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Just over a quarter of the unit hotspot suburbs picked by Australian Property Investor (API) magazine in its 2012 Hot 100 list outperformed the national unit market in terms of capital growth over the past year.
Mining towns like Gladstone and Mackay were among those that fizzled badly, analysis by Property Observer can reveal.
Of the 62 unit hotspots from the 2012 Hot 100 list where comparison are possible, only 16 suburbs managed capital appreciation greater than the 2.4% rise in national unit prices recorded for the year to December 2012 as measured by Australian Property Monitors (APM).
This follows Property Observer revealing earlier this week that of the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/hit-and-miss-hotspots-box-hill-flames-out-while-highgate-karratha-newman-and-other-wa-mining-locations-are-on-fire/2013042260643?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=hotspots" target="_blank">90 hot spot suburbs for detached houses</a> where comparison were possible, 25 locations recorded declined of 1% or more over the year, 19 locations treaded water, 34 recorded gains of between 1% and 10% in their median house prices and 12 managed gains of more than 10%.
The Property Observer analysis is based on APM median sales figures for the 12 months to January 2013 as quoted by API Magazine in its latest Hot 100 flagship issue.
The APM figures show that more than half of the 62 suburbs recorded price declines over the year to January compared with expectations that suburbs on the list should demonstrate capital growth over a 12 month period and beyond as part of a long-term investment play.
Notable unit failures were the WA tourism-focused town of Broome (unit prices down 22.8%) and mining-influenced Newcastle (-16.4%), Mackay (-15.9%) and Gladstone (-11.1%).
Worst of the bunch was Norwood, a suburb just 3 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD, where the median unit price fell 28% from $461,000 as of December 2011 to $328,000 as of January 2013.
Reasons for Norwood’s inclusion in 2012 include its seemingly good local council which “supports community sentiment and maintains standards”, its close proximity to the CBD and bus connections (though no train) and the appeal of its main street as a “popular shopping, dining and entertainment precinct”.
However, Norwood has been axed from the 2013 Hot 100 list, which features just three South Australian suburbs on its list and has totally excluded the inner suburbs of Adelaide.
South Australian suburbs on the 2013 list are Hackam West on the south eastern outskirts of Adelaide, the rural Riverland regional town of Renmark and mining town of Whyalla, despite the shelving of the Olympic Dam expansion project.
The second-worst performer was Broome in the Kimberley region, where median have fallen 22.8% over the comparison period.
Located 1,680 kilometres north of Perth and famous for its pearling, fishing and tourism industry, Broome made it onto last year’s list because of its proactive local council, good flight connections and a good mix of services and amenities including two major shopping centres, a university and a TAFE.
However, despite all of this, the median Broome unit price fell from $453,000 to $350,000 over the 12 months to January 2013.
Broome is not included on the 2013 Hot 100 list.
At the other end of the spectrum, Belmont, 7 kilometres north east of Perth, was the standout unit performer from the 2012 Hot 100 managing a 32% rise in its median unit price as was the South Australian mining town of Roxby Downs (up 29.6%) and Mandurah (17%), listed as a "lifestyle" location by API Magazine, 65 kilometres south of Perth.
The high number of suburbs where unit prices went backwards rather than forwards, as anticipated by API Magazine, highlights the challenges faced in picking hotspots and the importance of doing your own research.
In its guide to this year’s list API Magazine tells readers they should not buy a property in a location “just because it’s in the Hot 100”
“This list isn’t your due diligence. You must do your own detailed homework into any area you’re going to invest in, as well as the property type,” says API.
