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In Canada, first home buyers are allowed to dip into their superfunds and withdraw up to $25,000 to put towards a deposit. Funds have to be repaid within 15 years and if the yearly repayment is not made, it is included in your yearly income.  
According to the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/first-home-buyers/stand-up-and-be-counted-are-the-fhb-stats-a-true-reflection" target="_blank">ABS in early November</a>, Australia’s first home buyer stats hit a new low at just 12.48%. The ABS also forecasted a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/abs-forecasts-victoria-s-population-to-grow-83-by-2061/2013112766636" target="_blank">staggering population growth</a> in Australia over the next, which could tighten the market and the amount of available stock, therefore pushing first home buyers back even more.  
Property Observer asked a range of professionals active in the property sphere to weigh in with their thoughts on the Canadian Home Buyer Plan and whether it should be implemented in Australia.  
Do you think Canada’s home buyer plan should be implemented in Australia? Would it work? Why or why not? If no, what plan should we implement, if any?  
Peter Bushby – President of the <a href="https://www.reia.com.au/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: 14px;">Real Estate Insitute of Australia</a> (REIA).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/stories/2013/10/25/bushby-profile.png" alt="bushby-profile" width="125" height="167" style="max-width: 480px; font-size: 14px; float: right;">
CORE ELEMENTS OF THESE SCHEMES COULD BE ADOPTED IN AUSTRALIA TO IMPROVE FALLING HOME OWNERSHIP
Core elements of these schemes could be adopted in Australia to improve falling home ownership  
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has been advocating the commonwealth government establish a scheme to encourage young Australians to contribute to voluntary superannuation, by allowing access to those resources for the purpose of raising a deposit for a first home.  
Canada, Singapore and New Zealand provide good case studies of home buyers using part of their accumulated compulsory salary deductions to purchase housing.  
In Canada, the Canadian Home Buyers’ Plan, that allows first home buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from their retirement savings plan to purchase or build a home with funds withdrawn to be later repaid over a 15 year period, has been operating since 1992 with around one-eighth of first home buyers aged 25 to 44 participating.  
In Singapore, the Central Provident Fund (CPF) – a social security fund where a portion of an employee’s salary is set aside for retirement, healthcare and housing – is integrated with home ownership with ordinary account savings being allowed to be used to purchase a home. The approach Singapore has adopted to tackle house ownership since the 1960s has been very successful with the level of home ownership in Singapore at 90.1%.  
In New Zealand, a voluntary work-based savings KiwiSaver initiative is designed to help with New Zealanders’ long-term saving for retirement with two features – KiwiSaver home purchase withdrawal scheme and KiwiSaver home deposit subsidy scheme – helping with the overall deposit when buying land to build a first home on.  
Core elements of these schemes could be adopted in Australia to improve falling home ownership, especially among the 35 to 54 age group.  
For home buyers, a lower principal on their loan would mean either lower repayments, or sooner outright ownership. However, the long-run benefits are even more significant.  
With Australia’s ageing population and with older renters spending the largest proportion of their gross income on housing compared to any age group or tenure type households, high rates of home ownership should remain the government’s priority.  
Shane Oliver – Head of investment strategy and chief economist, <a href="https://www.ampcapital.com.au/" target="_blank">AMP Capital</a><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/2013/10/25/shane-oliver-profile.jpg" alt="shane-oliver-profile" width="125" height="150" style="float: right;">
A LASTING SOLUTION IS TO BOOST DWELLING SUPPLY RELATIVE TO THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING
The Canadian Home Buyer Plan allowing first home buyers to tap their superannuation to contribute to a home purchase makes some sense as it is a way of providing extra funding to first home buyers early in their life when their focus is getting set with a home but when they are also cash constrained. And it doesn't involve a government handout.  
However, it has two big drawbacks. First by reducing members super balances early in their contribution cycle it will dampen the compounding effect of returns over time and lead to lower retirement balances. Second and most importantly, as with all first home buyer schemes it will simply boost the buying power of first home buyers which, in the absence of any moves to boost the supply of housing, will only result in higher home prices. This has been the experience of all first home buyer schemes in Australia that are not target on new housing construction, regardless of how they are financed. As a result property developers and existing home buyers will be the only beneficiaries as prices simply get bid higher and there will be no lasting improvement in housing affordability.  
The only real and lasting solution to poor housing affordability for first home buyers is to boost the level of dwelling supply relative to the demand for houses. This means faster land release and development approvals and measures to reduce the population growth of large cities. In the absence of such policies first home buyer schemes may sound nice in theory but they are of little use in terms of improving affordability.
Article continues on next page. Please click below.
 
