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The June quarter is the fourth consecutive quarter of positive news for vendors in the Queensland market, with both sales activity and the median house price strengthening, according to REIQ.
The preliminary tally of house sales volume increased 22% in the June quarter when compared to the March quarter.
Compared to the same period last year, house sales are up 40%.
“The June quarter historically yields the lowest numbers of residential sales activity during the year but this data shows house sales are notably much higher compared to the same three months in 2012,” says REIQ chief executive Anton Kardash.
The median house price in Brisbane increased 1.6% over the June quarter to $527,250 and the number of sales increased 32% over the June quarter and 44% when compared to the same period last year.
Over the last financial year, the Toowoomba median house price increased 4.5% to $315,000.
Gold Coast’s median price increased 3.1% to $466,000 and the Sunshine Coast’s median house price increased 2.3% to $438,000 over the last financial year.
“The September quarter and the upcoming spring selling season is typically a great period for the Queensland real estate market,” says Kardash.
“And with such good price and sales results for the June quarter, as well as historically low interest rates, it’s shaping up to be another strong period as our market continues to build momentum.
“No doubt the influence of historically low interest rates and increased perceptions of housing affordability have seen more people move off the sidelines and back into the property market of late.
“REIQ estimates of Queensland investor activity also shows that the numbers of investment dwellings financed is tracking at about the historical average,” says Kardash.
Kardash says investors have recognised the strong rental market, including low vacancy rates and are taking a plunge.
Although interest rates are at historical lows, first home buyers in Queensland remain well below historical averages at just 11% of dwellings financed in June, a decrease of 35% compared to June last year.
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Queensland residential market momentum uplift: REIQ

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A boutique development aimed at Sydney’s young professionals in Surry Hills is about 80% sold as construction commences.
East Central, located on Elizabeth Street, features 42 apartments across eight levels.
Developed by Samadi Group, some 32 apartments have already been snapped up.
A selection of one-bedroom apartments are still available priced from $575,000 to $670,000 and a three-bedroom apartment is available from $1.3 million.
Apartments feature terraces, natural stone floors, dark timber joinery and marble bathrooms.
“It’s 170 meters away from Central Station, with restaurants, cafes and bars everywhere,” says selling agent Sam Elbanna of CPM Realty.
“It is already in an in demand area and the young up and comers are looking for spaces where they spend their nights.
“Majority of buyers are owner occupiers, aged between 25 to 45,” says Elbanna.
Architecturally designed by Brenchley Architects, East Central will feature ‘Eat Street’, a ground floor culinary precinct boasting gourmet providers and restaurant spaces.
Elbanna says the development is a great investor opportunity, with the units having a guaranteed return of 5.5% for five years, with annual increases.
The development is the first of two East Central developments being undertaken by Samadi Group.
East Central is expected to be completed by late 2014.
The median apartment price in <a href="/news">Surry Hills</a> is $515,000, a 28.8% change in the past five years, according to RP Data.
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Boutique Surry Hills development East Central almost 80% sold

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A five-bedroom architecturally designed property in Jollys Lookout is scheduled to go under the hammer on September 14.
Located at 948 Mt Nebo Road, the property sits on 21 hectares and offers views to Moreton Bay and the Glass House Mountains.
Designed by Dion Seminar Architects, the Asian-influenced home features imported large timber doors, 140-year-old imported polished teak timber floors and a landscaped courtyard with stone monuments and water features.
The residence comes with a home theatre with an automated blackout ceiling and retractable walls as well as a commercial grade kitchen.
Property Observer featured the home in its <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/design/cool-off-with-queensland-s-hottest-infinity-pools" target="_blank">hottest infinity pools</a> story back in January.
The property last traded in 2011 for $3.3 million.
Victor Sabados of Champ Realty says the property has received a lot of interest, but with a national marketing campaign kicking off today, the next week will say more.
It is listed with price expectations in excess of $4 million.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/data-map?utm_source=Property+Observer+List&amp;utm_campaign=bed190e75c-June_17_1_29_2013&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_a523fbfccb-bed190e75c-" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2013/07/yieldsbanner.jpg" alt="yieldsbanner" width="470" height="127"></a>
Victor Sabados of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.champrealty.com.au/property/details/19" target="_blank">Champ Realty</a> has the listing.
Jollys Lookout is located 35 minutes from the Brisbane CBD.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/trophy-homes/" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2013/08/PO_Strap_new.jpg" alt="PO_Strap_new" width="470" height="60"></a>
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Jollys Lookout trophy home with infinity pool stunner

