackwater houses
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$365,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
16.7%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
10.6%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 South Australia
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
Median house price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12 month growth in median price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Average annual growth over three years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="140" valign="top">
Ceduna houses
</td>
<td width="107" valign="top">
$265,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12.8%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
16.5%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Western Australia
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Median house price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
12 month growth in median price
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Average annual growth over three years
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="130" valign="top">
South Hedland
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$750,000
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
7.9%
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
13.7%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Humpty Doo, home of the Big Boxing Crocodile, among eclectic mix of 25 post-GFC hotspot kings

<html><body>
The A-REITs sector will continue to consolidate and privatise unless stock prices rise to reflect the value of the assets they hold, listed property trust executives have warned.
Commonwealth Property Office fund manager Charles Moore says that if trusts continue to trade at a discount to their net tangible asset there will likely be a “slow burn to privatisation” as well as “consolidation in the A-REIT sector, where scale and liquidity, alongside performance, will play a more important role in maintaining relevance”.
Moore was speaking at the Australian Financial Review Commercial Property Conference this week following remarks by Investa chairman and chief executive Scott MacDonald that if stocks continued to trade at a discount “they will all get taken out and you will lose your A-REIT industry”.
Their comments follow the recent decision by shareholders of Charter Hall Office REIT to sell the company to a consortium of institutional investors from Singapore and Canadia. It will be delisted from the ASX in mid-April should all conditions of the agreement be met.
Goldman Sachs is forecasting a 2012 calendar year capital return for the REIT sector of 15.5%, a yield of 6.87% and a total return of 22.4%.
For the year to date (to March 22) the S&amp;P/ASX 200 A-REIT Sector is up just over 6% tracking below that of the benchmark S&amp;P/ASX 200, which is up 6.8%.
Moore has defended the asset sell-off initiated by many A-REITS since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 as well as implementing strategic reforms, calling these steps the “building blocks” for a recovery.
He says an improvement in returns generated by A-REITS should provide the incentive for retail investors to return to the sector after they abandoned it following the GFC, resulting in a collapse in values.
Also speaking at the same conference Carmel Hourigan, Lend Lease’s managing director of investment management in Australia, said A-REITS continued to be punished for the sins of the past.
She also says unlisted property trusts are again in favour with investors at the same time as super funds look to set up their own in-house property trusts.
However, she says A-REITs offer better long-term growth prospects for investors.
 
</body></html>

A-REITs facing ‘slow burn to privatisation’ unless stock prices rise: Charles Moore

<html><body>
While capital growth in Sydney units slowed down in the second half of 2011, it remains the only market segment to record positive growth during the whole year.
As a result commentators are fairly bullish and see room for more growth in 2012. Property valuers at WBP see more growth potential for affordably priced existing units (nine o’clock) than new unit stock (between 10 o’clock and 12 o’clock).
“New unit stock is fully valued with premium prices being achieved due to stock limitations and ‘non-market-related forces’,” says WBP.
“These include first-home buyer and investor new housing stimulus benefits under state government housing policy designed to encourage provision of new housing stock. History indicates markets can decline when stimulus-fuelled markets correct and properties are exposed to the market under normal market conditions without the hype.”
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/clocksydneyunits.jpg"><img src="/images/stories/clocksydneyunitsthumb.jpg"></a>
Time: Nine o'clock
However, WBP expects well-located affordable lifestyle units will continue to attract demand where the opportunity to buy a house is no longer feasible.
Metropole’s Michael Yardney says there is still strong demand from owner-occupiers for units but warns of a shortage of available “good” stock relative to demand, especially in the inner west and eastern suburbs.
“There are a lot of secondary properties for sale, and the market is not buying these,” he says.
“Strong rental demand, a shortage of rental properties, tightening vacancies and rising rents means investors will also vie for the same apartments as owner-occupiers, underpinning prices. The market for well-located apartments is likely to remain strong throughout the year, and this will be helped by falling interest rates.”
Century 21 chairman and owner Charles Tarbey also sees potential for price growth in Sydney houses and units.
“Sydney never reached the property price peak of the other states.  Stock continues to come onto the market but has steadied compared to this time last year,” says Tarbey.
Population: 4.57 million
Median unit price: $435,000 
Unit price growth in February 2012: 0.3% 
Annual unit price growth to December 2011: + 0.9% 
Annual unit price growth to July 2011: +2.6% 
Rental yield: 5% 
To find out where your capital city's house or unit market is on the property clock, <a target="_blank" href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-australias-autumn-2012-property-clock">download our free eBook.</a>
Property Observer also tracks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-house-prices-at-530-in-their-cycle-and-still-falling-experts/2012032253973">Sydney houses on the property clock</a>.
 