<table style="width: 446px;" frame="box" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="122">
<col width="324">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21">Suburb</td>
<td>12 month change in median unit prices to Jan 2013 (units)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Norwood, SA</td>
<td width="324">-28.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Broome, WA</td>
<td width="324">-22.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Carindale, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-21.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Werribee, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-17.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Dunsborough,WA</td>
<td width="324">-16.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Newcastle, NSW</td>
<td width="324">-16.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Mackay, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-15.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Chermside, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-15.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="41">
<td height="41" width="122">Broadmeadows, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-15.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Parap, NT</td>
<td width="324">-12.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Gladstone, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-11.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Southport, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-11.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Ringwood, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-10.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Nundah, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-10.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="41">
<td height="41" width="122">Indooroopilly, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-10.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Port Lincoln, SA</td>
<td width="324">-9.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Frankston, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-9.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20" width="122">Bunbury, WA</td>
<td width="324">-7.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Coburg, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-6.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Townsville, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-5.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Dandenong, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Erskineville, NSW</td>
<td width="324">-4.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Ascot Vale, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-4.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Thornbury, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-3.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Enmore, NSW</td>
<td width="324">-3.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Mentone, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-2.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Granville, NSW</td>
<td width="324">-2.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Como, WA</td>
<td width="324">-2.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Northcote, VIC</td>
<td width="324">-1.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="41">
<td height="41" width="122">South Brisbane, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-1.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Armadale, WA</td>
<td width="324">-1.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Coorparoo, QLD</td>
<td width="324">-1.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Fremantle, WA</td>
<td width="324">-1.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Kellyville, NSW</td>
<td width="324">-0.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Orange, NSW</td>
<td width="324">0.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="41">
<td height="41" width="122">West Footscray, VIC</td>
<td width="324">0.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Midland, WA</td>
<td width="324">0.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Sherwood, QLD</td>
<td width="324">1.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Joondalup, WA</td>
<td width="324">1.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Turner, ACT</td>
<td width="324">1.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Carlton North, VIC</td>
<td width="324">1.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Stafford, QLD</td>
<td width="324">1.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Blacktown, NSW</td>
<td width="324">2.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Dickson, ACT</td>
<td width="324">2.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Box Hill, VIC</td>
<td width="324">2.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Maroubra, NSW</td>
<td width="324">2.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Highgate, WA</td>
<td width="324">3.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="41">
<td height="41" width="122">Osbourne Park, WA</td>
<td width="324">4.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Sunshine, VIC</td>
<td width="324">4.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Summer Hill, NSW</td>
<td width="324">5.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Perth CBD, WA</td>
<td width="324">5.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Magill, SA</td>
<td width="324">5.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Neutral Bay, NSW</td>
<td width="324">6.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="41">
<td height="41" width="122">Camperdown, NSW</td>
<td width="324">6.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Marrickville, NSW</td>
<td width="324">7.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Willetton, WA</td>
<td width="324">8.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Footscray, VIC</td>
<td width="324">11.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Warrnambool, VIC</td>
<td width="324">12.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Hamilton Hill, WA</td>
<td width="324">14.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Mandurah, WA</td>
<td width="324">17.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Roxby Downs, SA</td>
<td width="324">29.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21">
<td height="21" width="122">Belmont, WA</td>
<td width="324">32%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Unit hotspots less hit and more miss: Broome, Newcastle and Gladstone among markets that flopped in 2012

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First-home buyers can still take advantage of significant financial incentives and savings as state and territory governments prepare their 2013-14 budgets.
Victoria will be the first to announce its state budget on May 7 with Queensland to release its state budget on June 4 and NSW on June 18.
However, time is running out for some first-home buyer grants, which are due to expire at the end of the financial year.
In 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.
And in the 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, is due to expire on June 30.
Nothing has yet been leaked about possible changes to first-home owner grants and stamp duty savings, but the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) is already campaigning for the reinstatement of first home buyer incentives in NSW for purchasers of existing properties as demand from this key sector continues to fall.
First-home buyer as a proportion of the mortgage market fell to just 14.4% in February, down from 15% in January, according to ABS figures - their lowest share of the market in more than eight years.
“We are calling on the Treasurer to not only reinstate first home buyer incentives that were removed in 2012, but to also explore additional opportunities to assist first home buyers to take their first step onto the property ladder,” says REINSW president Christian Payne. “It is not too late for the NSW Government to reverse its decision to abolish from 1 January 2012, the stamp duty exemption/concession and from 1 October 2012, the $7000 grant, for those buying existing properties.
A similar campaign could be on the cards in Queensland, which also abolished the $7,000 first-home owner grant for those buying existing properties last year in favour of a $15,000 incentive for those buying or building a new home.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Changing the name of the scheme</a> from the first home owner construction grant (FHOCG) to the 'great start grant’ in March is unlikely to have made any difference to sentiment.
This is what is currently on offer across states and territories: 
Victoria
On January 1 this year, the state raised its stamp duty discount for homes priced under $600,000 from 20% to 30%.
