<html><body>
According to the RP Data Rismark June home value results released today, Melbourne dwelling values rose by 1.8% over June but are still lower over the quarter with a 2.4% fall. 
This further highlights some very short term variability against a stable background with a 2.9% rise over the first half of the year.
Melbourne is showing all the signs of a stable but shallow growth phase with a 14.2% rise over this cycle.
The market is well-placed for spring, well ahead of any of the previous three years.
The data shows that this is less of a roller coaster ride than the last two cycles in 2007 and 2010 and is therefore likely to be more sustainable.
House values rose by 1.7% in the month and by 3.3% this year compared to a rise of 2.7% for units which have shown zero growth this year.
The median sale price from settled sales in the quarter was $630,000 for houses and $468,000 for units.
Quite often, myths or commonly accepted facts about the property market can turn out to be incorrect when a review of the actual numbers is conducted.
Do people really buy and sell every seven years?
It’s often said that most home owners buy and sell every seven years, however, research shows that in Melbourne the average hold period for houses is 11.4 years and for units 9.5 years.
While the hold period differs from suburb to suburb, there are a number that match the commonly accepted seven years. 
In Melbourne these include <a href="/news">Pakenham</a>, <a href="/news">Narre Warren South</a>, <a href="/news">Burnley </a>and <a href="/news">St Kilda West</a>.  
Some of the shortest hold periods for property ownership are in the city’s newest suburbs such as <a href="/news">Lyndhurst</a>, <a href="/news">Doreen </a>and <a href="/news">Truganina </a>where the average hold period for a house is around four years. 
At the other end of the spectrum is <a href="/news">Vermont South </a>with a hold period of 18.2 years.
Is it true that houses double in value every decade?
The answer to this question highlights that sometimes timing is everything in real estate.
The RP Data Home Value index for houses in Melbourne shows values doubled in just over seven years between February 2003 and October 2010 however, the same scenario occurred over 11 years between February 2003 and May this year. 
Do rents always rise?
It seems that rents are often always rising when in fact they may not be. The reality is that it all depends on balance of demand and supply in the relevant suburb.
For instance, over the past five years advertised rents for houses in <a href="/news">Toorak</a>, <a href="/news">Doreen </a>and <a href="/news">Mernda</a> have decreased. While in <a href="/news">Clayton</a>, <a href="/news">Oakleigh</a> and <a href="/news">Eltham</a> they have risen by no more than 1% per annum.
There are many more that have risen over this time including the popular suburb of <a href="/news">Northcote</a> where rents have risen by 28% over five years.
Houses sell for more than the advertised cost – but do they?
A popular topic over dinner tables and in the press is the relationship between advertised prices for houses at auction and the sale price. The main view is that the sale price always exceeds the advertised price.Less often discussed is the fact that most homes sell for less than their advertised price.
 Around 70% of homes sell by private sale and are usually sold for around 6% below the initial advertised price.  
However, this does vary across the city with the discount being 8% in <a href="/news">Springvale</a>, and 4% in <a href="/news">Yarraville</a>.
</body></html>

rlarocca-zWhvjay44N

Melbourne property market myths v the hard facts

<html><body>
A preliminary weighted average clearance rate of 68.1% was recorded this week across capital cities compared to 65.4% last week and 66.9% this time last year.
Based on the auctions conducted in the first six months of this year volumes have risen by a remarkable 38% since 2013. More people are selling homes by auction this year and this is a sign of a market that is performing well and delivering results for sellers and buyers.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Capital-city.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3424" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Capital-city-580x425.jpg" alt="RP Data National Auction Comment" width="580" height="425"></a>
Sydney continues to see the highest rates of sale at auction. This week a preliminary clearance rate of 73.2% was recorded compared to 70.1% last week.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Sydney.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3425" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Sydney-580x381.jpg" alt="RP Data Sydney Auction Comment" width="580" height="381"></a>
The improvements in the Melbourne market over the last few weeks have been sustained with a preliminary clearance rate of 69.3% recorded compared to 69.1% last week.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Melbourne.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3426" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Melbourne-580x382.jpg" alt="RP Data Melbourne Auction Comment" width="580" height="382"></a>
In Brisbane, a preliminary clearance rate of 43.9% was recorded compared to 32.2% last week.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 66.7% compared to 59.7% last week.
In Canberra a clearance rate of 63.6% was recorded and in Perth there was a clearance rate of 50%.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Brisbane.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3427" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Brisbane-580x385.jpg" alt="RP Data Brisbane Auction Comment" width="580" height="385"></a>
 
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Adelaide.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3428" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140629-Adelaide-580x385.jpg" alt="RP Data Adelaide Auction Comment" width="580" height="385"></a>
</body></html>

