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Home loans rates began to rise towards the end of the December quarter, despite no change to the RBA cash rate according to RateCity. 
About two-thirds of lenders raised fixed rates while a smaller number of lenders lifted variable rates with more hikes set to follow in 2017, according to comparison website RateCity’s Rates of the Nation report.
Longer-term fixed rates are sitting higher than variable rates and rising by the biggest margins, which indicates that banks don’t expect low rates will last forever. 
"Previously, banks were betting on lower rates in the future but we saw those expectations change daily during the past quarter," according tot Peter Arnold, data insights director of RateCity.com.au.
Fixed rates under 4 percent fell by 15 percent over the quarter; that’s around 100 less sub-4 percent fixed rates on offer now compared to three months ago, the report says.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/12/RateCityIntRatesMoves.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/12/RateCityIntRatesMoves.png" alt="">
Consumers responded quickly by shifting towards fixed rates. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/12/RateCityFixedvsVar.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/12/RateCityFixedvsVar.png" alt="">
"Consumers should expect more rate rises... While there are still plenty of home loan rates under 4 per cent, those deals are less prevalent now. It’s unlikely that we’ll see rates return to the long term average of around 7 percent just yet, but competition at the low-rate end of the market is slowing," Arnold adds.
Fixed home loan rates - Under 4 percent getting harder
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/12/Screen%20Shot%202017-01-12%20at%2011.40.14%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/12/Screen%20Shot%202017-01-12%20at%2011.40.14%20AM.png" alt="">
 
Distribution of variable rates
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/12/VariableLoans.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/12/VariableLoans.png" alt="">
According to RateCity's website, below is a snapshot of some of the popular home loan products:
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/12/RateCityPopularLoans.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/12/RateCityPopularLoans.png" alt=""> 
 
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More home loan rate hikes expected in 2017: RateCity report

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Property markets in regional Australia had a mixed performance in the quarter ended September 2016, with the Illawarra region in NSW recording double-digit growth for both houses and units in value terms, while values fell in Townsville and Bunbury, according to CoreLogic’s latest regional market update.
According to Tim Lawless, senior researcher at CoreLogic, “several regional property markets within driving distance to major capital cities saw strong home price growth over the past quarter”.
Some of the report’s highlights:
<ul>
<li>Over the year to September 2016, the Illawarra region had the largest annual increase in values for both houses (14.3 percent) and units (11.5 percent).</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/11/CoreLogicReg-Illawarra.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
       <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/11/CoreLogicReg-Illawarra.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>In addition, home values rose across each of the three regions in NSW over the year ending September. 
</li>
<li>For houses, Townsville in Queensland and Bunbury in WA were the only regional markets where values fell, down 2.2 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. Unit values were lower across the five regions, with the greatest falls also in Townsville (4.5 percent) and Bunbury (4.1 percent).</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/11/CoreLogicReg-Townsville.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
       <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/11/CoreLogicReg-Townsville.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/11/CoreLogicReg-Bunbury.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
       <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/11/CoreLogicReg-Bunbury.png" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Transaction activity rose on a year-on-year basis across the Richmond – Tweed region, while across all other regional markets analysed, sales activity was lower over the year.</li>
</ul>
In the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and the Richmond- Tweed regions, home values rose by less, however, each property type saw gains of more than 6 per cent. When looking at transaction activity, the Richmond- Tweed region was the only region with an increase over the year (3 per cent), while sales activity fell in the other two regions. 
In Queensland, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast were the strongest performing regions across the state, with both house and unit values rising. While Townsville, Wide Bay and Cairns showed moderate growth or falling values over the year. Transaction activity also fell, with sales volumes across all regions decreasing over the year, but transactions were well above the five-year average in each region with the exception of Townsville. 
Sales fell in Victoria’s Geelong and Latrobe-Gippsland regions too, down 1 per cent and 5 percent respectively. However, home values rose in both regions, Geelong recording the highest value growth, with house values increasing by 6.9 percent and unit values up 3.7 percent. 
Western Australia’s Bunbury region saw house values fall by 0.4 percent, while unit values fell by 4.1 percent. Sales volumes were down 11.5 percent over the year, and 10 percent below the five year average for the region. 
 