The higher discount kicked in on January 1, 2013, and applies to both existing homes and new homes, delivering first-home buyers additional savings starting from $600 to a maximum of just over $3,000 on a house price at $600,000.
First-home buyers can work out their stamp duty savings using this table provided the <a href="https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/sro/sronav.nsf/LinkView/C88211C9E07486F0CA2578B70001025018E490D796850F8ECA2575C1008187C7" target="_blank">Victorian government’s State Revenue Office.</a>
Maximum stamp duty savings are now over $9,000. Combined with the existing first-home owners' grant of $7,000 there is nearly $16,000 in savings for those first-home buyers who are willing to venture into the property market in 2013.
The stamp duty discount will rise to 40% on January 1, 2014, and to 50% on September 1, 2014.
To qualify for the stamp duty discount, first-home buyers must also qualify for the $7,000 first-home owners’ grant.
All added up it means Victorian first-home buyers purchasing an existing home receive the highest amount of financial support from their state government.
Further information can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/sro/SROnav.nsf/alltitle/First%20Home%20Owners?open">Victorian government first-home owner website</a>.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
NSW
A first-home buyer who purchases a $550,000 new home will get $35,240 in assistance.
This includes a $15,000 grant for first-home owners who purchase or build a new home valued at up to $650,000. The grant is available until December 31, 2013, reducing to $10,000 from January 1, 2014.
Non-first-home buyers who buy a new home are eligible for $5,000 whether the new home is off the plan or newly built with a value up to $650,000, The $5,000 grant is also available to buyers of vacant land that is intended to be the site of a new home valued up to $450,000.
First-home owners are also eligible for a maximum stamp duty saving of $20,240 for homes up to a value of $550,000, with duty concessions for new homes valued between $550,000 and $650,000. The transfer duty exemption cap on vacant land is $350,000, with duty concessions for vacant land valued between $350,000 and $450,000.
Further information can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/benefits/first_home/">NSW first home benefits</a> website.
Queensland
A $15,000 first-home owner construction grant (FHOCG) is available. The FHOCG applies to new property bought or built at a value under $750,000.
First-home buyers also pay no duty on purchases up to $500,000, with a phasing-out rebate applicable for values up to $600,000.
For non-first-home buyers, the Queensland government offers a concessional stamp duty rate of 1% up to a value of $350,000, with stamp duty charged at normal rates for the remaining value of the home purchase. The buyer must occupy the home for a period of 12 months – an applicant may lose the concession if he sells or leases part or all of the home before moving in or within a year of moving in.
Further information can be found the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.osr.qld.gov.au/first-home-owner-grant/fhog-fhocg-landing-page.shtml">Queensland first home owner grant</a> website
South Australia
South Australian first-home buyers have the chance to secure $23,500 from the state government, provided they build a new home.
The $23,500 handout comprises a doubled first-home owner grant of $15,000 for contracts entered into on or after October 15 and up to a value of $575,000, plus a further $8,500 housing construction grant (HCG). The housing construction grant replaces the $8,000 first-home bonus grant.
The HCG is available to all builders of new homes for properties valued up to $400,000, phasing out for properties valued up to $450,000 where contracts are entered into between October 15, 2012, and June 30, 2013, inclusive.
Concessions could rise to $39,830 if first-tome buyers buy an apartment off the plan in the Adelaide CBD under $400,000, where a stamp duty concession of $16,330 applies.
This part of a new stamp duty concession scheme 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.
An example where a $39,830 saving would be available to a first-home buyer is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/project-aria+on+gouger-sa-adelaide-600000551" target="_blank">Aria on Gouger Street </a>being developed by Brock Urban Projects, where two-bedroom apartments are priced from $335,750.
Up until June 30 2014, 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.
Further information can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/IamaFHB">South Australia first-home buyer</a> website.
 
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WA
A $7,000 first-home owner grant remains in place for a newly constructed or established home. It does not apply to vacant land purchased to build a new home. The total value of the home must not exceed $750,000 if the property is located south of the 26th parallel of South Latitude, or $1 million if located north of the 26th parallel of South Latitude. First-home buyers eligible for the $7,000 grant pay no stamp duty on homes valued up to $500,000 and up to $300,000 for vacant land. There is also The Home Buyers Assistance Account, which provides a grant of up to $2 000 for the incidental expenses of first home buyers when they purchase an established or partially built home through a licensed real estate agent for the purchase price of $400,000 or less.