Capital city auction numbers rise 38%: RP Data's national auction wrap

<html><body>
Last year Melbourne saw 30.5% of sales by auction compared to 21.1% for the previous year.
The proportion of sales by auction tends to follow the market; rising when prices and demand increases and falling in soft markets.
Early indications this year are showing that new records are likely to be set. At the end of the March quarter, 30.6% of sales were by auction compared to 21% last year, and the previous high of 20.8% in 2010.
Due to a lack of auctions in January and a slow start to February, the proportion of sales by auction always rises as the year goes on.  The same will be the case this year, especially in light <a href="/expert-insights/buying/melbourne-auction-market-setting-records">of the records reached in May</a>.
This means we are likely to see a significant shift in selling methods towards auctions this year. This would be unprecedented because price growth and clearance rates are lower than in other years when this occurred.
The data points towards a shift in auctions as a selling method by Melbourne real estate agents, and one that vendors are clearly agreeing with.
This may be due to research which shows that even if you fail to find a buyer at the auction, there is a high likelihood you will within four weeks. The data shows that within four weeks of the auction, the proportion of homes sold rises to around 80% as sellers negotiate with buyers after the conclusion of the auction. This shows that the concentrated marketing and ‘sale date’ associated with an auction campaign helps ensure a timely sale.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Proportion-of-sales-by-auction-in-Melbourne.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g3410]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3411" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Proportion-of-sales-by-auction-in-Melbourne-580x522.jpg" alt="Proportion of sales by auction in Melbourne" width="580" height="522"></a>
Source: RP Data.
There are 728 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 719 for the same time last year. The highest number of auctions are expected in the northern suburbs of Melbourne this week with 14 scheduled in <a href="/news">Preston</a> and 13 in neighbouring <a href="/news">Reservoir</a>.
The Melbourne auction market appears to be improving with the clearance rate being close to 70% last fortnight. That is compared to the clearance rate of 67.6% this year from 18,657 auctions whilst last year the comparative number was 68.45% from 14,226 auctions.
The average time on market for houses sold at private sale tightened from 35 to 34 days. Vendor discounting softened slightly over the week, to -5.6%, compared to -5.5% over the previous week.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 29 June: 69.1%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 29 June: 728</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 22 June: 34 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 22 June: -5.6% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 1.8% higher in month ending 22 June (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Three out of 10 properties sold by auction: RP Data's Melbourne weekend auction preview

<html><body>
A preliminary weighted average clearance rate of 66.6% was recorded this week across capital cities compared to 65.5% last week and 66% this time last year.
A medium term review of the national auction market shows stable performance after a period of appreciation in 2013 and the previous two years when the clearance rate was at comparatively soft levels of 44.7% in 2011 and 54.1% in 2012.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Capital-city.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g3392]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3393" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Capital-city-580x430.jpg" alt="RP Data - national auction comments" width="580" height="430"></a>
In the Sydney market a preliminary clearance rate of 71.9% was recorded compared to 69.3% last week. The stability present nationally is especially the case in Sydney where the clearance rate has shown little variance over the last three months with high of 76.1% and low of 67.3%.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Sydney.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g3392]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3394" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Sydney-580x384.jpg" alt="RP Data: Auction comments, Sydney" width="580" height="384"></a>
In Melbourne there was a preliminary clearance rate of 69.1% recorded compared to 69.2% last week. Last week was the best result in three months and it has been matched this week as volumes remain strong.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Melbourne1.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g3392]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3395" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Melbourne1-580x384.jpg" alt="RP Data: Auction comments, Melbourne" width="580" height="384"></a>
In Brisbane a preliminary clearance rate of 38.1% was recorded compared to 43.5% last week.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 58.8% compared to 52.3% last week.
In Canberra a clearance rate of 65.4% was recorded and in Perth there was a clearance rate of 30%.
In Tasmania four homes sold from nine auctions.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Brisbane.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g3392]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3396" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Brisbane-580x384.jpg" alt="RP Data: Auction comment, Brisbane" width="580" height="384"></a>
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Adelaide.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g3392]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3397" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140622-Adelaide-580x383.jpg" alt="RP Data: Auction comments, Adelaide" width="580" height="383"></a>
</body></html>

