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A three bedroom Tumut house has been sold by mortgagees for $160,000.
The southeastern <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-tumut-124600810" target="_blank">New South Wales home </a>was sold by Ray White.
It had last sold at $160,000 in April 2017.
The 11 Kinred Street home came with three bedrooms, large size living area with wood heater &amp; wall air conditioner, and entertaining area plus single garage and carport. 
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price is $260,000.
 
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

No price growth for Tumut, NSW home sold by mortgagee

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Estate agent company founder, John McGrath has told the McGrath Group board that he is well progressed in discussions with securing new proposed directors.
The outgoing directors have accordingly given written notice that their resignations will take effect from close of business February 19 four days following the release of the company’s interim results are announced on February 15.
It follows the announcement on January 22 of the intention of McGrath chair, Cass O’Connor and current non-executive directors Elizabeth Crouch and Cath Rogers to resign as directors.
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John McGrath well progressed in locking in new directors

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Conditions in the established housing market have cooled in recent months, the RBA has noted in its statement of monetary policy issued this morning.
Housing prices in Sydney have declined a little, conditions in Melbourne have eased following several years of strong price growth and conditions in most other capital cities remain subdued.
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In Perth, housing prices were flat in the last quarter of 2017. In Brisbane, apartment prices have been relatively stable, following earlier price falls, while detached house prices have increased slightly.
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Conditions in established housing markets continued to ease in the second half of 2017. 
"This was most evident in Sydney, where housing prices have declined and auction clearance rates are below their decade average (Graph 3.12).
 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/9/Graph_12.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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"In Melbourne, housing price growth has declined and auction clearance rates have trended lower in recent months." 
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It suggested in Sydney and Melbourne, the decline in established housing price growth has been most pronounced for detached houses and for the most expensive properties; prices in both of these categories tend to have larger cycles than other market segments (Graph 3.13). 
The increased supply of housing and an apparent reduction in demand from foreign buyers for newly built properties are likely to be placing downward pressure on prices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane though this is being offset to some extent by increased population growth, especially in Melbourne.
 The value of housing loan approvals has been broadly stable in aggregate since the end of 2016, though the composition has shifted towards owner-occupiers and away from investors, it noted.
 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/9/graph13.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Overall, growth in advertised rents picked up in the second half of 2017 due to increases in Sydney and Melbourne. 
Rents in Brisbane appear to have stabilised following earlier declines. Advertised rents in Perth have continued to decline, consistent with the ongoing high vacancy rate, but to a lesser extent than previously. 
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"If housing prices were to fall significantly, households might respond by curtailing their consumption expenditure and dwelling investment," it reported.
"Employment in the construction sector would also be weaker.
"Lower housing market activity would affect state government revenues, which may affect decisions about expenditure on activities such as infrastructure projects."
It noted however if, on the other hand, population growth were to pick up or the reported reduction in foreign demand for newly constructed properties turns out to be temporary, housing prices may be stronger than expected.
"In such a scenario, dwelling investment could increase, rather than broadly stabilise, or stay higher for longer than currently forecast.
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Household indebtedness is high and debt levels relative to income have edged higher because household credit growth has continued to outpace weak income growth.
"Steps taken by regulators to address the risks in household balance sheets have seen the growth in riskier types of lending to households moderate, but risks remain," it noted adding a highly indebted household sector is likely to be more sensitive to changes in income, wealth or interest rates. 
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Sydney prices have declined a little: RBA statement of monetary policy 