Further information can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/content.aspx?id=3868">WA’s Department of Finance</a> website. 
ACT
A $7,000 first-home owner grant remains in place for both existing and new homes where the price of the property or construction of the home does not exceed $750,000. The territory government also offers a Home Buyer Concession Scheme (HBCS) to assist persons in purchasing a residential home or residential vacant land by charging stamp duty at a concessional rate. This scheme ends on June 30 and applies to homes valued less than $450,000 and land valued at less than $263,000.
Further information can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/home_buyer_assistance">ACT Revenue website</a>.
Tasmania
A $7,000 first-home owner grant remains in place for both existing and new homes, with no cap on the value. Tasmanian first-home buyers buying or building a new home (including off-the-plan) are eligible for an additional $8,000 under the First Home Builder Boost Scheme, which applies from January 1 2013 to June 30 2014 if the qualify for the first-home owner grant.
Further information can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sro.tas.gov.au/fhog">Tasmania first home buyer website.</a>
Northern Territory
For transaction after December 4 2012, a $12 000 first-home owner grant is available for an established home in the urban area or $25,000 outside of urban areas where the price of the property or construction of the home does not exceed $600,000. An urban area is the Darwin, Palmerston or Litchfield municipalities; Wagait Shire; the Darwin Waterfront Precinct; the “prescribed area” for the Darwin Rates Act, any other area prescribed by regulation.
The Northern Territory Government provides a stamp duty Principal Place of Residence Rebate (PPRR) to persons purchasing a new home or land on which to build a home. A calculator is provided to work out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.treasury.nt.gov.au/TaxesRoyaltiesAndGrants/StampDuty/StampDutyCalculators/Pages/PPRR-Calculator.aspx">stamp duty payable on a home eligible for the rebate</a>
Further information can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.treasury.nt.gov.au/TaxesRoyaltiesAndGrants/HomeOwnerIncentives/Pages/default.aspx">NT treasury page.</a>
 
 
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Still plenty to tempt awol first-home buyers as REINSW campaigns for reinstatement of $7,000 grant in state budget

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The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose  by a lower than expected 0.4% in the March quarter, according to ABS figures released today.
The trimmed mean increased by 0.3% to 2.2% year-on-year while the weighted mean was up 0.5% to 2.6% year-on-year with both measures of underlying inflation well within the RBA’s target inflation band of 2% to 3%.
This gives the RBA scope to cut the cash rate further if it deems it necessary.
Through the year, headline CPI rose 2.5% compared with a rise of 2.2% through the year to the 2012 December quarter.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg last week forecast a 0.7% rise in the headline inflation rate to 2.8% year-on-year with the trimmed mean and the weighted mean forecast to rise 0.5% to 2.4% year-on-year.
"It is clear that at present inflation is not an issue, meaning that rates can stay lower for longer," commented CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian.
"Underlying inflation is tracking smack in the middle of the Reserve Bank’s 2% to 3% target band.
"Effectively the low inflation result ensures the Reserve Bank can maintain an easing bias and not feel an urgent need to shift to a more neutral stance in the next few months," he added.
The most significant price rises in the March quarter 2013 were for new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+1.7%), pharmaceutical products (+7.6%), tertiary education (+6.5%) and tobacco (+3.7%).
The most significant offsetting price falls were for international holiday travel and accommodation (–5.2%), furniture (–6.8%) and fruit (–7.0%).
The overall housing component of inflation rose 1.2% in the March quarter 2013 with the other main contributors to this rise - apart from new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers - being electricity (+2.4%) and rents (+0.8%).
Over the twelve months to the March quarter 2013, the housing group rose 5.1% with rises in all categories. The main contributors to the rise were electricity (+17.1%), rents (+3.5%) and new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+2.8%).
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Inflation up lower than expected 0.4% in March quarter with rise in new dwelling prices noted

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Armed with cheap funding from Macquarie Bank and the ability to market his Yellow Brick Road franchise brand on prime time Celebrity Apprentice television, Mark Bouris is taking on the major banks with a mortgage discount offer that claims to undercut their best offerings.
A week before the third season of Celebrity Apprentice begins on Channel Nine, Yellow Brick Road has unveiled its offering of a 1.25% discount for all borrowers who take out its variable rate<a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/homeloans/empowerrangeofhomeloans/index.cfm" target="_blank"> Empower Home Loan</a> for the first year of the loan.