</body></html>

Sydney unit prices at nine o’clock in their cycle and rising: Experts

<html><body>
According to RP Data, the decline in Sydney house prices sped up slightly in the second half of 2011, but the overall decline has been modest compared with the likes of Brisbane and Melbourne.
Michael Yardney, found of property advisory company Metropole, places Sydney’s housing market at between three and five o’clock – meaning it still has a way to go before it bottoms out.
“Different segments of the market are at different stages of the property cycle. The top end of the market is at three o’clock with an oversupply of property relative to the reduced demand,” he says.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/clocksydneyhouse.jpg"><img src="/images/stories/clocksydneyhousethumb.jpg"></a>
Time: 5.30
“There is more demand for properties in the middle and end of the market – but it is still weak – at five o’clock.  Overall, prices are likely to rise between 3% and 5% this year.”
SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher says Sydney is close to bottoming out.
“Stock levels are falling away fairly quickly. Clearance rates have been stronger than expected, and vacancies are super tight, with rents growing at 6% to 7% compounded annually,” he says.
According to Christopher, Sydney is already outperforming the rest of Australia in a downturn. He says the investor hotspots are the outer suburbs and western Sydney.
Property valuation firm WBP puts Sydney’s prestige housing market at five o’clock (not yet at the bottom of the cycle), but the affordable housing market at eleven o’clock (rising).
According to WBP, prestige housing has the potential to fall further should “GFC 2” happen, forcing asset sales in a lacklustre market.
“Capital growth in this segment has been stagnant for some time. Significant vendor discounting is required to achieve sales and avoid lengthy unsuccessful marketing periods,” says the valuer.
WBP says cheaper, existing housing well serviced by established infrastructure remains in demand.
Population: 4.57 million
Median house price: $516,000
House price growth in February 2012: 1%
Annual house price growth to December 2011: -0.9%
Annual house price growth to July 2011: -0.5%
Rental yield: 4.3% (Source: RP Data)
To find out where your capital city's house or unit market is on the property clock, <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-australias-autumn-2012-property-clock" target="_blank">download our free eBook.</a>
Property Observer also tracks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/sydney-unit-prices-at-nine-oclock-in-their-cycle-and-rising-experts/2012032253974" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Sydney units on the property clock</a>.
 
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

Sydney house prices at 5.30 in their cycle and still falling: Experts

<html><body>
The prestige suburb of Mosman on Sydney’s lower north shore will have the most auctions in the city this weekend, with 11 auctions scheduled out of a total of 420, according to Australian Property Monitors (APM). 
Earlier this week, Property Observer reported that prominent <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/bankers-are-supposedly-bailing-but-mosmans-mandolong-house-reputedly-sells-for-bullish-%2418-million/2012031853893" target="_blank">Goldman Sachs Sydney stockbroker Richard Coppleson</a> had advised his clients that he'd  heard stories that Mosman was in a "huge state of distress" as bankers bailed from the prestige property market. 
The other Sydney suburb with a flurry of auction activity this weekend is Maroubra in the eastern suburbs, where eight auctions are scheduled. 
This weekend’s Sydney auction volumes are 20% higher than the same weekend last year. 
In total, APM has 752 auctions listed in Sydney for the March 31 “super Saturday” weekend, 28% more than the same time last year. 
Melbourne is also building to a 1,000-plus super Saturday weekend. 
According to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) there are 820 auctions scheduled in Melbourne this weekend, with 17 scheduled in St Kilda and 14 in Richmond. 
This is slightly below the 872 auctions recorded for the same weekend last year, which had a clearance rate of 59%. 
The REIV expects about 1,070 auctions in Melbourne for the March 31 weekend, the first time since the December 11, 2010 weekend that auction numbers will tip over 1,000.
Last year there were five weekends with more than 950 auctions.
The year-to-date clearance rate in Melbourne is 62% from 3,625 auctions. At the same time last year the clearance rate was 67% and in 2010 a much higher 87%.
 
