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Commercial properties in NSW’s Port Macquarie are attracting self-managed super funds (SMSF) because of the Mid North Coast’s affordability and healthy yields.
“It’s a bit like Sydney in towns such as Port Macquarie, with SMSFs driving the sales of quality investment assets,” said Graeme Garrett, co-principal of Raine &amp; Horne Commercial Port Macquarie. 
SMSFs leasing a commercial property back to a related business is becoming a common trend in the sub-$500,000 market in Port Macquarie, added Garrett.
Several small business owners too are buying properties through SMSFs and then leasing them back to the business, which the current superannuation laws allow, he said.
In many cases, professionals such as accountants, lawyers, engineers, architects and real estate agents are buying commercial properties through a related DIY fund. Properties around the range $400,000-$500,000 are in particularly in demand.
“The trouble is that there’s a shortage of industrial stock in this price range to meet demand,” said Garrett.
Investors operating outside a super fund are also active in the Port Macquarie market because of the low interest rates and the fact that commercial properties are viewed as an investment safe haven, he added.
“Sydney investors seeking solid yields are also starting to make their presence felt in Port Macquarie.”
Yields for industrial stock priced below $500,000 range from 8%, while it’s 6.75-7% for retail and 8% for office space, according to Raine &amp; Horne Commercial Port Macquarie. 
“We auctioned a retail property to a Sydney investor, who purchased it through a self-managed super fund, and who intends on retiring to Port Macquarie down the track,” said Garrett. The property located at 5/56 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie sold under the hammer for $622,500.
Garrett said members of SMSFs would be best served considering a commercial asset that will appeal to future tenants.
“If you occupy it yourself now and then retire, you need to consider what appeal that property will have to future tenants and whether it will be easily let out if it’s part of your future retirement plans.
“Our proximity to Sydney and Newcastle is attracting investors from those cities through a combination of our healthy yields and commercial real estate affordability. 
“When you can buy two or three assets in Port Macquarie for the equivalent of a single-tenant property in Sydney, investors see this as value.”
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

DIY super funds driving Port Macquarie commercial markets: Raine & Horne

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Singles earning an average income have been priced out of the property market from nearly all of Australia’s capital cities, a new report shows.
An analysis by financial comparison website RateCity.com.au shows that Hobart and Adelaide remain the last affordable capital cities for the nation's singles with a salary of $59,441 and $72,529 needed respectively to afford repayments on a 30-year mortgage (with a deposit of 20% at today's average variable rate of 4.74%). The industry rule that no more than 30 percent of a person’s income should go towards housing costs was applied to arrive at the figures.
The east coast remains the most unaffordable, with Sydney topping the list of tough markets for singles to crack. A person wanting to buy in the harbour city needs a six-figure salary of $137,556 to comfortably fund a mortgage on a median-priced house.
Someone looking to buy in Brisbane or Melbourne would require an $80,866 and $96,706 salary respectively to afford a median priced house, while in Canberra the salary needed would be $97,756.
According to Peter Arnold, data insights director at RateCity.com.au, the report raises further concerns that rising property prices across many cities in the country are forcing Australians out of the market. This could fundamentally impact the nation's demographics and service needs in the years ahead, he said.
“Our analysis reveals a reality that many young Australians are now living; the impossibility of affording a median-priced house on an average salary in most capital cities,” Arnold said.
“Without a partner or family member to share mortgage costs with, the numbers paint a grim picture for millennials, many of which may be squeezed out. Even as part of a couple, east coast property prices are out of reach for many Australians.”
“Many first home buyers, including young families, may find that they have to move away from careers in the CBD and the support of families to more affordable parts of Australia. This could have long-term effects on Australian society and bring with it challenges for the future in many areas, including transport and childcare.”
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Singles priced out of property market: RateCity research

