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One of the few beach boxes at Mount Eliza is for sale.
It has been offered at $150,000 plus.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-vic-mount+eliza-124044050" target="_blank">Beach box 119 Canadian Bay Foreshore</a>, the 15 sqm property is in a well held beach precinct.
The property is offered by L Cooper Real Estate agent Philip Stone.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

One of the few remaining bathing boxes at Mount Eliza listed for sale

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A palatial near beachfront Western Australian home in Dunsborough has been listed for just shy of $5 million.
Set on 763 sqm just off the shores of Geographe Bay, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-dunsborough-124425038" target="_blank">2010 built home</a> won the Master Builders Association for the best contract home.
The first floor includes a gym and home office with external access, with the second floor featuring a wine cellar, the master suite and a balcony offering ocean views.
It last traded before its rebuild for $2.8 million in 2008.
The residential record in Dunsborough was set last year when a four bedroom beachfront home sold for $4,675,000.
JHY Realty agent Lee York has the listing.
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Dunsborough in WA set for residential price record

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Australian actress Portia de Rossi, alongside TV host wife Ellen DeGeneres, have been voted the fourth most desirable neighbours of 2017.
They claimed seven percent of the voting, according to the 10th annual Zillow Celebrity Neighbour Survey.
The outgoing presidential family the Obama's topped the list with 14 percent, edging out wrestler turned Hollywood star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson who took out 13 percent of the public vote.
The Obama family saw strong votes among both male and female voters and across generations.
Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of the TV show 'Fixer Upper', came in third with eight percent.
Portia and Ellen achieved more votes than the likes of British singers Adele and Taylor Swift. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner made the top eight with five percent.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-01-10%20at%209.50.19%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/10/Screen%20Shot%202017-01-10%20at%209.50.19%20am.jpg" alt="">
Pop sensation Justin Bieber was voted as the least desirable neighbour, earning the most votes in the survey's history, topping his own record from 2014.
He scored a massive 36 percent of the votes, a two point percentage increase from his 2014 result.
Way back in second were reality stars Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna, who scored 23 percent of the vote.
Taylor Swift, also among the top in the most desirable neighbour section, came in fourth with four percent of the votes, behind Tom Cruise with seven percent.
Twenty-eight percent of surveyed adults said they would not want to live next to any of the celebrities listed in the poll.
 
 
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Aussie Portia de Rossi outranks Bieber but the Obama's voted the 2017's Most Desirable Neighbour

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New data has found a growing proportion of borrowers are seeking the security that comes with a fixed rate home loan, according to the latest national home loan approval data from Mortgage Choice.
Fixed rate home loans accounted for 22 percent of all loans written in December, up from 19.5 percent in the month prior.
“This is the fourth consecutive month that we have seen fixed rate demand increase,” Mortgage Choice chief executive officer John Flavell said.
“With speculation mounting that the Reserve Bank of Australia could soon lift the official cash rate, it is clear that a growing proportion of borrowers wish to beat any potential rate hikes by opting for a fixed rate home loan.”
Mr Flavell said current market conditions combined with a spate of rate increases by Australia’s lenders meant a rate rise by the Reserve Bank this year was now more likely than not.
“In December, the United States’ Central Bank announced it would increase the Federal Funds rate by 25 basis points to 0.75 percent.
Furthermore, the bank indicated that the Federal Funds rate could rise by a further 75 basis points throughout 2017 – through three separate rate increases.
“Closer to home, many of Australia’s lenders have already started to raise rates across their suite of home loan products.
In addition, the Reserve Bank of Australia has stated that the time for easing the monetary policy setting has now passed.
All of these factors combined would suggest that a rate increase by the Reserve Bank could be right around the corner.
“Borrowers understand this and that is why a growing proportion of mortgage holders are opting for fixed rate products.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/09/variable_rate.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/09/variable_rate.jpg" alt="">
Across the country, fixed rate demand was highest in New South Wales, with this type of product accounting for 27.34 percent of all loans written throughout the month of December.
“Queensland wasn’t far behind, with fixed rate home loans accounting for 24.64 percent of all loans written within the state.
At the other end of the spectrum, fixed rate demand was lowest in Victoria, with this type of product making up just 12.69 percent of all home loans written,” he said.
“Looking ahead, I wouldn’t be surprised to see fixed rate demand continue to rise across most of the states as a growing proportion of borrowers look to beat the threat of rising rates.”
<table style="width: 403px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="101">
 
