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A fully leased strata retail investment in the Northland Homemaker Centre at Preston has sold at auction to a private local investor for $5.12 million.
The 1,080 square metre retail suite was sold with a lease to boutique French provincial furniture retailer Maison Est.
The selling agents were CBRE’s Josh Twelftree, Rorey James and Ryan Arrowsmith.
“Bidding opened at $4 million and after 38 bids from four investors, including a Mainland Chinese group who was the under bidder, it was eventually sold for $5.12 million,” Twelftree said.
The transaction was equivalent to a building rate of $4,741 per square metre and yield of just over 6%.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Retail suite in Melbourne sells for $5.12 million

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All nine Australian real estate institutes have called on the government for changes to laws that will allow contracts for the sale of land and other property-related documents to be created via online forms that are safe and simple to understand and use.  
The real estate institutes have called for the repeal of Electronic Transactions (ET) legislative provisions ("exemptions") which are confusing what procedure should be followed if an e-contract needs to be signed by a company; if a signature needs to be witnessed and, in the case of South Australia only, if an e-contract relates to a land transaction.
A joint submission was made to all Australian governments on November 18, co-ordinated by Tim McKibbin, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales and Mark Morgan, a property partner at Colin Biggers &amp; Paisley. 
Morgan said the exemptions were a barrier to the development of easy-to-understand e-contracts for most property related-transactions including land sale contracts, sales agency agreements, residential and retail lease agreements and property management agreements. 
“The exemptions leave property industry professionals and consumers unable to utilise the existing national ET code as a guide for procedure in relation to the creation, transmission and signing of e-contracts,” Morgan said.
“This has led to uncertainty and confusion as to what procedures should govern property industry e-contract transactions, and as a result has seriously delayed the development of property industry e-contracts that a consumer can easily access by computer and are safe and simple to understand and use.”
“We all recognise the importance of removing the barrier to widespread use of e-contracts and call for changes to Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation to address unintended consequences within the regulations,” added McKibbin.
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Real estate institutes call for e-contracts legislation amendments

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The financial literacy of some first home buyers (FHBs) is a matter of concern, according to a recent survey.
According to Mortgage Choice’s annual First Home Buyer Survey, 18.3% of first time buyers didn’t know banks can move rates independently of the central bank.
"It is clear there is more work to be done to help improve the financial literacy of Australians. Anyone planning to get their foot on the property ladder needs to understand the role and power financial institutions have on the rise and fall of interest rates,” said Mortgage Choice chief executive John Flavell.
“Buying property is one of the biggest financial commitments a person will ever make, so future first home buyers need to know exactly what they are getting themselves in for when taking on a mortgage."
The survey also found the majority of potential first time buyers are concerned about rates rising independently of the Reserve Bank, with more than half (57.5%) of Australians surveyed planning to purchase property in the next two years "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about lenders moving interest rates independently of decisions made by the central bank.
Many lenders, including the Big Four -- Westpac, CBA, NAB, ANZ -- lifted their variable rates independently of the RBA in October by an average of 18 basis points.
One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.
For your free Property Observer eBook from RAMS, 12 tips for first-time buyers, covering everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing property, click here.
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One in five first home buyers don't know banks can act independently on interest rates: survey 

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Melbourne-based OpenCorp, a startup founded by Allister Lewison, his brother Matthew and Cam McLellan, has become the sixth fastest-growing company on the 2015 BRW Fast 100 list. 
The company boasts an annual growth of more than 175% from 2012 to 2015. 
It all started in the late 90s when Allister Lewison and McLellan purchased their first investment properties on the same Melbourne street. 
“I think everybody at some point has a ‘light bulb’ moment where they realise that they aren’t headed in the direction they had hoped for their lives,” Allister Lewison says. 
Based on their early success investing, the duo began educating their friends and family about the industry and encouraging them to invest under their guidance.  
"We didn’t plan to create a business...We were providing our friends and family with advice on how we started our own portfolios,” Lewison says.  
His brother Matthew spotted an opportunity in the market for an investment company that spoke to the “everyday Australian,” with potential for their work to become an established business. 
At the time, McLellan and Allister Lewison were directing their own telecommunications and IT companies, but eventually made the decision to unite with Matthew to create OpenCorp’s offering.
“When we started out, there really wasn’t a company appealing to lower income or even middle income earners to reap the rewards of property investment,” Allister Lewison says.
“This bracket of the population was completely left of the equation, and it was our job to change this.” 
OpenCorp provides two kinds of services. Clients can build their own property investment portfolios with the aid of OpenCorp, or invest in one of OpenCorp’s property developments starting from $10,000.  
The company also contributes its own money into every opportunity to earn the trust of its clients. It also holds an Australian Financial Services Licence. 
The Lewisons and McLellan are supported by a team of over 45 market specialists across their Melbourne and Brisbane offices, and have been involved in more than $4 billion of property transactions. 
The concern of losing money is arguably the main factor that deters potential buyers (particularly those of low to average incomes) from participating in investment.
“To those people, I say the fear of doing nothing should be a bigger fear,” Allister Lewison says. 
“The fear of turning 65 and retiring on $32,000 a year for a couple should be scarier than doing something today.”
Allister Lewison has also featured on 2015 BRW Young Rich list with an amassed $24 million fortune.
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OpenCorp, opening real estate doors to mum and dad investors