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Property investments by SMSFs through limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) could come under increased scrutiny of the tax office this year, says major accounting firm H&amp;R Block.
Last year, the ATO had expressed concern at LRBA loans that were not structured correctly, including incorrect registration of the ownership of property bought under an LRBA. It spoke of increasing its focus on the LRBA route.
Given the growth in the SMSF sector and the increasing popularity of strategies such as LRBAs, H&amp;R Block has tipped that property will remain a top priority for the ATO’s compliance work in the SMSF sector this year.
“I know the ATO always keeps a close eye on property investment and especially LRBAs,” H&amp;R Block's director of tax communications, Mark Chapman told SMSF Adviser.
This particularly applies to related party borrowings which may currently be structured on non-commercial terms, with a June 30 deadline to have these structures rectified, it said.
According to the ATO website, an asset purchased by an SMSF trustee through LRBA is held in a separate trust.
If the loan defaults, the lender's rights are limited to the asset held in the separate trust, but not to assets held in the SMSF.
In 2015, an ATO campaign saw 500 postcodes issued with warnings urging holiday home owners to ensure deductions were not made during periods a property was not available for let.
“With property rental a valuable source of extra income for millions of taxpayers, it can be expected that the ATO will follow up with some targeted reviews and audits this year,” Chapman was quoted as saying.
The “sharing economy” – “driven in part by the high levels of non-compliance amongst those driving for Uber or renting rooms through Airbnb,” would also be an area of scrutiny by the ATO, he said. 
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ATO to focus on LRBA route to property investment by SMSFs

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A disproportionate rise in house prices compared with wages growth has made the task of first time buyers difficult in NSW, but there was still an increase in their number in the year to August 2017.
A recent Bankwest report reveals a growth in first time buyers (FTBs) of 5.1% (based on ABS data), bringing the total number of FTB purchases to 17,844 for the year. 
This is the largest increase since November 2014.
NSW FTBs still face an uphill battle to get their first property with the average couple having to save for six years to get the necessary $148,281 for a 20% deposit on median priced house, according to the 2017 Bankwest First Time Buyers Report.
This time span is an increase of six months from this time last year.
Sydneysiders have to save for 8.2 years (up eight months on last year) to save the necessary $215,133 for a deposit. This makes both NSW and Sydney the country’s most inaccessible state and city for FTBs.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/1/NSWMostTime.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/1/NSWMostTime.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/1/NSWLeastTime.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/1/NSWLeastTime.png" alt="">
Bankwest general manager personal and small business banking, Donna Dalby said NSW’s FTBs are at the mercy of a number of factors.
“The main reason for this increased savings time at both the state and city level is an increase in house prices compared to increases in wages. House prices went up by 10.7% in NSW whereas wages only rose by 2%.
“All this means the average savings time for a NSW home is 1.4 years more than the national average,” she added.
The challenging nature of the NSW market means home owners are considering other options, such as a looking outside the top end of Sydney’s housing market and into more humble avenues.
This is reflected in the fact that the average house loan size for NSW FTBs was a relatively modest $368,500 in the year to June 2017.
The report also shows that Sydney FTB couples could do well to consider opting for a unit rather than a house as a first home. The average saving time for a unit across Australia is 4.2 years, five months less than the savings time for a house. In Sydney the saving time for a unit is 5.9 years, 2.3 years less than the saving time needed for a house.
“Everyone dreams of having their own house but medium and high density housing is on the increase across the country and can offer a noticeably quicker route to home ownership than aiming at a house purchase,” said Dalby.
Sydney’s Mosman area was the most inaccessible. FTBs there will require an average of 20.4 years to save a median deposit of $795,408, making the area the second least accessible in the nation behind WA’s Peppermint Grove, said the report.
The significant four-year rise in saving time in the year to June 2017 was driven by a 29.8% increase in Mosman median house prices.
Remarkably however, the nation’s largest year-on-year increase was in Hunters Hill where it takes 4.1 years longer for a couple to save the $682,678 deposit on a median priced house relative to last year.
The findings were part of the ninth annual First Time Buyers Report by Bankwest.
A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-broken+hill-125807558" target="_blank">31 Morish Street, Broken Hill</a> (picture above) recently sold for $115,000.
A two-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-broken+hill-126500142" target="_blank">27 Central Street, Broken Hill</a> (pictured below) sold in November 2017 for $95,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/1/BrokenHill2.png" alt="">
 
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Rise in first time buyers in NSW despite challenging housing market: Bankwest 