</body></html>

Mosman in Sydney and St Kilda in Melbourne to have most auctions this weekend in lead-up to pre-Easter super Saturday 

<html><body>
The Reserve Bank has poured cold water on claims by the major banks that their overall funding costs are increasing.
“Our estimate is that the absolute level of banks' funding costs fell from mid-2011 to February 2012, but by less than the reduction in the cash rate,” said RBA assistant governor Guy Debelle in a speech in Sydney today.
He acknowledged that there were “particularly pronounced increases in the cost of term deposits and long-term wholesale debt relative to the cash rate as financial market conditions deteriorated in late 2011”.
But he said that while the relative cost of new long-term wholesale funds was currently higher than that of maturing funds, “this has had only a moderate effect on the major banks' average bond funding costs relative to the cash rate to date”. 
“This reflects the fact that it takes at least 3 to 4 years for the major banks' existing stock of bond funding to be rolled over,” he said.
In addition, he presented a graph showing current wholesale funding costs are below at the height of the GFC.
<img src="/images/stories/rbamarch22.jpg">
Debelle said its estimates of banks’ funding costs are based on a “wide range of sources” including “data reported by financial institutions to APRA and banks' regular profit statements to the market to track the composition of funding”.
“We monitor the prices offered on various forms of deposit accounts, and maintain a comprehensive database of wholesale funding, which is updated issue by issue.
“We supplement all of this with extensive consultations with financial institutions, big and small,” he said.
However, he said there remained “a degree of imprecision” around RBA estimates of bank funding adding that its estimates “are for the system as a whole, not for any particular financial institution”. 
Debelle did acknowledge that  while cost of funding is the most important factor that influences the lending rates banks set, “there are a number of other factors that affect pricing including: the credit risk associated with the various types of loans, the liquidity risk involved in funding long-term assets with short-term liabilities, and choices about growth strategies in different markets”. 
Following its independent decision to leave its standard variable mortgage rate on hold at 7.36% in March, ANZ Australia CEO Philip Chronican said funding costs remained in an “upward trend” that was “likely to continue as new funding is still coming on at a wider spread to the cash rate than the funding it is replacing”. 
Also in March Westpac CEO Gail Kelly warned borrowers to expect more frequent increases in interest rates because of more expensive funding costs.
 
 
</body></html>

RBA says bank funding costs falling but by less than rate cuts

<html><body>
First-home buyers are more confident about entering the property market but around one third of first-home buyers still believe they need to save a 20% deposit to acquire a mortgage, according to the March Genworth Homebuyer Confidence Index. 
First-home buyer confidence was up by 1.5% to 99, levels similar to the national confidence level before the GFC, while with the proportion of potential first-home buyers who said they were unable to save for a deposit fell from 45% to 30% between September 2011 and March 2012. 
House prices are seen as less of a hurdle for potential first-home buyers than other factors – only 7% of respondents said the area they wished to buy in was too expensive, down from 21% in September 2011. 
However, researcher Alan Shields says it is worrying that more than a third of potential first-home buyers still plan to save at least a 20% deposit. 
This Shields says is not necessary because lenders are offering loans with loan-to-valuation ratios of up to 95% provided borrowers take out lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). 
“They have been saving for four years with a false goal in mind,” Shields says. 
The March 2012 survey found that 29% of potential first-home buyers are comfortable borrowing at LVRs of over 80% up from 20% in September 2011. 
They are also more optimistic about meeting mortgage repayments than the average home buyer — 84% of those surveyed do not expect to have difficulty meeting repayments in the coming year, unchanged from September 2011, compared with the 78% of average home buyers. 
However, the proportion of recent first-home buyers who have experienced difficulty meeting their repayments has risen from 12% in September 2011 to 14% in March 2012, though still well below the average of 22% for all mortgage holders surveyed. 
The survey also found that around one in 10 potential first-home buyers surveyed have not yet started saving for a deposit. 
Overall home buyer sentiment improved over the six-month period from the last report in September to the March 2012 report. 
Home buyer confidence rose by 2.1% from September 2011 to 96.3 — the same level as March 2011 — with the key factors driving this being the decrease in mortgage stress and Australians’ increasing comfort with debt, due to the recent reduction in RBA cash rates. 
Nearly four in 10 (39%) respondents believe that now is a good time to buy a home —up from 36% in September 2011. 
The biggest improvement in first-home buyer sentiment occurred in WA, with the index rebounding 11.2% from a low of 90.5 in September 2011 to 100.6 in March 2012. There was also a slight increase in NSW, up 1.3% from 95.5 to 96.7. 
“We have seen a recent stabilisation of property prices in Western Australia which is likely to have boosted confidence. Flatter property prices combined with stable unemployment levels will have driven the spike,” says Ellie Comerford, president and chief executive of Genworth.
Queensland confidence decreased by 2.2%, and is likely driven by a continued decrease in property values, particularly in the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast regions. 
Surveyed Western Australian residents are most confident about the property market, with 50% agreeing it is a good time to buy a home, an increase from 47% in September 2011. 
Western Australian residents are also least likely to have experienced difficulty meeting repayments at 16% (compared to 20% of New South Wales residents, 22% of Victorian residents, 24% of South Australian residents and 25% of Queensland residents). Recent stabilisation of property prices in Western Australia could be helping to boost confidence.
 