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Andrew Wilson – Senior economist, <a href="https://www.apm.com.au" target="_blank" style="font-size: 14px;">Australian Property Monitors</a><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/2013/10/04/AndrewWilson-profile.jpg" alt="AndrewWilson-profile" width="125" height="150" style="max-width: 480px; float: right;">
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD DIRECT HOUSING MARKET INIATIVES TO THE SUPPLY-SIDE
The first home buyers grant is becoming a thing of the past – and that is where it should remain.
Governments in Australia’s most populous states have recently made significant changes to the grant that in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria now applies only to the purchase of new dwellings.  
These changes have unsurprisingly created disruptions to housing market activity as first home buyers rushed into established markets before the new arrangements took effect. The surge in demand brought forward has resulted in recent low levels of activity from first home buyers in these markets.  
Aspiration for home ownership in Australia however remains high driven in particular by a robust and resilient housing market that provides reliable, tax-enhanced, long-term capital growth. Other home ownership drivers include cultural and prestige imperatives and security of tenure advantages.  
Australians accordingly do not require incentives for home ownership and housing markets generally remain accessible for first home buyers.  
Latest ABS home loan data for October reports that first home buyer numbers are predictably on the rise again in New South Wales and Queensland despite rising house prices and the lack of a grant for established home purchases.  
The number of first home buyer loans approved in New South Wales was the highest monthly total since the end of last year’s demand surge by that group in November. And similarly in Queensland the total first home buyer loans for October are the highest for nearly a year.  
First home owners are alive and well in Australia with the strong underlying rate of home ownership remaining around where it has been for decades and essentially driven by the enviable long-term resilience of the national economy.
Direct buyer incentives just add to the cost base of housing in a market environment. Governments should direct housing market initiatives to the supply-side with policies that facilitate the construction of dwellings where and of the type demanded, together with the provision of appropriate residential infrastructure.  
Policies designed to pull the workforce away from the CBD should also be encouraged such as decentralisation incentives through regional employment hubs, telecommuting and localised digital work facilities.  
Kevin Lee - Buyers agent at <a href="https://www.smartpropertyadviser.com.au/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Smart Property Adviser</a>
<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/2013/11/15/kevin-lee-profiel.jpg" alt="kevin-lee-profiel" width="150" height="200" style="max-width: 480px; float: right;">
 
THE SOLUTION IS TO ABOLISH ALL PROPERTY RELATED STAMP AND TRANSFER DUTIES
 
As I said a few weeks ago in this publication - we need to stop the ridiculous focus on first time buyers and level out the playing field for all buyers if we really want to stimulate our economy.  
Here's my questions to add to those above: how can property ever be classified as a 'free market' when governments (of every persuasion and at every level) impose massive taxes, stamp duties, levies, rates, fees &amp; charges on the various sectors of the property market?  
Remember also, that in order to influence the smallest sector by volume and size, state and federal governments offer a number of incentives such as cash handouts and discounted (or zero) stamp duty.  
Mortgage Choice CEO Michael Russell says he likes Canada's first home buyers scheme 'as grants are seen as handouts'. Instead of a grant, the Canadian scheme allows people access to a whopping $25,000 from their super on the proviso it's used as a deposit on that elusive first home and repaid to super within 15 years.  
Obviously they haven't seen Sydney house prices!  
This debate has been in the media a bit over the past year and it definitely needs further discussion. Creating another layer of complexity, another set of rules and regulations and yet another layer of beurocracy rarely makes for a better system. It just creates more jobs for beurocrats. And that's the last thing Australia needs!  
But back to the other point - how much super do first home buyers in Australia actually have? And how much would they need to access to buy that first place in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin or Hobart?  
That was a bit unfair wasn't it ... but hang on. Don't approximately 95% of all first home buyers live in a capital city? And aren't pretty much all of our capital cities median house or unit prices 'up there' in the price stakes?  
Allowing them to access $50,000 of their super would make a small difference - however this is still interfering with a free market.  
The solution, repeat, the solution is to abolish all property related stamp and transfer duties. In every state and territory. At the very least reduce this anti-competitive tax to a maximum of $1,000 per transaction for any buyer, whether they're buying their first or their twentieth property.  
Because after all - it doesn't matter who owns the property. A household of some type will be formed by either the owner and his or her co-inhabitants, or the tenant and their co-inhabitants.
 