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The first integrated residential estate in Bali, Ayana Residences, has sold 75% of its stage one release, including the sale of a US $3.2 million penthouse.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/luxury-bali-resort-ayana-attracts-attention-of-perth-miner-off-the-plan-investors/2012102457386/Page-1">Ayana Residences</a>, a new residential complex on the grounds of the luxury Ayana Resort and Spa in Jimbaran Bay in Bali, has had particularly strong interest from Western Australian based mining industry people given their proximity to the resort location.
Apartments in the Ayana Residences range from about US $500,000 for one-bedroom through to US $1?million for two bedrooms, with rooftop and garden penthouses at around US $2.7?million.
It will consist, on completion, of 155 luxury apartments within a 6.5-hectare secure gated community.
Ayana was in attendance at the Melbourne Home Buyer and Property Investor show over the weekend, with five potential buyers committed to travelling to Bali to stay in the resort and do a site inspection.
Construction remains on schedule, with the first phase to be released in late 2014.
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Phase one of luxury Ayana Residences Bali 75% sold

A five-bedroom award-winning house in Mentone is on the market for $2.9 million plus.

Located at 54 Venice Street, vendor Jim Tsaganas built the home himself in conjunction with Jasmine McCelland Design three years ago.

Situated on 1,112 square metres, the property boasts German timber cladding, bluestone masonry, rough-cast rendering and copper clad pivot entrance door.

The home also includes heated polished concrete flooring and Tasmanian wormy chestnut timberwork.&nbsp;

The property has won many awards include bathroom of the year and kitchen of the year at the KBD Designer Awards 2013, as well as the best bathroom at the HIA Building Awards in 2012.

The residence also includes a suspended pivoting French fireplace in the living room, an outdoor kitchen and a tennis court.

The median house price in <a href="/news">Mentone</a> is $690,000, a 10.4% change in the past five years, according to RP Data.

Award-winning Mentone trophy house listed

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Despite the auction market strength, private treaty vendors were required to offer higher discounts in Sydney, with the average discount increasing mildly in August to 5.4%, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Canberra's average discount also increased to an average 5% vendor discount, and is the only city with a higher required discount than last August.
Melbourne's average vendor discount climbed from 6.1% in July to 6.3% in August.
Brisbane was the highest required discount amid the capital cities with an average vendor discount of 7% in August.
Perth remained stable at a 5.4% average discount.
The Gold Coast dropped in August to 8.1%. 
<img alt="heat-chart-aug-28-two" src="/images/stories/2013/08/heat-chart-aug-28-two.jpg" width="470" height="712">
Source APM
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Sydney's private treaty discount increases to 5.4% in August: APM

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Location Location Location Australia series two premiered last night on the Lifestyle Channel.
Accountant Tom and his wife Helen were looking to downsize after their sporting business hit problems and copywriter Robbie and wife, graphic designer Bec, were renters who wanted their first-home.
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BryceHoldaway"><img src="/images/stories/2013/08/tweet-of-the-day-aug-29.jpg" width="470" height="57" alt="tweet-of-the-day-aug-29"></a>
The Australian's television critc Graeme Blundell called it "a bit of fly-on-the-wall property psychodrama."
"With some expert judgmentalism to add to the drama like the long-running British series on which it is based.
Property Observer has plucked out key property lessons from episode one which focused on the south east bayside suburbs of Melbourne. But buyers were warned don’t be fooled by the cafes and gracious period homes.
Bryce Holdaway says as affordability had never been better, with historical low interest rates, but advises that there were a lot of first homebuyers entering into the market.
Its also suggested unless you’re unsure you should never rush into property as you run the risk of a very expensive mistake.
Savings put buyers in a position of strength at the auction allowing them to have the confidence to bid strong and confidently.
Holdaway suggests its important to give other people the indication that you have big pockets and that you’re going to buy it no matter what.
Episode two screens on September 4 at 8:30pm on the <a href="https://www.lifestyle.com.au/tv/location-location-location-australia/" target="_blank">Lifestyle Channel</a>.
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Important property lessons from Location Location Location Australia

A Waterloo terrace, part of a trio known as Dan&rsquo;s Terrace, has set a record price for the suburb after selling for $1.3 million.