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Much of the traffic using Sydney’s Anzac Bridge and, in the distance, Harbour Bridge is travelling through the city centre, not to it or from it. 
People are debating the need for new roads and in particular the need to build <a href="https://www.westconnex.com.au/" target="_blank">WestConnex</a> in Sydney. These discussions are always about more or less cars, relief of congestion or not, and pollution. This article offers a new perspective: if WestConnex is built in full, most cars will no longer need to drive through (or alongside) the city centre.
This could open the way to new uses for current highway corridors. Much less traffic in the city centre would deliver a much better urban environment.
Most drivers along current routes to the city centre aren’t using these to actually reach the centre and stay there. WestConnex connects the destinations of many drivers through the city from the west, the northern beaches and south to the airport and beyond. Once traffic is diverted underground, these drivers will be able to bypass (or travel under) the city centre (see figure 1).
This is similar to the changes the <a href="https://www.linkt.com.au/sydney/using-sydney-toll-roads/cross-city-tunnel" target="_blank">Cross City Tunnel</a> delivered for the inner west and eastern suburbs, but on a much bigger scale.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202059/original/file-20180116-53292-1msbxxm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Figure 1: Westconnex and its northern and southern underground connections. Rob Roggema
<h2>Making the best of WestConnex</h2>
Hardly any Western country is building highways <a href="https://www.worldfinance.com/infrastructure-investment/project-finance/how-the-construction-of-elevated-highways-came-to-an-end" target="_blank">any more</a>. Many are tearing down the expressways that separate their city centres from the waterfronts, including <a href="http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TheBigDig.aspx">Boston’s Big Dig</a> project, San Francisco’s <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/05/san-franciscos-waterfront-freeway-was-removed-25-years-ago-no-one-misses-it">Embarcadero removal</a>, and <a href="https://landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/cheonggyecheon-stream-restoration" target="_blank">Cheonggyecheon</a> in Seoul.
It is <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-more-roads-really-mean-less-congestion-for-commuters-39508" target="_blank">questionable</a> whether WestConnex is the best solution for congestion problems. However, the project is well under way. What is more important now is to identify its potential benefits for other areas and ensure current decision-making locks these in.
When WestConnex and associated highway links are completed, these will effectively create a bypass two kilometres west of the CBD. This could remove much of the traffic now entering city centre.
Traffic flows southward to the airport will be diverted using the <a href="https://www.westconnex.com.au/projects/m4-m5-link" target="_blank">M4-M5 tunnel link</a>. The <a href="http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-north/western-harbour-tunnel-beaches-link/index" target="_blank">Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link</a> will eventually connect the M4 to north Sydney. (Click on the blue links in the map below to see how these combine to replace existing routes, in red).
In the city centre itself, more than 90% of people walk to get around. Only <a href="https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/documents/2017/sydney-city-centre-access-strategy-final-web.pdf" target="_blank">2% of trips are by car</a>. Still, 25% of trips to the city centre (only 14% during peak hour) are by car, most of which probably require parking.
To sum up:
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Traffic on Anzac Bridge would be reduced significantly if cars heading to the north shore (using the traverse towards Harbour Bridge), the eastern suburbs (using the <a href="https://www.linkt.com.au/sydney/using-sydney-toll-roads/cross-city-tunnel" target="_blank">Cross City Tunnel</a>) and the airport (using the Eastern Distributor) were redirected.
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Drivers coming over the Harbour Bridge from the north, heading to the western suburbs, could be diverted from the Harbour Bridge-Anzac Bridge, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Distributor_(Sydney)" target="_blank">Western Distributor</a> route.
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Tolls would influence traffic flows, so a strategic approach should be taken to ensure the best outcome for the whole city, not just maximising toll revenues.
<h2>What parts of the city could benefit?</h2>
While WestConnex may be an outdated way of managing congestion, it can also be seen as an enormous window of opportunity to free up space in the heart of the city. Imagine what relief it could bring to parts of the city now under or along stretches of highway.
Possible benefits include:
1) It makes it possible to minimise the bundle of infrastructure in between Kirribilli, North Sydney and Neutral Bay.
The areas on both sides of the current highway could be reconnected in the longer term. North Sydney would connect to Neutral Bay across a reduced highway corridor. This would create a new north shore focus, accessible for residents, workers, students and visitors (figure 2).
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202048/original/file-20180116-53307-wi0ca4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Figure 2: potential development space in North Sydney. Rob Roggema
