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A Lane Cove property will go to auction this week for the first time in more than three decades.
There’s a website, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" style="font-size: 14px;">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
In Sydney Kerrie Robertson from LJ Hooker will offer 28 Coolaroo Road, Lane Cove, to the market for the first time in more than 30 years. The deceased estate sits on more than 700 square metres of land and represents a great opportunity for a family who are looking for something comfortable now but are happy to renovate down the track.
The property comprises three bedrooms and a lock-up garage under the house and is walking distance to parks and shops. Bidding is expected to start at $950,000 and move up from there.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/coolaroo.jpg">
 
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marmstrong-sd3emVLPPb

Sydney auction tipping: Great opportunity for a family in Lane Cove

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The vendors of a single-fronted terrace in Carlton North will try to double their investment this weekend. 
There’s a website, <a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/" target="_blank">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a style="font-size: 14px;" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" rel="nofollow">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
A perfect, wider-than-normal single-fronted terrace at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-carlton+north-112091651" target="_blank">213 Station Street, Carlton North</a>, goes under the hammer on Saturday. The three-bedroom home has been fully renovated to maximise space and natural light and to offer all the attractions of a low-maintenance lifestyle. The blue-chip address is close to Rathdowne Village and Curtain Square, and within walking distance of the CBD.
It has been 10 years since the property was offered to the market and last time it fetched $415,000 at auction. This time agent Tom Roberts from Nelson Alexander expects the property to sell for $800,000 to $880,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/stationst.jpg">
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Melbourne auction tipping: Single-fronted terrace in blue-chip Carlton North

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The Melbourne and Sydney properties featured on Property Observer in this week's auction tipping competition failed to perform at auction. 
There’s a website, <a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/" target="_blank">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: 14px;">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" rel="nofollow">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
Although a lot of buyers fell in love with "Waterfall Art Deco" at 1 Laurencia Court, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mont Albert</a> (pictured below), there was something holding the buyers back and the auction failed to gain any traction. 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/laurenci.jpg">


Auctioneer Steven Abbot from Jellis Craig was forced to open the auction with two vendor bids before he went inside for the half-time break. When he came back out to restart the auction holding a vendor bid of $1.3 million,  he was offered the one and only live bid $60,000 below that figure. The property was passed in and now has a reserve in excess in $1.4 million. 

You can view the auction highlights on our <a target="_blank" href="https://propertytycoon.createsend1.com/t/r-l-kuituty-ekdeljiy-j/">Facebook</a> page. In Sydney the view is great but unfortunately the $2.5 million price tag was too much for buyers at 15 Shackel Street, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Clovelly</a> (pictured below), and when no one registered an intention to bid the property was withdrawn. 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/shackel.jpg">
When you bid at an auction it means you must be in a position to sign an unconditional contract. Although there were a couple of interested parties that turned up on the day none was in a position to sign an unconditional contract.

Daniel Gillespie from Belle Property is confident the property will sell in the coming days.

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Something holding back buyers at Melbourne and Sydney auction tipping properties

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The problem with a million-dollar view in Sydney is it now costs a lot more than $1 million.
There’s a website, <a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/" target="_blank">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a style="font-size: 14px;" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" rel="nofollow">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/shackel.jpg">
To get the view that million-dollar view <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-clovelly-111965679" target="_blank">15 Shackel Avenue, Clovelly</a>, has on offer you will first need more than $2.5 million just to get your hands on the land. From there you will drop another million to build a two-storey home and then you will truly have a spectacular million-dollar view.
This <a target="_blank" href="/news">Clovelly </a>property is certainly what you would call tightly held. It was purchased by the current owner back in 1974 for $49,000 and has been an outstanding investment. If it does crack $2.5 million as Daniel Gillespie from Belle Property expects it will have shown an annual compound growth rate over 10%.
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Sydney auction tipping: Million-dollar view in Clovelly, for three times the price

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The vendors of a Mont Albert property going to auction this weekend hope a significant renovation entices $1.2 million-plus buyers.
There’s a website, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" style="font-size: 14px;">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
They just don't build them like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/1-laurencia-court-mont-albert/Property-Details-buy-residential-4587709">1 Laurencia Court, Mont Albert</a>, anymore. This “Waterfall Art Deco” property was built in 1946 and features an original iron curved staircase. The five-bedroom home is full of character and is located at the end of a quiet <a href="/news">Mont Albert</a> court.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/laurenci.jpg">
The current owners purchased the property in 2004 for $613,000 and have made significant cosmetic improvements to the property including an alfresco space that includes a heated below-ground pool. Tom Ryan from Jellis Craig says this property has really struck a chord with a lot of buyers and expects the property will sell in excess of $1.2 million.
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Melbourne auction tipping: Character-filled Art Deco home in Mont Albert

