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Expectations among economists are that the Reserve Bank will leave the cash rate unchanged at is monetary policy meeting next week.
Chief economists like Michael Blythe from the Commonwealth Bank expect the RBA to leave the cash rate unchanged till the middle of next year and this is also the median forecast of the most recent Bloomberg survey of 25 economists.
Borrowers not wanting to be tied down by a more restrictive fixed-rate home loan may qualify for a discounted variable rate home loan, either for the first 12 months of the loan (called a honeymoon loan) or for the life of the loan (called an ongoing discount loan).
According to Mortgage Choice March figures, ongoing discount home loans accounted for 36% of all loans arranged by Mortgage Choice brokers, with the product particularly appealing to borrowers in NSW/ACT and WA, where over 40% of borrowers chose this loan type.
Honeymoon loans accounted for just 3% of loans arranged by Mortgage Choice brokers.
A discounted home loan may have a deposit or loan size requirement, come with higher fees or only be available as part of a package offering.
And borrowers who take out a honeymoon loan must budget for a rise in their home loan repayments once the introductory period ends.
These are some of the lowest discount offerings of the major banks and non-bank lenders as of April 29:
Discount rate offerings:
<table style="width: 470px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">
Provider
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">
Loan name
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">
Minimum loan size
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">
Maximum LVR
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">
Annual fee
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">
Rate
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Loans.com.au
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Blackboard Special
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$50,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
80%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$0
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
4.99%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">UBank</td>
<td width="101" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">UHomeloan</td>
<td width="73" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">$100,000</td>
<td width="80" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">80%</td>
<td width="66" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">$0</td>
<td width="79" valign="top" style="text-align: center;">5.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Yellow Brick Road
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Empower Package Home Loan
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$100,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
80%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$0
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.15% for first year, then reverts to 5.49%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Commonwealth Bank
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
1 Year Guaranteed rate
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$10,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
80%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$8 per month
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.19% then reverts to “relevant variable rate”
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
iMortgage
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Fusion ProPack Discounted Variable Home Loan
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$30,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
95%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$0
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.24%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
HSBC
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Value Loan
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$100,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
80%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$0
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.25%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Family First Credit Union
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
12 month introductory loan
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$20,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
90%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$0
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.30% then reverts to 5.55%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Homeloans.com.au
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Ultra Plus 75
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$30,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
75%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$330
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.49%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
NAB
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Choice Package
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$500,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
Not disclosed online
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$395
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.53%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Westpac
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Premier Advantage Package + Choice transaction account
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$500,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
Not disclosed online
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$0
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.51%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
ANZ
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
Breakfree Home Loan Package
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$500,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
75%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$375
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.60%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Commonwealth Bank
</td>
<td width="101" valign="top">
12 Month Discounted Variable Rate
 
</td>
<td width="73" valign="top">
$10,000
</td>
<td width="80" valign="top">
80%
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
$8 per month
</td>
<td width="79" valign="top">
5.70%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

The 12 lowest discounted rates available for home borrowers as RBA likely to hold firm in May