This new larger centre would face Sydney city centre, across the harbour, like Brooklyn faces Manhattan. It could easily accommodate 11,500 new residents, 780,000m2 of commercial space and 78,000 jobs (6.5 times the size of <a href="http://www.barangaroo.com/" target="_blank">Barangaroo</a> at half its density).
2) It opens up the possibility of removing the Western Distributor, the elevated highways along the western edge of the CBD, which separates the city from the water.
In Pyrmont, bringing the Anzac Bridge off-ramp down to ground, and possibly linking to the Cross City Tunnel, could bring the city to the waterfront. Pyrmont could be reconnected to the old <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-nsw-government-wants-to-move-the-sydney-fish-market-and-sell-the-old-site-off-for-apartments-2016-11" target="_blank">fishmarket</a> and <a href="http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/facilities/parks/major-parks/wentworth-park" target="_blank">Wentworth Park</a> (figure 3).
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202049/original/file-20180116-53292-1tvpphf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Figure 3: potential development space in Pyrmont. Rob Roggema
It would be possible to remove the elevated highway separating Darling Harbour and the International Convention Centre from parkland and current car parks. The development potential of this large, north-facing area is huge – the space that could be freed up is three times Barangaroo’s present land area (figure 4).
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202050/original/file-20180116-53295-n0fmuz.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Figure 4: potential development space in Darling Harbour. Rob Roggema
It then becomes possible to reconnect old warehouses with each other and Tumbalong Park with the water to face Cockle Bay.
We could “complete” the renewal of the western edge of the city centre by connecting it with Circular Quay, and improve connectivity between Town Hall and George Street with the Darling Harbour waterfront (figure 5).
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202051/original/file-20180116-53324-1idp0zy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Figure 5: potential development space in the Harbour Bridge corridor. Rob Roggema
Many heavily trafficked, fast-flowing one-way streets could become slow-moving two-way streets, as happened to Crown Street when the Eastern Distributor was completed.
Freeing up road space allows for the creation of more walkable and enjoyable public spaces. This would also increase the environmental and ecological quality of the urban environment, and reduce flash flooding. A greener city centre emerges that glues the eastern and western CBD together.
If traffic along the Harbour Bridge corridor is reduced, the Cahill Expressway could be repurposed or removed, realising the dream of generations of urban planners and designers (figure 6).
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202052/original/file-20180116-53324-tm4qtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Figure 6: potential development space in Circular Quay. Rob Roggema
This prime area facing Circular Quay could be redeveloped into a pedestrian-friendly boulevard, so people could easily cross from the CBD to the ferries. Circular Quay stop is the best possible way to arrive in Sydney, so the trains would remain, but the rail system should be redesigned as a lean piece of infrastructure, hardly noticed by people crossing underneath. The redevelopment space is mainly suited for retail and hospitality aimed at tourists.
3) It makes it possible to give the Harbour Bridge back to Sydneysiders.
With much less car traffic, some of the bridge’s eight lanes could be used for public transport (two lanes were added when tram services ceased in 1958), cycling and pedestrians, including a longitudinal park on top of the bridge.
In New York, Times Square was given back to residents of the city. Sydney Harbour Bridge, too, could become a place for people to linger and enjoy the views, rather than just drive across.
As a result of all this, the city centre, both north and south of Sydney Harbour, could be primarily devoted to pedestrians and cyclists. It would remain extremely well connected by public transport and accessible for vehicles delivering goods and people.
A frequent light rail service could connect the city centre to the northern beaches, just as you can travel by subway from Manhattan to Coney Island and by tram from the Melbourne CBD to St Kilda. It would run all the way from Manly, via North Sydney, Harbour Bridge and connecting to Wynyard Station (using the old tunnel).
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/90171/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Many oppose WestConnex, and for some good reasons, but what if it enabled central Sydney’s iconic spaces to be transformed for the better? The investments in WestConnex could be leveraged to create significant urban improvements in Pyrmont, connecting the western corridor of the city centre with Darling Harbour and Barangaroo, and reconnecting the great divide of North Sydney.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rob-roggema-351369" target="_blank">Rob Roggema</a>, Professor of Sustainable Urban Environments, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936" target="_blank">University of Technology Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-allchin-440449">Craig Allchin</a>, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936" target="_blank">University of Technology Sydney</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-how-westconnex-can-deliver-sydney-a-better-city-centre-90171" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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How WestConnex can deliver a better city centre