 
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap width="56">
NSW/ACT
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap width="60">
VIC/TAS
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap width="60">
QLD
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap width="60">
SA/NT
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap width="67">
WA
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
 Variable
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="56">
72.66%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
87.31%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
75.36%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
84.45%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="52">
83.91%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="101">
Basic Variable
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="56">
9.76%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
16.04%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
25.14%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
33.53%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
15.66%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="101">
Standard Variable
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="56">
10.74%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
21.01%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
7.17%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
13.77%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
13.42%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="101">
Ongoing Discount
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="56">
46.96%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
43.43%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
36.61%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
32.59%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
51.52%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="101">
Line of Credit
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="56">
1.32%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
1.58%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
0.61%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
1.03%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
0.86%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="101">
Introductory Rate
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="56">
3.88%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
5.25%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
5.83%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
3.53%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
2.45%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="115">
 Fixed
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="56">
27.34%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
12.69%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
24.64%
</td>
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" nowrap width="60">
15.55%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="52">
16.09%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
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Fixed rate home loan demand surges again

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Sydney has had a slight softening in the growth in home values, according to CoreLogic's opening 2017 data report.
The property data firm says that Sydney saw an increase of 15.1 percent in home values over the last 12 months. It came in at 15.5 percent during 2016.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/09/Capital%20city%20home%20values.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/09/Capital%20city%20home%20values.jpg" alt="">
Melbourne ranked second in increases over the last 12 months while Perth suffered a decline of 4 percent plus in home values.
However Sydney saw a mild 0.2 percent softening during the first week of 2017.
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Sydney prices start 2017 softer after stellar 15.5 percent increase in 2016: CoreLogic

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A list of the top 10 most viewed properties in 2016 has been released by the UK property portal, rightmove.co.uk.
1. Eaton Square, Belravia, London
The most viewed property (pictured above, below) was a 10,500 sq ft home in <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-37662774" target="_blank">Eaton Square</a>, that comes with an asking price of £55 million.
Formerly headquarters for the Belgian government during World War II, since then it has been completely renovated and was put on the market in late 2015.
It features chandeliers, retractable glass ceilings, a roof terrace, a basement swimming pool and a passenger elevator.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/Eaton%20Square.jpg" alt="" width="699" height="431">
2. Alderley Edge, Cheshire
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-2.JPG" alt="">
This <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28779972" target="_blank">impressive home</a> belongs to ex-footballer Ashley Ward and wife Dawn, star of the reality TV show Real Housewives of Cheshire.
Located in 12 acres of land features includes six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, hair and nail salon.
A games room, cinema and offices with separate staff accommodation on site too are also available.
The mansion has been on the market since October 2013, despite a huge interest in the property.
3. Thorne Island, Wales
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-3.jpg" alt="">
This <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56952067" target="_blank">island fortress</a> off the Pembrokeshire coast has sparked huge among investors.
Originally built to defend Milford Haven it can accommodate 100 people with its 10 bedrooms and three bathrooms, however a complete renovation is needed before it can be considered habitable.
4. Bracknell, Berkshire
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-4.jpg" alt="">
Better known as <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44355174" target="_blank">4 Privet Drive</a> – home to the Dursleys in the Harry Potter films.
The three-bedroom property famously features a cupboard under the stairs.
It came onto the market in September, but has since been removed from sale.
5. Windlesham, Surrey
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-5.jpg" alt="">
Featuring eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms and five reception rooms there is enough space for everyone.
The <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32456853" target="_blank">new-build mansion</a> also features a 14-seat cinema, spa with a sauna, gym, indoor pool and a wine cellar.
Unfortunately the impressive property has failed to find a buyer since first listing in October 2014 resulting in a much reduced price tag since.
6. Bridgnorth, Shropshire
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-6.JPG" alt="">
One of the few remaining <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39125694" target="_blank">cave houses</a> in Britain this property has two bedrooms and generated a lot of interest last year.
Featuring a 650 sq ft cave at the back it is complete with gothic archways and vaulted pillars.
Local artist Anthony Dracup once lived here and previous owners of the cottage have kept the unique character features and integral art work alive.
7.  Ampthill, Bedford
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-7.jpg" alt="">
This <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62134349" target="_blank">three-bed terrace house</a> is located in one of Bedford’s most desirable locations, just a 45-minute ride from the local train station to London.
With an affordable price tag, character features like a wood burner and a generous garden the property was hugely popular on Rightmove last year.
8. Notting Hill, London
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-8.jpg" alt="">
A <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59358044" target="_blank">house</a> where tradition is fused with contemporary the eight bedroom, nine bathroom home includes four reception rooms and a sub-basement car park that features a car lift.
However the centre piece of this property is a lavish spa with an oval-shaped massage area and a large gym.
9. Bungay, Suffolk
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-9.jpg" alt="">
This <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62271320" target="_blank">six-bedroom fixer-upper</a> dates back to at least 1613 and was home to novelist Sir Henry Rider Haggard. 
Arranged over three storeys it comes with 1.66 acres of land as well as interesting original architectural features such as wooden mullioned windows, large fireplaces and curved stairways.
10.  Holland Park, London
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/06/Rightmove-10.JPG" alt="">
This seven-bedroom, 9,000 sq ft contemporary home features a basement pool, gym and indoor cinema and was first listed in January 2016.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist Kate Gould designed the gardens and terraces.
The driveway has space for two or three cars with lifts to all floors.
The Addison Road address is one of Holland Park’s most prestigious streets, with shops and restaurants in close proximity.
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Top 10 most viewed properties across the UK during 2016

