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Land in Clyde North’s newest community – Berwick Waters, 50 kilometres southeast of the Melbourne CBD – will be released this Saturday with allotments starting from $235,000. 
The Macumba land release comprises eight allotments within the Heritage Hills precinct.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Berwick</a> Waters – an estate by Australand and Mondous Property Australia – is made up of two precincts, Heritage Hills and Waterfront.
The eight allotments range in size from 444 square metres to 545 square metres.
The 310-hectare community estate boasts extensive wetlands, shared walking and bike trails and will be complemented by three proposed state schools and a town centre.
Purchasers of the Macumba land release will be required to pay 5% of the purchase price to secure the allotment.
The median house price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Clyde North</a>, which grew 0.35% in the quarter to February 2013, is $397,000.
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Berwick Waters Macumba land to be released this weekend

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A 45-room guesthouse recently sold in Sydney's Burwood for $3.74 million reflecting an approximate rental yield of 13.9%. 
Located at 33 Angelo Street, the two-storey Burwood Guest House has a gross annual revenue of $522,640.
Featuring 30 single rooms and 15 double rooms, the property also includes four commercial style stainless steel equipped kitchens.
The property has a total of nine bathrooms, with some located in communal areas.
Situated on an 834-square-metre lot, guests can also enjoy a north-facing courtyard.
The <a href="https://www.burwoodguesthouse.com.au/" target="_blank">guesthouse</a> is marketed as 'quality budget accommodation' with weekly rates starting from $230.
The property sold at auction through <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/financial/properties/229210" target="_blank">Joe Vigorito of Raine and Horne Burwood</a>.
Vigorito says it's quite common for inner-west rental properties to have such a high rental yield.
"There's a shortage of rental properties and a lot of people looking for budget accommodation," says Vigorito.
Another budget accommodation property at 90 Shaftesbury Road Burwood sold in 2010 for $2.75 million.
It was advertised with a 10% yield, reflecting an approximate gross annual intake of $275,000.
The property featured 22 lettings, including two self-contained units.
It was also sold through <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/properties/61681" target="_blank">Joe Vigorito of Raine and Horne.</a>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/properties/61681"></a>The median house price in <a href="/news">Burwood</a> is $1,177,500, a price growth of 47.2% in five years, according to RP Data.
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A Burwood, Sydney guesthouse sells with a high rental yield of 13.9%

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A ground floor shop with an upstairs dwelling has sold at auction on Burke Road, Camberwell, for $2.11 million – $360,000 above the reserve price. 
The sale was closed by Fitzroys director Chris Kombi, with the price reflecting a yield of 4.1%.
The <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/2010256689/for-sale/vic/camberwell/retail" target="_blank">two-storey brick building</a> is approximately 168 square metres and is situated on a 184-square-metre lot.
<img alt="camberwellmarch20one" height="305" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/camberwellmarch20one.jpg">
The ground floor – with a 5.5-metre frontage to Burke Road – is occupied by New Zealand-owned brand Ziera Shoes on a five-year term from October 2011.
There is separate access to the first level, which features an un-renovated two-bedroom residence.
Kombi says there was heavy interest throughout the campaign and a large <a target="_blank" href="/news">auction</a> crowd on the day.
He says the strong sale price was further proof of improving sentiment among buyers.
The property is currently returning $88,484 per annum plus outgoings and GST.
Burke Road, <a href="/news">Camberwell</a>, boasts an array of Australian retailers including Sportsgirl, Witchery, Sussan and Just Jeans.
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Two-storey Burke Road Camberwell property sells for $360,000 above reserve

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A circa-1900 double-storey brick Victorian terrace in South Yarra will go to auction this weekend with a price guide of $1.6 million-plus.
It is listed by general manager of GE Capital David Gelbak.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-south+yarra-112978239">The property on Wilson Street</a> was renovated by Williams Boag Architects. The home boasts four bedrooms and two baths and an Ilve and Smeg appointed kitchen with stone bench tops.
The main bedroom features a marble fireplace and French doors that open to a scenic verandah.
A landscaped courtyard surrounded by ivy-covered walls is accessed through large bi-folding doors.
With landscaping by Urban Edge Landscaping Architects, the property has been featured in many lifestyle magazines, including Outdoor Space Magazine.
Gelbak and his wife have lived in the property for eight years but are selling to move closer to their daughter's school in Hawthorn.
"We are still struggling with the concept of leaving <a target="_blank" href="/news">South Yarra</a>, we have been in the area for 13 years and just love the lifestyle the house provides and the way the indoor and outdoors integrate in the home," says Gelbak.
Gowan Stubbings and Mark Williams of Kay and Burton South Yarra have listed the Wilson Street property.
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South Yarra terrace listed with $1.6 million-plus weekend hopes