<img alt="bourisapril24one" height="183" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/04/bourisapril24one.jpg">
Afterwards the introductory 12 month rate of 5.15%, the loan reverts to a lower lifetime discount rate of between 0.86 percentage points and 0.91 percentage points off the standard variable rate, currently at 6.40%.
The loan has no application fee, with Yellow Brick Road pointing out that the discounted rate is offered “across the board” not just to those borrowers who meet minimum loan size requirements as is required by the major banks to be eligible for the best variable rate offering.
In an ASX press release issued to announce the discounted offer, Yellow Brick Road includes a table comparing its 5.15% introductory offer with the best discount rates offered through home loan packages from ANZ (5.7%), Westpac (5.61%), St.George (5.59%), Commonwealth Bank (5.60%) and NAB (5.58%).
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2013/04/bourischartapril24one.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2013/04/bourischartapril24onethumb.gif"></a>
The Empower Home Loan product is entirely funded by Macquarie Bank following last November’s wholesale funding agreement.
Macquarie Bank also has an 8.3% stake in Yellow Brick Road and is key player in Bouris’s ambition to make Yellow Brick Road a significant competitor to the dominance of the big four banks in the mortgage market.
Channel Nine also has an interest in the success of the mortgage product with its Nine Ventures consumer investment group holding an 18% stake in Yellow Brick Road.
The most recent full year annual accounts show that Yellow Brick Road paid Channel Nine $2.65 million last year to sponsor The Apprentice television series for three years.
So expect to see plenty of Yellow Brick Road branding and merchandising every Tuesday and Wednesday night for an hour and half over the next five weeks or so and no doubt plenty of promotion of the discount mortgage offer.
This latest discount offer is an improvement on its earlier 1.15% discount offer launched in November last year under the slogan: “Smash your home loan” following the funding agreement with Macquarie Bank.
Bouris, the hirer and firer on Celebrity Apprentice, has made no secret of his desire to take on the major banks and become a true fifth pillar competitor andbe revelling in his role of both mortgage and media “wizard” – harking back to the late 1990s and early 2000s when Wizard Home Loans and John Symond’s Aussie Home Loans took on the major banks.
Bouris has ramped up the anti-bank rhetoric since signing the <a href="/news">funding agreement with Macquarie in November last year</a>.
“Yellow Brick Road is focused on taking market share from the incumbents,” reads the ASX press release.
In its annual results, Bouris and Yellow Brick Road chief executive Matt Lawler write:
“Overall the business has positioned itself as a competitor and challenger to the major banks. This position is now regularly being recognised and acknowledged by politicians, investment researchers and media commentators nationally.”
Earlier this month, Bouris told Fairfax Media he needed to settle around $350 million worth of new loans a month - around 5% of the value of mortgages banks sell through their branches – to force banks to adjust how they price their home loans.
Bouris said he was confident of doubling Yellow Brick Road’s mortgage book as it did in 2012.
While Yellow Brick Road remains a minnow mortgage lender compared to the gargantuan-sized mortgage books of the major banks, it is growing at rapid pace.
In January it reported a record month with loan settlements up 106% on January 2012 and 43% higher than its previous best month amid a “groundswell of consumer demand”.
It’s most recent full year results for the 12 months to December 31 show the Yellow Brick Road mortgage book grew by 114% to $1.26 billion compared with $590 million in the previous full-year period.
Franchise branches grew from 91 to 149 over this period while representatives licensed to provide credit and/or personal financial advice increased from 80 to 126.
Season three of Celebrity Apprentice, will begin on April 30 featuring among its contestants Olympic swimming legend Dawn Fraser, boxing champ Jeff Fenech, rocker Brian Mannix and AFL's Dermott Brereton – all of whom will be seen in Yellow Brick Road merchandise at various points in the reality game show.
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Big Banks, you’re fired: Mark Bouris ties Celebrity Apprentice launch with YBR mortgage discount offer

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<img alt="collierslogo" height="94" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/02/collierslogo.jpg">
Colliers International’s Dan Walker says success comes from working smarter and being able to offer world class service to clients.
<img alt="danwalker" height="200" width="200" src="/images/stories/2013/04/danwalker.png" style="margin: 5px; float: left;">Agent: Dan Walker
Position: Executive, office leasing - Sydney
Company: Colliers International
Office location: Sydney
How long have you been in the industry?