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Melbourne stays firmly perched at the peak of cycle for unit markets, while Sydney remains at the start of decline, according to property valuation firm Herron Todd White’s (HTW) recent report.
“This year will undoubtedly be seen as the one where the collective boomtown mentality of Sydney took a breather,” according to HTW’s Month in Review for December.
In Melbourne, it was a very good year for property with great fundamentals and many investors still confident there’s a way to go.
Ballarat, which had made it to the peak of the unit market cycle, slipped one notch to approaching the peak.
The peak of the market position is dominated by cities or regions from NSW, with Gold Coast and Melbourne the only outsiders.
As HTW put it: “2017 was the year some of our hottest markets decided it was time to take a breather.”
The bottom of market has new entrants in Darwin and South West WA, which join an already long list led by Adelaide. Darwin was approaching the bottom in November.
Meanwhile, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth remain at the declining market position.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/5/HTWUnitsDec.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</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/2017/12/5/HTWUnitsDec.jpg" alt="">
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Melbourne at peak of unit market, Sydney remains in decline: HTW clock

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National residential listings rose by 3.2% to 334,594 in November 2017, with stock levels jumping in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide, as homeowners seek to take profits ahead of the summer break, latest data from SQM Research shows.
Canberra led listings with an 8.5 percent jump, followed by 5.9% in Adelaide, 5.6% in Sydney and  4.9% in Melbourne. 
Compared to a year earlier, listings are up 20.1% in Sydney, reflecting a large increase in properties available for sale, though in Melbourne stock levels are down 10.3% from a year earlier, SQM Research said.
In Brisbane, listings were up by 3.3% and in Perth they rose 3.4%. In Hobart, listings were up by 3.1% over November, but are still down 28% from a year earlier, reflecting a sharp shortage of properties available for sale in that city. 
“November listings usually jump ahead of the market slowing during the Christmas and New Year’s break, so the results are expected. That said, the year-on-year increase in Sydney is significant. Sydney now has the highest level of listings since October 2012,” said Louis Christopher, managing director of SQM Research.
“While there is a slowdown in Sydney, and to a lesser extent in Melbourne, we are still of the belief this is just a temporary stay, with a likely acceleration in market conditions next year based on an expansion in lending once again by the banks and still low levels of interest rates.” 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/5/SQM1.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/5/SQM1.png" alt="">
Capital city asking prices rose 0.5% for houses and 0.2% for units for the month to December 5. The largest monthly rise came from Canberra, where house asking prices rose 5.9%. 
In Melbourne, asking prices for units rose by 1.4%. Year-on-year asking house price gains were the strongest in Melbourne, with prices rising by 22.2%.   
Hobart had the strongest asking price gains for units, up 19.7% over the year.  
Only Darwin and Perth experienced price falls as the mining downturn continues to impact the property markets there, SQM said.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/5/SQMIndex.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/5/SQMIndex.png" alt="">
<h3>Key Points </h3>
<ol>
<li>National listings rose 3.2% during the month of November to 334,594 residential properties, but were down 3.7% over the year.</li>
<li>Listings rose the most in Canberra over the month, up by 8.5%, to be up 10.8% over the year.</li>
<li>Listings jumped in Sydney by 5.6% over the month, to be up 20.1% over the year.</li>
<li>Hobart recorded a monthly rise in listings of 3.1%, but they are down 28.0% over the year.</li>
<li>Capital city asking prices rose over the year to December 5 by 10.2% for houses and 6.0% for units.</li>
</ol>
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Property listings rise in November as owners seek profits before summer break: SQM Research

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Shoalwater and North Coogee in Perth and Halls Head in Mandurah are the three top suburbs in Western Australia where the prices of units showed the most growth in the last five years.
The data from CoreLogic data tracks the percentage growth over a five-year period.
North Coogee (postcode 6163) grew 34% and was far ahead of the rest of the pack. Unit prices in Shoalwater grew 23.1%, while they were up 23.4% in Halls Head.
Of the 13 suburbs, 11 are in Perth.
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td> Suburb</td>
<td> 5-year growth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 1. Applecross</td>
<td> 17.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 2. Balga</td>
<td> 16.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 3.Busselton</td>
<td> 16.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 4. Coolbellup</td>
<td> 16.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 5. Halls Head</td>
<td> 23.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 6. Melville</td>
<td> 21.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 7. Mount Pleasant</td>
<td> 17.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 8. Nedlands</td>
<td> 22.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 9. North Coogee</td>
<td> 34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 10. Shoalwater</td>
<td> 23.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 11. Tuart Hill</td>
<td> 18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 12. Westminster</td>
<td> 17.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 13. Woodlands</td>
<td> 19.2</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
In North Coogee, the median unit price is $670,000 as at September end, according to CoreLogic.
In the outer southern Perth suburb of Shoalwater (6169), the median price for units is $245,000.
A three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/vlla-5-16-arcadia-dr-shoalwater-wa-6169?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp:property-history-cta#history" target="_blank">5/16 Arcadia Drive, Shoalwater</a>, sold in February 2017 for $412,500. The unit last changed hands in 2002 for $200,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
<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/2017/11/30/Shoalwater1.jpg" alt="">
Another three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-wa-shoalwater-120085101" target="_blank">1/154-156 Arcadia Drive, Shoalwater</a> (picture above) sold in October 2015 for $355,000.
Previously, it sold in July 2014 at the same price but in June 2011, the unit changed hands for $300,000, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
Halls Head (postcode 6210) has a median price of $390,000.
 