Auction market stable across capital cities: RP Data's national auction wrap

<html><body>
Folklore says that people buy and sell every seven or so years. However, the truth does seem to be longer with the average hold period for all the homes sold in Melbourne in the year ending 31 March being 11.4 years, and 9.5 years for units.
What’s even more interesting are the suburbs whose owners seem to rarely sell; they cover a range of prices and locations in Melbourne.
Topping the list with the suburb for the longest period of ownership are the home owners of Vermont South. In Vermont South the average hold period is 18.3 years. If you really like the area and don’t want to wait that long, the average hold period in the more affordable Vermont is only 13.8 years.
The top 10 list also has three suburbs with million dollar house values, Ormond where the average hold period is 16.9 years, Caulfield North at 15.4 years and Parkville at 15.4 years.
At the more affordable end of the market is Tullamarine. Owners of houses there sell on average every 15.7 years.
The fact that the houses in Tullamarine are as tightly held as Ormond but under half the value suggests owners reasons for selling infrequently is not strongly related to their cost. Rather, there will be a range of other demographic reasons why people sell infrequently, which includes what stage of life they were at when they purchased, along with the actual age of the suburb.
One interesting and common factor is that each of the suburbs in the top 10 has a lower than average proportion of investors as owners. Vermont South for instance has less than 1 in 10 homes owned by an investor. In Wheelers Hill, which has an average hold period of 16.2 years, only 10.6 per cent of homes are owned by investors.
This factor alone does not explain the long periods of ownership in Tullarmarine in which investors own 16.2 per cent of houses. It is likely to be a special case due to its proximity to the major economic activity centre and employment generator, the airport.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-17-melb-blog.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g3381]"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3382" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-17-melb-blog.jpg" alt="Suburbs where homes rarely come up for sale - RP Data" width="350" height="360"></a>
Melbourne Auction Market preview for week ending 22 June
There are 834 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 820 for the same time last year.
Last week was the eleventh time this year that there were more than 1,000 auctions in a week. The latest data shows the use of auctions as a sales method is consistent with last year. In the first three months of this year 30.6 per cent of sales were by auction. This is consistent with last year but is expected to rise as data for April and May is compiled following the settlement of sales.
There was a rise of 7.9 per cent in new residential listings in Victoria over the last month with 9,616 homes being newly listed for sale.
The average time on market for houses sold at private sale remained stable and tight at 35 days. Vendor discounting improved slightly over the week, at -5.5 per cent, compared to -5.6 per cent over the previous week.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 15 June: 69.2 per cent 
</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 22 June: 834 
</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 15 June: 35 days (houses) 
</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 15 June: -5.5 per cent (houses) 
</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 2.4 per cent higher in month ending 8 June (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
 
</body></html>

Tightly held Melbourne suburbs: RP Data's Melbourne weekend auction preview

<html><body>
A preliminary weighted average clearance rate of 66.6% was recorded this week across capital cities compared to 60.6% last week and 63.3% this time last year.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Capital-city.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3366" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Capital-city-580x426.jpg" alt="RP Data national auction comments - Capital cities" width="580" height="426"></a>
Sydney has returned a result consistent with its performance over the year and Melbourne has seen a strong week with another 1,000 plus weekend and a clearance rate above trend.
In the Sydney market a preliminary clearance rate of 71.7% was recorded compared to 67.3% last week.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3367" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Sydney-580x381.jpg" alt="RP Data national auction comments - Sydney" width="580" height="381">
In Melbourne there was a preliminary clearance rate of 69.6% recorded compared to 62.4% last week. The traditional winter slowdown is more akin to the spring market in some recent years.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Melbourne.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3368" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Melbourne-580x384.jpg" alt="RP Data auction comments - Melbourne" width="580" height="384"></a>
In Brisbane a preliminary clearance rate of 44.7% was recorded compared to 37.3% last week.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 50% compared to 59.4% last week.
In Canberra a clearance rate of 42.9% was recorded and in Perth there was a clearance rate of 25%.
In Tasmania three homes sold from 14 auctions.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Brisbane.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3369" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Brisbane-580x381.jpg" alt="RP Data auction comments - Brisbane" width="580" height="381"> </a>
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Adelaide.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3370" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140615-Adelaide-580x387.jpg" alt="RP Data auction comments - Adelaide" width="580" height="387"></a>
</body></html>