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The biggest news of the week was the <a href="https://theconversation.com/three-reasons-not-to-worry-about-the-stock-market-crash-91338" target="_blank">gyrations in the US stockmarket</a>. And the proximate cause seemed to be what one might think of as good news – average hourly earnings for workers in the United States <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm" target="_blank">rose 2.9%</a> for the year to January.
This led to fears of a spike in inflation – as it could lead to more aggressive interest rate rises by the US Federal Reserve – and a big sell-off on Wall Street.
Regular readers of this column will know that something that has preoccupied the central bankers of the world’s advanced economies has been persistently <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-economics-cant-explain-why-unemployment-and-inflation-are-both-low-85824" target="_blank">low inflation and wage rises</a>. This has been bad news for workers and has kept interest rates from rising.
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The 2.9% rise in US average hourly earnings is the strongest since the financial crisis. This, coupled with the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm" target="_blank">low 4.1% unemployment rate</a> in the US, has triggered inflationary fears. Of course, inflation was <a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SA0L1E?output_view=pct_12mths" target="_blank">below the Fed’s target of 2%</a>.
This all reveals a fundamental economic truth: it is expectations of the future, not the facts of the past, that drive economic behaviour. That is one reason that the Fed (and the Reserve Bank of Australia) talk a lot about “inflation expectations” – or what people think inflation is going to be – not what it has been.
In domestic news, it was no surprise that the RBA <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/cash-rate/" target="_blank">left the cash rate unchanged at 1.50%</a> when the board met this Tuesday. <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2018/mr-18-01" target="_blank">In his official statement</a>, RBA governor Philip Lowe emphasised Australia’s low inflation and unemployment rates, saying:
The low level of interest rates is continuing to support the Australian economy. Further progress in reducing unemployment and having inflation return to target is expected, although this progress is likely to be gradual.
There was some further positive news on the employment front from <a href="http://www.media.anz.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=248677&amp;p=irol-jobad&amp;nyo=0" target="_blank">ANZ’s job advertisements report</a>. It showed that ads were up 6.2% in January, and 13.8% on an annualised basis.
The big question, however, is about wages growth, which has proved very sluggish. We will have to wait until later in the month for new evidence on that in the form of fourth-quarter 2017 wages figures.
Cost of living figures <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6467.0" target="_blank">released Wednesday by the ABS</a> showed what most people will tell you – that the cost of living has increased. The index is up by between 0.6% and 1.0% in the December quarter, depending on the type of household.
It is worth pausing briefly to discuss the difference between the Living Cost Index (LCI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The ABS describes the purpose of the LCI as to answer the following question:
By how much would after-tax money incomes need to change to allow households to purchase the same quantity of consumer goods and services that they purchased in the base period?
This is slightly different from the CPI, which measures price changes in a basket of goods and services. Perhaps the key difference is that the LCI includes mortgage interest and treats housing costs differently. For a more detailed description of the differences <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/6467.0%7EDec+2017%7EExplanatory+Notes%7EExplanatory+Notes?OpenDocument#2718121728189953" target="_blank">see this description</a>.
And for no group of households did the LCI come in lower than the CPI (0.6% for the December quarter) and for most it came in higher. For example, on an annualised basis the LCI rose by 2.0% for “employee” households and by 2.3% for “pensioner and beneficiary” households. By contrast, the CPI grew 1.9% in the year to December.
Moving from the micro to the macro, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5368.0" target="_blank">ABS data</a> showed a trade deficit of A$1.358 billion in December, after a small surplus in November. This was largely driven by a strong increase in imports of fuel and machinery.
In the US, consumer credit for December <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/consumer-credit" target="_blank">increased by US$18.45 billion</a>, below expectations of a US$20 billion increase. On the other hand, November figures were revised higher from US$27.95 billion to US$31.02 billion, making the overall picture pretty much a wash.
All of the data in Australia and abroad point to a tricky balancing act for policymakers. Interest rates almost surely have to rise in the medium term, but acting too quickly can squash a recovery; acting too slowly risks overheating the economy.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91224/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">And, as the US stockmarket fluctuations in the light of wages figures show, to get the balance right policymakers need to have an accurate forecast of people’s expectations about inflation and other variables. And that is challenging.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">Richard Holden</a>, Professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-future-expectations-causing-sharemarket-gyrations-and-interest-rate-doubts-91224" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Future expectations causing sharemarket gyrations and interest rate doubts