 
 
 
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North Coogee leads WA's best price growth suburbs over past five years

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The region in Adelaide from Prospect to Walkerville has shown the strongest growth in home values in South Australia over the last 10 years, according to CoreLogic’s latest data.
All the top five regions listed under South Australia showed a consistency in their growth numbers — between 30 and 40% — as per figures in CoreLogic’s Best performing property markets past 10 years data. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/11/30/SA10years.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/11/30/SA10years.png" alt="">
CoreLogic’s methodology is based on the best performing property markets at an SA3 level (SA3 represents a regional area serviced by major transport &amp; commercial hub with a population of between 30,000 and 130,000 people).
The median price of dwellings in Prospect - Walkerville was $697,216. 
A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/36-york-st-prospect-sa-5082?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp:property-history-cta#history" target="_blank">36 York Street, Prospect</a> (picture above) sold for $700,000 in July 2017, according to Corelogic data. Previously, it sold for $295,000 in 2006. 
A two-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/2-le-hunte-ave-prospect-sa-5082?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp:property-history-cta#history" target="_blank">2 Le Hunte Avenue</a> in Prospect sold for $615,000 in July 2017. It previously sold for $518,000 in 2012 and $368,000 in 2006.
<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/2017/11/30/Prospect.jpg" alt="">
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Prospect-Walkerville scores SA's highest 10-year growth in home values: CoreLogic

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Western Australia lags behind rest of the nation in price growth of dwellings over the last 10 years, with only Serpentine-Jarrahdale growing in double digits, according to the latest CoreLogic data.
With a 10 year growth of 17.5%, Serpentine-Jarrahdale has outperformed the rest of WA, with every other region of the state recording growth of less than 5% over the decade.
The data also highlights just how weak the housing market in Perth has been over the past decade.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/11/30/Serpentine.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/11/30/Serpentine.png" alt="">
CoreLogic’s methodology is based on the best performing property markets at an SA3 level (SA3 represents a regional area serviced by major transport &amp; commercial hub with a population of between 30,000 and 130,000 people).
The median price of dwellings in Serpentine-Jarrahdale was $406,775, according to CoreLogic data.
A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/18-mcneil-gr-jarrahdale-wa-6124?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp:property-history-cta#history" target="_blank">18 Mcneil Grove, Jarrahdale</a> (picture above) sold for $410,000 in December 2016. Previously, it traded for just $33,500 in March 2002, Corelogic data shows.
Another house in Jarrahdale, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/5-brady-rd-jarrahdale-wa-6124?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp:property-history-cta#history" target="_blank">5 Brady Road</a>, sold for $285,000 in July 2017, having previously changed hands for $280,000 in April 2009.
The growth in value was just $5000 in eight years, a good example of the weakness in the WA market.
<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/2017/11/30/Jarrahdale2.jpg" alt="">
 
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Serpentine-Jarrahdale the only WA region with double-digit 10-year growth: CoreLogic