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Illawarra home values show double-digit growth amid mixed showing in regional Australia: CoreLogic 

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You can still rent in Sydney for under $350 per week. Willmot in Sydney's Blacktown is the place if you are looking for houses and Berkeley Vale in Wyong for units, says CoreLogic in its top 10 picks for the lowest median rent suburbs in Sydney in 2016.
The median rent for houses in Willmot was $330, according to CoreLogic's analysis to September 2016. The top 10 list in CoreLogic's Best of the Best 2016 is evenly split among the council areas of Blacktown and Wyong, with Blacktown's Willmot and Blackett the top two cheapest followed by Budgewoi in Wyong.
For units, Berkeley Vale's median rent was $300, followed by Carramar in Fairfield at $310 pw and Bradbury in Campbelltown at $315.
The median price of houses in Willmot was $420,492 while in Berkeley Vale, the median value of units was $323,189.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/11/SydMedRentLo-Blacktown.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/11/SydMedRentLo-Blacktown.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/11/SydMedRentLo-Wyong.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/11/SydMedRentLo-Wyong.png" alt="">
Property Observer looked for some houses and units that match the criteria for lowest median rents.
A two-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-willmot-419996750" target="_blank">32a Resolution Avenue Willmot NSW 2770</a> is up for rent at $330 per week, matching the rental median.
<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/2017/01/SydLowRent-Willmot.jpg" alt="">
For units, Property Observer found one example. A one-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-berkeley+vale-413379731" target="_blank">28A Wyong Road Berkeley Vale NSW 2261</a> is available for $250 per week.
<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/2017/01/SydLowRent-Berkeley.jpg" alt="">
 
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Sydney's Blacktown vies with Wyong for lowest median rentals: CoreLogic

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When it comes to the highest gross rental yields for houses in and around Sydney, it's all Wyong.
All the top 10 spots for highest gross rental yields in CoreLogic's Best of the Best 2016 report are occupied by suburbs in the Wyong council area, with Mannering Park at the top with a yield of 5.2 percent and a median price of $428,688.
It was followed by San Remo and Blue Haven, both with a yield of 5.1 percent, according to CoreLogic.
To illustrate the point, Property Observer found a four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mannering+park-122821570" target="_blank">3 Cheryl Street Mannering Park, NSW, 2259</a> (above, below) that sold in August 2016 for $425,000, according to RP Data and is currently listed for rent within the range of $420-$445. At the upper end of that range, the yield works out to be 5.4 percent.
<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/2017/01/10/SydGrossRentYld-ManneringPark.jpg" alt="">
For units, the best rental yield came from Long Jetty, again in Wyong. The median value of units in Long Jetty was $419,266 with a gross rental yield of 5.1%.
The list for units was more mixed, with three suburb each from Wyong, Gosford and Campbelltown council areas and one from Blacktown.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/10/SydGrossRentYld-chart.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/2017/01/10/SydGrossRentYld-chart.jpg" alt="" width="767" height="205">
Property Observer found a two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/8-5-7-centennial-ave-long-jetty-nsw-2261" target="_blank">8/5-7 Centennial Ave, Long Jetty, NSW 2261</a> (below) that sold for $410,000 in October 2015, and was last advertised for rent in February 2015 for $375 pw, according to www.realestate.com.au figures. The rental yield works out to be 4.7 percent, slightly lower than the overall yield of 5.1 percent for Long Jetty.
 <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/2017/01/10/SydGrossRentYld-LongJetty.jpg" alt="">
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Wyong suburbs yield top rentals in 2016: CoreLogic data

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Hobart suburbs Rokeby and Glenorchy led the country in highest gross rental yield within 10 km of the CBD in 2016 among Australia’s capital cities, according to CoreLogic.
Rokeby led in houses with a median value of $193,291 and gross rental yield of 7.2 percent, while Glenorchy topped in units with a median value of $123,144 yielding 6.4 percent, says CoreLogic’s Best of the Best 2016 report.
Hobart suburbs dominated the top 10 list for houses with the top nine spots. The tenth slot went to Franklin in the Unincorporated ACT region. 
The list for units was more mixed with Oxley in Brisbane at no. 2 and Carlton in Melbourne at no. 3 respectively.
Property Observer found a three-bedroom house at 4 Benboyd Court Rokeby, TAS, 7019, (below) which sold for $186,500 in 2016 and was offered for rent at $270 pw, according to RP Data. The rental yield works out to 7.5 percent, close to the gross rental yield of 7.2 percent for Rokeby.
<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/2017/01/09/Hobart10kmpic1.jpg" alt="">
For units, a two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-tas-glenorchy-122596726" target="_blank">2/20 Balmain Street Glenorchy, TAS, 7010</a> (below) sold for $162,000 in September 2016 and was listed for rent at $240 pw, according to RP data. The yield works out to be 7.7 percent, above the 6.4 percent gross rental yield for units in Glenorchy.
 <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/2017/01/09/Hobart10kmpic2.jpg" alt="">
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Hobart suburbs Rokeby and Glenorchy lead in rental yield within 10 km of CBD

