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The current 15-basis-point gap between the standard variable interest rate of the major banks will widen in the future, according to Mortgage Choice CEO Michael Russell.
NAB currently has the lowest variable rate of the 7.31% with Westpac the highest at 7.46%.
Russell says the latest round of major bank interest rate increases shows that the major banks are now prepared to move interest rates out of cycle with the RBA and has also signalled to existing and prospective borrowers, that the major banks no longer adopt the same pricing movements.
“While major banks’ standard variable rates have, up until a couple of years ago, been on par each other, borrowers now need to be aware that their standard variable rates are likely to differ going forward,” he tells Property Observer.
“The difference between the standard variable rates for the  big four banks was a significant 14 basis points prior to the latest round of increases and now sits at 15 basis points,” he says.
While Mortgage Choice does not track this data, Russell says the major banks have kept their interest rates on par until the out-of-cycle rate moves by the majors in November 2010.
In November 2010, the Commonwealth Bank announced a 45-point hike after the RBA's Melbourne Cup Day 25-point increase.
Furthermore, he says using a professional mortgage broker has just become even more imperative for existing and prospective borrowers, “to help ensure they obtain the most suitable loan product for their individual needs and requirements”.
{module What do you intend to do given the current interest rate fluctuations?}
{module Have you changed lenders in the last six years?}
 
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

More choice likely among big four bank mortgage rates: Mortgage Choice CEO Michael Russell

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The combined property-finance-business sector was the only industry to record an improvement in both profitability and confidence over January, according to the NAB monthly business survey.

On the back of a small overall rise in both business conditions (up two points) and business confidence (up one point) in January, profitability rose “marginally” in the finance-property-business sector as well as in the recreation and personal services industry.

The proportion of businesses not requiring finance increased from 64% to 67% in January, the highest figure since the survey was first asked.
<img src="/images/stories/nabfeb15.gif">
Source: NAB
Confidence also strengthened in the property-finance-business sector, with the industry index rising four points to +3 on this measure.

In line with <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/queensland-building-approvals-up-25%24-but-national-approvals-fall-abs/2012020253231" target="_blank">historically weak building approvals</a> and a challenging economic environment, sentiment in the construction sector deteriorated over January.

NAB recorded a nine-point drop in construction industry confidence (alongside a similar fall in the wholesale sector), while there was a heavy 30-point fall in construction sector profitability.

The construction industry found itself on the wrong side of most measures in the survey, including forward orders and capital expenditure.

Construction is also the second most under-used industry in the economy alongside retail, operating at 79.8%, ahead of manufacturing (76.1%). Capacity utilisation is highest in mining (87.1%), according to the survey.

 Summing up the January index, NAB said there were “heavy falls in conditions in wholesale, transport and utilities, and construction, broadly offset by improvements in mining, manufacturing and recreation &amp; personal services”.

On a state-by-state basis, business conditions deteriorated sharply in SA and Tasmania, but strengthened modestly in Victoria and Queensland.





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Property sector profitability and confidence improves, but construction falls further: NAB