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Interest and value levels appear to be remaining strong in the rural areas of the NSW Central Tablelands, according to Herron Todd White’s 2016 December report.
The property valuation advisory firm says that the usual buyers - neighbouring landholders, local landholders, some Sydney based buyers - are active.
However they are seeing some buyers relocating from western areas to be closer to the regional centres where their children are going to school and closer to services.
Residential amenity, along with access and proximity to regional centres continue to be key features of attraction, HTW advised.
The season remains good, it noted.
"Naturally a large portion of producers (and horticulture / viticulture operators too) are requiring some respite from wet weather as various crops ripen," HTW said.
"The northern end of the Northern Tablelands is enjoying possibly its best season in ten years, following good winter rainfall, with the exception being parts of the eastern side which generally perform best with autumn rains.
"That said, cattle prices remain buoyant (forget any talk of boom), lamb prices remain buoyant and there is great activity to get summer crops such as soya bean in where possible."
This has led to a strengthening of demand for all sections of real estate.
"We have seen a rise in the number of corporate sales in the area and agents advise that sales of smaller properties are occurring," the report stated.
Residential sales remain steady, with slightly less completions than 12 months ago.
With seasonal conditions and commodity prices as they are, HTW noted the expectation is for increased activity into the new year.
The southern end of the Northern Tablelands, concentrating on the Tamworth Regional Local Government area, has seen both a mix of local farming family expansion and corporate interest with the sale of two large aggregations in the Garoo area (south of Tamworth) to RIFA Australia, which reflected improved rates of $7,350 per cow area and $7,300 per cow area.
Local expansion in the Nundle area saw the sale of Tindaroo (pictured above) at an analysed rate of $7,700 per cow area.
Other areas of interest were properties in higher rainfall areas, particularly south of Walcha in the Niangala area, which saw the sale of Aberbaldie to Paraway Pastoral at an analysed rate of approximately $5,900 per cow area and the sale of Eulo for an analysed rate of approximately $6,400 per cow area.
Both these properties, whilst in an 850 to 950 millimetres rainfall area, had limited recent pasture and fertiliser development.
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NSW Central Tablelands rural buyers seeking proximity to regional centres: HTW

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A narrow beach box at Mornington Peninsula is for sale at $85,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-vic-mornington-201386674" target="_blank">Beach Box 4 Shire Hall Beach</a> the property is freshly painted, secure and boasts an enviable position on the tightly held Shire Hall Beach.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/BathingBox.jpg" alt="" width="476" height="317">
It has magnificent views to the Mornington harbour and beyond while remaining in close proximity to vibrant Main Street.
Further features include a raised deck, stainless steel umbrella holders and grab rail.
The property is offered by Simon Farrar.
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Freshly painted bathing box at the Mornington Peninsula listed for sale