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Sydney leads the country not just in home prices, it tops in rents too with Tamarama commanding the highest median rent of $1,725 per week for houses while Dawes Point leads in units with $1,775 pw for units.
Sydney takes all the top 10 spots for highest median rents per week for both houses and units, according to CoreLogic’s Best of the Best 2016 report.
The report’s figures are based on the median across all rental advertisements over the 12 months to September 2016.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/12/23/TamaramaTable.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/12/23/TamaramaTable.png" alt="">
Property Observer found across a few houses up for rent in Tamarama.
Though at present, we could not find any houses around the median price, here’s two:
A six-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/20-gaerloch-avenue-tamarama-nsw/property-details-rent-residential-10613128/" target="_blank">20 Gaerloch Avenue, Tamarama, NSW 2026</a> (below) is up for rent at $3,200 pw.
The beachfront house is located on Tamarama Beach and overlooks Mackenzies Bay. 
<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/2016/12/23/TamaramaFirst.jpg" alt="">
Another beachfront three-bedroom house on <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/property-house-tamarama-2026-1932842?search_token=41c224798e6d72d289f8581a" target="_blank">Birrell Street, Tamarama, NSW 2026</a> (below) is available for $2,500 per week.
<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/2016/12/23/TamaramaSecond.jpg" alt=""> 
A two-bedroom apartment on Tamarama Beach at <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/property-house-tamarama-2026-2015726?search_token=3121a724df2231da78c36ff3" target="_blank">Wonderland Avenue</a> (main picture) is available to rent for $2,200 p/w.
The fully furnished house has an an entertaining deck with BBQ and al fresco dining.
For units in Dawes Point, the suburb that leads nationally on median rent, Property Observer couldn’t find any apartments that come close to that criteria.
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Tamarama leads all Sydney in highest median rents

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Much has been said about inner Melbourne’s apartment market supply, and the numbers prove it.
Melbourne was at the top spot for highest gross sales over the 12 months to September 2016, with total sales of $739,769,597, with the waterfront hub of Southbank at no. 4 on the top 10 list, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
Surfer’s Paradise and Hope Island on the Gold Coast were second and third with Sydney suburb Mosman rounding up the top 5. 
“Approved housing supply reached unprecedented highs during 2016 with high rise apartment projects attracting a higher risk profile, particularly across key areas of inner Melbourne and Inner Brisbane,” according to CoreLogic’s Best of the Best 2016.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2016/12/23/CoreLogicMedianSalesUnits.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/12/23/CoreLogicMedianSalesUnits.png" alt="">
The median value for unit sales in Melbourne was $470,055. 
Around the median price, we found a two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-122289782" target="_blank">2107/250 Elizabeth Street </a>(below), that sold for $475,000 in April 2016.
The apartment was sold through Dingle Partners. The investment property is on the 21st floor of Somerset on Elizabeth complex. 
 <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/2016/12/23/MelbUnitMed.jpg" alt="">
A two-bedroom 160 sqm apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-121708842" target="_blank">192/299 Queen Street, </a>Melbourne, Vic 3000 (below and main picture) sold for $1,320,000 in May 2016.
The property was sold by Melbourne City Real Estate.
<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/2016/12/23/MelbUnitHigh.jpg" alt=""> 
Among the lowest was an investment property, a studio at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-studio-vic-melbourne-121308294" target="_blank">408/62-68 Hayward Lane, Melbourne</a> (below) that fetched just $170,000 in the Melbourne CBD with the agents promising an annual return of more than 8 percent. It was sold through Elite Real Estate. It was sold in March 2016.
 <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/2016/12/23/MelbUnitCheap.jpg" alt="">
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Melbourne tops gross value of sales for apartments: CoreLogic report