Demand in Melbourne auction market rises: RP Data's national auction market wrap

<html><body>
Research by RP Data comparing the level of property ownership between owner occupiers and investors at a suburb level in Melbourne reveals some clear and interesting trends.
The results show that ownership for investment purposes in the Melbourne detached housing market is strongest in the growth suburbs. In many of the cities growing outer suburbs investor ownership accounts for more than three in every 10 properties.
When ranked by level of ownership by investors, the top three suburbs are <a href="/news">Point Cook</a> which has 41.9% of all houses owned by investors, followed by <a href="/news">Tarneit</a> with 40.9% and <a href="/news">Truganina</a> at 39.8%.
In each case, median rents are below the Melbourne average of $444 per week and yields are in excess of the metropolitan average of 3.3%.
In Point Cook the median advertised rent is $380 per week and the indicative gross yield is 4.3%. In Tarneit the weekly rent is $315, the yield is 4.4% and in Truganina the rent is $320 per week and the yield is 4.7%. Clearly investors in these areas are motivated by the yield.
Only time will tell how these suburbs will fare from a capital gains perspective as they are still experiencing a high rate supply with many new properties being built and sold. Coupled with this is the short length of ownership making it difficult to draw strong conclusions on capital gains into the future.
At the other end of the spectrum are the areas with the lowest proportion of investor ownership and highest level of owner occupiers. RP Data’s research shows that less than one in 20 houses in the suburbs of <a href="/news">Narre Warren North</a>, <a href="/news">Wonga Park</a>, <a href="/news">Launching Place</a>, <a href="/news">Park Orchards</a> and <a href="/news">Montrose</a> are owned by investors. Like many other suburbs with a very low level of investor activity, these places tend to be in the outer eastern or north eastern suburbs.
In the unit segment of the market, the suburbs with the highest levels of investor ownership are often those with significant and large developments with suburbs such as <a href="/news">Travancore</a>, <a href="/news">Kingsville</a>, <a href="/news">Carlton</a>, <a href="/news">Elwood</a>, <a href="/news">Notting Hill</a>, <a href="/news">Hawthorn</a> and <a href="/news">Melbourne</a> topping the list. Each of these areas has more than seven in 10 units owned by an investor.
If you are looking at this data with a view to investing in residential property it is important to appreciate that just because investor concentration is high in these areas it does not mean these are the areas likely to deliver the best return on an investment. When making investment decisions, great care and attention to detail such as using the correct research is imperative.
There are 922 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 868 for the same time last year.
Auction volumes remain high despite the season.
Based on settled sales in the first quarter of this year, the suburbs with the highest number of house sales were mainly in the growth areas, suburbs with a high supply of new homes, such as <a href="/news">Pakenham</a> with 185 sales, <a href="/news">Berwick</a> with 139 sales and <a href="/news">Frankston</a> with 134 sales. Whilst not a growth suburb, <a href="/news">Glen Waverley</a> was fourth at 117; largely the result of it being a large suburb.
We also saw a contraction in the average time on market for houses sold at private sale from 39 to 35 days. This was coupled with a rise in vendor discounting to – 5.6% from -5.5% over the previous week.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 8 June: 62.4%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 15 June: 922</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 8 June: 35 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 8 June: -5.6% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 1.1% higher in month ending 8 June (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Investor activity high in growth suburbs: RP Data's Melbourne weekend auction preview

<html><body>
A preliminary weighted average clearance rate of 59.9% was recorded this week across capital cities compared to 66.4% last week and 61.4% this time last year.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Capital-city.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3346" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Capital-city-580x436.jpg" alt="RP Data National Auction Comment - Capital City" width="580" height="436"></a>
This is well below the year’s high of 76.2% recorded in late February, however comparatively low volumes this week reduce its value as an indicator to the state of the market.
In the Sydney market a preliminary clearance rate of 65.7% was recorded compared to 73% last week.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Sydney.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3347" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Sydney-580x391.jpg" alt="RP Data auction comment - Sydney" width="580" height="391"></a>
In Melbourne there was a preliminary clearance rate of 61% recorded compared to 65.4% last week.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Melbourne.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3348" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Melbourne-580x386.jpg" alt="RP Data auction comment - Melbourne" width="580" height="386"></a>
In Brisbane a preliminary clearance rate of 42.9% was recorded compared to 42.5% last week. Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 63% compared to 55.3% last week. In Canberra a clearance rate of 50% was recorded and in Perth there was a clearance rate of 33.3%. In Tasmania four homes sold from 17 auctions.
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Brisbane.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3349" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Brisbane-580x386.jpg" alt="RP Data auction comment - Brisbane" width="580" height="386"></a>
<a href="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Adelaide.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3350" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140610-Adelaide-580x393.jpg" alt="RP Data auction comment - Adelaide" width="580" height="393"></a>
</body></html>

Low auction volumes across capital cities: RP Data's national auction wrap

<html><body>
The key differences between the past two property cycles and the current one has become much clearer following Monday’s release of the <a href="https://image.e.rpdata.com/lib/fe591570776d03757d17/m/7/2014-06-02--rpdata-rismark-home-value-index.pdf" target="_blank" title="Read media release">RP Data-Rismark Home Value Indices results for May</a>.
The May results showed that the value of a house dropped by 3.6% in May resulting in a rise of only 1.6% over 2014. Unit values also fell by 2.6% over the year following; a drop of 3.4% in the month.
After a new nominal peak in Melbourne house values was reached in March, there has been two consecutive months in which values have fallen ensuring buyers in winter and early spring won’t face rapid price rises. In fact, they are likely to see houses valued lower than they were in real terms in 2010. This result should also eliminate any concerns that the local market was locked into a cycle of unstainable growth in prices.
This upswing phase in house values started in May two years ago and is clearly more moderate than the 2007 and 2010 cycles due to better alignment between supply and population growth along with the fact that consumers remain cautious. Over the past two years, house values in Melbourne have risen by 13.1%  and are now only 0.7% higher than the October 2010 peak.
There are 303 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 197 for the same time last year. Volumes are temporarily low due to the long weekend.
So far this year there have been 16,357 auctions and a clearance rate of 67.5% compared to 68.6% from 12,341 auctions this time last year.
The high volume of residential listings this year is having a positive impact for buyers. Home values have fallen for the second month in a row and auction clearance rates have remained in the 60’s.
The RP Data-Rismark May Home Value Index released this week showed that the value of a house dropped by 3.6% in the month resulting in a rise of only 1.6% over 2014. Unit values fell by 2.6% over the year following a drop of 3.4% in the month. It’s unlikely that buyers over winter and into spring will see their purchasing power diminished.
We also saw a small fall in the average time on market for houses sold at private sale from 41 to 39 days. This was coupled with a rise in vendor discounting to – 5.5% from -5.4% over the previous week.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 1 June: 65.4%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 8 June: 303</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 1 June: 39 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 1 June: -5.5% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 1.1% higher in month ending 1 June (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Melbourne house and unit values fall for two consecutive months: RP Data's Melbourne weekend auction preview

