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Camelot in Coomera is the latest residential community in the heart of the booming Northern Gold Coast growth corridor suburb of Coomera.
Location-wise, <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/camelot" target="_blank">Camelot</a> offers everything for growing families. The area is home to numerous primary and secondary schools, the Coomera Marine Precinct and a modern TAFE campus.
Stage 1 of the billion dollar Coomera Town Centre – designed over 60ha with a focus on business, livability and community – has now opened.
The centre features 140 specialty shops, including Woolworths, Coles, Target, Kmart and a cinema; it will transform Coomera into a benchmark dining, lifestyle and entertainment destination.
The flagship of the town centre is a new Westfield shopping centre, anchored by a Myer department store.
The centre also includes government and commercial offices, medical facilities, alfresco dining precinct, and world-class retail, all close to the existing Coomera Railway Station.
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Coomera train station is the multimillion- dollar transport hub of the Northern Gold Coast, providing train station and rapid commuter services to Brisbane and Robina.
Stage 2 of the Gold Coast Light Rail is now complete, linking the Northern Gold Coast via light rail to the centres of Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Griffith University.
Its progress is set to unlock around $1 billion of development along the route.
The hub and interchange is also serviced by Gold Coast buses and links with the Gold Coast’s three major theme parks.
Camelot in Coomera also puts on your doorstep the natural wonders of South Stradbroke Island, the Coomera River, and the Gold Coast’s Broadwater and its sundrenched beaches. Each is a must to experience first-hand, where you can share and enjoy a special piece of paradise.
To download Choice Homes Urban Appeal 2019 magazine, <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/sovereign-estate" target="_blank">click here</a>.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Booming Coomera to be home to residential community Camelot 

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SPONSORED POST
Discover Choice Homes' latest display home by the beach in Mackay at Royal Sands.
Living in a beachside community comes complementary with the Australian dream.
Royal Sands is <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/royal-sands-1" target="_blank">Mackay’s favourite land estate</a>, offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have the seachange you’ve always dreamed about.
The Royal Sands estate is a masterplanned seaside neighbourhood that integrates beautifully into the natural surrounds.
This well-planned estate will allow you to enjoy less time in your car and increase your time living life.
Royal Sands is only five minutes walk to the golden sandy beaches of Mackay’s Northshore, Bucasia Beach and Seaside Parklands, all well-known holiday destinations and well withing walking distance.
It’s easy to see why Royal Sands is a great lifestyle location, providing residents with the best of both worlds.
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Living in a tropical haven with natural parklands on one side and beaches on the other... you’ll feel like you’re a world away but with an abundance of amenities close by. Only minutes from the Mackay Precinct. You’ll never be left wanting.
Major shopping centres, doctors, primary and secondary schools, both private and public, are all just a few minutes drive, which is made all the more pleasant with new roads and infrastructure, implemented in Mackay’s Northern Beaches.
Resurgence in the resources sector is also propelling Mackay forward, adding to the long list of benefits that make Royal Sands the ideal place to buy.
Elegance surrounds the Royal Sands estate, with a vast array of residential allotments, abundant parklands with play equipment and tree-lined streets
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Mackay is a picturesque regional city set on the Pacific Ocean amidst lush sugar cane farms and straddling the turquoise blue Pioneer River.
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Australians are searching for a sea change to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and there are few better places than Mackay to make a new start.
It's these great qualities that made Mackay the inaugural Wotif Town of the year. Locals know that it's a hidden gem, but it won't be hidden for long.
To download Choice Homes Urban Appeal 2019 magazine, <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/sovereign-estate" target="_blank">click here</a>.
 