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First-home buyers in Victoria wanting to buy an existing home have just two months to make their purchases and still receive the existing $7,000 first-home owner grant.
The Victorian state government has announced, ahead of its May 7 state budget, that on June 30, it will join NSW and Queensland by ending the long-running handout instead in favour of a bigger $10,000 grant – launching on July 1 - but only for newly constructed houses and apartments under $750,000.
The grant is available to homes and apartments built under a home building contract, built by an owner-builder, purchased off the plan or sold for the first time as a residential premise.
All first-home buyers will benefit from fast-tracked stamp duty savings, which will increase from 30% to 40% on homes valued up to $600,000, beginning on July 1.
The changes to the Victorian first-home owner grant, aimed to assist first home buyers and create jobs in the struggling housing construction industry comes at as the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) campaigns for the reinstatement of the $7,000 first-home owner grant for existing homes in NSW.
In September last year, Queensland ended its $7,000 first-home owner grant in favour of $15,000 construction grant to buy or build a new home, since renamed the ‘Great Start Grant’.
In October, NSW ended its $7,000 first-home owner grant in favour of a $15,000 grant to buy or build a new home.
With other changes set to occur to different state incentive schemes for first-home buyers over the next six to 18 months, these are the key dates that prospective FHBs need to put into their calendars:
All dates correct as of April 29 2013 and may change with the release of state budgets later in the year.
June 30, 2013 - Victoria
The date the Victorian government ends its $7,000 first-home owner grant. The grant is available if the price of the property or construction of the home does not exceed $750,000. An exception to this requirement is where the contract relates to a home that is on, or to be built on, primary production land.
June 30 2013 - South Australia
The $8,000 Housing Construction Grant (HCG) will expire on June 30. It applies to contracts entered into between 15 October 2012 and 30 June 2013, or in the case of owner builders, where construction commenced between 15 October 2012 and 30 June 2013. A property value cap of $450,000 applies.
June 30 2013 - ACT
The Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS), offering stamp duty concession to first-home buyers and anyone else purchasing a new home or residential vacant land under certain thresholds (<a href="https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/home_buyer_assistance">details on the ACT government website</a>), is due to expire on June 30. 
July 1, 2013 – Victoria
The start of the $10,000 grant in Victoria for newly constructed homes. In addition, the state government will also increase stamp duty cuts of 40% for all first home owners (including those buying existing homes) for homes valued up to $600,000. The combination of a $10,000 first-home owner grant and 40% stamp duty cut means that Victorians buying a newly constructed first home for $400,000 will save over $16,500.
January 1, 2014 - NSW
The $15,000 grant for first-home owners who purchase or build a new home in NSW valued at up to $650,000 will reduce to $10,000 from this date.
June 30, 2014 – South Australia
Up until this date, South Australian first-home buyers of established homes are entitled to a $5,000 grant. From July 1, 2014, no first-home owner grant is available to purchasers of established homes.
June 30, 2014 – South Australia
Stamp duty concessions for first-time buyers who purchase an apartment off the plan in the Adelaide CBD will end on this date. The scheme is available on the transfer of a new CBD apartment or a "substantially refurbished apartment" for a contract entered into from May 31, 2012, to June 30, 2014, capped at stamp duty payable on a $500,000 apartment of $21,330.
June 30, 2014 – Tasmania
The $8,000 First Home Builder Boost Scheme grant available to Tasmanians building a new home (including off-the-plan) if the qualify for the first-home owner grant will end on this date.
September 1, 2014 - Victoria
All first home buyers (whether purchasing newly constructed or established homes) will benefit from a 50% stamp duty concession for homes valued up to $600,000.
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Victorian government to end $7,000 FHOG: the state-by-state deadlines you need to know

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Hengyi Australia, the Chinese developer transforming the former <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/wyndham-welcoming-at-the-william-in-hengyi-australia-s-first-venture/2013032458545" target="_blank">Telstra "ghost building" on William Street </a>into serviced apartments, will lease office space in the iconic London &amp; Lancashire Building at 400 Collins Street.
Signaling a long-term commitment to projects in Australia, Hengyi will lease 700 square metre premises over both ground and first floor levels on a six year term with a five year renewal option.
The rental was not disclosed but is believed to be around $500 a square metre per annum net.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-melbourne-500414467" target="_blank">London &amp; Lancashire Building</a> dates back to the 1940s and is built in the Palazzo style with a facade of stone in the Italian Renaissance style.
Hengyi Australia is an affiliate of Chinese developer, Shandong HYI (Group) Co. Ltd.
The deal was brokered by Savills’ associate director of office leasing, Mathew Kent.
Kent said tenancies in the seven level, heritage-listed building had attracted a high level of demand due to its quality refurbishment, the size of the floor plates, and the much sought after Collins Street address.
The building is now more than 60% leased with only three floors remaining.
 Hengyi director Jeff Wang said the Collins Street address and long term commitment signified Hengyi’s assimilation into Australian corporate life. 
"With our 530 apartment project, The William, to be completed in the middle of next year and a number of projects in the pipeline we are very busy,” Wang said. 
Hengyi will relocate from 190 Queen Street.
The lessor was Sarchi Property Pty Ltd.
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Chinese developer Hengyi commits to Australia with five-year lease in refurbished London & Lancashire Building on Collins Street

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A 103-year old bluestone villa turned office property in Norwood, Adelaide has been sold for $1.1 million.
Built in 1910, the 176-square-metre building at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-sa-norwood-500335127">17 The Parade</a> (pictured below) was acquired by a local building company who plans to occupy the building.
<img alt="norwoodapril29one" height="346" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/04/norwoodapril29one.jpg">
It features the distinctive beige-coloured bluestone slate that was used as an exterior feature on Adelaide homes between the 1850s and 1920s, quarried in the nearby Adelaide Hills.
RP Data records show it previously sold for $205,000 in 2001.
It stands on a 56 square metres of land, with on-site parking for up to five vehicles.  
CBRE’s William Brown and Ben Younger negotiated the deal on behalf of Whitham Media.
Brown said the property’s location was just one of its selling factors.
“This stand-alone office is situated just 3.5km from the heart of Adelaide’s central business district,” he says.
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Bluestone Adelaide commercial villa sold for $1.1 million