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Mixed-use retail assets continue to find favour with investors, most recently evident from the ongoing auction campaign to sell two lots in Sydney’s Inner West, say Cushman &amp; Wakefield.
Located at <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/lots-1-2-270-liverpool-road-ashfield-nsw-2131-2013999807" target="_blank">270 Liverpool Road</a> (pictured above) in Ashfield’s retail strip, the lots comprise two brand new strata retail stores tenanted by ANZ Bank and Chemist Warehouse.
According to Cushman &amp; Wakefield, the strong interest in the upcoming auction for the two lots has been driven primarily by high net worth individuals and family investors, both from the local area but also interstate and overseas. These investors are attracted to the long term capital growth presented by the retail sites.
With the rise in medium and high density housing, there has been a significant effect on the way we work, shop and live, say Cushman &amp; Wakefield.
This is also driving experiential and mixed use retail as retailers look to meet the challenge from online shopping.
Demand for mixed use retail and lively high streets storefronts are, in part, also in response to increasingly compact living spaces that are impractical for entertaining.
For developers, the mixed use retail component of a development can generate significant returns, and margins can be increased through maximising the retail pricing and refining their strategy.
“With an apartment tower and space below you effectively create a vertical community,” says Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s head of Research Dominic Brown.
“The retail offers more than convenience; the right tenant emphasises that local village atmosphere and occupiers buy into the concept of a café where the barista knows their order, or bank where the teller knows their name.
“The natural solution for residential adjacent retail is convenience retailing, however, any business offering something the internet can’t is ideal. An experience or service element which is not appealing or available for online purchase will be well received by any resident.”
The two lots going to auction on December 5 reflect this trend.
<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/2017/11/24/Ashfield2.jpg" alt="">
Lot 1 is occupied by Chemist Warehouse, which is on a new 10-year lease to 2027 plus options to 2037.
The net income from the property is $434,687 per annum plus GST.
The net lettable area is 789 square metres.
Lot 2 is lease to ANZ Bank which is on a seven-year lease to 2023 plus options to 2033.
The net income from the property is $253,838 per annum plus GST.
Its net lettable area is 274 square metres.
Both properties have 4% annual increases.
The listing agent is Anthony Bray.
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Mixed-use retail values boosted by surging residential development: Cushman & Wakefield

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/aura-by-aqualand-north-sydney-168-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">AURA</a>&nbsp;doesn’t just rise over North Sydney, it redefines it. Now in its final release, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a>’s $1 billion architectural statement is not just complete, but already reshaping the way people live, connect and dine in this rapidly evolving harbourside CBD.

Positioned beside the new Victoria Cross Metro Station and boasting panoramic views across Sydney Harbour, Aura’s 386 residences crown a mixed-use precinct designed with unapologetic ambition. The curvaceous sandstone-inspired form by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, paired with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/richards-stanisich">Richard Stanisich</a>’s understated interiors, sets a design tone that’s both monumental and intimate.

At its peak, literally, the two penthouses so spectacular they command their own names; La Davina and Il Magnate. The residents are spread across the&nbsp;entire top floor, offering what many consider the most refined residences ever built in North Sydney. Designed by Richard and Kirsten Stanisich, each four-bedroom home is meticulously crafted to evoke calm, space, and permanence.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VB70993aG-I?si=adRBlXQliYmYvaSz" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The kitchens are fully wrapped in natural stone, with integrated Gaggenau appliances, Sub-Zero fridges, concealed sculleries, and even a zip hydro tap delivering boiling, chilled and sparkling water on demand. A linear stone fireplace anchors the open-plan living space, dividing lounge and dining zones with quiet sophistication.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292861]

The master suite, meanwhile, feels more like a private retreat, complete with a custom stone makeup vanity, walk-through dressing area, and spa-inspired ensuite with heated stone floors, a freestanding Villeroy &amp; Boch tub, and timber veneer joinery throughout.

Kirsten Stanisich, Director of Richards Stanisich, said the penthouses offer incredible scale reflective of a single residence.&nbsp;

“We sought inspiration for these remarkable residences from the classic top-floor Parisian apartment," Stanisich said.

"We looked at what made these French apartments so elegant and found it really came down to their scale. It was ultimately this generosity of space that we used for the AURA penthouses, where we’ve designed considered rooms with deep large-scale proportions."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=310337]

Everyday living at Aura feels no less elevated. A dedicated 24-hour concierge, Technogym fitness centre, sky dining terraces, and a resort-style pool serve a lifestyle designed to rival luxury hotels.

At street level, Aqualand’s own hospitality arm, Etymon Projects, curates a precinct of LA-style bistros, Japanese fine dining, and local wine bars, all seamlessly integrated into the building’s sculptural podium.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=310337]

This final chapter, aptly dubbed The Finale, is more than a sales phase, it’s an invitation to two of the most exclusive apartments ever to be built in North Sydney.