 
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Royal Sands is Mackay’s favourite seaside neighbourhood

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EXPERT OBSERVER
More carnage overnight with US stocks down another -10 per cent again in early trade to smash into the circuit breakers, with the Dow Jones shedding -36 per cent in less than a month, before a late rally.
<div id="post-body-2582528096951691734" class="post-body entry-content">
The oil price (WTI) was down at nearly $20 at one stage, before a bouncing to $22, nestling in at the lowest level since the early 2000s...so there are some value plays emerging there.
But overall, cash is king at the moment while stock market valuations continue to mean revert.
This risks sounding like a broken record, but it bears repeating that overall US stocks are still far too expensive given the outlook, and could yet fall another -30 per cent even from here (if things got really bad they could go much lower).
 
<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lq18M1eZhts/XnKhiiXFqbI/AAAAAAAA0vY/zUHAiE2ggegAqwyOYEAT9qR84VyY8a3tQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/CAPE.jpg" width="640" height="308" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1090"></div>
 <div>Source: Shiller PE</div>
 Don't forget that previously healthy earnings are about to be decimated, with JPM forecasting US GDP to shrink by 4 per cent in Q1 and 14 per cent in Q2. I can't watch another fund manager video demanding that you stay fully invested with them. It's time to step away from the noise and remember the <a href="https://lowrateshighreturns.com/2020/03/16/applying-the-8-timeless-principles-in-a-bear-market/" target="_blank">8 timeless principles</a>! The <a href="https://lowrateshighreturns.com/2020/01/04/maximising-your-long-term-wealth-with-the-kelly-criterion/" target="_blank">Kelly criterion</a> demands that you keep cash aside and live to fight another day - especially when markets are as overvalued as they have been - as better opportunities will always come around in the future. Remember Rule #1: don't lose money. The Aussie market stock index may catch a bid after a European stimulus announcement this morning. This is Lagarde's own 'whatever it takes' moment, but the ECB promising no limits to its commitment to the Euro, and another massive asset purchase programme. Still on the balance of probabilities the Aussie index increasingly looks likely to hit late 2009 levels this week in the 4,800s range this month. This is a swift and brutal lesson in the importance of <a href="https://lowrateshighreturns.com/2019/12/29/the-magic-of-rebalancing/" target="_blank">rebalancing</a> and keeping cash aside for future opportunities arising, with a decade of price gains erased in about 20 trades. Buy and hold at all times has been mistaken at times as a panacea or even a religion, but it's not; you need and do whatever it takes to keep yourself around to capitalise on the opportunities. 'Whatever it takes' moment
 
A historic An historic A momentous day ahead for Australian financial markets.
The Reserve Bank is set to make a landmark announcement at 2.30pm Sydney time, with Governor Lowe lined up to speak thereafter at 4pm.
Lowe will likely discuss an emergency cut in the official cash rate to 0.25 per cent, central bank purchases of government bonds, the ongoing conducting of repo operations, and other measures to ensure that credit continues to flow to households and businesses. 
Global cases of the coronavirus continue to increase at this stage, suggesting that a serious disruption to the global economy lies squarely ahead, although known cases in Australia remain relatively low at this stage. 
 
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpQcwNO9df0/XnKlqpCKgHI/AAAAAAAA0vg/zHXvgYR03PYK6i4HO-HDdOhrRudmyWKYACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/CV.jpg" width="640" height="388" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="828">
Daily new cases hit fresh highs yesterday (the February 12 spike was a data collation or measurement issue).
<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QesSeFEsy4A/XnKs4AK_b6I/AAAAAAAA0vo/i5BTQupD2EEaQuoc-z-AD4xeoeGEq6pVACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Cases.jpg" width="640" height="342" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="897"></div>
 The biggest surge in cases lately has been in Italy, with 35,713 cases and 2,978 deaths recorded to date. Recession ahead Major bank economists see the Aussie unemployment rate rising to 7 to 8 per cent (not that you can really forecast in the present environment), while the government's initial stimulus package probably isn't enough to save the economy from printing negative growth for both the first and the second quarter of the year.  
This would lock in Australia's first recession in three decades. 
Recent years been characterised by the Reserve Bank 'leaning against' asset prices and continually undershooting the inflation target, with persistently slow growth in wages and living standards.
Nobody could've predicted the great trifecta of drought, bushfires, and a global pandemic, of course, but the economy was already running well below potential before these shocks. 
At this stage all we have is mostly anecdotes about the likely state of the economy, but so many of them reflect sharp drops in revenue, income, commissions, and profits, that this is no time for half measures.
Markets will be looking for a 'whatever it takes' pledge and from Lowe, and the use of unlimited monetary ammunition until things stabilise. Anything less than that will be brushed aside in the savage market conditions. From the government's perspective infrastructure programs and tax cuts aren't going to cut it. What's needed is putting cash into the hands of households and small businesses today...to prevent the R from becoming a D. They'll write books about all this next year; it's been a momentous month. 
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.
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Infrastructure programs and tax cuts won't be enough: Pete Wargent