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Credit Union Australia (CUA) has today confirmed it will not be increasing any of its variable-rate mortgages. 
ME Bank has also left its variable interest rates unchanged following the RBA announcement. The bank’s standard variable rate remains at 6.74%. ME Bank is wholly owned by industry super funds.
CUA, one of Australia biggest customer-owned lenders, will leave its standard variable rate unchanged at 6.72%, more than 50 basis points lower than the lowest rate of the big four, NAB, which has increased its standard variable rate to 7.31%. 
CUA and ME Bank have taken what Yellow Brick Road chairman Mark Bouris has referred to as the “opening” created for smaller lenders by the major banks slugging customers with interest rate increases outside of the official rate cycle.
Chris Whitehead, chief executive of the CUA, says the company remains committed to offering customers the best deal possible and points out that since April 2010, CUA’s standard variable rate has consistently been at least 0.5% cheaper than the average of the big fours’ equivalent products. 
“While CUA is certainly not immune to the funding pressures facing the big banks, our ability to focus entirely on our customers, rather than on dividends to shareholders, allows us more flexibility to make rate decisions that are in their best interests,” he says.
Another mutual lender, the Jerry Seinfeld-fronted Greater Building Society, did not follow the CUA, raising its variable rates by 0.1% and pushing up its standard variable mortgage to 6.9%. 
Despite this increase, the Greater is still offering a standard variable rate 0.56% lower than Westpac, which has the highest variable rate of the big four at 7.46%. 
“On current rates, a customer with a 30-year, $300,000 standard variable home loan is still $1,464 a year better off than a Westpac standard variable home loan customer. The Greater customer will save $43,920 over the life of the loan,” says Greater chief executive Don Magin. 
The Greater variable rate increase is effective from tomorrow for new loans and for existing customers from February 22. 
6.72%
The standard variable bank rate that CUA is currently charging its customers.
6.90%
The standard variable bank rate that the Greater Building Society will charge new customers from February 15 after raising rates by 0.1%. The rate rise for existing customers kicks in on February 22
6.94%
The standard variable bank rate that Heritage Bank is currently charging its customers.
7.20%
The standard variable bank rate that BankWest is currently charging its customers.
7.22%
The standard variable bank rate that ING Direct is currently charging its customers
7.24%
The standard variable bank rate that HSBC is currently charging its customers.
7.30%
The standard variable bank rate that Bank of Melbourne/St.George is currently charging its customers.
7.31%
The standard variable rate that NAB will charge its customers from February 20 after lifting rates by 0.09%.
7.33%
The standard variable bank rate that Suncorp is currently charging its customers.
7.36%
The new standard variable bank rate ANZ will charge its customers from February 17 after lifting rates by 0.06%.
7.36%
The standard variable bank rate Bank of Queensland will charge its customers until at least the next RBA meeting on March 6, the bank has pledged.
7.41%
The new standard variable bank rate the Commonwealth Bank will charge its customers from February 20 after lifting rates by 0.1%.
7.45%
The new standard variable bank rate Bendigo and Adelaide Bank will charge its customers from February 21 after lifting rates by 0.15%.
7.46%
The new standard variable bank rate Westpac will charge its customers from February 20 after lifting rates by 0.1%. 
*All rates as announced on February 14.
 
{module What do you intend to do given the current interest rate fluctuations?}
{module Have you changed lenders in the last six years?}
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CUA and ME Bank leave variable rates unchanged: a guide to new mortgage rates as the dust settles 

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There’s a distinct feeling of déjà vu in the air, with non-bank lending pioneers Mark Bouris and John Symond both launching campaigns urging borrowers to consider alternatives to the major banks following the interest rate increases of the last few days.
On Sunday night Aussie kicked off its new advertising campaign fronted for the first time in five years by chairman and founder John Symond.
In the new campaign, which runs with the tagline “It’s smart to ask”, Symond urges consumers and borrowers to question and challenge their current financial providers, specifically banks, in an effort to review and choose a financial product or service.


<div style="display:none">

</div>



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<script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script>The new ad kicks off with Symond asking: “Is your current home loan the right one for you today? It’s smart to ask, the fact is things are more competitive today, you can save thousands but you need to make the right choice.”
He then goes on to say: “You could ask your bank, but would they tell you if a competitor had a better product? We will.”
Yellow Brick Road’s Mark Bouris, who famously competed with John Symond when he built up non-bank lender Wizard in the late 1990s and early 2000s (until selling it to GE Money for $500 million in 2005), has also gone on the offensive against the major banks.
Speaking on Eddie Maguire’s Triple M breakfast radio show today, Bouris said the banks had given smaller lenders like Yellow Brick Road and others “such an opening”.
“If this was AFL or rugby league I would be kicking goals or scoring tries,” he said, perhaps harping back to the days when Wizard sponsored both the NSW State of Origin side and Collingwood Football Club.
“The bottom line is my interest rate is 6.83% and the banks’ is 7.36% and that over 25 or 30 years you could save $40,000.
“If that’s not the most compelling reason to shop around and look for a better deal, I don’t know what is.
“There are small banks, there are credit unions, there are non-bank lenders like my business, Yellow Brick Road, offering better deals then the big four banks,” he said.
Bouris says the problem is that all anyone ever talks about is the big four banks.
“We are all doing them a big favour by talking about the big four… There are other places to go to.”
Bouris says it’s no harder to get a loan from a credit union, building society or non-bank lender than it is from a major bank if you qualify for it.
Bouris admitted that funding costs for new lending had risen but said this game was about averaging and smoothing out your costs, not just passing them on to your customers.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/finance/our-banks-are-too-big-to-fail-too-few-to-be-competitive-mark-bouris-and-christopher-joye/2012020853307">Along with Yellow Brick Road director Christopher Joye</a>, Mark Bouris has taken his campaign against the major banks online and in the print media, warning that the financial system is more at risk by being reliant on four $50 billion banks. Bouris and Joye suggest Australia would be better off with 10 banks worth $20 billion, “each small enough to fail without causing widespread damage”.
Competition between Bouris and Symond for mortgage customers reached its zenith in about 2003 when Aussie was writing about $600 million a month in new mortgages and Wizard had a mortgage book worth about $6.5 billion and about 300 franchise offices.
Aussie Home Loans acquired the Wizard franchise network from GE Money in 2008 during the height of the GFC for an undisclosed sum believed to be a fraction of what GE spent on buying it from Bouris in 2005.
Just before Aussie acquired Wizard, the Commonwealth Bank acquired a third of Aussie for about $70 million.
In 2002 Aussie changed its business model from a non-bank lender offering Macquarie Bank-backed loans through its PUMA program to that of a mortgage broker offering a range of loans from different lenders including the major banks.
In 1995 Symond was the face of Aussie Home Loans, kicking off its famous “We’ll Save You” ad campaign with the question: “You work hard for your money, so why give it to the banks?”
“I want you to ring your bank and demand a better deal… If they won’t come to the party, ring us.”
Yellow Brick Road remains a non-bank lender and receives its wholesale funding from Gateway Credit Union.
 