With limited residences remaining, buyers can access curated incentives including stamp duty rebates, rental guarantees, legal fee coverage, and even $20,000 towards dining within the precinct.

From generous one-bedders to The Icons, two singular penthouses priced well into prestige territory, Aura’s offerings reflect a scale and calibre rarely seen in urban Sydney. And with move-in now immediate, this is no longer a promise of future luxury. It’s happening.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=30959]

Staff Writer

Aqualand unveils penthouse collection at AURA By Aqualand in North Sydney

There’s no sign of the development wave that began several years ago slowing along Old Burleigh Road.

Around 10 new apartment developments are either underway or preparing to launch along the 800-metre strip stretching from the southern edge of Surfers Paradise towards the heart of Broadbeach, collectively adding just shy of 1,000 new apartments to the beachfront corridor.

The latest plans propose a further 30 apartments to replace an original six-unit walk-up on a 658 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/20a-old-burleigh-road-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">20A Old Burleigh Road</a>. The 14-storey building has been designed by Ferro Chow Architecture, which recently joined the Elevation Architecture Group.

The developer behind the project is Geoffrey Booth, whose Future Liv In has focused on delivering rental accommodation across regional Australia.

<img alt="Old Burleigh Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="99d393e7-d404-43bc-80cb-6255c39b83d6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2012.28.44%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ZFT8F3mOny4M4ut.kFF3woC9WH9oR5gT" />

The Old Burleigh Road development will comprise 18 two-bedroom apartments, 10 three-bedroom apartments, and a single four-bedroom residence occupying the entirety of level 12. Above, the building will be crowned by a two-storey penthouse with its own private lift, several multi-purpose rooms, and two rooftop terraces — one featuring a puppy lawn and spa, the other offering a private swimming pool, sunset deck, and built-in barbecue.

Resident amenities will be located on the second level and include a pool with adjoining spa, cabana, and pool deck, along with an indoor residents’ lounge featuring a bar and an alfresco barbecue kitchen.

In the architectural statement submitted by Elevation Architecture, the project is referred to as “UMI”, which the firm says has been “inspired by the majestic hinterlands and shaped by the coastal climate”.

“It is an exemplar of how community living can still feel at one with nature, breathable, and deeply connected in place,” the architects noted.

They added that the site benefits from established building separation to adjoining towers, helping to maintain privacy, sunlight, and residential amenity, while still offering direct beach access within an urban setting.

“Drawing inspiration from the Gold Coast hinterlands and the region’s natural landscape, the podium and tower detail highlights the contrasting elements of treetop green and cliff-face peach. The vibrant texture and materiality shaped by time has a richness in depth and character.”

<img alt="Old Burleigh Road" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b3d6c923-a0ab-4d74-86da-177313447e8e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2012.28.38%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=i2fygmoVQM6hWpbATTAW_yTitoMTrnI1" />

Old Burleigh Road has become a hotspot for developers, with the three-tower Jewel development kickstarting a wave of projects up and down the strip when it was completed in 2020.

Currently under construction and approaching completion is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/faro-broadbeach-123-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">FARO Broadbeach</a> by 5Point and Bottega, 21 large-scale half- and full-floor apartments. 5Point is also behind the recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lumara-108-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Lumara</a>, another 37 apartments to add to the pipeline.

Luxury builder GRAYA is progressing construction on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/enclave-by-graya-118-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Enclave</a>, its first Gold Coast tower, while Polycell remains the most active developer on the street. They are preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sandpiper-broadbeach-155-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">Sandpiper</a>, a 50-storey redevelopment of the former Sandpiper Holiday Resort that will deliver around 200 apartments alongside extensive resident amenity. The group also has another 130-apartment project approved nearby, as does <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/dvb-approved-for-second-broadbeach-apartment-development">Dean Gallagher’s DVB Projects</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Old Burleigh Road apartment development wave continues

Sunshine Coast developer Habitat Development Group continues to position itself as one of the region’s largest new apartment developers.