Two years in commercial leasing, seven years in the property industry.
What’s happening in the area you specialise in?
In my core market, there is very high demand for fitted out suites in the Sydney CBD. My clients who are pro-active are embracing this demand and subdividing larger areas into smaller suites and fitting them out, this reduces down time and usually leads to a sharper deal for the asset owner.
Describe the most interesting property you have leased:
Being in the CBD office space, there hasn’t been too many interesting properties, however I just listed a great building built in the 1870s on Market Street. The owner purchased it in 1980, however knew the entire history behind the building – there have been some interesting stories over the last 140 years.
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
A few years ago I would have said working hard, and this is still true, but now I try and work smarter as well. With tenants, it is about being able to build rapport very quickly, which leads to a certain level of trust which will hopefully lead to a transaction. With clients, striving to provide world  class service. Also, being able to have fun from time to time.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
Meeting interesting people all day every day, and not being stuck behind a computer.  My office is out on the street, and being on the phone all day.
Where would you invest a spare $750,000?
I would probably invest in a REIT geared towards non-discretionary retail.
Which football team do you support?
I support Manly in the NRL.
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?
I just got the new Blackberry Z10, it’s a great phone. I send lots of emails whilst out and about showing tenants office space, and the Blackberry wins hands down for email efficiency and battery life.
How do you use social media?
I use social media for building my personal profile within the industry and also for relationship building with potential new clients or tenants. I recently closed a deal with a tenant who contacted me directly on LinkedIn. I also use Twitter to keep make contact with agents in America/UK and Asia as I find it interesting to see what is happening in their markets.
Connect with Dan at <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/danwalkercolliers" title="View public profile">au.linkedin.com/in/danwalkercolliers</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWalkerSydney">https://twitter.com/DanWalkerSydney</a>
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In profile: Colliers International Sydney's office leasing executive Dan Walker

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The possibility of a taking an un-interrupted walk at lunch time in the Melbourne CBD is rare these days.
If you manage to avoid the charity muggers with their cheesy grins and clipboards, you’re more than likely to run into someone trying to hand you a flyer for a free seminar promising to make you rich through SMSF property investment.
The latest gang spruiking their free property investment seminar is Ray White SouthBank.
A short walk down Flinders Lane  and back along Collins Street and I passed at least half a dozen people dressed in Ray White branded outfits handing out fliers suggesting that I learn about property investment while enjoying a free lunch at the Rendezvous Grand Hotel on May 2.
The flyer promises a “beginner’s guide to profitable property investing” include a free “crash course” in “how to pay off a mortgage in a fraction of the time, or structure your investment by using your super fund”.
In previous months it was the Park Trent Property Group spruiking their property investment seminars with similar flyers handed out on just about every street corner.
Another round of free Park Trent webinars is taking place this week across the country promising a 90 minute conference including among other things “how to “borrow within your self managed super fund for property investment”.
This type of promotion comes as growing numbers of people look to set up a self-managed super fund to be able to invest in property – the ATO expects up to 1,000 applications a week this month and next - but with many not knowing how to do so or the risks involved.
This week, the Australian Financial Review’s superannuation writer Sally Patten highlighted some of the findings of the Centre for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College’s report on the $5 trillion retirement savings industry, including the issue of low levels of financial literacy when it comes to super.
“Workers will need some level of financial literacy to understand and manage their retirement accounts and the level currently appears to be quite low,” says the report which can be downloaded for free on the <a href="https://crr.bc.edu/" target="_blank">CRR website.</a>
No doubt such seminars will look to cash in on this lack of knowledge, but equally, a strong desire to get onto the property market and make the returns so often highlighted in property investment magazines – though not always alongside the tragic stories of investments gone wrong.
The Ray White Southbank flyer certainly plays on this fear on missing out.
It’s first four sentences read:
“Have you ever…
THOUGHT about property investing…but where to start?
WONDERED how others have managed to get so far ahead?
WISHED you could begin accumulating property for your own financial future?
It comes as ASIC looks to clamp down on the misleading advertisement of property investment, particurlarly promotions via flyers and online ads that do not include information about the risks involved in investing or the fees or costs associated with setting up an SMSF.