<html><body>
There are 1,264 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 867 for the same time last year.
The strong level of auction listings in the first five months of this year compared to 31.6% higher last year is a reflection of two things; firstly it shows the confidence of vendors where they are willing to sell for a reasonable price, and secondly, a preference by real estate agents for auctions as a method of sale in an improving market.
The strong volumes will also mitigate price growth as buyers’ bargaining power is increased.
We saw a small rise in the average time on market for houses sold at private sale from 40 to 41 days. Vendor discounting reduced to – 5.4% from -5.5% the previous week.
Key data:
<ul>
<li>§ Preliminary clearance rate week ending 25 May: 61.7%</li>
<li>§ Melbourne auctions expected week ending 1 June: 1,264</li>
<li>§ Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 25 May: 41 days (houses)</li>
<li>§ Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 25 May: -5.4% (houses)</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Volume down on this time last year: RP Data's Melbourne auction preview

Luxury apartment developer Abadeen has recorded $19.25 million in apartment sales across two of its Lower North Shore developments in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, headlined by the sale of a $6.75 million penthouse at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-5-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO in Crows Nest.</a>

The transactions also included the sale of a newly completed three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences in Cremorne</a> for $6.35 million, with the residence selling shortly after the project's first public inspections following completion.

The sales come as completed, owner-occupier-focused apartments continue to attract strong demand across Sydney's Lower North Shore, particularly from buyers looking for certainty and immediate occupancy.

The penthouse at KOYO spans 491 sqm across a single level and was designed by architect Koichi Takada. The development is one of Abadeen's flagship boutique projects in Crows Nest.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=370093]

Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said buyer activity lifted noticeably in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

"We saw a clear increase in enquiry levels, inspection numbers and buyer engagement across our completed projects leading into the end of the financial year," Brown said.

"Buyers have become far more decisive over the past six months. The combination of improving confidence, limited supply and the ability to physically inspect completed residences is creating strong competition for premium apartments in the best locations."

Brown says the&nbsp;response to Park Residences following completion has been particularly strong.

"Buyers want certainty and are responding positively to the opportunity to walk through a finished product, inspect the quality firsthand and move in immediately," Brown suggested.

"Projects such as Park Residences and KOYO demonstrate that when the product is exceptional and the location is irreplaceable, buyers are prepared to act quickly."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=370116]

Abadeen CEO Joe Tack said quality continued to differentiate projects in the current market.

"Today's buyers are incredibly discerning," Tack said.

"They are seeking larger floorplans, premium finishes, walkability, lifestyle amenity and confidence in the developer delivering the project. Well-designed boutique developments continue to outperform because they offer something genuinely difficult to replace.

"The enquiry we are seeing across our completed and recently completed Lower North Shore portfolio is very encouraging, and we expect this momentum to continue into spring."

The sales follow increased enquiry across Abadeen's Lower North Shore portfolio which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective in Naremburn</a> which also completed recently.

Joel Robinson

KOYO penthouse headlines Abadeen's $19.25 million EOFY sales flurry

The City of Sydney has approved plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia Group</a> and Metrics Credit Partners’ $3.5 billion Castlereagh Place project in the heart of the Sydney CBD

The towers will be among the tallest in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw-2000">Sydney</a>'s CBD, with more floors than any other residential tower in the city.&nbsp;

The 6,000 sqm site was acquired by the joint venture partners in 2024. It is the largest amalgamated land parcel in the Sydney CBD and comprises eight individual sites fronting Castlereagh, Pitt and Liverpool Streets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castlereagh-place-sydney-324-348-pitt-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Castlereagh Place</a> will transform an underutilised city block into a landmark mixed-use destination, anchored by two 82-storey towers comprising 607 luxury residences above an 8-level podium housing a 209-room luxury hotel. A 1,000 square metre civic park on ground level features a curated mix of food, beverage and retail.