 
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EXCLUSIVE: Should Australia follow Canada's home buyer plan: The experts have their say

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Gen Y are choosing not to follow in the footsteps of their parents and are preferring the flexibility of renting rather than buying a home, says chief executive officer of Wealth Enhancers Finn Kelly.
“A big trend we’ve seen lately is Gen Y starting to question whether they need to buy property right now.
“People are getting a lot smarter; I don’t need a property just because society is telling me to.
“They see the positive effects of Baby Boomers getting great returns but then see Gen Y getting themselves into a large amount of property debt,” says Kelly.
Kelly says Wealth Enhancers recommends young people to invest rather than buy, as they stay emotionally disconnected.
“When you own your own home, you keep putting more and more money into it because you want to keep improving it.
“Gen Y are not willing to give up their state of life, they want to live in a certain place, still have their holidays – they don’t want to sacrifice things. They can’t have the property they ideally want without sacrificing some things,” says Kelly.
Therefore by investing, Gen Y can still live where they want and still have a property without taking on too much dept.
“The biggest thing is people are starting to get a little bit wiser with property and seeing it as another investment, it just happens to be that you can see it and it doesn’t always go up,” says Kelly.
Kelly says Baby Boomers are the opposite and are extremely exposed to property.
“They have large family properties, which are now empty as the children have grown up and left.
“The trend of downsizing takes a lot longer than one would expect though, as individuals feel selling the family home is like losing a part of your identity. They want to do it, but they’re a bit apprehensive,” says Kelly.
Kelly says there are two extremes of downsizers, those wanting to move closer to the city and those who move further out of the suburbs.
“Ones we’re seeing who have done it [downsize] have been happy and quite surprised at how it frees them up.
“It releases equity which can then be put into superannuation,” says Kelly.
Gen Y are classified as those born between 1981 to 1995 and Baby Boomers are classified as those born between 1946 to 1965.
The executive chairman of Aussie, <a href="/news">John Symond expects investors will continue to dominate property purchases</a> into 2014.
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I don't need to buy a property because society is telling me to: Gen Y v Baby Boomers

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Only four homes remain in Mirvac’s Mossvale on Manly community in Wakerley, with the community securing $24 million in sales in the past year.
The remaining homes include three double storey four-bedroom homes - currently under construction – and one single storey display home.
Located 14 kilmoetres from the Brisbane CBD, Mossvale on Manly accommodates around 500 families with 35 homes settling since January.
"There really is nothing else like Mossvale on Manly available in the area,” says Mirvac Queensland masterplanned communities development director Russell Berlee.
"It is a well established and high quality estate and what sets it apart is the unique community spirit that has been created here.
"Mossvale on Manly has its own residents' association that holds numerous events and get-togethers throughout the year,” says Berlee.
The community will feature 10 hectares of parklands and a waterway corridor.
Berlee says purchasers have included those who have previously lived in surrounding areas of Wakerley, Carindale, Manly West and Wynnum.
"The vast majority of our purchasers have been looking to upgrade to their second or third home to accommodate their family now and into the future,” says Berlee.
Remaining homes are priced from $705,000.
The median house price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Wakerley</a> is $637,500, a 4.5% change in the past five years, according to RP Data.
ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au
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Mirvac's Mossvale on Manly community a near sell out