Its latest project is in Maroochydore, where it is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-millwell-2-millwell-road-east-maroochydore-qld-4558">The Millwell</a>. Adjacent to the new 53-hectare Maroochydore City Centre project, Habitat is planning a further 180 apartments on a 3,468 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/132-136-aerodrome-road-maroochydore-qld-4558">132–136 Aerodrome Road</a>. The site was purchased with approval for a smaller 13-storey, 103-unit building.

Habitat will demolish the two existing retail centres, currently home to the Salvation Army Family Store and Neighbours Aid, and replace them with an 18-storey building featuring the significant rooftop amenities that have become a hallmark of Habitat developments in recent years. The rooftop will include both indoor and outdoor spaces, anchored by an infinity swimming pool.

<img alt="Maroochydore" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad434d07-666b-4614-b33e-530ad6a2d261" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2010.12.33%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7pyLsPWKQuwv0us3_v.9DmbzEc2VZe9Z" />

There will be a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments.

The Development Assessment Report, submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council, says the proposal&nbsp;is not speculative, but a response to both zoning intent and demonstrated housing need.

“The proposed development represents an appropriate and logical intensification of the site, consistent with the planning framework and the intended urban outcomes for the locality.”

Across the Sunshine Coast, councils are increasingly scrutinising not just height or yield, but whether new projects genuinely align with the long-term structure plans underpinning growth corridors. The&nbsp;ASTP Planning Report&nbsp;reinforces the approach, noting that the project has been shaped around site responsiveness rather than generic typology.

“The development has been designed to respond to the physical constraints and opportunities of the site, while delivering a high-quality residential outcome that integrates with the existing and emerging urban context.”

<img alt="Habitat" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a03fc54-4ca5-4868-88d0-eeced70604e2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-05%20at%2010.12.28%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=1pkK3lJrrZjkghTLBReM2zatcas4Nc4B" />

In mid-2025, Habitat, a developer that also builds its own projects, commenced construction on The Millwell, located just over one kilometre from the new proposal. The Millwell will comprise more than 200 apartments across two eight-storey buildings.

Habitat also has two projects on Lake Kawana in Birtinya: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-clair-birtinya-930-931-waterside-retreat-birtinya-qld-4575">St Clair</a>, a 200-unit, two-building development launched last year and set to welcome buyers this year; and Esperance, a 175-apartment project currently progressing through the development approval process.

First look: Habitat continues to bolster Sunshine Coast apartment pipeline with Maroochydore development plans

John Camilleri, the breeder of legendary racehorse Winx, is set to deliver a landmark two-tower beachfront development that would redefine the Surfers Paradise skyline.

Camilleri, who spent around $100 million acquiring development sites across the Gold Coast in 2025, has lodged plans for two new towers on the dress-circle stretch of Garfield Terrace, just two days before Christmas.

In assembling the site, Camilleri's Celestino Developments has effectively acquired the 71 Garfield project by Iris Capital and AALTO by Weiya Holdings, creating an unrivalled <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">4,000 sqm beachfront holding along Garfield Terrace</a>.

The proposal comprises two residential towers of 55 and 48 storeys, linked by a dramatic skybridge which will home “exclusive VIP and wellness amenities.”

In total, the development would deliver 275 two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments across the two towers, rising above a shared landscaped podium that incorporates a central green space and a beachfront swimming pool stretching more than 90 metres.

<img alt="DBI" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="097900f3-6bef-4919-b168-b08f2f762876" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.37.58%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=et0SpmcvaPPVrexI_zWi46BVFtZBxAzx" />

Architecture firm DBI, in documents submitted to Gold Coast City Council, said the project at 63–79 Garfield Terrace would “establish a new benchmark for beachfront residential living on the Gold Coast.”

"The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience. Together, the 48-storey North Tower and 55-storey South Tower form a distinctive twin-tower composition whose dynamic silhouette will make a significant contribution to the Surfers Paradise skyline."

DBI said the architectural language draws inspiration from the fluidity and movement of the coastal landscape.

"Each tower is defined by organic, curving forms and continuous balcony ribbons that wrap the buildings, providing deep shading, enhancing environmental performance, and reinforcing the rhythmic, sculptural expression of the façade. These balcony forms also reduce the apparent mass of the towers while maintaining strong visual continuity from podium to summit. Sculpted reflective downturns run along the western spine of both towers, shifting and lifting as they extend upwards to frame service zones and open eastward to maximise ocean views."