The plans have been refined over the past year to rebalance the residential and hotel offering, and reconfigure the retail footprint to create a stronger, more dynamic dining experience.

A three-level flagship building on the prominent corner of Pitt and Liverpool Streets will be the gateway to the Castlereagh Place lifestyle precinct. Set to become a Sydney icon, the building is capable of housing multiple hospitality venues.

“Castlereagh Place is designed to be the City's next great urban oasis - an energetic mixed-use precinct that pulses with life, day and night,"&nbsp;said Joseph Kinsella, Group Director of Billbergia.

"It will bring the vibrancy of places like Barangaroo and Darling Quarter into a more accessible, central destination at the very heart of Sydney."

Kinsella said the project will build on&nbsp;Sydney’s growing laneway culture with the City’s largest network of new activated lanes - an expanded, next-generation take on precincts like Angel Place, Palings Lane and Ash Street in Wynyard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374401]

Castlereagh Place has been designed by architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">fjcstudio</a> in collaboration with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design, joint winners of an international design competition in 2018.&nbsp;

Signature design elements from the original scheme remain unchanged, while the public domain has been significantly enhanced, delivering 60 per cent more open-to-sky space.

Pedestrian access will also be enhanced through new laneways linking Pitt, Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets, drawing people into a new civic park with outdoor seating, landscaping and integrated public art.

With activated laneways supported by strong hospitality offerings, Castlereagh Place is tipped to become a vibrant new dining destination in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

It marks the largest undertaking to date for the Billbergia and Metrics Credit Partners partnership. Together they are developing other underutilised Sydney sites into mixed-use precincts, including the $2.2 billion Concord Central and the $1.3 billion Chatswood Grand Residences.

Metrics Managing Partner and Group CEO Andrew Lockhart said Castlereagh Place is a landmark project that will redefine Sydney’s skyline.

"As the tallest residential high-rise development, the revitalised site will offer panoramic views across the CBD and surrounds. We are excited to partner with Billbergia to reinvigorate an underutilised site and create a sophisticated and contemporary mixed-use offering situated in the heart of Sydney.”

Total apartments within the towers have increased to 607 dwellings, with a focus on larger floorplans. Aligned to growing market demand, Castlereagh Place now comprises 299 three-plus-bedroom apartments, 198 two-bedroom units and 110 one-bedroom configurations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374402]

Resident amenities will include an exclusive residents club containing a gym, rooftop pool, dining rooms, co-working spaces, library, golf simulator, games room, cinema room, and access to an exclusive concierge service. There will be around 500 basement car spaces below the towers.

The development will also include a state-of-the-art wellness centre, set to feature a bathhouse with magnesium pools, hot/cold plunge pools and premium amenities.

&nbsp;

According to fjcstudio, the towers will feature distinctive yet elegant architectural design reflecting Sydney’s geometry and urban character, with a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces activating the streetscape.

"Castlereagh Place is a city-making project of significant scale and ambition," said Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio.

"It will create a rich urban complex of public open spaces, landscaped gardens, and vibrant laneways. Defining these new public spaces and the important streetscape of Castlereagh Street is a sequence of fine-grained, diverse retail and hotel architecture designed in collaboration with Aileen Sage, Polly Harbison Design and Trias.

“Rising above the tree-lined, human-scale streetscape are two slender residential towers that will transform the city skyline and look towards the Harbour, Hyde Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden.”

Demolition and early construction works have commenced onsite at Castlereagh Place.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134477]

Billbergia, Metrics, approved for $3.5 billion Sydney skyscrapers

International developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spg-land">SPG Land</a> is preparing to re-launch its long-awaited $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/paradiso-place-surfers-paradise-103-ferny-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Paradiso Place</a> development at Budds Beach, bringing a new price point to the Surfers Paradise apartment market.

The developer will release one-bedroom apartments from $825,000 and two-bedroom apartments from $1.24 million in the three-tower development.

According to Urbis, the starting price for the two-bedroom apartments is more than $400,000 below the weighted average sale price for comparable two-bedroom apartments in Surfers Paradise during 2025, which was pinned at $1.7 million.

&nbsp;

Urbis reported quarterly average sale prices for new two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments ranged from around $1.2 million to $1.7 million throughout 2025, peaking in the December quarter.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185853]

Paradiso Place is now moving into its formal sales campaign, with a limited early-release opportunity available ahead of the public launch.

The development will comprise 845 apartments across three towers rising 40, 41 and 44 storeys from a 1.15-hectare site spanning an entire city block. The towers will sit above a new retail precinct.

"Paradiso Place represents a rare opportunity in today's market, offering premium apartments at a price point that is significantly more competitive than anything else currently available," SPG Land Sales Director Brad McMahon said.