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A refurbished 1895 property overlooking Manly Cove is this week’s most expensive sale selling under the hammer for $4 million, according to RP Data.
Located on East Esplanade, the four-bedroom home last sold in 2012 for $1.95 million and boasts period features throughout.
The home was originally a boarding house but was purchased in 1985 for $415,000 and was converted into a 27-room guesthouse.
The guesthouse went to market eight years later in 1993 and secured $1.35 million.
The home now features three bathrooms, including a parent’s limestone ensuite, a designer marble kitchen and a travertine-entertaining terrace.
Ben Daniel and Jenny Nott of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.firstnationalmanly.com.au/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyid=2527686&amp;propertyStatus=sold">First National Real Estate Manly</a> held the property.
Most expensive sales:
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/18_east_esplanade_manly_nsw_2095/3977264">18 East Esplanade, Manly, NSW, 2095,</a> four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by First National Real Estate Manly for $4 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/4_wyndora_avenue_freshwater_nsw_2096/2367172">4 Wyndora Avenue, Freshwater, NSW, 2096,</a> four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by Belle Property Manly for $3.201 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/31_dalmeny_road_northbridge_nsw_2063/5068751">31 Dalmeny Road, Northbridge, NSW, 2063,</a> five-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on December 11 by L J Hooker Northbridge for $3.1 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/64_carlton_crescent_kogarah_bay_nsw_2217/3454792">64 Carlton Crescent, Kogarah Bay, NSW, 2217,</a> four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by Belle Property Ramsgate Beach/Menai for $3 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/56_meredith_street_elwood_vic_3184/10913511">56 Meredith Street, Elwood, VIC, 3184,</a> five-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by Marshall White Real Estate for $2.92 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/18_benwerrin_avenue_carss_park_nsw_2221/1765597">18 Benwerrin Avenue, Carss Park, NSW, 2221,</a> six-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by McGrath Estate Agents for $2.9 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/28_walpole_street_kew_vic_3101/11357699">28 Walpole Street, Kew, VIC, 3101,</a> four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by Nelson Alexander Fitzroy for $2.87 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/23_jacksons_road_mount_eliza_vic_3930/12023132">23 Jacksons Road, Mount Eliza, VIC, 3930,</a> four-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by Marshall White Real Estate for $2.85 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/96_morris_street_williamstown_vic_3016/13821166">96 Morris Street, Williamstown, VIC, 3016,</a> three-bedroom house, sold on December 13 by Greg Hocking Elly Partners Williamstown for $2.81 million
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.myrp.com.au/property/69_clanalpine_street_mosman_nsw_2088/4481511">69 Clanalpine Street, Mosman, NSW, 2088,</a> five-bedroom house, sold at auction on December 14 by Belle Property Neutral Bay for $2.8 million
<a href="mailto:ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Former 1895 boarding house-cum refurbished family home secures $4 million: RP Data

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Only three boutique apartments remain in Kokoda Property’s first venture into South Yarra – Lex - with prices starting from $1.2 million.
Located on Alexandra Avenue, Lex boasts eight two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 136 square metres to 193 square metres and ranging in price from $1.2 million to $1.9 million.
Five apartments have already been snapped up, including the two penthouses.
“Purchasers in this luxury demographic are incredibly savvy when it comes to property – they understand and appreciate quality and therefore want to experience every facet of the apartment before they purchase, in order to know they have made the right decision,” says Kokoda Property’s sales and marketing manager Sam Tucker.
Designed by Rothe Lowman and with interiors by Stuart Rattle, Lex apartments feature white Carrara marble island benchtops with Gaggenau appliances, wool carpets in the bedroom and American oak timber flooring in the living areas.
Each apartment comes with two underground car parks.
“Homes along Alexandra Avenue are renowned for their low turnover due to the spectacular location right in front of the Yarra and less than five minutes from the city, so blue chip properties like this don’t come along very often.
“The completion of Lex represents a return to Kokoda Property’s roots as a luxury boutique developer and we think purchasers will be amazed by this breath-taking opportunity to own a high-end luxury and waterfront apartment in such an incredible location,” says Tucker.
The median apartment price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">South Yarra</a> is $541,000, a 15.9% change in the past five years, according to RP Data.
ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au
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Rothe Lowman-designed Lex crowns South Yarra's Alexandra Avenue