The three-bedroom, mostly&nbsp;unrenovated property trumped the previous sale record by a just over a quarter of a million.

The trio of terraces have been held by the same family for 50 years, passing through three generations.

Located at 103 Phillips Street, the recently sold terrace is situated on 190 square metres and features high ceilings, character features, original fireplaces and a woodfire stove in the renovated but dated kitchen.

It was listed&nbsp;through <a href="https://bradfieldcleary.com.au/3838650/103-Phillip-Street-Waterloo" target="_blank">Brenton Gadsby of Bradfield Cleary</a>.

The middle of the three&nbsp;will be brought to market soon.

&ldquo;The second terrace home is slightly better condition, so we are expecting some more competitive offers,&rdquo; says Gadsby.

Untouched in over 50 years, Waterloo terrace sets new price record

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Little Projects' ILK development in South Yarra is only weeks away from completion.
Located at 227-229 Toorak Road, ILK sold all of its 389 apartments earlier this year.
Rising 24 storeys high, ILK’s façade is designed by Cox Architecture, and features pre-cast concrete, timber, zinc, tinted glass and steel.
“We wanted to create a classic building, one that still fits in with the street and surrounds in thirty years,” says Cox Architecture director Patrick Ness.
Residents will have access to a level nine podium, boasting an outdoor area landscaped by Tract Consultants, a teppanyaki bar, picnic area and cinema room. 
“We set the bar higher with each project we deliver and ILK is our best landmark yet that sets a new benchmark – our signature of luxury inner-city living,” says Little Projects managing director Michael Fox.
Fox says it is little wonder that ILK has been so well received by Melbourne’s buyers and savvy investors.
“Positioned along one of Melbourne’s best cultural precincts including designer boutiques, transport, bars and eateries, you have the best of Chapel Street’s cosmopolitan lifestyle at your doorstep,” says Fox.
“You cannot separate ILK from its location; it’s meant to be here and wouldn’t work in any other area,” says Ness.
The median apartment price in <a href="/news">South Yarra</a> is $541,000, a 14.1% change in the past five years, according to RP Data.
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Little Projects' ILK South Yarra development weeks away from completion

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The City Tattersalls Club in Sydney has proposed a 48-floor building with mixed used potential for the Pitt Street location.
The redevelopment is part of a plan to change the clubs business model, reducing the financial dependence on gaming.
<img height="667" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/pitt-street-aug-28-one.jpg" alt="pitt-street-aug-28-one">
The development would include upgraded member facilities, commercial tenants, hotel rooms and 32 floors of designer residential apartments.
“A redevelopment would enhance the member experience providing an array of new facilities and services including a new state-of-the-art fitness centre, top rating day spa, restaurants and hotel rooms,” says City Tattersalls Club chairman Patrick Campion.
“By broadening the club’s offerings we hope to be able to improve facilities for present members and attract a new group of members from the surrounding business district, the broader Sydney community and international visitors – helping to secure the club’s future for another 100 years,” says Campion.
Dating back to 1895, the 2,339-square-metre site currently houses three heritage listed buildings.
City Tattersalls Club CEO Tony Guilfoyle says the development will utilise the unused airspace, providing expansive views and the possibility of a restaurant on floors 47 or 48.
Jon Chomley of Colliers International says the supply of residential apartments in the city has been dwindling.
“Between January 2010 and May 2013, there were 2,577 new and established apartment transactions above $200,00 within the Sydney CBD, however sales volumes have been dwindling on an annual basis, with the most significant decline of 21% occurring during 2012,” says Chomley.
“If the trend reported in the first five months of 2013 continues, sale transactions are expected to be even lower this year.
“We believe the timing is right for a new supply of residential apartments in the heart of Sydney,” says Chomley.
Colliers International will run an expression of interest campaign from September 3 to attract a developer.
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City Tattersalls Club proposes 48-level Pitt Street Sydney mixed use redevelopment

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Joel Robinson

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

Nicola Trotman

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