Yesterday Property Observer wrote of an <a target="_blank" href="/news">ASIC special taskforce investigation </a>into the advertising of seminars in Melbourne’s sand belt suburbs prepared by a real estate agency in partnership with an accounting firm, mortgage broker and law firm.
ASIC’s chief concern is that advertising of property investment through self-managed super funds should provide a "balanced message about the returns, features, benefits and risks associated with the product" and that it protects the vulnerable from unscrupulous spruikers.
Neither the Ray White Southbank flyer, nor the Park Trent seminar I attended last year spoke of the risk of property investment.
The Ray White Southbank seminar is due to take place at the Rendezvous Grand Hotel on Flinders Street on May 2.
Coincidentally, this is the same hotel where I attended the free Park Trent seminar last year with around 50 other people, with complimentary lunch provided.
The Park Trent seminar focused on the low-risk nature of investing in property, beginning with a slide with the heading “safe as houses” and the familiar story that if you’re not investing in property now you may not have enough income to sustain you in retirement.
No mention was made of the risk of investing in property or fees involved.
Attendees were asked to tick a box on a form if they wished to receive further information and possible one on one meetings with Park Trent advisors.
The closest Park Trent came to disclosing the risks of property investment was this comment made at the end of the presentation.
“You won’t see me on A Current Affair," said the seminar presenter.
"We don’t appeal to the greedy and gullible.”
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SMSF property spruikers competing with charity muggers on Melbourne street corners

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Retail development activity is likely to increase over the next few years, according to M3 Property Strategists.
Over the past three years, the number of building approvals has increased to above long-term averages.
Last year, Victoria had $1.6 billion of retail building approvals – the highest of any state – with NSW approvals rising noticeably.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2013/04/chartoftheweekapril24one.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2013/04/chartoftheweekapril24onethumb.gif"></a>
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Retail building approvals on the rise led by NSW: Chart of the week

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The Toga Group has acquired the Leisure Inn Hobart Macquarie for $13.65 million possession in a joint venture with a private equity partner with plans to re-brand it as a Travelodge Hotel.
The hotel at 167 Macquarie Street formed part of the collapsed Bluechip Properties Australia Pty Ltd group headed by <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/bluchip-hotel-chain-which-operates-under-the-leisure-inn-brand-enters-receivership/2012101657201" target="_blank">high-profile Sydney property mogul Kurt Braune</a>.
RP Data records show Bluechip acquired the hotel for $3.75 million in September 2004, spending $6 million refurbishing it between 2006 and 2010.
Bluechip was placed in the hands of receivers Korda Mentha in October last year after running into debt obligation difficulties with Bankwest the major creditor.
Other hotels in the Bluechip group include Woolmers Inn and the Waterfront Lodge in Hobart and Launceston's Penny Royal.
The hotel, built in 1968, had been listed for sale last year with price expectation in excess of $16 million, The Mercury reported in October last year.
The investor report notes that it is as “short stroll” from Battery Point, Salamanca Place and Hobart waterfront restaurant and bars.
The sale price represents an initial yield, after management fees, of 9.55% with the hotel forecast to bring in annual net income of $1.3 million in 2013.
For the year to July 2012 its earnings before interest, tax and depreciation were $1.37 million with revenue per available room of $74.
It was sold as vacant possession with an average daily rate of $107 and an occupancy rate of 73%.
It had been managed by Staywell Leisure under an agreement which was due to expire in November 2013, but with the option to acquire as vacant possession.
The hotel features 131 rooms and has an AAA rating of 3.5 stars. It includes two restaurants, a bar and parking for 38 vehicles, 14 of these spaces leased from an adjoining property.
The sale was negotiated by Rob Cross, Andrew Jackson and Scott Callow from CBRE Hotels, who said the likely intention of the purchase was to install a Travelodge branding and management agreement.
According to the investor report prepared by CBRE, Tasmania’s hotel market has remained stable in terms of supply levels, with the total number of available rooms at 2,327 available per night.
From December 2006 to December 2011, the total number of available rooms has risen by only 1.7% percent.
"A buoyant occupancy rate growth figure was experienced in the 12 months to March 2012 in the Hobart Tourism Region, with occupancy at 74.3% Average room rate saw a 4.2% increase in comparison to the 12 months prior, to $133.14," says the report.