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A Gowanbrae mortgagee home has been listed for sale.
Located at 87 Primula Boulevard, the home features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a double garage.
The total block comprises 898 square metres, with 399 square metres of internal floor space inside the house.
A price guide of $1,150,000 to $1,250,000 was provided. 
The block of land was purchased in 2013 for $290,000, and the house was completed in 2015.
Lilian Farrugia, from Stockdale &amp; Leggo Gladstone, has the listing.
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Gowanbrae mortgagee home listed for sale

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Auction volumes were down week on week across the combined capital cities, with a total of 1,185 homes scheduled for auction. The lower activity which we have historically noted over school holiday periods, returned a preliminary clearance rate of 65.1%. 
Across Australia’s two largest auction markets, the lower activity across both cities saw the clearance rate improve.
There were 439 Melbourne homes taken to auction returning a preliminary clearance rate of 64.3%, which was higher than last week’s preliminary figure of 62.7% across 645 auctions, with a final result of 61%.
In Sydney, 563 homes were auctioned this week returning a preliminary clearance rate of 68.1%, higher than last week’s 66.9% preliminary result, when a higher number of auctions were held (644). The final clearance rate last week came in at 62.9%.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/6/CL%20JULY%207%20CC.JPG" alt="">
Over the past 12 months across the capital city markets every city has seen a decrease in total listings with Melbourne faring the best and Perth as well as Canberra being hit the hardest.
Across new listings however, both Melbourne and Sydney have seen large increases around 20% with the only other market seeing an increase being Perth.
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New listings soar across Melbourne and Sydney: CoreLogic