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Last year's Archibald prizewinner Tim Storrier will auction off his historic Bathurst district home.
<a target="_blank" href="https://professionalsbathurst.com.au/real-estate/property/597451/lifestyle/nsw/bathurst-2795/"> Blackdown farm estate </a>will go to auction on April 11.
Property Observer first <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/tim-storrier-lists-blackdown-at-bathurst-with-%244-million-plus-hopes/2012100156900">reported</a> on the house listing in October last year, when Storrier was asking for $4 million-plus.
Failing to secure a buyer, the 56-hectare holding will be auctioned with a price guide of $3 million to $4 million.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/09/octblacktown]}
The estate boasts seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and three cottages. It also includes a library, guest accommodation and two studies.
Blackdown cost $2.5 million in 2008 when bought from the haircare product pioneer Anton Starling, who had sought more than $3.5 million.
Storrier and his wife Janet have since reportedly spent $1.5 million on extensive renovations of the homestead and developing gardens.
The 56-hectare property is four kilometres from the Bathurst city centre, at <a target="_blank" href="/news">Eglinton</a>.
The house was built for commissariat storekeeper Thomas Hawkins, his wife, Elizabeth, and their eight children after a land grant by Governor Thomas Brisbane.
Thomas Hawkins, a former British naval officer, had been appointed commissarial storekeeper at Bathurst in 1822.
Hawkins had spent 18 days to get across the Blue Mountains to <a target="_blank" href="/news">Bathurst</a>, where he selected the holding on the Macquarie River.
The Ian Stapleton-renovated homestead comes with a tennis court, pool, dressage arena, stable complex, and a recently constructed artist's studio in its grounds.
The estate is listed for auction through Meares and Associates and James Thompson from Professionals Bathurst.
The marketing agents say the farm can be developed as a corporate retreat or a boutique resort.
In November last year, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/fairfax-media-director-michael-anderson-sells-hopewood-house-in-southern-highlands/2012103157501">Storrier’s purchased Hopewood House</a> – a Southern Highlands mansion owned by Fairfax Media director Michael Anderson and his wife – for around $6 million on delayed settlement terms.
Hopewood House was initially listed with $9 million price hopes over two years ago.
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Artist Tim Storrier to auction Blackdown Estate at Bathurst

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Marketing for the $60 million Botanic Lane Cove project in Sydney is well underway with 40% of the apartments having sold since its launch in late February.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://botaniclanecove.com.au/">79-apartment project</a> is a joint venture between White Private, builder developer Icon Construction and the Greenbush Group.
Located less than <a href="/news">10 kilometres</a> from the Sydney CBD, Botanic offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as seven penthouses.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19four.jpg" width="470" height="217" alt="botanicmarch19four">
One bedrooms start from $500,000 and range internally in size from 55 square metres to 66 square metres.
Two-bedroom apartments range in size from 88 square metres to 93 square metres and start from $831,000.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19one.jpg" width="470" height="228" alt="botanicmarch19one">
The three-bedroom apartments start from $1,107,000 and range in size from 110 square metres to 143 square metres.
The seven penthouses range in size from 112 square metres to 143 square metres and range in price from $1.35 million to $1.7 million.
Peter Walsh of White Private says four of the penthouses have sold to local buyers and the majority of the purchases they have seen so far are owner-occupier.
The apartments boast oak floors and Carrara marble in both the kitchen and bathrooms.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19three.jpg" width="470" height="207" alt="botanicmarch19three">
The project is designed by Mijollo International with interiors designed by SJB Interiors.
Walsh says the name Botanic was chosen due to the complex being bound by large mature trees and landscaped gardens.
"We wanted to achieve a sense of garden by tying in the name," says Walsh.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/botanicmarch19two.jpg" width="470" height="240" alt="botanicmarch19two">
Nearby is an aquatic centre and gym and the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Lane Cove</a> Village is just around the corner, comprising more than 200 shops, services and dining options.
Icon Constructions will start work in June this year and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Located at 14-20 Finlayson Street, the land site is currently home to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/dunkeld-uniting-church-for-auction-with-%24125000-hopes/2013031759749">Uniting Church</a> and three residential houses.
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Botanic Lane Cove one-bedders priced from $500,000