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Mortgage wars Groundhog Day: Mark Bouris and John Symond turn back the clock as they take on the banks

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RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle says an improving banking outlook in Europe might lead to lower funding costs for Australian banks but the current uncertainty will remain. 
Speaking today at the Bloomberg Seminar in Sydney, Debelle says there has been “a thawing in bank debt markets” in 2012. 
“With the beginning of the new year, the investment slate is clean and risk tolerance thus far is on the increase. This development has been bolstered by the avoidance of worst case outcomes … and by the European Central Bank’s action [in December to bolster liquidity],” he says.
However, he provided support to the decisions of the major banks to push up variable mortgage rates independently of the RBA by admitting that there had been a “sizeable step up” in the cost of debt issuance in 2011.
“Investors are demanding much higher compensation for bank credit risk now than they were in mid-2011. The repricing probably happened in the last quarter of 2011, but the general lack of issuance made it more difficult to observe.
“This global repricing of bank debt has clearly affected the Australian banks’ wholesale funding costs,” he says.
<img src="/images/stories/coveredbonds2.gif">
In his presentation, Debelle included a table that showed how bond market issuance costs had risen recently with covered bonds issued by the Australian banks “at markedly wider spreads than their unsecured issuance mid-year”.
The cost of issuing residential mortgage-backed securities, another form of offshore wholesale funding, also increased over the course of 2011.
<img src="/images/stories/debelle1.gif">
However, Debelle says there are some signs of encouragement with a “sizeable narrowing of spreads in the secondary market on the domestically issued covered bonds, to around 140 points over swap” over the past few days.
“This narrowing in bank credit spreads was confirmed by the unsecured issuance last week.”
Despite this encouragement, Debelle acknowledges that some corporations are able to raise funding more cheaply than the major banks because of their higher credit rating.
“For example, Coke, which is rated A-, was able to issue more than 100 basis points below the AAA rated domestic covered bond issues,” he says. 
In addition, he says the rise in wholesale funding costs has been “accentuated for funds raised offshore by a widening in the cost of swapping foreign exchange into Australian dollars”.
Overall he says the start of 2012 has been more positive than the end of the last year.
“Whether this happier state of affairs persists is difficult to tell. There have been outbreaks of optimism over the past couple of years which were dashed,” Debelle warns.
“I think the only thing which is certain, is that uncertainty is likely to persist for some time to come.”
<a href="/images/2015/12/16/Screen%20Shot%202015-12-16%20at%2011.40.02%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/12/16/Screen%20Shot%202015-12-16%20at%2011.40.02%20AM.png" alt="">
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Australia’s economic uncertainty, arising in Europe, to persist: RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle

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A surge in home loan traffic on financial products comparison website RateCity.com.au suggests that more borrowers will refinance their mortgage in the wake of banks pushing up their mortgage rates independently of the RBA. 
Home loans as a share of RateCity’s website traffic has increased by nearly 50% in the first two weeks of February compared with the whole month of January a spokesperson has told Property Observer. 
“Overall traffic to the site has increased by 25% comparing last four months [February 2012, January 2012, December 2011 and November 2011] to the four months prior – and this growth is obviously understated because of Christmas holidays,” she says.
The RBA cut interest rates in November 2011 and December 2011, with most lenders passing on the full rate cut to borrowers.
 The pick-up in home loan traffic follows a see-saw month for borrowers, beginning with expectations that the RBA would cut interest rates by 0.25% on February 7 and ending with the major banks stinging customers with rate rises. 
Yesterday <a target="_blank" href="/news">NAB became the last of the major banks to lift its rates</a> outside of the RBA cycle, lifting its variable mortgage rate by 0.09% following increases of 0.06% by<a target="_blank" href="/news"> ANZ, and 0.1% by Westpac</a> and the<a target="_blank" href="/news"> Commonwealth Bank</a>.
{module What do you intend to do given the current interest rate fluctuations?}
{module Have you changed lenders in the last six years?}
 