 
 
</body></html>

First-home buyer confidence rises but buyers misinformed about deposit requirements: Genworth 

<html><body>
Offering camel rides along 20 kilometres of unspoiled beach and only seven kilometres from the Port Macquarie CBD, Lighthouse Beach is attracting sea-changers and investors from Sydney and other parts of New South Wales. It has also caught the eye of John McGrath as one of his 10 price growth regional hotspots. 
Location and demographics
 
Lighthouse Beach forms part of Lighthouse Beach-Greenmeadows, one of 14 small areas that comprise the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council area. 
While it is not a distinct suburb (all addresses in Port Macquarie share the post code 2444) it is understood by local real estate agents to be the region bounded by Lighthouse Drive, Matthew Flinders Drive, Ocean Drive and Pacific Drive. 
According to the 2006 census, Lighthouse Beach-Greenmeadows has a population of about 10,600 people, with 4,000 dwellings, of which 20% are rented. 
Key property data 
According to RP Data, Port Macquarie has a median house price of $400,000 with prices up 1.3% over the past year and a median unit price of $279,000 with prices flat during 2012. The median weekly house rent is $360 and $270 for units. 
Jeff Collyer from PRDnationwide Port Macquarie says Matthew Flinders Drive is the only street in Port Macquarie where you can buy a home directly across from the beach. 
He says house price along Matthew Flinders Drive range from $600,000 to $1 million. 
Top prices are paid for houses on Summit Road, which offers elevated spectacular views of the ocean. Collyer says prices range from $1.1 million to $1.2 million on Summit Road. 
According to Collyer, who has sold homes in the area for 13 years, house prices on Lighthouse Beach have risen gradually over the past few years, but outperformed an overall flat market in Port Macquarie. 
Collyer says there has been some investment interest from cashed-up buyers in Sydney while other buyers have come from Canberra, Orange and Tamworth, primarily to relocate permanently as sea-changers. 
Why buy here? 
Lighthouse Beach is one of 10 regional hotspots picked by McGrath Estate Agents boss John McGrath as a “best buy for future growth”. 
“Lighthouse Beach is one of the few areas in Port Macquarie that offers a beach view.  It has a great lifestyle with its café culture, beach and popular stair and cliff walks that are appealing to Sydneysiders who see good value, particularly in the premium sector,” he says. 
“Here you can find a new home with outstanding views for around the $1 million range.  Alternatively, classic older beachfront homes are relatively affordable in the $700,000 to $800,000 range, or with no view in the $400,000 range.” 
What the location has to offer:The chief drawcard for buying on Lighthouse Beach is the beach itself, which offers 20 kilometres of unspoilt sand as well as camel rides for the adventurous. 
Dog owners are also allowed to walk their dogs along parts of the beach.
Aside from the beach, Collyer says the area has two golf courses, a shopping mall, a Coles, a local tavern and local restaurants and shops. There’s also a primary school and three day care centres.
Andrew Meldrum from Laing + Simmons Port Macquarie, who besides selling homes in the area also lives near Lighthouse Beach says a local landmark is the Bitter Sweet Patisserie on Watonga Street run by local couple Lance and Georgia Dunn. Meldrum says Dunn is famous in the area for having been a chef to Nicole Kidman when she was filming the movie Australia.
According to Meldrum, the area appeals to young families with professional parents who both work. 
“It has a very good public primary school. A child that goes there would come from a relatively well-off family with combined income in excess of $100,000.”
 