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One of only four newly constructed townhouses on Tara Avenue, Kew is available for purchase seeking offers in excess of $2.9 million.
Located only six kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, the townhouse measures 464 square metres (50 squares) over three levels with a lift accessible to all floors.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/1-tara-avenue-kew">townhouse</a> is on its own title and comprises of four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Also included is a cellar, outdoor pool and a large carpeted leisure area ideal for a home cinema, gym or studio.
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">Kew</a> townhouses are designed by Coy and Yiontis Design and landscaped by Julian McCarthy Landscapes.
A four-bedroom plus study townhouse has already sold for a price in the mid- to high- $3 millions.
The other two townhouses will soon be released.
Michael Armstrong and Tim Picken from Kay and Burton have listed the property for expression of interest, closing March 26.
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Tara Avenue, Kew townhouse available for $2.9 million-plus

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<div>
Everton Park – eight kilometres north of the Brisbane CBD - experienced the highest median price growth in 2012 for units and townhouses, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) data.
The median unit and townhouse price for Everton Park for the 12 months up until December is $430,000 – a 22.9% increase on the median price of $349,813 in 2011.
However suggesting some volatility in the suburb, it experienced a December quarterly fall of 16.1% to $390,000.
A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-qld-everton+park-112899555">three bedroom, two bathroom townhouse </a>is currently listed and under offer on Lackeen Street for $449,000 plus.
The tri-level townhouse boasts high ceilings, timber floors and a modern kitchen.
It is currently tenanted for $490 a week on a periodic tenancy and last sold in February 2007 for $365,000.
It has been listed by Fiona McVilly from Urban Property Agents Paddington.
A new two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit sold in Ashmore Street in Everton Park in November last year for $420,000.
In the same month, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit on Sizer Street sold for $425,000.
Local estate agents were not convinced about the growth figures for the suburb.
Pauline Downie from First National Everton Park says it was not a genuine price growth, but mostly new townhouses and units being sold, rather than resales.
Judy Latham from Judy Latham Real Estate says 2012 was a quiet year, with not as much turnover but 2013 is proving to be strong with sales above the asking price.
Sherwood – 9 kilometres south west of the CBD - comes in second place, experiencing an 18.0% annual growth from $372,500 to $439,500.
Chermside was the weakest performing suburb in the Brisbane city, falling 15.8% annually from $431,000 in December 2011 to $363,000 in December 2012.
<table width="463" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
Region
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
Median sale 12 months December 2012
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
Median Sale 12 months December 2011
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
One year change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Everton Park</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$430,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$349,813
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
22.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Sherwood</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$439,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$372,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
18.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Stafford</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$407,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$360,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
13.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">St Lucia</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$479,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$425,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
12.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Hamilton</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$477,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$427,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
11.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Taringa</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$434,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$390,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
11.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Teneriffe</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$555,938
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$512,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
8.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">West End</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$523,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$483,550
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
8.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Balmoral</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$465,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$431,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
7.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="116">
<a href="/news">Bulimba</a>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$549,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
$510,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
7.7%
<div></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
 
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Everton Park, the top performing Brisbane suburb for apartments over 2012