 
 
 
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More borrowers will refinance their mortgages in wake of bank rate rises: RateCity

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Victoria’s penchant for building apartments over detached houses during the past decade has been confirmed in end-of-year figures released by Victorian Building Commission.
More than 2,500 building permits for non-detached housing were issued in 2011, the highest in 13 years of Victorian Building Commission data and 42% more than the 1,800 issued in 2010.
Non-detached building permits issued 
 
<img src="/images/stories/vicbuilding1.gif">
Source: Victorian Building Commission
In comparison the permits issued for the building of detached houses has declined moderately from a peak of about 92,000 in 2001 to fewer than 90,000 in 2011.
Detached housing building permits issued
<img src="/images/stories/vicbuildin2.gif"> 
Source: Victorian Building Commission
Inner Melbourne remains the epicentre of new building, registering a 22.1% increase in building permits in 2011 to $10.8 billion – most of which would be for new apartments developments.
In comparison, detached housing permits declined by 10.5% to $12.3 billion, reflecting the current stagnant residential construction environment, with outer Melbourne registering a 9.1% decrease in the value of building permits to $8.6 billion.
Overall the value of building permit activity in Victoria in 2011 was a record $24.2 billion, an increase of 1.5% on 2010. However, the number of building permits issued during the year declined by 9.6% to 101,623, when compared to 2010.
There was a greater than expected seasonal decline in apartment building permits in December 2011 suggesting the rate of projects may be starting to slowdown.
The commission issued 168 apartment project building permits in December 2011 with a combined value of $204 million, compared with 351 permits issued in December 2010 worth $355 million.
Over 2011, the value of retail permits increased 48.2%t to $1.5 billion, industrial permits grew by 35.7% to $509 million and hospital/healthcare permits jumped by 55.7% to $860 million
Permits for the construction of public buildings decreased by 27.4%t to $2.3 billion.
The value of building permits activity in 2011 compared with 2010 in regions outside of Melbourne:
<ul>
<li>Gippsland declined by 22.5% to $872 million</li>
<li>North central fell 9.9%  to $929 million</li>
<li>North east decreased by 27.7% to $662 million</li>
<li>North west was up by 0.6% to $891 million</li>
<li>South west declined 8.3% to $1.5 billion</li>
</ul>
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Victorian apartment building permits up 42% in 2011: Building Commission

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The NSW government’s decision to restrict first-home buyer stamp duty concessions to new homes or vacant land from January 1, 2012 helped drive a seasonally adjusted 3.8% increase in mortgage lending in December and a 7% increase in first-home buyer mortgages, according to December ABS housing finance data.
The number of commitments for owner-occupied housing finance rose 2.3% over December.
First-home buyer mortgages are up 38% since mid-2011, while finance to upgraders was broadly flat in the month and over the last six months.
Dylan Eades, economic analyst at ANZ, describes the headline number as “encouraging” but urges caution because it was “most likely boosted by the bring-forward of NSW activity ahead of the removal of the first-home buyer stamp duty concessions”. 
The end to the stamp duty concession also boosted NSW mortgage commitments, which rose by 6.1% in December and are 11% higher over the past two months. 
“Given that much of this growth has been driven by first home buyers, we are anticipating a mild retracement in NSW activity at the beginning of 2012,” says Eades.
New lending to owner-occupiers excluding refinancing rose 8.7% in the final quarter to be 4.6% higher through the year.
“Recall that it was a weak start to the 2011 year, on the back of the RBA's November 2010 rate hike and flood disruptions,” commented Westpac economist Andrew Hanlon. <img src="/images/stories/westpacfeb14.gif"> 
Hanlon also noted that NSW outperformed the market with mortgage commitments up 23% for the half year “as stamp duty changes to take effect from January 2012 triggered a bring-forward”.
Fixed-interest loans for investment purposes increased 7.5% during December to $7.1 billion following a 2.7% increase in November.
However, Hanlon says this type of financing can be volatile and notes that “the investor market was relatively subdued throughout 2011, with finance up just 1.8% for the year, against the backdrop of generally softer house prices”.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, demand for owner-occupier mortgages in Queensland was up 6.9% in the month, following a 2% rise, but still ended the 2011 year down by 1%. Victoria and WA reported a 1.3% gain, while SA and Tasmania reported falls.
Master Builders Australia describes the increase in housing finance in December as a positive sign but says it needs to be sustained.
“The key finance indicator released today by the ABS shows that demand for new dwellings is showing early signs of a pick-up in response to the interest rate cuts in November and December last year,” says Peter Jones, MBA chief economist.
“Loans for construction of dwellings and purchase of new dwellings, combined, were up 2.1% in December, and there was an encouraging lift in investment-related construction loans.”
“Finance commitments remain weak by historical standards, but the housing market is beginning to pick itself off the floor as the bring-forward effect of the government’s boost scheme fades and first-home buyers respond to lower interest rates and more affordable house prices.”
 