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A prime location at Low Head in Tasmania is for sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-low+head-123730742" target="_blank">397 Low Head Road</a>, the 787 sqm property is only 45 minutes from Launceston with a protrudes into Bass Strait at the mouth of the Tamar Estuary.
It has sweeping coastal and water views to the north, west and north west.
It last sold at $880,000 in 2007. It had been on and off the market since 2011 with prices expectations at around its last sale price.
It is uniquely located to maximise the very best Low Head has to offer - relaxing, beaches, fishing, boating, coastal trails, the Low Head Pilot Station and Lighthouse just to name a few.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/06/397%20Low%20Head%20Road-2.jpg" alt="">
Other selling points include proximity to the Tamar Valley Wine Route and the internationally renowned Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links and Lost Farm Golf Links.
It offers a kitchen, living area, two bedrooms and a lounge all with expansive water views downstairs.
Upstairs is the master bedroom, with views to the west, northwest and the north.
The garden features a flag pole, double outdoor shower and undercover BBQ area.
There is ample car parking space available for a boat if required along with a two car garage and a single garage.
The property is offered by Harrison Humphreys agents Ben Humphreys and Gordon Humphreys.
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Low Head, Tasmanian beachfront home listed for sale

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It is difficult to be negative about the economy when data shows that there were more new vehicles sold in 2016 than any calendar year before.
And it is not just so-called ‘standard’ vehicles being sold, but sports/luxury vehicles are taking a bigger share of total sales.
It’s not hard to see why people are updating their rides.
Car affordability is at the best levels recorded, employment is rising, interest rates are at record lows and wealth levels are at record highs.
Car affordability is even stronger when you consider that vehicles built in 2016 are far superior to those sold in the early 1970s.
Vehicle sales should remain solid in 2017. Interest rates are unlikely to rise any time soon and car manufacturers are competing hard for business, restraining prices.
In addition, all indications point to firm conditions in the job market.
The area to watch is the housing market as softer home prices could restrain car buying enthusiasm - although even that seems to be an unlikely outcome.
The services sector expansion is now accelerating at a healthy pace. In fact the Performance of Services index is now showing the fastest pace of expansion in almost 10 years.
And more importantly the resurgence in activity is broad-based with all five components of the index recording strong gains.
In particular the lift in new orders and the employment sub-indices bode well for hiring in coming months.
It was interesting that respondents noted a variety of reasons for the lift in service sector activity - from stronger customer demand, a lift in mining sector activity, to a lower Australian dollar and “good agricultural harvests”.
As we have been saying for a couple of months, the result mirrors the lift in activity noted across internal Commonwealth Bank Indicators like the Business Sales Indicator.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/05/CS-1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/05/CS-1.jpg" alt="">
The Reserve Bank will be quietly confident on how the economy is panning out.
The key will be how non-mining business investment evolves over the next six months. CommSec expects no change to interest rates over 2017.
According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), new motor vehicle sales totalled 98,763 in December, down 0.9 per cent on a year ago.
In 2016, a total of 1,178,133 new vehicles were sold – a record for a calendar year.
Sales by State: NSW (397,563), Victoria (326,269), Queensland (233,026), Western Australia (100,234), South Australia (71,738), Tasmania (19,751), ACT (18,816) and NT (10,736).
Respective market shares by vehicle type were: passenger (41.3 per cent), SUV (37.4 per cent), light commercial (18.5 per cent), and heavy commercial (2.8 per cent).
The top-five segments by volume were small cars (224,450, down 4 per cent), medium SUV (172,194, up 16.5 per cent), 4×4 ute (146,820, up 10 per cent), large SUV (142,495, up 2 per cent) and small SUV (110,414, up 2 per cent).
The sub-total of sales by buyer type for 2016 was: private (571,544, down 7 per cent), business (472,156, up 13 per cent), government (40,989, down 1.4 per cent) and rental (60,335, up 6 per cent).
Buyers using their ABN to buy a single car count as a business sale, while novated leases count as private.
Leading vehicle sources: Japan (325,689), Thailand (285,465), Korea (162,642), Germany (87,392) and Australia (87,096).
The top-selling vehicle was the Toyota HiLux, ahead of the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, Ford Ranger, Mazda 3, Toyota Camry, Holden Commodore, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Triton and Hyundai Tucson.
Top makes for 2016: Toyota (14th year in succession) with 209,610 units (up 1.6 per cent), ahead of top full- importer Mazda (118,217, up 3.7 per cent) and Hyundai (101,555, down 0.4 per cent). Holden finished outside the top-three, in fourth place on 94,308 (down 8.4 per cent), holding out a resurgent Ford (81,207, up more than 15 per cent).
The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Services Index lifted by 6.6 points to 57.7 in December – marking the highest result since May 2007.
AI Group notes “All five activity sub-indexes in the Australian PSI® were above 50 points and indicate expansion in December.
Sales jumped 14 points in December, up to 62.1 points from 48.1 in November.
New orders rose by 6.4 points to 60.4 points. Stocks lifted 5.7 points to 52.6 points, growing in ten out of the past eleven months.
The employment subindex picked up the pace, growing by 4.3 points to 56.6 points.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/05/CS-2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/01/05/CS-2.jpg" alt="">
“A number of respondents to the Australian PSI® noted that conditions were more positive in December with: customer demand strengthening; increased orders from the mining sector; a lower value for the Australian dollar; interest rates remaining stable and (for regional services) good agricultural harvests.
Overall, there was a sense of increased confidence from respondents across many services sub-sector.”
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries releases estimates of car sales on the third business day of the month.
The figures highlight the strength of consumer spending as well as conditions facing auto &amp; components companies.
The economy appears to be regaining momentum.
But as always more data is required to confirm the change in direction.
Certainly confidence levels are healthy, providing optimism early in the New Year.
The Reserve Bank is comfortably on the interest rate sidelines.
Savanth Sebastian is a senior economist for CommSec.
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Difficult to be negative after record car sales in 2016: Savanth Sebastian