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The Breeze Muirhead residential community in the Northern Territory has been awarded an Urban Development Institute of Australia EnviroDevelopment rating, making it the first Northern Territory community to do so.
Breeze Muirhead joins 18 other residential communities in Australia to have achieved the rating for excellence in sustainability.
The joint project between Defence Housing Australia and Investa Land was awarded across six elements of sustainability, including energy, water, materials, ecosystem, waste and community.
<img alt="muirhead-dec-12-one" src="/images/stories/2013/12/12/muirhead-dec-12-one.jpg" height="231" width="470">
Each home in the community will have a side yard to facilitate the channeling of breezes through the community.
Allotments are orientated to benefit from the dry and wet seasons.
“The benefits for families building a home in an EnviroDevelopment accredited community are far greater than gaining satisfaction from limiting their environmental footprint.
“There can be long-term cost savings, as well as social and health benefits which should not be underestimated,” says Paul Perkovic project director at Investa Land.
“New home buyers can be confident that when they choose to build their home at Breezes Muirhead, they will be living in a community which places a minimal impact on the environment, encourages an active, healthy lifestyle and includes homes with initiatives that reduce energy and water usage,” says Perkovic.
<img alt="muirhead-dec-12-two" src="/images/stories/2013/12/12/muirhead-dec-12-two.jpg" height="219" width="470">
Peter Howman DHA managing director of Breezes Muirhead says to be officially recognized by the UDIA as the most sustainable neighbourhood in the Northern Territory is very rewarding.
Around 18% of the community – 30 hectares – will be dedicated to public space and park.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au">ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Darwin residential community achieves top sustainability rating

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Kerry Hill Architects have taken the crown in the Kings Square Architectural competition with their design for the $45 million community, civic and retail hub in the centre of Fremantle.
The winner trumped two other design entries, which had been shortlisted from 53 entries submitted from around Australia and the world.
<img alt="fremantle_dec_11_one" src="/images/stories/2013/12/11/fremantle_dec_11_one.png" height="194" width="470">
“I’m very pleased with the jury’s decision and on how the competition was managed from the outset,” says Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt.
“I thank both the jury and City staff for the enormous time and effort spent getting to this point, which has resulted in some high calibre entries and a first-class winning design.
“What we’re ultimately ending up with here is Fremantle’s future heritage and with the Kings Square Project being the cornerstone of Fremantle’s $1 billion development pipeline and revitalisation, we wanted to make sure we get the best possible outcome in terms of design,” says Pettitt.
Forming part of the larger $220 million Kings square Project, the winning design’s key civic spaces include a City Lawn, Verandah and Civic Drum.
The sandstone cylinder Civic Drum contains the council chamber on top, staff lounges, community room, exhibition and a multi-purpose room.
<img alt="fremantle_dec_11_two" src="/images/stories/2013/12/11/fremantle_dec_11_two.png" height="326" width="470">
The library will be located in under the City Lawn with side glass walls, making it visible from ground level.
The firm’s design concept was to create informal spaces to invite relaxed public participation.
Competition jury chair Shelley Penn says they were pleased with both the overall quality and diversity of the entries.
“As a jury we ended up selecting the concept submitted by Kerry Hill Architects which offered a proposition of simple, clear elegance that centred on a compelling urban gesture to re-establish Kings Square.
The jury also found this concept to have a refined architectural palette of form, space and materials,” says Penn.
The winning design, along with the two other shortlisted concepts, will be on public display at the former Myer building for the next two weeks.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au">ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Kerry Hill Architects win $45 million Fremantle design comp