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Last Saturday a great piece of blue-chip real estate went under the hammer in <city><place>Melbourne,</place></city> but most of the market was completely unaware. The majority of people think if it’s blue chip it must be expensive; however blue chip really means an asset that has constant demand and price stability regardless of the price point.
Which property?  <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-armadale-111894799" target="_blank">15/7 Sutherland Road, Armadale</a>.
This property was nothing flash. It was one-bedroom apartment in a very tired condition, some might say dilapidated, but it did appeal to many buyers in the market. While the crowd was not huge the auction was very competitive with six bidders competing before it finally sold for $375,000.
You can <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=307643982681553" target="_blank">watch auction highlights here</a>.
This is not a one-off result in this street, as in June this year another one-bedroom apartment at <street><address>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-armadale-110572281" target="_blank">12/48 Sutherland Road</a>, </address></street><a href="/news">Armadale</a>, sold at auction for $386,000.
When we dig a bit further we find these types of properties have not only held their own but have excelled in a sluggish market. In August last year a one-bedroom apartment in the exact same block<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-armadale-107574513" target="_blank"> at no 48</a> that was similar in every way – top floor, car parking, same floor plan and in good condition – sold for $345,000. The investor who secured this property last year has experience a 9% gain in 12 months.
This example illustrates the fact that even in a market where property values are falling some are still growing.
Many people view the median growth rate as a definitive indicator of what the market is doing. However while the median growth is a good indicator of long-term trends it fails as a useful tool when selecting an individual asset. This is because the median represents the midpoint of growth rates over a series of properties. Logic suggests that half the properties in the market will out perform the median while the other half will under-perform.


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One of the reasons these apartments have held their own is because of the underlying characteristics of <a href="/news">Armadale</a>. According to the 2011 census 53% of properties in Armadale are owner-occupied and 60% of these owner-occupiers have no debt on their home at all. In a suburb where the median value of a house is around $1.5 million that is a lot of equity.
Further, investors control 44% of all property in Armadale, and while most of these owners may have debt on their property, it is inexpensive debt to carry because rental income and negative gearing offset the cost
This balance of cashed-up home owners and investors means there is more likely to be consistent demand in this market.
On the supply side we find level of new stock coming onto the market is restricted by a scarcity of land and onerous town planning regulations. The 2011 census shows a modest 2% growth in dwellings in Armadale over the last five years.
This compares with areas such as <a href="/news">Port Melbourne</a>, where town-planning laws encourage development, which had 6% growth. While <a href="/news">Point Cook</a>, where land is in abundant supply, had an increase in private dwellings from 4,962 in 2006 to 11,525 in 2011, a massive 132% jump.
The upshot is these one-bedroom apartments have benefited from being in a suburb that has strong, consistent demand from both home buyers and investors in addition to restrictions in supply. These properties were also affordable and in a location that provides a great lifestyle.
The property market is driven by many factors including affordability, lifestyle, location and investment potential. When a property ticks all these boxes and is in limited supply it is more likely to be blue chip regardless of its price point.
Mark Armstrong is a director of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ipropertyplan.com.au/">iProperty Plan</a>, which provides independent analysis and tailored advice to investors and home buyers.
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Seek out the blue-chip Melbourne property investment suburb. And at under $400,000 it's not expensive: Mark Armstrong

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The sale of 11 Struan Street, Toorak, has been a long, drawn-out affair for its owner. Earlier in the year the property was sold for $3 million, but the purchaser was unable to settle on the property. So when an offer just above $3 million was put on the table late Friday afternoon the vendors jumped at it and the auction was cancelled.
There’s a website, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" style="font-size: 14px;">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/struan.jpg">
The exact sale price for the <a href="/news">Toorak </a>property (pictured above) has been undisclosed, but RT Edgar agent Anthony Grimwade says it was somewhere between $3 million and $3.1 million.
One property that did go through to auction this weekend was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-warehouse-vic-fitzroy-111921555">5/108 Moor Street, Fitzroy.</a>
The warehouse apartment had a mixed-use zoning, which made it enticing to both home buyers and those who were looking for a funky warehouse office.
While three bidders entered the fray throughout the auction it was only two who did most of the heavy lifting.
After the half-time break the property was declared on the market at $651,000 and was sold after a flurry of bidding for $684,000.
You can watch the auction highlights <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=307648876014397">on our Facebook page.</a>
There were so many bidders putting up their hands at 4/75 Kirribilli Avenue, <a href="/news">Kirribilli</a> (pictured below), that most people lost count, but let's just say it was more than 10. The extremely scarce piece of real estate had been very well inspected, and more than 1,700 people had viewed the property on realestate.com.au.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/kirr.jpg">
The lack of car parking was not a concern for the crowd as the bidding flew past the $500,000 reserve before settling at $529,000.
It maybe a few years before we see another one like this come onto the market.
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Toorak auction tipping competition property sold before auction, and a flurry of bidding in Kirribilli