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Set at Cannonvale, Queensland, a two storey home has been sold by mortgagees for $150,000.
It was sold by Ray White. 
The rental price of the townhouse in the Island Close complex was $220 a week in 2016.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-cannonvale-127017014" target="_blank">The Island Drive house</a> came with two bedrooms and a lock-up storage shed next to the carport.
The living area flows out to a patio which overlooks a large lawn area and in-ground swimming pool.
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median unit price is $201,500.
 
 
 
 
 
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Cannonvale, Queensland sale by mortgagee

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The four bedroom home elevated on a rock ledge at Mount Melville, Western Australian has been listed for sale with $900,000 hopes.
It has been scheduled for February 10.
Albany Sky Home, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-mount+melville-127352010" target="_blank">60 Robinson Street</a>, is around 2 kilometres from Albany.
With design cues from the tropics, and a focus on solar-passive efficiency, the home was planned with adherence to the principals of Feng Shui.
The rooms are underneath a curved roof with a huge podium-like platform that supports the structure.
Steel, colourbond, timber and glass all add to the drama of this one-off residence, said the listing agent Rob Mason.
Built in 1998, it had last sold for $530,000 in 2005.
It comes with split system airconditioning in the main living area and a solar hot water system.
The suburb's median house price is $365,000 according to CoreLogic. 
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Mount Melville four bedroom sky home set for weekend auction

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<a href="http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/financial-services/westpac-invests-25m-more-in-uno-in-mortgage-broking-play-20180202-h0sehc"></a>Westpac Banking Corp has doubled its $25 million investment on the digital mortgage broker Uno Home Loans.
It has invested another $25 million for the start-up's brand marketing and sales teams which is currently sending two-thirds of its loans to the non-major banks.
Westpac now owns around 81% of Uno, which seeks a 10% share of the broking market over the next 10 years.
Westpac's head of strategy, Gary Thursby, said Uno presents a different way to create opportunities.
Uno, which was established two years ago, is recruiting a new CEO as the Uno founder Vincent Turner moves to a new role of chief innovation officer, leading product development.
Uno does not disclose loan volumes or customer numbers,
Uno has 22 lenders on its panel, including the four majors. 
Westpac loans do not get favourable treatment on the platform, Thursby told Fairfax Media.
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Westpac invests extra $25 million in digital mortgage broker Uno 