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
Millennials are less likely to own a home than previous generations were at the same age.<a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/sold-home-sale-real-estate-sign-168053771?src=MyyBDZW8tOfFl2Au5es9xg-1-2"> </a>
It used to be that everyone wanted to buy a home, seeking pleasure and security, as well as the potential for future wealth.
But younger Americans are buying homes far less often than their elders’ generations did, and that puts a large sector of the U.S. economy at risk.
<a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/96221/homeownership_and_the_american_dream_0.pdf" target="_blank">Millennial home ownership levels</a> are dramatically lower than the those of previous generations at a similar age. In 1985, 45.5% of 25- to 34-year-olds owned homes in the U.S. By 2015, this had fallen about 25%.
Since the housing industry currently accounts for <a href="https://www.nahb.org/en/research/housing-economics/housings-economic-impact/housings-contribution-to-gross-domestic-product-gdp.aspx" target="_blank">15% to 18% of the nation’s gross domestic product</a>, any change in established behaviour could have substantial consequences on the larger economy.
<a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBUYZnsAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Researchers like me</a> who are interested in the future of the U.S. economy are faced with some difficult questions about how millennials’ behaviour is changing the housing market.
My recent research suggests that both increases and decreases in home prices can be directly tied to where millennials choose to live. If a long-term behavioural change is afoot, and this generation continues not to buy homes, it will very directly impact GDP.
Homeownership
Research has shown that younger generations <a href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/regional-economist/second-quarter-2018/accounting-age-financial-health-millennials" target="_blank">lag behind</a> previous generations in terms of milestones like homeownership and marriage.
One of the assets that set previous generations apart is home equity. In 2001, Gen-Xers held an average of US$130,000 in assets, compared to millennials in 2016 that held almost 31% less.
However, assets attributed to home equity are subject to the whims of the housing market. Just ask anyone <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-guide-to-the-financial-crisis--10-years-later/2018/09/10/114b76ba-af10-11e8-a20b-5f4f84429666_story" target="_blank">still underwater</a> on a home purchased before the financial crisis.
And home equity isn’t just vulnerable to large-scale economic upheavals. In fact, it’s constantly fluctuating.
Age and cost
I analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey from about 800 of the most populous counties in the U.S., or about 85% of the population, in a study that has not yet been published. The data show a rather disconcerting trend.
If no one ever moved from one county to another, almost all counties would gradually grow older in terms of average age.
However, the migration of primarily younger individuals has caused an escalation in this ageing shift. Some areas are ageing much more quickly than expected. In those areas, home prices have been vulnerable to long-term declines.
In other words, the trend of rising or falling home values follows patterns of migration in the U.S.
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Omibc/1/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
From 2010 to 2016, counties with ageing populations were about 50% more likely to have experienced a decline in home values than those counties that were becoming “younger.” Not surprisingly, counties that were becoming younger were often experiencing increases in both populations and in the prices of homes.
Two areas that provide an illustration of this are key to the oil and gas industry: the Midland-Odessa area of Texas and Ward County, North Dakota. Both areas have experienced not only a net decrease in the age of residents, but also a net increase in population.
This is far from a rural phenomenon. In Allegheny County, the Pennsylvania county that’s home to Pittsburgh, a similar increase in population has also decreased the average age of its residents.
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/lGbVg/1/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
The cost of a home
Millennials’ migration to particular counties has fuelled <a href="https://www.corelogic.com/downloadable-docs/marketpulse/the-marketpulse-vol-8-issue-4-april-2019-screen-041719.pdf" target="_blank">speculative real estate transactions</a>.
In 2018, such transactions are reaching levels just below the pre-crisis highs, accounting for almost 11% of all homes sold last year. The prices are inflated by buyers looking to “flip” houses. This forces younger buyers to compete with the professionals, pushing them out of the markets they are migrating to.
Younger buyers are further frustrated by the cost of what economists refer to as frictions. Frictions include <a href="https://www.realtrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RT_0618News.pdf" target="_blank">commissions that average 5% to 6%</a> of the purchase price, myriad inspection and appraisal fees, as well as mortgage and title insurance. All of this runs counter to the transparency and ease of access many millennials have become used to in the modern world.
Since the younger generation is <a href="https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/96221/homeownership_and_the_american_dream_0.pdf" target="_blank">better educated</a>, one might expect significant wage increases to counter some of these frictions. But recent graduates between the ages of 22 and 27 <a href="https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market/college-labor-market_wages" target="_blank">earn about 2% less</a> than their predecessors did in 1990.
If <a href="https://www.multpl.com/case-shiller-home-price-index-inflation-adjusted" target="_blank">home prices</a> had also stayed relatively flat, this likely wouldn’t be an issue. However, from 2000 to the present, average home prices have increased by about 3.8% annually, though this varies dramatically from county to county.
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3A5rK/2/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
As urban areas continue to attract more new residents, many young people may need to reassess the true value that home ownership offers. Meanwhile, older generations are likely just becoming aware of the impact of millennial migration on the American dream. If you live in an area that is ageing faster than the natural rate, the probability of your home value decreasing is very real.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/115830/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Jimmie Lenz, Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance, University of South Carolina
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-millennials-are-affecting-the-price-of-your-home-115830" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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How millennials are affecting the price of your home: Jimmie Lenz