<img alt="Garfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2a00ce3-a0e9-45d6-b4b5-b7baed592ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=DnruWV1dhLrtXOeElwekyd7vPq2gw55t" />

The project’s most striking feature is the skybridge at level 45, which will house executive lounges, formal dining spaces, wellness facilities and panoramic ocean-facing views.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI added.

The podium will host an extensive suite of recreational amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a large open green lawn, and the signature 90-metre pool stretching along the beachfront. The pool is divided into lap, lounge and children’s zones.

The southern end of the podium will accommodate additional wellness facilities, including a gymnasium, plunge pools, treatment rooms and a dedicated yoga lawn.

<img alt="Garfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ee1b4f25-231f-4804-83b1-a573a1481962" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.55.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zObzIA3D5w7EwqPsHjr2pKrA4vbB28zL" />

There will be 127 apartments in the North Tower and 148 in the South Tower, including multiple penthouses, while the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages will be activated by a series of food and beverage tenancies.

Camilleri emerged as the most active site acquirer on the Gold Coast in 2025. He spent just over $30 million acquiring Pacific Point, a 10-level Surfers Paradise apartment block and an adjoining three-level duplex, from fellow racing identity and Aquis billionaire Tony Fung. Plans are now underway for a 93-apartment, 40-storey tower on the 1,682 sqm site.

He also paid $53.65 million for the 1,500 sqm Garfield Terrace site previously marketed as AALTO by Weiya Holdings, before acquiring the adjoining parcel from hotel billionaire Sam Arnaout’s Iris Capital, the developer behind V&amp;A Broadbeach.

First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge

The Melbourne-based HLA Group is the latest developer to expand into South East Queensland, lodging plans for a unique mixed-use short-term accomodation and apartment building in Taringa, with the building design inspired by the Glasswing Butterfly.

The development application for 10 Morrow Street seeks approval for a total of 232 dwellings, comprising 116 residential apartments and 116 short-stay accommodation units. The build-to-sell residential component is made up of 31 one-bedroom apartments, 67 two-bedroom apartments, 17 three-bedroom apartments, and a single four-bedroom apartment, offering a diverse mix aimed at singles, couples, families, and downsizers.

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33913cd4-9839-4456-b325-d35b3f8b4694" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=sLvc7jUrYzDwqPDZBPrXTosKHDSp.qrt" />

Designed by Ellivo Architects, the tower takes strong inspiration from nature, with the architectural language driven by one of Queensland’s most delicate species. As described in the planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council, Ellivo Architects state the design is “inspired by the elegance of the Glasswing butterfly," and mirrors the graceful sweep of its wings, a form that feels light, fluid, and alive.

“Lush subtropical greenery is throughtfull woven throughout, transforming the building into a sanctuary in the heart of the city.”

The proposal positions the building as more than a conventional residential tower, with Ellivo Architects describing 10 Morrow Street as “an urban oasis that blends short term accomodation with residential living. A destination for rest, relaxation, and renewal.”

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84e9a0ff-464e-4973-bffe-5d5a8fe9f087" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.32%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dhX9eVgUaQE2TvCzJPhF8N8_hzYSKpyK" />

Formally, the building’s massing and floorplate are directly shaped by its butterfly inspiration. Ellivo explain that, “adopting the wings of the Glasswing Butterfly, the tower's plan is divided into four distinct quadrants, each shaped to mirror the wing's segmented geometry and taking the slender ‘veins’ up the facade of the tower.”

"This approach results in a sculpted tower form with articulated façades and a strong vertical expression."

<img alt="Taringa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5947011d-ff6c-4a57-bdc1-9072a472a79c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.40.29%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=nnGqd4WCZM8AOJZY.c3u49BO4LurKRhb" />

The Assessment Report by Human Habitats said the 19-storey tower capitalises on its strategic connectivity and prominence at the entrance of Taringa Village and adjoining the Taringa Station.

"The proposal offers a significant revitalisation of the subject site that integrates architectural excellence, innovation, and sustainable design to directly address long-standing connectivity and safety challenges, housing supply , and diversity together with enhanced streetscape activation and convenient access to major transport corridors."

HLA Group Australia is registered to South Yarra and is currently delivering Adamson No.5, just 15 luxury apartments that start from around $2 million.&nbsp;

Prateek Chatterjee

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