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Three unlikely Melbourne suburbs have appeared on  the Real Estate Institute of Victoria's (REIV) million-dollar suburbs list, but share very few characteristics with well-known $1 million-plus hotspots like inner-suburban East Melbourne and the coastal enclave of Brighton.
In the year ending February 28, REIV’s $1 million suburbs list contained 39 suburbs, including Kangaroo Ground, Warrandyte South and Red Hill South.
Kangaroo Ground is located 26 kilometres northeast of Melbourne’s CBD and has a median house price of $1,062,500.
The average size home is four bedrooms and the suburb population is 1,014.
Not far from Kangaroo Ground is Warrandyte South – 24 kilometres northeast of Melbourne CBD – which has a median house price of $1,325,000.
The average size home is five bedrooms and the population of the suburb is 647 persons.
Towards the Mornington Peninsula sits Red Hill south, with a median house price of $1,687,500.
The average size home is four bedrooms and the population of the suburb is 1,170 persons.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reiv.com.au/">REIV</a>’s Robert Larocca says each of these suburbs are on the edge of the metropolitan area, meaning that proximity to the CBD is not a factor underpinning their high prices.
Larocca says it’s a lifestyle choice to purchase in these suburbs, as buyers could live much closer to the CBD for the same price.
Characteristics that differ from their inner-city counterparts include larger dwellings – four to five bedrooms are the average – and larger blocks.
The average size block in Kangaroo Ground is 14-acres and the median age of residents are 40 years old.
“The higher average age underpins very high levels of home ownership, between 41% to 52%, compared to the city wide average of 33%,” says Larocca.
The three suburbs don’t appear in the quarterly median price series due to their small sizes and their low volume of sales.
Larocca says the trend will likely continue as the city becomes more dense and suburbs in green wedges become comparatively scarce, desirable and expensive.
A five-bedroom, four-bathroom home on Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road is listed for sale for over $2.3 million.
The 40-square-metre home sits on approximately 2.45 hectares.
It has been listed by Morrison Kleeman Estate Agents Eltham and last sold in 2009 for $1.3 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-warrandyte+south-112762831" target="_blank">A four-bedroom home on Green Ridge</a> in Warrandyte South (pictured below) sold on March 8 for around $1.5 million.
<img alt="warrandytemarch13one" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/warrandytemarch13one.jpg">
It boasts two bathrooms, a heated outdoor pool and spa and a Balinese hut with a wet bar.
The house was built in 2000 and sits on just over 0.4 hectares of land.
A <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-vic-red+hill-112842655" target="_blank">four-bedroom, two-bathroom home</a> on Paringa Road, Red Hill South (picture below), is currently on the market for offers over $1.7 million.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/redhillmarch13one.jpg" width="470" height="351" alt="redhillmarch13one">
Situated on a 5.6-hectare block, the property boasts a tennis court and an orchard.
It has been listed by Blane Paton from Paton Estate Agents Balnarring. 
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Kangaroo Ground among little-known $1 million Melbourne suburbs: REIV

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House prices in Sydney's most expensive suburb, Bellevue Hill, in the eastern suburbs, fell 12% over 2012, figures compiled by the REINSW reveal.
The median house price as of December 2012 is $2,945,000 compared to $3,345,500 in December 2011.
Real estate  agent Leon Jacques of 1 to 1 Realty Double Bay says the annual figure has likely fallen due to vendors now meeting the market and becoming more realistic.
The median price dropped by a steep 17% in the last quarter of the year according to the REINSW.
Jacques says the quarterly drop in the median price may be due to properties at the lower end of the market accounting for majority of sales.
Jacques says cheaper homes have the ability to skew the figures but the quarterly drop is not a complete indication of how the suburb is fairing.
CEO of REINSW Tim McKibbin says the more affordable part of the market weathered the property storm of the past few years but the more expensive suburbs went through something of a correction.
McKibbin says that has now bottomed and prices will begin to firm up.
"During the last couple of years, not only did prices of properties in less affordable areas decline but sales also declined."
McKibbin is quietly confident about 2013 and expects prices to strengthen.
"Less affordable areas will always lag the affordable areas," says McKibbin.
A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestateredefined.com.au/Buying/Search/Detail.aspx?id=48&amp;wlid=843a1aad-a6e2-43cc-82a4-066b0efd0256">four-bedroom, two-bathroom</a> home on Bellevue Road (pictured below) sold at its February 26 auction for $2,755,000.
<img height="313" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/bellevuemarch13oneone.jpg" alt="bellevuemarch13oneone">
Situated on 738 square metres of land, the home boasts two levels of living space and has DA plans for an additional storey.
It last sold in July 2010 for $2.7 million.
The listing was held by Real Estate Redefined Double Bay.
A three-bedroom home on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellevue+hill-112862879">Lennox Street</a> (pictured below) sold at its February 23 auction for $2,275,000.
<img height="349" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/bellevuemarch13two.jpg" alt="bellevuemarch13two">
Built in 1900, the home boasts two bathrooms, a double living room with French doors, high ceilings and cast iron fireplaces.
The sale was secured by Sydney Sothebys International Realty Double Bay.
Meanwhile, the vendors of a Bunyula Road property sold prior to auction for $2.33 million.
The property comprises of three bedrooms, two baths and sits on 639 square metres of land.
The sale was closed by Bradfield Cleary Double Bay.
There have been 15 house sales above $10 million in Bellevue Hill since 2008, but only one officially recorded in the past year, according to RP Data.
Vaucluse is Sydney’s second priciest suburb with a median house price of $2,475,000. It remained stable in the last quarter, however  dropped 21.4% annually.
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Bellevue Hill prices down 12% over 2012 but still Sydney's priciest suburb

For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

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The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

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The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

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According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

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Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

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.

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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."

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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

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.

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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."

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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.

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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>.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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<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.

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Nicola Trotman

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