 
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First-home buyer mortgages up in December thanks to December NSW stamp duty deadline

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Owning your own house, regardless of its location, is still the best way to accumulate wealth over the long term, according to McGrath Real Estate boss John McGrath.
Blogging on switzer.com.au, McGrath points to December 2011 data from the ABS about household wealth, which shows “the rising value of people’s homes, or their net equity in their homes, represents the largest proportion of their household wealth at 41%”.
“Next in line is superannuation, then other property holdings such as residential investments,” he says.
“The ABS figures show that average household net worth in 2009-10 was 14% higher than in 2005-06 and 30% higher than in 2003-04.”
McGrath says another statistic to emerge from the ABS data is that when you look at increased household wealth over the past six years, “the family home accounts for a third of that increased wealth in both metropolitan and regional areas”.
“This is really encouraging especially for young buyers in coastal or country communities where property is far more affordable, yet its importance for growing wealth creation is just as high as it is for city dwellers in more expensive markets,” he says.
According to McGrath there are “exceptional opportunities in the market right now if you’re intending to buy and hold long term”.
McGrath also notes the increasing numbers of investors interested in property at the moment as seen in figures from mortgage broker AFG, which show an average of 36% of all new loans went to investors each month in 2011.
“If you can afford to get involved in property at a young age, I would really encourage it. Over the long term, it is a very safe and stable asset class that will become your most valuable financial investment for the future.
“Yes, it is also the most expensive asset class and does make up the highest proportion of household debt. But we get a lot of help with the capital gains exemption on family homes and negative gearing on investments. Not to mention the availability of finance and the first home owner’s grant for younger buyers,” he says.
Besides good buying opportunities, McGrath says interest rates are heading down and there are also some “attractive fixed loans available right now”.
“Right now, fixed rates are very competitive and this has attracted a surge in fixed rate deals. People have also been concerned about cost-of-living pressures and economic events overseas, so they’ve sought the security of a fully fixed or part-fixed loan,” he says.
Buying activity from McGrath’s mortgage broking arm Oxygen Home Loans reveals that most customers are opting for a split loan with a portion of their loans on the variable rate.
Whether you choose a fixed, variable or part fixed/part variable loan, McGrath says borrowers should seek loans that have the following these features:
<ul>
<li>Your lender must allow you to make repayments at any time without penalty. </li>
<li>Your lender should also offer multiple methods of repayment to suit your lifestyle. </li>
<li>You should also have the flexibility to make your regular periodic repayments either weekly, fortnightly or monthly. </li>
<li>Ensure you have a redraw facility in case something happens and you suddenly need extra cash for an emergency.</li>
</ul>
McGrath’s faith in the market is reflected in the real estate group’s continued expansion with a new office in Frenchs Forest on Sydney’s Northern Beaches set to open in February following the acquisition of long-established local agency W. E. Jamieson Real Estate. 
The new office will be the group’s seventh in the Northern Beaches, having opened its first office in Manly in 2003. It will service the suburbs of Forestville, Frenchs Forest, Killarney Heights, Belrose and Davidson.
 