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The Reserve Bank may be swayed to cut the cash rate by a further 25 basis points at its June 4 monetary policy meeting, according to Australian Financial Review economic writer Alan Mitchell.
Mitchell basis this expectation on the lower than expected March inflation reading, the weaker Australian dollar and weak economic data coming out from China, the US and Australia.
“If there is no real improvement in the economic outlook in the next month or so, the RBA could be faced with a tough decision: turn the [easing] bias into a rate cut or risk weakening its effect on the foreign exchange market,” he wrote in the Saturday AFR.
Mitchell writes that the risk in cutting the cash rate to 2.75% - below the lowest cash rate setting since the onset of the GFC – would be making monetary policy too lose with the “more serious domestic risk” that low rates would overheat the property market.
But he says there are “no signs of the dreaded housing market-driven credit boom” and along with retail sales being “not particurlarly strong” despite recent recoveries, a slowdown in car sales, unemployment rising and a weak labour market in the US all make the argument for a rate cut “pretty attractive”.
Mitchell says uncertainty about where the US and Australian economies may yet show signs of improving makes waiting until June an attractive option for the RBA.
“The bank will have its own revised forecasts of the Australian economy in time for the May meeting.
And he says, if the RBA waits until June, it will get another month of global data plus the federal budget as well as update on investment intentions  from the March quarter business capital expenditure.
A small majority of economists <a href="/news">surveyed by Bloomberg last week</a> tipped the RBA to cut the cash rate in June with 13 out of 27 tipping a 25 basis point rate cut and one economist (Richard Gibb from Macquarie Group) tipping a cash rate setting of 2.5% with expectations of rate cuts in May and June. The remainder expect no change.</body></html>

Argument for June RBA rate cut looks “pretty attractive” but with housing market overheating risk: AFR's Alan Mitchell

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An overwhelming majority of economists still expect the RBA to leave the cash rate unchanged at 3% on May 7, according to the latest Bloomberg survey.
Following <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/economy/inflation-up-lower-than-expected-04-in-march-quarter-with-rise-in-new-dwelling-purchases-noted/2013042460702?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=news" target="_blank">Wednesday's subdued March quarter inflation</a> reading, 20 out of 27 economists expect no change in the cash rate.
This compared with 24 out of 28 who tipped no rate cut a week ago.
All the major bank economists agree there will be no rate cut in May.
Expectations of a June rate cut are stronger with 13 out of 27 tipping a 25 basis point rate cut and one economist (Richard Gibb from Macquarie Group) tipping a cash rate setting of 2.5%. The remainder expect no change.
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Majority of economists still say no rate cut on May 7

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The collapse of Gold Coast mortgage fund manager and property developer LM Investment Management (LMIM) has reached as far as Malta, with the country’s financial markets watchdog launching an investigation into the sale of securities to local investors.
The Malta’s financial services regulator (MFSA) is currently examining complaints from investors of alleged miss-selling by the company, it told online journal, <a href="https://www.international-adviser.com/home" target="_blank">International Adviser</a>.
The regulator will also examine how LMIM securities were sold in Malta.
LMIM collapsed in March leaving small investors and overseas investors facing cumulative exposures totalling around $740 million.
Investments in LMIM’s various mortgage funds were sold to overseas investors via financial intermediaries.
LM said it sold investments in its funds to 73 countries including Canada, the UK, South Africa and Israel.
Maltese press reports say 631 Maltese investors have invested more than €14 million (A$17.6 million) in two Australian property-linked funds administered by LMIM.
Most of the $350 million raised for the flagship LM Managed Performance Fund (LMPF) was raised from overseas investors.
KordaMentha and its affiliate firm Calibre Capital were recently appointed joint trustees of the LMPF following a Supreme Court of Queensland appointment.
The principal asset of the fund is an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/irregularities-suspected-in-lmim-s-maddison-estate-mortgage-fund-reports/2013040160117">investment in Maddison Estate</a>, a large proposed residential development on the Gold Coast which has recently been the subject of debate about its value.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/jamie-durie-s-garden-designs-wilt-as-gold-coast-mortgage-fund-manager-lm-investment-management-placed-in-voluntary-administration/2013032459976">John Park and Ginette Muller were appointed voluntary administrators of LMIM on March 19</a>.
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Gold Coast's LMIM mortgage fund collapse reaches Malta as regulator launches probe