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Delinquency and default rates for Australian residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS) and asset backed securities (ABS) will rise slightly from their current low levels in 2016, due to slower economic growth and a rise in unemployment, says a recent report by Moody's Investor Service. 
The credit quality of the mortgage collateral for new RMBS issued in 2016 will deteriorate when compared with 2015, the report says, due to the inclusion of a greater proportion of riskier housing investment and interest-only (IO) loans and mortgages originated during a period of low interest rates and rapidly rising house prices.
The report noted investment and IO loans are riskier than owner-occupier and principal and interest (P&amp;I) loans because they have higher loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, a key default driver.
Additionally, IO loans amortise slower compared with P&amp;I loans, if at all, and therefore build equity at a slower rate, resulting in a higher loss upon default.
The analysts at Moody's also expect more RMBS deals to reduce their dependence on lenders' mortgage insurance (LMI) policies in 2016. 
Australian RMBS delinquencies and defaults will rise slightly from their current low levels in 2016, due to economic growth that will be below the long-term trend, an uptick in unemployment, and a slower pace for house price growth in some cities, it said.
Housing prices, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, are expected to slow which will mean a slowdown in economic activity which will contribute to an increase in RMBS delinquencies and defaults in 2016, the note said.
Any weaker housing market also means borrowers at risk of default are less able to sell their houses quickly at prices sufficient to fulfil their repayment obligations.
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Australia RMBS mortgage defaults to rise slightly in 2016: Moody's 

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<div>Melbourne-based property investment company OpenCorp has acquired sites in Queensland to develop an estimated $360 million in projects at Albion and West End.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Albion site was bought for $11 million, inclusive of existing development approval for 154 apartments. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Designed by Hayes Andersen Lynch Architects , the development will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments worth an estimated total of $89 million. </div>
<div>OpenCorp expects Albion’s housing values to rise significantly, being five kilometres from the CBD and bordering on the blue-chip areas of Ascot, Hamilton and Clayfield. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The other project, in West End, will comprise of 106 apartments with an end value estimated in excess of $50 million. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Construction has commenced on the project, named Citro, and is expected to be complete in early 2017. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Prices for the remaining 33 apartments start from $369,000 (one bed, one bath, no car).  Two-bedroom apartments (one bath, one car) start from $499,000.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>According to OpenCorp, both units are priced below the suburb’s median price. The median one-bedroom unit price in West End is $375,000 and it is $552,000 for a two-bedroom.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>A high proportion of buyers in Citro are interstate investors entering the Queensland market due to Brisbane’s lower prices than Sydney and Melbourne , as well as the high rental returns, OpenCorp said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The project will comprise a roof terrace with an infinity edge pool and cinema. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Citro is walking distance to the Brisbane River and just two kilometres from the CBD.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Funds for development sites are crowd sourced from OpenCorp’s clients, who can invest from $10,000.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>OpenCorp’s other Brisbane projects include the Aston Apartments in Nundah and Evolve and Hemingway in Chermside. Hemingway, worth an estimated $70 million, will hit the market in February 2016.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>For more information, <a href="https://www.opencorp.com.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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OpenCorp expands into Queensland development