 
 
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Owning a home still the best way to generate wealth: John McGrath

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Fairfield, six kilometres north east of the Melbourne CBD, topped the list of suburbs to record inflation-busting rental growth for the year to January 2012 with rents rising 13.4% according to property manager Run Property.
In total 28 Sydney suburbs, 23 Melbourne suburbs and two Brisbane suburbs recorded rent rises above inflation (4.8%) over the 12 month period.
The list only includes those suburbs where RUN has sufficient data to give an indication of rental movement.
The rental component within the CPI recorded a 4.8% increase during the 2011 calendar year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The full list is:
New South Wales  
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Jan 2011 weekly rent average 
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Jan 2012 weekly rent average
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Average weekly rent difference in dollars
 
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
Percentage average weekly rent difference
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
EDGECLIFF
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$389.26
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$438.28
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$49.02
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
12.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
CREMORNE
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$469.92
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$524.97
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$55.04
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
11.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
SURRY HILLS
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$495.16
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$551.96
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$56.79
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
11.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
BELLEVUE HILL
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$434.99
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$479.98
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$45.00
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
10.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
COOGEE
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$588.83
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$649.57
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$60.73
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
10.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
RANDWICK
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$555.48
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$611.05
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$55.58
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
10.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
RYDE
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$346.19
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$380.41
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$34.22
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
9.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
NEUTRAL BAY
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$446.15
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$489.46
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$43.31
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
9.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
BONDI
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$552.38
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$601.14
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$48.76
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
8.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
RUSHCUTTERS BAY
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$584.35
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$635.47
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$51.11
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
8.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
LANE COVE
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$408.76
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$444.38
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$35.62
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
8.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
BRONTE
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$499.04
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$541.44
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$42.40
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
8.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
ROSE BAY
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$466.21
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$504.98
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$38.77
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
8.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
NEWTOWN
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$532.41
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$576.16
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$43.75
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
8.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
GLEBE
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$492.92
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$531.67
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$38.75
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
7.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
WOOLLOOMOOLOO
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$503.66
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$542.57
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$38.91
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
7.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
CHIPPENDALE
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$592.24
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$636.35
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$44.11
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
7.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
DARLINGHURST
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$512.71
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$550.51
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$37.80
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
7.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="116" valign="top">
PYRMONT
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$612.42
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$655.61
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
$43.18
</td>
<td width="116" valign="top">
7.1%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Victoria
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
Jan 2011 weekly rent average
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
Jan 2012 weekly rent average
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
Average weekly rent difference in dollars
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
Percentage average weekly rent difference
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
FAIRFIELD
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$292.89
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$332.11
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$39.22
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
13.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
EAST MELBOURNE
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$376.26
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$414.26
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$38.00
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
10.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
FITZROY
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$337.27
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$368.94
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$31.67
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
9.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
RICHMOND
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$343.74
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$375.94
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$32.20
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
9.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
ARMADALE
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$328.95
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$358.33
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$29.38
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
8.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
PRAHRAN
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$359.29
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$390.25
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$30.96
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
8.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
FITZROY NORTH
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$410.92
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$445.60
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$34.68
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
8.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
SOUTH YARRA
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$361.03
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$390.72
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$29.69
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
8.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
HAWTHORN
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$344.52
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$371.02
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$26.50
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
7.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
NORTHCOTE
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$412.05
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$443.64
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$31.59
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
7.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
CARLTON NORTH
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$399.47
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$429.61
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$30.14
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
7.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
KENSINGTON
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$365.27
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$392.48
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$27.21
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
7.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
ST KILDA EAST
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$366.57
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$391.50
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$24.93
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
MALVERN EAST
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$377.66
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$402.50
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$24.84
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
BRUNSWICK
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$362.21
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$385.75
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$23.54
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
MALVERN
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$391.60
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$415.64
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$24.04
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
CLIFTON HILL
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$391.11
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$414.99
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$23.88
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
ESSENDON
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$299.75
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$317.63
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$17.88
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
6.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
BRUNSWICK WEST
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$263.60
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$278.85
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$15.25
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
5.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
MOONEE PONDS
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$308.91
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$326.57
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$17.65
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
5.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="108" valign="top">
GLEN IRIS
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$378.82
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$399.69
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
$20.87
</td>
<td width="108" valign="top">
5.5%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Queensland
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="121" valign="top">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
Jan 2011 weekly rent average
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
Jan 2012 weekly rent average
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
Average weekly rent difference in dollars
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
Percentage average weekly rent difference
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="121" valign="top">
NUNDAH
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
$290.57
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
$310.50
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
$19.93
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
6.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="121" valign="top">
AUCHENFLOWER
</td>
<td width="97" valign="top">
$324.71
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
$341.18
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
$16.47
</td>
<td width="109" valign="top">
5.1%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RUN Property
 
 
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

Investor opportunity: 53 suburbs where rent rises are beating inflation

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

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