Recent sales 
Earlier this month Meldrum sold <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-port+macquarie-109561756" target="_blank">this three-bedroom house on Vendul Crescent</a>, one street up from Matthew Flinders Drive and 150 metres from the beach.
<img src="/images/stories/lighthouseb.jpg" width="470">
The property was bought by a Canberra couple before auction for $640,000, having previously sold for $585,000 in 2006.
Meldrum says anything close to the shops is in high demand.
“We are a little bit short of stock in $300,000 to $400,000 price range but having more success in properties prices above $600.000,” he says. 
In May last year, this three-bedroom house (below) sold through First National Real Estate Port Macquarie for $442,500. It previously sold for $425,000 in September 2009.
<img src="/images/stories/lighthouseb2.jpg" width="470">
Reasons to buy:
 
<ul>
<li>Sea view properties supported by good local cafes and shops</li>
<li>Three bedroom houses selling around the $600,000 mark</li>
<li>Camel rides and pets allowed on the beach 
</li>
</ul>
Reasons not to buy: 
<ul>
<li>No dramatic increase in prices over past few years</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Hotspot: Sea-changers shining a light on Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie

<html><body>
The trend of rising petrol prices could slow down any recovery in the property market and prompt the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates, according to experts.
Rising petrol prices were a contributing factor in the downturn of the early 2000s.
CommSec is tipping petrol prices to rise by between 2% and 3% over the next fortnight, taking the national average prices above $1.50 a litre for the first time in more than three years. 
This follows the national average retail petrol price rising by 1.3¢ to 147.1¢ a litre last week, according to the Australian Institute of Petroleum. 
Petrol prices have trended upwards since September 2009 as the following graph shows:
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/petrol.gif"><img src="/images/stories/petrolthumb.gif"></a>
 
The last time the petrol price sparked major public concern was in early 2001 when prices went over $1 per litre in some parts of the country following increases to excise duty on fuel and a small GST increase on fuel imposed by the Howard government. 
This resulted in a 10¢ rise in petrol prices overnight. 
At the time economists warned that the higher cost of fuel was having a negative impact on consumer sentiment and dampening the effects of the housing boom underway at the time. 
Figures released by the ABS in 2003 (petrol prices continued to rise to over $1.05 a litre at the time) showed house price growth slowing from more than 20% in 2001 to just 7% growth in the second half of 2002. 
“The only people that benefit when petrol prices go up are the big oil producers,” said Deutsche Bank economist at the time. 
Savanth Sebastian, economist at CommSec, says petrol prices have continued their recent upward trajectory and “unfortunately for motorists there are no signs that conditions are likely to get any better over the next couple of weeks”. 
According to Sebastian, since the start of the year the average monthly household fuel bill has lifted by $8 to just shy of $177, taking more money out the pockets of already conservative consumers. 
“The Reserve Bank will closely assess both rising oil prices and the higher Aussie dollar as both potential serve to slow down spending. The Reserve Bank still has a rate cut on the radar screen, especially if consumers remain cautious to spend,” he says. 
Sebastian says recent predictions of petrol reaching $2 a litre “are clearly overdone”, though he agrees that petrol prices are likely to track higher, although the gains are “likely to be much more circumspect and take place over a longer time period”. 
“More importantly, it is likely that OPEC would increase production targets well before domestic pump prices reach $2 a litre. It is in OPEC’s best interests to ensure that higher oil prices do not pose a threat to the global recovery,” he says. 
Charlie Nelson, managing director of trend-spotting firm Foreseechange, says the increase in petrol prices could change location preferences of home buyers.
 
"We have seen people moving to tree change and sea change locations, but there could be train change for people looking for something close to public transport," he says.
Years of rising petrol prices have already changed home buying behaviour, according to Robert Mellor, director of economic researchers BIS Shrapnel. 
Mellor says houses and apartments closed to railway station are more likely to have price spikes than those further away from public transport.
KPMG demographer Bernard Salt agrees and says the main driver of property values in the next decade will be access to a train station.
According to CommSec, average petrol prices across states over the week ending March 18) were: Sydney (unchanged at 144.6¢ per litre), Melbourne (up 0.9¢ to 143.9 ¢/l), Brisbane (down 2.¢ to 147.8 ¢/l), Adelaide (up 9.2¢148.4 ¢/l), Perth (up 1.2¢ to 147.4 ¢/l), Darwin (up 0.7¢ to 156.5 ¢/l), Canberra (up 0.9¢ to 147.7 ¢/l) and Hobart (up 0.9¢ to 154.1 ¢/l).
 