Toga Group's hospitality management division comprises Adina Aparment Hotels, Medina Serviced Apartments, Vibe Hotels and Travelodge Hotels.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/former-labor-party-favourite-the-hotel-kurrajong-sells-for-%24765-million/2013032560034">Last month Toga Hotels and the NRMA</a> acquired Labor Party favourite, the Art Deco-inspired Hotel Kurrajong in Canberra’s Parliamentary precinct for $7.65 million at auction.
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Toga Group buys Kurt Braune’s Leisure Inn in Hobart on 9% yield

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Despite the attractiveness of lower interest rates and higher rental yields, the RBA expects less investor demand for investment property in coming years due to "lower trend capital gains".
This was noted by Luci Ellis, the head of RBA's financial stability department in a speech on the outlook for the property and mortgage markets delivered at the Citibank Property Conference in Sydney today.
Ellis presented the following chart at the Citibank Property Conference in Sydney today showing how rental yields, as measured by both RP Data and the Real Estate Institute of Australia, have been trending upwards while 10 year government bond yields have dipped. 
<img alt="rbaapril23one" height="439" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/04/rbaapril23one.jpg">
“With slower trend growth in housing prices, total returns on rental properties would fall unless other things adjusted, said Ellis.
“Sure enough, rental yields, which are a real yield, have been rising in recent years. 
“They are now back to a level that seems like a more reasonable spread over long-run average indexed bond yields, given the investment risk. (And when you consider the current level of indexed bond yields, the rental yield looks even more attractive.),” said Ellis, who heads up the RBA's financial stability department. 
"But for given interest rates and rental yields, lower trend capital gains should result in less investor demand than we saw in the past couple of decades.
“Presumably this will also bring forth less construction activity than we used to see at a given level of interest rates," she said.
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Less investor demand likely for property due to lower capital gains outlook: RBA

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Melbourne has the greatest number of suburbs across Australia offering the potential for property investors to double their money in 10 years if house prices in these suburbs continue to appreciate at current rates.
However, across the country, there are more regional locations offering the probability of investors doubling their money in a decade than in city suburbs, according to the Autumn Investors report from RP Data.
In total, RP Data has <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/investorsguide" target="_blank">identified 263 suburbs</a> across Australia that have recorded average annual value growth of more than 7.2% over the past five years.
According to RP Data, a compounding growth rate of 7.2% over a 10 year period will result in a doubling of the price of an asset.
Based on this calculation, Victoria has had the greatest number of suburbs on the list with 68, of which 38 of these are suburbs in Melbourne.
Melbourne is followed by Sydney with 26 suburbs, Perth with 19 suburbs and Adelaide with 14 suburbs.
Melbourne suburbs that have recorded annual value growth of more than 7.2% over the past five years include Heidelberg West apartments (7.8%), Cairnlea houses (8.2%), Derrimut houses (14.8%) and Clyde houses (12.4%)
Sydney suburbs include Eastern Creek houses (7.4%), Hillsdale apartments (7.9%), Campbelltown apartments (8.3%) and Belmore units (8.5%)
While Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide make up the top four regions, the rest of the top 10 comprises regional suburbs, with many having links to the mining boom such as the Hunter region of NSW, the Pilbara region of WA and Mackay and Fitzroy in Queensland.
This re-affirms the point made by hotspotting.com.au’s Terry Ryder on Property Observer that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/key-regional-centres-will-again-be-property-growth-stars-in-2013-as-mining-boom-far-from-over-terry-ryder/2013010758638">regional locations are where investors should be looking</a>, particurlarly if they are seeking more affordable investment options.
The report found that he majority of suburbs that have recorded annual average value growth of 7.2% or greater are situated in regional areas of the country (55.7%) rather than capital cities (44.3%).
Across most states this same trend has been replicated with only Melbourne (55.9%), Adelaide (77.8%), Darwin (90.9%) and Canberra (100%) recording a greater proportion of suburbs listed within the capital city.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) all the suburbs which made the list made it for houses as opposed to 35% for units, but with RP Data noting that a much greater proportion of the overall housing market nationally is houses as opposed to units which is partially influencing these figures.
The ten regions with the greatest number of suburbs recording high levels of value growth accounted for 57.5% of the total suburbs across Australia.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/04/rpdatatoptenregionsapril23one.gif" width="470" height="396" alt="rpdatatoptenregionsapril23one">
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Melbourne leads regions where property investors can double their money in a decade: RP Data

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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