"When you look at comparable new developments across Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and the Southern Beaches precinct, buyers are typically paying hundreds of thousands more for a similar product.

"The scale of this project and the developer-builder construction model allows us to unlock efficiencies that smaller developments simply cannot achieve. We are passing those benefits directly to buyers, while still delivering a five-star residential experience with an unmatched lifestyle."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=374280]

Each of the three towers designed by Rothelowman will have its own podium, connected by an elevated skybridge network to create a beachside village for residents. The resident amenity has been designed to rival a five-star hotel, with private dining rooms, resident lounges and entertainment spaces.

McMahon said the pricing strategy was a deliberate response to the current market.

"What Paradiso Place offers is a unique balance, genuine value within a premium market. Buyers are not compromising on quality, design or amenity, they are gaining access to it at a more competitive price point at a time when prices across the Gold Coast continue to reach new highs."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362498]

Located around 100 metres from the beach and within walking distance of the Surfers Paradise North light rail station, Paradiso Place occupies one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held beachfront precincts.

Construction is continuing to progress, with eight of the project's 112 foundation piles now complete. Excavation has also commenced on the first diaphragm wall panel, with the first concrete poured on 15 June, marking a key milestone in the project's early works program.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=106566]

SPG Land launches $1.5 billion Paradiso Place at attractive price point

Luxury developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lowe-living">Lowe Living</a> has achieved a new Victorian benchmark for an off-the-plan apartment, with the sale of two penthouses at its ultra-exclusive Maison Savoy development in Brighton.

The two penthouses achieved a combined sale rate of $49,926 per sqm. Both transactions eclipsed the previous identified Victorian off-the-plan price-per-square-metre benchmark, set by the 449 sqm apartment at Como Toorak, which sold at $46,659 per sqm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366473]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maison-savoy-brighton-150-esplanade-brighton-vic-3186">Maison Savoy</a>, Lowe Living's redevelopment of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel on absolute beachfront land at 150 The Esplanade, Brighton, has gained significant momentum since launching just eight weeks ago. Around 30 per cent of the project's 19 residences have already been secured, generating approximately $45 million in sales.

"Securing two of the three penthouse sales at this stage, within eight weeks of launching to market speaks to the confidence our clients place in Lowe Living," Lowe Living co-founder Emma Lowe said.

"They know we'll be with them through every stage of the journey, and that assurance is something we've worked hard to earn and never take for granted."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366474]

Lowe said Maison Savoy was conceived as a genuine alternative to a prestige Brighton home, combining house-scale proportions with the convenience, security and lock-up-and-leave appeal of apartment living.

Lowe Living co-founder Tim Lowe said the early sales success demonstrated the resilience of Melbourne's prestige market and highlighted the growing demand for house-sized apartments among ultra-high-net-worth buyers.

"The Melbourne market has definitely been tested in recent years, with interest rates and global economic factors all creating a period of uncertainty across the real estate sector. The sales success at Maison Savoy however demonstrates that confidence remains exceptionally strong at the top end of the market.

"The prestige market is being driven by long-term lifestyle decisions rather than short-term market sentiment, which continues to create a level of certainty that befits an absolute beachfront property in a blue-chip location like Brighton.

"Brighton's fundamentals remain among the strongest in Melbourne, with limited new supply, enduring demand from an overwhelmingly local owner-occupier market, and a rare combination of beachfront amenity and proximity to the CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=374378]

According to Cotality, Brighton remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held prestige suburbs, with an average ownership tenure of 15.3 years for houses and 12.3 years for units, while more than 73 per cent of homes are owner-occupied.

Tim Lowe said selling two of the project's three penthouses so early in the campaign was an uncommon result.

"This sales result is a reflection of quality and understanding the local market. It's incredibly rare to transact the penthouses so early in a sales campaign in any project so to have sold two of the three penthouses at Maison Savoy so soon after launch, all in-house without any external sales agency appointed, is reflective of our careful consideration of our buyers' needs and lifestyle.

"This is knowledge that is accumulated not just from data and demographic analysis, but via a deeply embedded understanding of how this type of buyer wants to live and feel in their home. We pride ourselves on getting to know our clients personally, and over the last 10 years we have been able to refine our product offering by talking one-on-one with our clients about their design and floorplan preferences.

"Being a fully integrated developer-builder with an in-house design and sales team allows us to lead every part of the process and ensure the highest quality of product and service at every touchpoint. It's a really important part of our DNA and the recent sales success at Maison Savoy indicates that our clients and purchasers are resonating with this point of difference.

"It reinforces that demand remains strong for thoughtfully designed residences that offer rarity, lifestyle and long-term value in tightly held locations, which ultimately validates Maison Savoy's positioning as creating a new benchmark for house-scale, wellness-led apartment living on Brighton's beachfront."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366480]

The residences at Maison Savoy start from 295 sqm, with most enjoying uninterrupted views across Port Phillip Bay. The project sits moments from the Brighton Bathing Boxes, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Middle Brighton Baths and Church Street's retail and dining precinct.