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McGrath Limited has responded to press speculation today in relation to a purported margin lending facility by John McGrath’s investment company, Fondorru Pty Limited, which holds shares in the listed estate agency. 
John McGrath confirmed to the board that there is no margin lending facility with respect to his shares in MEA.
"His shares in MEA are not and have never been used as security for any loan," the shareholders were advised. 
McGrath holds about 26 per cent of the shares in the listed company which has a market cap of $62 million.
The private company, Fondorru, established in 1990, reportedly controls more than half of his 26 per cent stake. The listed shares were trading at 44 cents today.
The company's securities trading policy prohibited margin lending on shares in McGrath by its directors and executives.
The issue arose as the real estate boss John McGrath described reports of a $16.2 million gambling debt as "ridiculous."
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On its late 2015 float, the McGrath Network comprised over 600 agents responsible for sales turnover of $11.6 billion in FY2015 from 11,000 sales. It managed 22,700 properties, which had a value of $16.6 billion. McGrath’s Oxygen Home Loans business had 31 mortgage brokers with loans under management of $2 billion, as at its 2015 float date. 
Its most recent advisory was $2.7 billion in loans under management, with 36 brokers, some 657 agents securing 12,800 sales with a $13.9 billion total, along with 24,700 properties under management. 
 
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No margin lending as John McGrath's McGrath Group shares have never been security for any loan

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Victoria has the most auctions among the capital cities this weekend, according to CoreLogic's weekend auction preview.
Melbourne's Point Cook is the busiest suburb with 12 auctions scheduled, while Sydney's Dee Why is second with 11 auctions set.
A four bedroom house at Point Cook has been listed for sale with over $600,000 hopes. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-point+cook-127257018" target="_blank">35 Martaban Crescent</a>  (pictured below) home has been scheduled for February 10.
It comes with four bedrooms, double remote garage and a north-facing rear garden.
<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/2018/2/8/point%20cook%201.jpg" alt="">
Another auction is a three bedroom terrace in Point Cook, which also has been scheduled for February 10 auction.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-point+cook-127306386" target="_blank">42 Middleton Drive </a> (pictured below), this house has uninterrupted views of the parkland.
It has three bedrooms, an open plan kitchen and a remote control double car garage.
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The combined capital cities are set to see a notable increase in activity over the week, with 1,371 properties scheduled to go to auction, this is an increase of 74 per cent on last week when only 790 auctions were held coming out of the holiday period slowdown.
When compared to last year, volumes are expected to be lower this week than the 1,591 auctions held over the corresponding week last year.
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The number of scheduled auctions across Sydney is set to be lower than results from one year ago (640), with 481 auctions scheduled to take place this week which is over double the volume of auctions held last week (216). 
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The numbers are still low for Sydney however, who have nearly 21 percent more listings now than they had this time last year.
The harbour capital is at least heading in the right direction to shift some of its 2017 unsold stock.
 
 
 
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Across Melbourne, Australia’s other major market, the number of properties scheduled to go to auction this week increased to 575, up from last week’s 292, and only slightly lower than final figures one year ago (556).
 
Across the smaller markets, the number of scheduled auctions has increased over the week in Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Tasmania, while volumes in Adelaide have decreased over the week. 
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Last week, the combined capital cities returned a final auction clearance rate of 62 per cent across 790 auctions, with both clearance rate and volumes recording lower than last year when 68.8 per cent of the 881 auctions cleared.
The two strongest auction markets in terms of clearance rate last week were Melbourne and Adelaide, with both cities recording a 70.2 per cent rate of clearance. Followed by Canberra (62.2 per cent) and Sydney (57.1 per cent), while Brisbane, Perth and Tasmania all recorded clearance rates at or below 50 per cent.
It is expected that auction volumes will returned to normal levels in the coming weeks and a true reading of auction market conditions can be established.
Outside of the capital city markets, Geelong returned a final clearance rate of 88.9 per cent across 20 auctions. While the Gold Coast recorded the highest volume of auctions with 96 held, however only 46.9 per cent were successful. 
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Point Cook ranks as busiest weekend auction suburb

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of living landscapes.

"We've always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren't there," Hameister says.

"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.

"The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn't been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

Staff reporter

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