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A recent Victorian Supreme Court decision in favour of a Melbourne apartment owner that operates serviced apartments in a Docklands residential building has been slammed by the Sydney-based Owners Corporation Network (OCN).
Stephen Goddard, a Sydney strata lawyer and chair of the OCN, told Property Observer allowing apartment owners to turn their residential units into hotels rooms or serviced apartments would “degrade property values” and result in strata fees rising due to higher maintenance costs.
It follows the Victorian Supreme Court overturning an earlier ruling by the Building Appeals Board that prevented Paul Salter from operating his Docklands Executive Apartments at the 350-unit Watergate tower.
Salter had lost an appeal to the Building Appeals Board in March this year after he received building notices in April 2011 with respect to three apartments being used as short term serviced apartments that were ruled to have contravened the Building Code of Australia.
The City of Melbourne was a defendant alongside the Building Appeals Board in its legal dispute with Salter.
The court ruled that the decision of the Building Appeals Board must be quashed and the appeals made by Salter be remitted for re-hearing and determination in accordance with law.
Goddard says the OCN is “completely behind the City of Melbourne”.
“It’s neither good public policy nor in the public interest to convert residential apartments into boarding houses or hotels on common property rates," he says.
“We are surprised and disappointed at decision of the Supreme Court of Victoria.”
Goddard says the decision will have national ramifications with the potential for parts of Docklands to start looking like the Gold Coast.
He says short-term letting of apartments is also a problem in Sydney, citing one example of a buck’s night in an apartment building, where windows were broken and the swimming pool had to be drained to remove all the glass.
“The allowing of checkerboard short term tenancies results in the overall degrading of amenities and capital values and will result in increases in levies.
“It’s short term profiteering but with a long-term cost," he says.
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Short term renting of apartments will degrade strata values and push up fees: Owners Corporation Network

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A-League soccer star Daniel McBreen of the Central Coast Mariners has revealed his ambition to become a successful mortgage broker with AFG once his soccer playing days are over.
McBreen scored the second half penalty goal that secured the Mariners their first A-League title in a hard fought 2-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend.
In an interview with MPA Magazine McBreen said his father had been a mortgage broker and the plan was always for him to take over from him one day. 
Sadly, his father’s passing last year brought forward his role in the business.
McBreen says football is his main priority currently but he spends afternoons and evenings working on mortgage broking-related business.
“Every spare moment I get away from football I try and put towards doing what I need to do to get this [business] up and running,” he told MPA Magazine.
“I’m hoping to play football for another couple of years and if that comes off I’d like the mortgage side of the business to be up and running – and to be in a position where, when I do finish playing football, I can move seamlessly into full-time [broking] work and have the work there to keep me going on strong."
McBreen is not the only sports star to try their hand at mortgage broking through AFG.
Former Richmond Tigers ruckman Troy Simmonds operated mortgage broking business Harbour Finance, aggregating through AFG, for four years towards the end of his football career.
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Soccer star Daniel McBreen shoots for AFG mortgage success after grand final glory

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While the federal Department of Immigration has yet to issue any Significant Investment Visas (SIVs), over 200 applications from Chinese investors and a smattering of other nationalities should soon be in the post.
Most are targeting investments in NSW and Victoria, and the granting of the visas is expected to have positive reverberations for the top-end property markets in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, where demand for prestige real estate has been low compared with more affordably priced properties.
The SIVs, colloquially called "Golden Ticket" visas are available to wealthy investors who can invest $5 million in approved investments for four years and are then eligible for permanent residency. There is no English language requirement, though they must stay in Australia at least 160 days within those four years.
The applicant, spouse and dependent family members can live in Australia immediately after approval.
While the rules of the SIV specifically exclude direct investment in real estate, applicants can invest in an unlisted managed fund that holds Australian direct property assets and/or a trading business/ company.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Immigration, 222 invitations have been issued to investors to apply for a SIV.
This is up from the 131 invitations to apply issued by late February.
Of these, 212 invitations have been issued to Chinese investors with the remaining ten coming from Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Hong Kong and the US.
Almost half (101) of these invitations are for applicants looking to invest in NSW, with 81 in Victoria and 29 in Queensland.
A surprisingly small number – just 8 – are looking to invest in mining-rich WA with three planning to invest in South Australia.
The 222 invitations issued by the Department of Immigration follow it receiving 345 expressions of interest from Chinese investors, seven from Hong Kong, two from India, three from Japan, four from Singapore, two from Taiwan, three from the US and one application each from 13 other countries.
Earlier this month, Knight Frank established a <a href="/news">special sales team specifically targeting wealthy Chinese investors</a> following the introduction of the significant investment visa (SIV).
The Knight Frank team includes Chinese born agents and people with experience dealing with Asian investment, led by Dominic Ong.
Ong believes Chinese spending overseas is increasing and won’t peak for another five years.
“During my recent visit to Shanghai and Beijing, we are seeing Chinese investors increasingly looking to diversify their portfolios and they view Australia as a safe haven and a long term investment destination.
“We are currently working with some 20 groups of Chinese investors sourcing office towers and shopping centres to hotel investment and land development projects.”
Th SIV program was launched in November last year.
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None issued yet, but significant visa applications dominated by Chinese investors eyeing NSW and Victoria

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Larry Schlesinger

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