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Home values in Sydney have shown incredible growth over the past three-and-a-half years, notes estate agent John McGrath in his latest Switzer blog. 
Sydney’s median home values (all properties combined) have risen by 48% since the growth cycle began in May/June 2012, latest figures from CoreLogic RP Data reveal.
By comparison, Melbourne is up 31.5% over the same timeframe, with Brisbane next at 15%.
Among the other capitals: Darwin 12.6%; Adelaide 10.9%; Perth 10.7%; Canberra 9.6%; and Hobart 6.3%.
On a national scale, it’s been a two-tier market led by the East Coast since 2012, he says.
But now things are slowing down.
"Sydney has cooled but I’m not concerned. What is really important to realise is that Sydney will not stop growing in value, it’s just going to settle and return to a normal long-term pace of incremental growth," says McGrath.
"Yes, I think it’s fair to say the boom in Sydney is probably over. Auction clearance rates have dipped from the 80% band mid-year to the 50% band now and that’s quite a drop. Of course, supply has increased over Spring but that alone doesn’t explain a 30% decline in clearances. The market is simply cooling down now and that’s a really good thing." 
After such a long run of growth, some consolidation might be expected. New price benchmarks have been set for all types of properties right across the city and it might take a while for those prices to be cemented in, he says.  
According to him, three major factors have slowed Sydney down: 
1. A tightening of lending criteria for investors has had a significant impact, as investors have been a driving force in this boom
2. Many investors who still meet lending criteria are now looking outside Sydney. When you get rapid capital growth, rental yields inevitably decline and that’s the case in Sydney, with houses yielding 3.2% and apartments 4.1%.  Brisbane offers the highest yields of the major capitals at 4.3% for houses and 5.3% for apartments – and more importantly, Brisbane has greater scope for imminent capital growth 
3. Real estate markets are cyclical. At some point in a growth cycle, every market will reach a peak and plateau. 
When markets begin to cool, it’s inevitable that there will be small drops in prices month-to-month and that’s what happened in Sydney in November. 
The median house price fell -1.5% and apartments -0.7%.
But there’s no need to be too concerned as this was expected as this is normal at the end of a boom, he says.
The important thing is to distinguish between the end of a boom and the end of a growth cycle. It’s the end of the boom, not the growth cycle, he concludes. 
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Sydney has cooled, but it will not stop growing in value in 2016: John McGrath

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The US Federal Reserve should just get on with it and raise interest rates, says economist Harley Dale, in the latest issue of the Construction Brief by Australian Construction Insights.
There has been an expectation for some time that the US FOMC – Federal Open Market Committee would this year raise interest rates for the first time in over a decade, he noted.
The hike could have happened in September itself, but a slowing China rattled the Fed. 
"We will almost certainly see the Fed raise interest rates this week are markets are primed and priced for a rate hike, it says, although nobody knows how the reaction will pan out. 
"In Australia, there has been an element of 'I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure' to pricing of another interest rate change." 
 
The Official Cash Rate (OCR) will stay on hold at 2 per cent throughout 2016, but financial institutions will increase variable mortgage rates (and probably business rates) early in the new year, his report says. Against this backdrop there is still a far greater risk that the RBA lowers the OCR further before it raises it. 
The latest ACI Construction Monitor also said that NSW was now the strongest non-residential construction market in Australia, followed by Victoria. 
The Construction Brief paints an optimistic picture of 2016, helped by NSW and Victoria. 
These are Australia’s largest states and both also look the goods in terms of the CommSec State of the States Report.
The ACI Construction Monitor for Summer 2015 not only ranked NSW the number one non residential market – but also assessed non-residential construction conditions in NSW as having a strengthening outlook. 
The outlook is also positive for ‘strengthening’ of non-residential construction conditions in Victoria. The remaining six states and territories are all assessed to be ‘neutral’ or ‘weakening’. 
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Get set for the Fed's rate hike: Harley Dale's ACI Construction Brief

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A mixed-use development property in west Melbourne has sold to a local investor at auction for $6.8 million.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-west+melbourne-501776166" target="_blank">55 Walsh Street</a> property comprises a three-level office building with multiple tenancies currently returns $208,000 per annum gross. 
There are some vacancies as well, hence the potential to increase income.
The sale through Anthony Carbone of CVA Property Consultants represents a rate of $3,269.23 per metre square.
The building is in a mixed-use zone allotment of 695 square metres, allowing for development including but not limited to office and residential (STPA). 
It is close to Queen Victoria Market and Flagstaff railway station.
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West Melbourne office building fetches $6.8 million at auction

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Pet Supersavers is the latest business to move to North Point Business Park in Queensland's Kallangur and the tenth deal this year, up from only one in the previous 12-month period.
The 30-hectare Walker Corporation's commercial park is now more than 90% committed, with only one lot at 2.8 hectares of general industry-zoned land remaining for sale.
The retailer agreed to a 10-year lease term with local developer Donnelly Partners, who purchased the land from Walker Corporation earlier this year and developed a purpose built new store for Pet Supersavers.
The 2,620 square metre lot consists of a two unit industrial strata development of which Pet Supersavers occupies 750 square metre including a retail store, warehouse, backyard and car park. 
“North Point Business Park presented us with an opportunity for a bigger and better facility at an affordable cost, all under the one roof," said Leichelle McMahon, director of Pet Supersavers.
"We now have a reptile room that replicates the look and atmosphere of a rainforest, a vet and microchip service, dog rescue and quarantine, doggie day care and cat room, pet training, kids’ parties and holiday club, adult and child educational classes, a backyard for the dogs and more, with ample customer parking.” 
North Point has experienced its busiest year to date, introducing a further eight new businesses in addition to Pet Supersavers and Elite Soil Testing. 
The spike in demand at the business park has been helped by government-funded infrastructure upgrades to the area, in particular, the soon to open Moreton Bay Rail Link which adjoins the business Park. 
In addition to the rail link, upgrades to the local road infrastructure have greatly improved connectivity to the Bruce Highway only 3 km away. Located 25 km from Brisbane CBD, North Point is Walker Corporation’s latest industrial development and represents a $75 million investment by the company in south-east Queensland. 
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Walker Corp's North Point industrial park in Queensland gets new tenant; near sold out