Apartment buyers in New South Wales are set to gain a decade of insurance-backed protection against major building defects, after the NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.&nbsp;

The Bill establishes decennial defect insurance, known in the market as Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), as an alternative to the existing two-year strata building bond. It cleared the Legislative Council with amendments on Tuesday evening (August 4, 2026), with the Legislative Assembly agreeing to those amendments shortly after.

Under the reform, eligible developers can satisfy their statutory bond obligation by taking out an approved decennial-style policy that gives owners 10 years of cover for major structural defects from completion, claimable directly, without first having to pursue developers or builders through costly legal action.&nbsp;

The change forms the final tranche of amendments arising from the 2021 statutory review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and related legislation.

Resilience Insurance, which originated the cover in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022, welcomed the passage and credited the NSW Government for delivering it.

“This is protection apartment buyers have needed for a long time, and the credit for delivering it belongs to the NSW Government,”&nbsp;said Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into. Reform like this is what good, evidence-based regulation looks like.”

Resilience has delivered LDI in NSW since 2022, protecting thousands of apartments, giving the State, and now the country, real-world evidence of how decade-long, no-fault protection works in practice.

The reform also places NSW within a wider national shift.

NSW is the third jurisdiction to put decennial cover into law. The ACT legislated for it in 2024, with the scheme taking effect in late 2025, and Victoria passed its own framework on 17 June. Between them, the three cover the majority of Australia's apartment market.

The reform commences once the legislation is proclaimed, which is expected in the coming weeks. From that point, developers of Class 2 residential apartment buildings can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial policy in place of the bond.

Buyers who purchased into projects that took out the cover early are among the first in the country to take keys to apartments carrying decade-long structural protection.

“With the legislation passed, the focus now turns to making it work for buyers,”&nbsp;Nugent said.

“There are already thousands of apartments in NSW covered by this insurance, bought by developers who moved early. The question every buyer should be asking in a display suite is a simple one: does this building come with 10-year defect cover, and who stands behind it?&nbsp;

“We look forward to working with the Government and the Building Commission in coming weeks as the framework moves to implementation, and to sharing what we have learned over the past four years so the protection reaches owners as smoothly and quickly as possible.”

Other states are working through their own reform programs. Western Australia has indicated that decennial cover is within consideration a later stage of its reform sequence, and Queensland has been examining the settings as it looks at the development pipeline ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Resilience Insurance acknowledges the NSW Government’s continued focus on strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing delivery across the State.