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Not everyone has the luxury of a large family home with double-height ceilings to fit a sparkling pine tree, let alone enough room to fit a standard size tree in without compromising on walking space.
If you’re in an apartment this Christmas or a small home, or maybe you just really can’t be bothered with the whole tree thing, here are some creative options to still get in the festive cheer.
This alternative Christmas tree does look a little worse for wear on its own, but I’m sure it can be brought to life with some tinsel and flashing lights and it offers a mess-free alternative to pine needles.
You can purchase this wooden Christmas tree at <a target="_blank" href="https://shop.cottonon.com/shop/product/wooden-christmas-tree-vintage/">Typo</a> for $24.95.
Why not opt for a wall decal? You can get a variety of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/163735989/alternative-christmas-tree-wall-sticker?ref=sr_gallery_5&amp;ga_search_query=alternative+christmas+tree&amp;ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_ship_to=AU&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_facet=alternative+christmas+tree">Christmas tree decals</a> on Etsy and they require no floor space at all. You can pick from over 30 colours and the decals can be easily removed without damaging the paint – perfect for renters.
Christmas tree decals on Etsy start from $49.55.
If you feel like getting a bit festive, this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/11/diy-advent-tree">DIY advent tree</a> is a great idea for those with children. The tree is easy to make and small presents and notes are hung from a push pin.
For those still looking for a Christmas tree but after something a little bit quirkier, this cute <a target="_blank" href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/113890780/christmas-tree-and-20-felted-acorn?ref=sr_gallery_38&amp;ga_search_query=christmas+tree&amp;ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_ship_to=AU&amp;ga_page=3&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_facet=christmas+tree">Christmas tree</a> stands 1.5 metres tall and has no ugly plastic stand in site.
It comes with 20 felt ornaments – colours can be customized- and is priced from $124.
Having a summer Christmas means the usual festive snow-covered ornaments and snowmen are not quite relevant, so you may choose to opt for a beach-feel Christmas tree.
This <a target="_blank" href="https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/159751819/driftwood-christmas-tree-with-sea-star?ref=sr_gallery_28&amp;ga_search_query=christmas+tree&amp;ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_ship_to=AU&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_facet=christmas+tree">driftwood Christmas tree</a> with sea star and shell ornaments is priced from $67 and arrives fully assembled.
So it’s the last week before Christmas and you’ve run out of time to buy a tree or you’ve ordered online but it hasn’t arrived yet – <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mediatinker.com/blog/archives/010731#010731">grab all your hardcover books and get stacking.</a>
It’s not quite that easy, it does require some drilling through the book spine and some green paint, but it goes to show you can make a tree out of anything you have at home.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:Ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au">Ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Christmas tree alternatives for apartment dwellers 

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Local building and investment company Sarcon will release its first stage of apartments in Brisbane’s Cannon Hill in a bid to target the undersupplied suburb.
Located six kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD, the $40 million Lime Living development will feature 95 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
<img alt="Lime-Living---External-dec-12-one" height="235" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/12/12/Lime-Living---External-dec-12-one.jpg">
“At present apartments make up only 3.2% of the total dwellings in Cannon Hill which presents a great opportunity for investors to buy into this development due to the shortage of new apartments available for sale,” says Andrew Scriven residential director at Colliers International.
One-bedroom apartments range in price from $287,500 to $295,000 and total 63 square metres in size.
Two-bedroom apartments range in price from $395,000 to $430,000 and range in size from 82 square metres to 90 square metres.
Three-bedroom apartments are 166 square metres in size and are priced at $590,000.
“On a dollar per square metre basis Lime apartments represent the best value new product in the Brisbane inner ring,” says Scriven.
<img alt="Lime-Living---Living--Dining-1-dec-12-two" height="238" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/12/12/Lime-Living---Living--Dining-1-dec-12-two.jpg">
Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments make up over 80% of the project.
“A direct result of its proximity to schools, shops, services and transport combined with its current affordability and low levels of supply will position Cannon Hill as the next property hot spot,” says Scriven.
Lime Living will launch to the public in January, with construction on stage one commencing mid-2014.
<a href="mailto:ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Lime Living to be released in undersupplied Cannon Hill, Brisbane

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Demand has been strong for Pace Development’s latest project – Henry Windsor – with locals looking for a clean and contemporary home in the eclectic Windsor.
Located on Henry Street, the $25 million development will feature 53 one- and two-bedroom apartments across seven levels.
Sales and marketing manager Daryl Wilkinson says 20 of the apartments are currently under contract with majority of buyers being locals looking to move out of Windsor’s famous older style buildings.
Wilkinson says the marketing technique of giving Henry a personality and gender allows people to familiarize with its personality, traits and location.
“It does have a strong profile on the street and therefore gives it a bit of personality and gives ownership to the people who are purchasing an apartment,” says Wilkinson.
One-bedroom apartments are priced from $375,000 to $425,000 and start from 43 square metres internally.
Two-bedroom apartments range in size from 67 square metres to 74 square metres internally and range in size from $535,000 to $620,000.
Wilkinson says the top floor apartments were snapped up in the first week.
Apartments will feature floor to ceiling windows and buyers will have the choice of a light or dark colour scheme.
Pace Development bought The Fruit Supplies on Punt Road for $3.8 million, which will be demolished.
Construction is due to commence in March next year with completion scheduled for mid-2015.
<a href="mailto:ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">ntrotman@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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Pace Development's Henry Windsor wooing locals with a personable approach

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.

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.

<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" />

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, rooftop open space 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.

Ceerose, founded by Edward Doueihi in 1998, has become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers, 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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