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Joel Robinson

Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site

An 1880s timber cottage that has survived Kangaroo Point's transformation from riverside suburb to high-density apartment precinct is set to become the centrepiece of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/zephyr">Zephyr Group</a>'s proposed Banksia development.

Rather than see the locally heritage-listed Alpha Cottage as an obstacle to navigate, plans integrate the landmark home into a new 18-storey residential tower, giving one of the suburb's oldest surviving residences a new role as the project's communal hub.

The development application covers a 1,177 sqm amalgamated site at 127-133 Lambert Street and 30 Shafston Avenue, where Zephyr Group plans to deliver 64 apartments above three basement levels. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/joe-adsett-architects">Joe Adsett Architects</a>, the proposal carefully weaves the retained heritage cottage into a contemporary residential scheme, with the tower elevated above the historic building to preserve its presence within the Lambert Street streetscape.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9dc5bdb-d691-4c60-bf2b-c3ed405a3e75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Banksia.png?VersionId=Jh4bjlewU.o8HXWt0V4KaFA_lPcF7KWM" />

Named after the native Australian Banksia flower, the project draws inspiration from its distinctive form through curved balconies, sculpted planter boxes and cascading subtropical landscaping that soften the building's profile.

As the design report explains: "The tower's identity is defined by its feature facade, drawing direct inspiration from the Banksia wildflower. The building departs from traditional rigidity through the use of elegant, GRC-moulded planter boxes that appear as if shaped by the breeze."

Plans propose 64 apartments, comprising 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom residences, across an 18-storey tower. Residents would have access to rooftop amenities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, private cinema, dining spaces and landscaped recreation areas, while more than half the site is dedicated to planting and open space.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16041b5f-033e-47fa-8fbe-9886e072c1f2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pool.png?VersionId=kpx5w4EbLx0_TdWfDoD1vrSs0_cZ5Ao1" />

The heritage component is the defining feature of the proposal. Constructed in the early 1880s and occupied from at least 1883, Alpha Cottage is recognised by Brisbane City Council as an important surviving example of Kangaroo Point's nineteenth-century residential development and as a representative transverse-gable timber cottage. Despite extensive redevelopment across the peninsula, the building has retained a high degree of its original form and internal fabric.

As part of the redevelopment, the cottage will be carefully relocated a short distance within its original allotment to facilitate construction before being returned to a prominent position along Lambert Street. Original verandah elements will be dismantled, catalogued and reinstated, while significant internal features, including timber flooring, wall linings, joinery, doors, windows and hardware, will be retained. Later additions, including the enclosed rear verandah, will be removed to better reveal the building's original form.

Once restored, Alpha Cottage will accommodate the building manager's office, mail room and parcel facilities, providing an active everyday use that supports its long-term conservation rather than preserving it as a static display. The heritage strategy also maintains landscaped space around the building, allowing it to remain visually distinct beneath the new tower.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43b027e1-576e-4624-a66c-7cc54ea8b7be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/banksia%20tower.png?VersionId=2W6E2yfkj2AQlWlLeV986grA5zB9f817" />

The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that "the proposal secures the ongoing occupation, maintenance and conservation of Alpha Cottage," finding the development would result in "no more than a minor impact on the cultural heritage significance" of the building while ensuring its long-term future.

Joe Adsett Architects have designed the tower to sit above the heritage building rather than overwhelm it, creating a clear visual separation between old and new. The development's flowing balconies, integrated planting and organic façade respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate while complementing the restored cottage below.

Banksia occupies a prominent corner in Kangaroo Point within walking distance of the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Brisbane River, ferry services, QUT, the CBD and the Woolloongabba precinct. The site also benefits from direct access to active transport infrastructure and sits within an area earmarked for continued higher-density residential growth.

Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

<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/6RNt3AvtBpI?si=JUhuCV2ZRXsYaoJZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351027]

The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351031]

For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351024]

As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

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Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

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&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

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&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

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Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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