Fast Facts: What the reform means

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Proven at scale:&nbsp;Decennial cover has operated in NSW since 2022, protecting thousand of apartments.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">10 years of cover:&nbsp;Protection for major structural defects runs for a decade from completion, claimable directly and with no legal action required.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">An alternative to the bond:&nbsp;Eligible developers can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial-style policy in place of the 2% strata building bond.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Part of a national shift:&nbsp;The ACT has had decennial provisions in force since 2025 and Victoria passed its framework in June. NSW now joins them.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">No-fault, first resort:&nbsp;Owners corporations claim directly from the insurer without first having to establish who is liable for the defect.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost-competitive:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the 2% bond while offering broader, longer protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market position:&nbsp;Resilience originated LDI in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022.</li>
</ul>

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI):&nbsp;Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Consumer-first:&nbsp;Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost advantage:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market leader:&nbsp;&nbsp;Resilience Insurance originated LDI in Australia and is the national market leader.</li>
</ul>

Joel Robinson

NSW parliament passes 10-year defect insurance laws for new apartment buyers

Builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mcnab-developments">McNab</a> has wasted little time reshaping one of South Brisbane's most significant undeveloped apartment sites after acquiring the property earlier this year.&nbsp;

McNab has lodged plans to scrap an existing approval for two 30-storey towers and instead deliver a single 28-storey residential building, preserving part of the site for a future development opportunity.

The proposal, lodged over <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-peel-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">64 Peel Street and 9 Cordelia Street</a>, is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising 124 apartments above a landscaped podium, alongside a boundary realignment that preserves part of the land for a future residential project.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="743bf564-3f8f-45fc-b8d3-bbf18f5b628f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20Peel%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=EhCxGrVn_VFH3qTbKnI4WppGwaMnOn0t" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, the development will deliver 119 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments across 23 residential levels. A five-level podium will accommodate 135 car spaces, while the ground floor will include a 66 sqm commercial tenancy, an activated residential lobby with work-from-home spaces, and a publicly accessible landscaped plaza linking Cordelia and Peel streets.&nbsp;

Communal amenities will span Level 6 and the rooftop, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, kitchen and dining areas, lawn space, sauna, steam room and yoga facilities.

The application also proposes a boundary realignment to create a standalone 1,290 sqm development lot while retaining an adjacent parcel for future redevelopment, allowing the balance of the site to contribute additional housing over time.

Hayball said the architecture has been shaped by the site's elevated corner position at the intersection of Peel and Cordelia streets and Brisbane's subtropical climate.

The design incorporates generous landscaped setbacks, a masonry podium wrapped with planting, large north-facing balconies, and a slender tower profile intended to maximise natural light, cross ventilation and long-range views. The rooftop has been conceived as a wellness-focused retreat overlooking Brisbane, with amenities positioned to capture views towards Mount Coot-tha and the CBD.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5f99e84-6ad8-4a87-82d1-869685b754d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20tower%20perspective.png?VersionId=Gw0IuJaSAlk.tvGBxInhZOcQAdIB..2b" />

The planning submission positions the proposal as a response to both changing market conditions and Brisbane's Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning reforms.

McNab acquired the site after the previous approval was granted, with the existing scheme no longer reflecting current residential market demands, economic conditions, construction challenges, construction efficiencies or the quality of development outcome now being pursued, the planning report noted.

McNab continues to expand its residential development pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The developer recently launched The Tannery in West End, securing more than 60 per cent of apartments before the project's public release. It is also delivering Elements Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise and Lucia Highgate Hill, an eight-apartment boutique development overlooking the Brisbane River.

McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower

A steeply sloping Bellevue Hill site is set to accommodate a new mid-rise apartment development, with plans lodged for 20 homes that respond to the site's dramatic topography.

The proposal for the consolidated land at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/138a-140-bellevue-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">138A-140 Bellevue Road</a> has been designed by Sydney architecture practice Common Office, which has used the site’s substantial fall to distribute the building’s scale and unlock 20 apartments without presenting the full height to the street.&nbsp;

“The unique design strategy leverages the site’s substantial topographical fall to facilitate increased density, presenting a seven-storey profile to Bellevue Road while rising to 10 storeys at the rear,” Common Office said in its architectural design report.

The apartment mix spans one, two, three- and four-bedroom residences. Four two-bedroom apartments are designated as affordable housing, while the plans also include two adaptable dwellings. The mix is majority three-beds, with the typical three-bed apartment offering around 144 sqm internally, with balconies of around 15 sqm.