</body></html>

Rising petrol prices could cause house prices to fall but could prompt earlier rate cut

<html><body>
Prime CBD office rents are expected to grow at a compound annual average of 3.8% per annum across Australia from 2012 to 2016, with the Perth CBD expected to be the strongest performer, according to the latest office market forecasts from CBRE. 
The other positive developments over the first quarter of 2012 were stronger sales turnover, an increase in net absorption and an increase in white-collar employment. 
Office rents in the Perth CBD are expected to grow by 4.5% over the four-year period, however all of the major CBD markets are expected to register rental growth at or above CPI during this period. 
Buoyed by mining investment, Perth currently has the highest prime CBD rents in Australia (<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/office/perth-seventh-most-expensive-cbd-office-market-in-the-world-sydney-falls-to-10th-knight-frank/2012031353813" target="_blank">and seventh highest in the world</a>), charging $716 per square metre, and also the tightest rental market, with a vacancy rate of just 3.3%, according to the CBRE report.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/cbremarch22.gif"><img src="/images/stories/cbremarch22thumb.gif"></a>
CBRE regional director for office services James Patterson says the short-term outlook remains relatively flat in most markets except Perth, given that tenants are still cautious about the outlook for European financial markets. 
“The expectation is that Europe will avoid a major recession, and the effect on the global economy will be minor,” he says. 
“If this is the case, more bullish rental growth is expected from 2013 onwards, with fundamentals in most markets looking strong.” 
According to Patterson, it will very much be a two-speed recovery, with resources being a key driver in the continued expansion of the Queensland and Western Australian economies – and by extension the Brisbane and Perth office markets. 
“This is also expected to give South Australia a much-needed boost over the medium term as work begins on the Olympic Dam mining project,” he says. 
“Conversely, slow revenue growth in the finance sector and professional services and limited activity in the government sector is likely to curtail short term growth in NSW, Victoria and the ACT. In addition, caution in the business sector is continuing to impact on the length of time taken for lease deals to be finalised.” 
This week BIS Shrapnel economist Frank Gelber warned that Melbourne needed to stop building more offices. 
“The Melbourne office market is not about to take off. It would be a worry if too many projects took off in Melbourne,” Gelber said. 
However, the overall office outlook is good, with BIS Shrapnel expecting a weak supply pipeline and rising employment growth to put pressure on the existing office space stock. 
“Vacancy rates will continue to fall and rental growth will begin to accelerate, especially for A-grade stock. As a result office commencements are forecast to lift a further 11% to $4.95 billion in 2012-13. Financing conditions are likely to remain tough, and pre-commitments will continue to drive the upturn,” says BIS Shrapnel in its latest forecasts. 
CBRE senior manager for global research and consulting Luke Nixon expects supply and demand to remain largely in balance over the short term, keeping vacancy rates stable and acting as a stimulus for positive rental growth over the next five years. 
The balanced state of the market was highlighted in the second half of last year when nearly 150,000 square metres of office stock was withdrawn from the market, but only 140,000 square metres of new or refurbished stock was added to Australia’s major office markets (the Sydney CBD, Melbourne CBD, Brisbane CBD, Perth CBD, Adelaide Core and Canberra’s Civic precinct) the first time in seven years that space has contracted in the major office markets. 
“As vacant A-grade space continues to be absorbed there is expected to be growing demand from tenants for an increased development pipeline of high-quality space,” he says 
“If the CBD markets cannot accommodate this demand, fringe markets are likely to be the beneficiaries.” 
According to the CBRE report, prime rental growth in Melbourne slowed in the fourth quarter of 2011 to just 0.7% following growth of 1.2% and 2.4% in the previous quarters. For the year, total rental growth was 5%, the strongest since 2008. 
In Sydney, total stock grew by 21,715 square metres over the period, while demand remained constrained, causing the CBD vacancy rate to grow slightly in the second half of last year. 
Brisbane CBD was the only other city with an increase in total stock, however strong tenant demand translated to a reduction in the city vacancy rate to 6.2%. 
The CBRE report also highlights that the office investment market is expected to remain strong through 2012, driven by foreign investors, unlisted funds and superannuation groups, with private investors active at the lower end. 
Nixon expects A-REITs to continue to be net vendors of CBD office property until there was a significant increase in stock market valuations.
 
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

Perth to lead growth in CBD office rents to 2016, but Melbourne risks oversupply: CBRE and BIS Shrapnel

The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

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]

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]

Larry Schlesinger

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News