A key feature of the development is its private residents-only bathhouse, curated by the founder of Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse and modelled on traditional European bathing rituals and the award-winning Sorrento bathhouse.

The wellness offering includes a hydrotherapy pool, salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, foot activation zone and a Vichy rainfall bed, one of only a handful in Australia. Residents will also have access to a Technogym studio, lounge spaces and a dedicated concierge service offering everything from morning coffee delivery and restaurant bookings to dry cleaning and home coordination.

"Wellness-led design has become a defining factor for luxury buyers," Emma Lowe said.

"Purchasers increasingly value homes that enhance wellbeing through thoughtful design, private amenity, privacy and liveability."

The penthouse purchasers are now undertaking a bespoke customisation process curated personally by architect Pete Kennon and the Lowe Living team, one of the developer's signature service offerings.

Construction on the $160 million transformation of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel site commenced last month, with completion expected in early 2028. The project has secured funding from NAB alongside development partner Monark.

Just one penthouse remains available, along with a limited number of two and three-bedroom residences starting from $3.75 million.

Lowe Living currently has eight projects on the market across Melbourne and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, having grown a $1 billion development pipeline alongside a $350 million construction pipeline.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140818]

Lowe Living set new Melbourne off the plan apartment record

For more than three decades, Hyecorp has been delivering residential projects across Sydney's Lower North Shore, building a portfolio centred on design-led apartment living in some of the city's most established neighbourhoods.

Hyecorp recently launched the latest in its long line of apartment developments, Celine, a 29-storey tower on Archer Street in Chatswood. Like the majority of the developer's projects, Celine caters to a broad buyer demographic, offering a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, all designed with owner-occupiers in mind.

Functionality and flexibility are often buzzwords in the new apartment market, but they sit at the core of Hyecorp's design philosophy.

Hyecorp Joint Managing Director Stephen Abolakian says the developer understands it isn't designing apartments for today's needs alone, but for how buyers will live several years into the future.

"When we launch our projects we need to be aware that these developments aren't finished for several years," Abolakian says.

"That home office in the here and now might be a nursery by the time the project completes for a prospective buyer, so we need to think about how the apartment spaces function for future uses so there's longevity in the ownership."

Celine's architects, Fuse, followed the same philosophy, saying the design extends well beyond aesthetics.

"Celine focuses on timeless architectural form and functionality, with a strong emphasis on light, proportion and materiality. The design responds to the urban context of Chatswood while delivering calm, highly liveable interiors that feel both contemporary and enduring. The floorplans have been carefully resolved to maximise usability and outperform typical market offerings in terms of efficiency and liveability."

Most apartments incorporate multipurpose rooms designed for flexibility. Each includes an integrated desk and a standard Murphy pull-down single bed, allowing the space to transition from a home office or study to guest accommodation as needs change. The layouts have also been designed to maximise natural light, storage and overall functionality.

One and two-bedroom apartments feature Miele appliances, while three and four-bedroom residences are appointed with integrated Gaggenau appliances and Taj Mahal stone benchtops.

Buyers who purchase early in the construction process can also take advantage of Hyecorp's "Live Your Way" interior design service, allowing them to personalise finishes and tailor elements of their home to suit their own lifestyle. It's a feature designed to appeal to owner-occupiers who want their apartment to feel uniquely theirs from the day they move in.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362614]

While flexible floorplans have become a hallmark of Hyecorp's apartment design, the developer has also continued to place significant emphasis on resident amenity.

As buyers increasingly expect more from apartment living, shared spaces have evolved beyond a gym and barbecue area. They are now an extension of the home, providing spaces to relax, exercise, entertain and connect with neighbours.

At Celine, the resident amenity has been designed with a focus on wellness, centred on the level six podium. An infinity-edge swimming pool, spa, sauna and fully equipped gym are complemented by barbecue facilities and a residents' lounge, creating a range of spaces for relaxation, recreation and social connection above the streets of Chatswood.

Practical conveniences have also been integrated throughout the building, including EV charging provisions, smart parcel lockers, bicycle storage, a pet wash station and dedicated car wash bays, reflecting the project's focus on making everyday living as seamless as possible.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362633]

"Celine has been designed to deliver a refined residential experience that reflects the evolution of Chatswood into a premium urban centre,"&nbsp;Abolakian says.

"With over 30 years of experience delivering projects across Sydney's Lower North Shore, Hyecorp brings a deep understanding of what local buyers value. Every detail has been considered to balance luxury, functionality and long-term liveability. This is not just about apartments, but about creating a lasting residential address for discerning buyers."

Hyecorp, vertically-integrated builder-developer, is anticipating construction commencement later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149594]

Robert Larocca

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News