The affordable housing component represents 15 per cent of the residential floor area and allows the project to access additional height and floor space under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions. The site also falls within the inner area of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy because it is within 400 metres walking distance of Double Bay Town Centre.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1230d0f-3bfa-4a11-abaf-0928c66ef345" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da.png?VersionId=dZeMK3P.OutGjN8ycjsxm8uNsj_QFWQv" />

Common Office has arranged the building around a masonry podium and a lighter upper volume, drawing on two recurring elements of Bellevue Hill’s established architecture: sandstone bases and the vertical proportions of local Inter-war Art Deco apartment buildings.

“The proposal is governed by a holistic design language that reconciles the solid horizontal masonry of the neighbourhood’s podiums with the elegant verticality of its Art Deco heritage,” the architect said.

“The building maintains a consistent rhythmic logic utilising deep recesses and a sophisticated material transition to break down the 10-storey scale into a series of articulated, human-scale volumes.”

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0147f503-1af1-4d51-97fb-c2f1cba63a9d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20bldg.png?VersionId=GoW7q3NlK67OpnePXhk7zvklrlKb72Qc" />

Large-format sandstone tiles will define the lower levels, establishing a robust base that negotiates the change in elevation from Bellevue Road. Above, red-tinted precast concrete frames, recessed balconies, anodised aluminium screens and expanded metal details will create a more vertically expressed façade. Integrated planter beds will introduce greenery across balcony edges and recessed sections of the building.

The elongated northern façade has been divided into three recessed vertical masses to reduce its perceived length. Triangular window elements and metal privacy screens reference the geometry of nearby Art Deco buildings while controlling overlooking toward surrounding homes. The southern elevation will incorporate further privacy screening, landscaped edges and deep balconies to maintain light and ventilation.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8679cf1-18bc-4447-8a0f-0052b94ab83c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da%20rooftop.png?VersionId=5SQqQqRFf76rvE2p1TbxJSweMN70AIbc" />

Private and communal landscaping is distributed throughout the development. A landscaped garden apartment is positioned within the lower portion of the site, while a communal terrace on Level 5 will include a central timber deck, barbecue facilities, resident planting plots and areas for outdoor dining and informal gatherings.

Common Office described the terrace as an elevated sanctuary designed to capture district views and sunlight. Its planting strategy incorporates endemic species associated with the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, extending the landscape vertically through the building and providing habitat for local flora and fauna.

A second communal outdoor area is proposed at roof level, with built-in seating, paved gathering areas and perimeter planting.

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction. Positive Investment Enterprise is delivering the 16-apartment Kew Palm House on Birriga Road, while Chanine Developments is also under construction at Florian, a 36-apartment project on Banksia Road.

&nbsp;

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction.

First Look: Apartment development pitched for Bellevue Hill, Double Bay fringe

South Brisbane's apartment pipeline continues to build momentum, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a> lodging plans for a 161-apartment tower on Montague Road as developers accelerate investment across the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

The proposal for 176–186 Montague Road would replace an existing office building with a 20-storey residential tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, adding to a growing pipeline of high-density projects reshaping one of Brisbane's fastest-evolving inner-city precincts.

The project has been conceived as a "living building", featuring a flowing tower form, extensive vertical landscaping, and generous communal spaces that respond to the evolving Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

TRK Property Group Development Director Matt Kan said the project reflected the confidence developers have in South Brisbane's long-term future.

"South Brisbane is entering an incredibly exciting period, and we see Montague Road sitting right at the heart of that evolution," Kan said.

"With the former Visy site directly opposite us and significant investment planned throughout the broader Kurilpa precinct, there is a real sense of momentum around this part of the city and what it will become over the coming years.

"For TRK, this is an opportunity to be part of that next chapter and deliver a project that responds to where the precinct is heading, while contributing to the continued evolution of Brisbane's river edge."

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="590fe1ad-f892-4446-a679-80e33a16d029" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20tower%20facade.png?VersionId=uOJStrcKpyHFcPE1w6_9SMAFzVMCcZll" />

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, incorporating multi-purpose rooms in selected residences to provide additional flexibility for home offices or expanded living areas. The proposed mix comprises 15 one-bedroom, 13 one-bedroom plus MPR, 73 two-bedroom, 26 two-bedroom plus MPR, 30 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom apartments.