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I am often staggered by the property bubble debate and how many believe the answer is black or white, we either definitely do or definitely don’t have one. The debate is a futile exercise, however, as it fails to recognise there are different sub-markets at play at any one time. Those who are arguing a bubble exists are just as correct as those who think there is no bubble. Often they are looking at different indicators that provide a different perspective of a completely different area of the market.
For example, for many years now we have had drummed into us by international economists that there must be a property bubble in Australia because the median price of property is a such and such multiple of the average wage. This is an extremely general statement and while technically true in an economist’s hands, virtually irrelevant to a person who earns five or 10 times the average. It is even less relevant to a home owner who bought a house back in the 1980s and only owes $12,768.
Now we are starting to hear the argument that because auction clearance rates are on the up this is a clear sign of no bubble. But there is a massive hole in this point because according to the REIV 70% to 80% of property is not sold at auction in Victoria, and the percentage of property sold by private treaty is even higher in other states.
However, clearance rates are a good indicator of a very small sector of the market where auctions are prevalent, and they do give great insight into where the market will find its feet first.
Confidence returns to the safe and more established markets first. These are markets that tend to have low levels of debt and lots of equity. For example, property that was purchased more than 20 years ago has quadrupled in value. A property purchased for $200,000 is now worth $800,000. Even if the owner did not pay off a single dollar of debt he or she would have $600,000 worth of equity. It is this equity that allows confidence to bloom earlier than the rest of the market.
 
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However, even in these areas the property market has come off by around 5% to 10% over the last couple of years. As confidence returns I expect this slack will be taken up very quickly, and some punters may get caught off guard and end up chasing the market.
 
This is because most people value property based on what they think it is worth, but the value of property in auction markets is determined purely by what the market is prepared to pay.
To get a clear understanding of the market it is not only essential to know what similar properties in a particular area have been selling for but also how many underbidders there were and at what level they stopped competing. The buyers who missed out on the last property will be your competitors for the next one, and they will be the ones who drive price growth.
Let's take a look at an example of an investor or home buyer who finds the perfect property. She bases the value on what she thinks is a fair price in the current market. The property is due to be auctioned and she decides on an upper limit prior to the auction, in this case $600,000. As the auction progresses she soon realises there are others who are prepared to pay more, and the property sells for $610,000.
A couple of months go by before our buyer finds another comparable property. She reasons that because the last one sold for $610,000, this one is worth the same. However, she fails to understand this sale is now a couple of months old and the market has moved on. Once again she fails to secure the property, as this time it sells for $620,000.
These buyers are now falling into the trap of chasing the market. They are basing their purchase price limits on what happened in the past, and in a growing market they will continually miss out.
While it is never a good idea to overpay for property, as the market begins to move if you are always a step behind the market you could end up paying a lot more or worse still, miss the boat altogether.
Mark Armstrong is a director of <a href="https://www.ipropertyplan.com.au/">iProperty Plan</a>, which provides independent analysis and tailored advice to investors and home buyers.
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As the property begins to move, some buyers could miss out if their price expectations stay too low

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A Kirribilli unit with no car parking will test the blue-chip locale this weekend.
There’s a website, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF" style="font-size: 14px;">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
In Sydney the only potential hiccup for 4/75 Kirribilli Avenue, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Kirribilli</a>, is the lack of car parking. However agent Catherine O'Neill from Laing &amp; Simmons is not too concerned about the car parking as there is no need in this bluest of blue-chip locations.
The one-bedroom apartment occupies prime Sydney Harbour waterfront land and is only a short walk to Kirribilli village, Milsons Point train station and ferry. The new owner will have plenty of houseguests this New Year’s Eve with prime firework viewing position.
The deceased estate has attracted strong interest from buyers with more than $450,000 to spend.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/kirr.jpg">
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Auction tipping: No parking in the bluest of blue-chip Kirribilli locations

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There are many things that give agents headaches when trying to sell a property, but trying to re-sell a property that has just sold is one of the hardest hurdles to overcome.
There’s a website, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/">www.propertytycoon.com.au</a>, where punters can guess what they think properties will sell for at their weekend auctions in Melbourne and Sydney. This season <a style="font-size: 14px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF">Property Observer readers have their own competition, which you can access here</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertytycoon.com.au/join-league/S7S123C487R8OOQF">.</a> The winner of the overall competition will win $1,000.
The agent will have to resell 11 Struan Street, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Toorak</a>, which sold privately in May this year for $3 million, but the purchaser was unable to complete settlement. The issue is the bar has now been set, and any price under $3 million will be a disappointment for the vendor.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/struan.jpg">
RT Edgar agent Anthony Grimwade has indicated most interest is coming from developers, who are keeping their cards close to their chests. They do not see a huge amount of value in the house, it is the almost 800-square-metre block of prime Toorak land they have their eyes on.
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Melbourne auction tipping: An attempt to resell in Toorak

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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;

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;

Mark Armstrong

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