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When it comes to rental yields on a property, there’s no beating Cairns when it comes to apartments.
The Queensland city occupies eight spots in the Top 10 highest gross rental yields compiled by CoreLogic, including the top four.
The southern suburb of Woree in Cairns tops the list with a rental yield of 8.7 percent on a median unit value of $137,358, according to CoreLogic’s Best of the Best 2016 report that tracks various housing indicators up to the 12 months to September 2016. 
The only other suburbs not from Cairns are Elizabeth East and Davoren Park in Adelaide’s Playford, occupying fifth and sixth places, respectively.
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/12/23/CairnsUnitRentYld.png" alt="">
According to the latest RP Data, the median asking rent for Woree is $255 per week.
Property Observer looked around for units around the median value of $137,358 on RP Data to see what their current yields were. 
A two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-woree-116149035" target="_blank">3/10 Girralong Street Woree, QLD, 4868</a>, which last traded owners in 2014 for $136,000 was last rented out for $260 pw, which gives a rental yield of 9.94 percent.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/12/23/CairnsNo1.png" alt="">
Another two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-woree-122550290" target="_blank">2/1 Sandown Close Woree, QLD, 4868,</a> which sold in June 2016 for $133,000 was last leased for $260 pw, implying a solid yield of about 10.16 percent. 
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/12/23/CairnsNo2.png" alt="">
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Cairns is undisputed king of rental yields for units

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Mosman, the stylish Lower North Shore Sydney suburb, clocked a billion dollars in gross sales over the 12 months to September 2016, more than any other across the country.
The gross value of sales in Mosman was $1,047,292,200, according to CoreLogic’s Best of the Best 2016 report.
The median value of houses in the suburb is $3,564,639.
Brighton, an affluent beachside suburb of Melbourne, was a distant second with gross sales of nearly $857 million for the same period.
Among the recently sold houses near the median value, was a four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mosman-123823394" target="_blank">8A Bickell Road, Mosman, NSW 2088</a> (above) that traded for $3.3 million. 
The property was sold through McGrath.
This sleek architectural home with views over Quakers Hat Bay last traded for $165,000 in 1979, meaning the house has appreciated exactly 20 times that price in the last 37 years. 
There were more than 300 sales in Mosman during the period, with the highest being a six-bedroom period home — built in 1910 — for $15.5 million, according to RP Data.
The $15.5 million Federation Queen Anne Style 1910 family estate at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mosman-123885122" target="_blank">30 Bradleys Head Road, Mosman</a> (below) is set on 2,244 sqm. 
The house previously sold for $7,150,000 in 2001. The deal was brokered by McGrath.
<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/2016/12/23/MosmanTop.jpg" alt="">
Another high-profile deal of around $14.5 million that was featured in Property Observer recently relating to the sale by former Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch head of fixed income Neale Muston.
Set overlooking Chowder Bay, the Mosman house (below) was bought by a Chinese-origin buyer with residency.
It was sold on its second time marketing campaign this year. And in 2015 it was listed with $17 million hopes.
The architecturally designed Morella Road four-bedroom home features minimalistic styling. The sale affirms that the Chinese buyers are attracted to the “prestige” of Clifton Gardens.
It was sold by McGrath agents Michael Coombs and John Melville with a price guide of $14.5 million to $15.5 million.
The property last traded for $6.15 million in 2008 when bought by Muston who is now a director of Excalibur Trading, a private capital fund specialising in the global futures markets.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/12/23/Mosman2.png" alt=""> 
The lowest sale was a three-bedroom duplex/semi-detached house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-duplex+semi-detached-nsw-mosman-124005778" target="_blank">87 Spit Road, Mosman, NSW 2088</a> (below) for $1,280,000.
 <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/2017/01/04/87%20Spit%20Road.jpg" alt="">
The deal was brokered through Cunninghams Property and the property was snapped up after just 13 days on the market.
Previously, the house sold for $875,000 in 2013, according to RP Data.
* An earlier version of this article mistakenly calculated the tally as $1 trillion.
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Sydney's Mosman clocks $1 billion in annual house sales, the highest municipality across Australia 

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A warehouse and ex-gallery in inner-city Sydney recently changed hands for $2,200,000.
The <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/45-burton-street-darlinghurst-nsw-2010-2013226274" target="_blank">45 Burton Street, Darlinghurst</a> property has potential for further development or to 'create something unique', subject to council approval, according to its description,
The location benefits from its proximity to Oxford Street, Hyde Park and the CBD.
The place can be used for developing units or retail.
It has a land area of 86 square metres and internal area of 172 square metres and zoned R1.
Height restrictions of of 12 metres up to four levels apply.
The listing agents were BresicWhitney.
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Inner Sydney gallery space sells for $2.2 million 

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

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The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

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The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

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“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

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Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Prateek Chatterjee

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