Rather than adopting a conventional rectilinear tower, COX Architecture has developed a sculpted form inspired by the movement of the Brisbane River.

"The proposal has been designed by COX Architecture as a 'living building' that responds to the site's riverine setting, floodplain history and evolving urban context within the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct," the planning report states.

"The architectural form draws from the fluid nature of the Brisbane River, with a curved and undulating tower form that creates a varied architectural edge and avoids a conventional rectilinear tower expression."

The podium has also been designed as an architectural feature rather than a conventional parking structure, with cascading planting, screening and natural-toned materials softening its appearance. Resident parking is elevated above ground level to address the site's flood constraints, while habitable apartments sit above flood planning levels. Upper-level communal facilities are designed to accommodate shelter-in-place arrangements during major flood events.

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01fa15d0-90df-46c7-9555-7941fc45373c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20podium.png?VersionId=mHyua.w1pHGBt9qEdWzrlsv.leztUCwO" />

Communal amenity is a major focus of the proposal. Around 1,815 sqm of shared resident space is proposed across the ground floor, level 19 and the rooftop, including co-working areas, indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, wellness facilities, dining and gathering areas, lawn spaces, a rooftop pool and spa, and extensive landscaping. At street level, a landscaped forecourt and approximately 345 sqm of publicly accessible open space along Montague Road are intended to improve the pedestrian experience while activating the building's frontage.

The development will provide 163 car spaces, including 152 resident bays and 11 visitor spaces, together with 144 bicycle spaces incorporating resident storage, visitor parking, bicycle maintenance facilities and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The site sits within one of Brisbane's fastest-changing inner-city precincts, less than two kilometres from the CBD and within easy reach of South Bank, West End, the Queensland Cultural Centre and extensive public transport connections. The Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning framework is encouraging higher-density residential development to help meet Brisbane's housing supply targets while supporting walkable, transit-oriented neighbourhoods.

TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans

Article summary

<ul data-end="785" data-start="311">
	<li data-end="459" data-section-id="5hbcyr" data-start="311">Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at Skye Kangaroo Point, headlined by a two-storey sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm.</li>
	<li data-end="561" data-section-id="1p7lq8n" data-start="460">Early buyer interest suggests the residences could set a new Queensland apartment price record.</li>
	<li data-end="667" data-section-id="1y70z0l" data-start="562">The collection includes four move-in ready penthouses and the highly customised Skye One residence.</li>
	<li data-end="785" data-section-id="yvm0y1" data-start="668">The release caps one of Bri​sbane's most ambitious luxury apartment developments overlooking the Brisbane River.</li>
</ul>

<hr data-end="790" data-start="787" />
Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye by Pikos</a> development in Kangaroo Point, with early buyer interest indicating the flagship residences could eclipse every apartment sale previously recorded in Queensland.

The collection crowns the luxury riverfront development with five residences, including four completed penthouses and Skye One, a two-level sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm that will be tailored to its eventual owner.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374075]

Wanting to offer a fully customisable home, Pikos is offering Skye One as a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to work alongside the developer's design team to customise the home's layout, finishes and internal spaces.

The residence will feature a 247 sqm private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor kitchen and multiple entertaining areas overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

The remaining four penthouses have been completed and are ready for immediate occupation, each offering four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas, soaring ceilings and private lift access.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374059]

One of the defining features throughout the project is its use of Roman Classic Travertine, with more than 20,000 sqm of the natural stone imported from Italy after being personally selected by Pikos Group Founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos, interior designer Julie Williamson and third-generation stone specialist Mario Caucci.

Pikos said the penthouse collection represented the culmination of the company's long-term vision for Skye.

"True legacy isn't measured by what we build today, but by what endures tomorrow," Pikos said.

"Our ambition is to create places that become more valuable with time, enrich the lives of generations, and stand as timeless landmarks long after we've stepped away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374060]

Williamson said the interiors were inspired by the natural character of Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane River rather than international design trends.

"Materiality tells the story of a place," Williamson said.

"We looked to the movement of the Brisbane River, the texture of the cliff face and the warmth of the surrounding landscape to create interiors that feel understated, enduring and unmistakably Brisbane."

Positioned above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye places residents within walking distance of Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank and James Street while offering uninterrupted river and city views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=90059]

Staff reporter

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