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The construction sector is in a cyclical downturn led by the housing sector, where conditions have swung from boom-to-bust.
Private new home building work fell by a further 3.4%, meeting our expectations, to be 11.6% below the peak of mid-2018. Renovations were broadly flat, -0.2%. The housing downturn still has further to go and will weigh on conditions into 2020.
Public works returned to adding to growth, increasing by 5.4% in the quarter. That follows a moderation over the past year (down 13.4%) reflecting a gap in the investment project pipeline. Our view has been and remains that public investment will be supportive of growth over the near-term, with governments continuing to commit to additional projects.
Private infrastructure provided a downside surprise, declining by 4.6%. The outlook is for some improvement. Commencements have picked-up somewhat (eg some iron ore projects have proceeded in response to the recent elevated prices) and the work pipeline has increased – pointing to an emerging lift in activity during the year ahead.
ANDREW HANLAN is a senior economist for Westpac
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Construction activity declined for a 5th consecutive quarter: Andrew Hanlan

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First home buyers in Sydney can look to ‘rent-vest’ as a way to enter the market, while buying conditions are better than ever, says Colliers International. 
‘Rent-vesting’ refers to the concept of buying a property as an investment in an area which is affordable and experiencing significant boom conditions, while choosing to rent in a preferred, more expensive area. 
According to Colliers International, while many Sydney first home buyers choose to buy in expensive, popular areas such as the Eastern suburbs and Lower North Shore, inner west areas such as St George, Canterbury, Bankstown and Gladesville, have seen a significant price drop and are experiencing booming conditions. 
“The St George Canterbury and Bankstown areas currently offer some of the highest rental returns in Sydney and at the moment there is a lot of choice in these areas,” said Peter Kerras, Director, Residential at Colliers International.  
“First home buyers seeking capital growth should be looking in these areas to bag a bargain not compete with other buyers to pay a premium with the prospect of modest growth.
“With rent returns now higher than interest rates in some areas, it has never been a better time to buy an investment property and the strategy of ‘rent-vesting’ – buying in a more affordable area with great returns and stay renting where you know - can be a great way for young people to enter the market.”
Currently, the price difference between a new property and an older property has never been less.
“Traditionally you would be paying 20% more for a new property as opposed to second hand property, however the unsure lending environment has brought down the price of new property in certain areas, which is great news for investors,” Kerras said.
“There is a lot of misconception and fear around buying off the plan; however, many of these are unfounded. New properties have much better noise insulation, sound proofing, fire safety, plumbing and wiring and the latest modcons.”
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Rent-vesting could be key to the market for first home buyers: Colliers International 

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Melbourne’s market has been described as one of the best for sellers in years – with all the stars aligned at present, according to the REIV CEO Geoff White.
He said that the Spring market was delivering everything home sellers need: solid price growth, high clearance rates and strong buyer demand.
In the September quarter, the city’s median house price increased 3.2 per cent to $740,000 Melbourne-wide, he said.
“The median price increase is taking place in tandem with a Spring clearance rate of close to 80 per cent, the highest in seven years,” he said.
“Everything is aligned for sellers, who are benefitting from strong buyer confidence and record low interest rates.”
Melbourne’s inner and middle suburbs were the main growth drivers in the September quarter with house prices in these regions up 4.2 and 3.5 per cent respectively.
After two successive quarters of strong price growth, the city’s outer suburbs recorded more moderate growth of 1.1 per cent.
He added that the top growth suburbs this quarter were widespread across the city – from Seaford in the outer south east to Williamstown and Werribee in the west.
Mr White said that Langwarrin recorded the city’s largest price growth with the median house price increasing 20 per cent over the quarter to $561,000. He added that outer suburbs remain attractive to many home buyers and investors.
“Melbourne’s more affordable areas continue to appeal to buyers seeking the value and space that the outer suburbs offer,” he said. Meanwhile, apartment prices across the city also increased in the September quarter with the metropolitan median up 2.1 per cent to $545,500.
Mr White said that although listings have not reached the peaks of 2015, the current median price and excellent clearance rates indicates that the market is as healthy as ever.
“The market shows no signs of slowing down. The September quarter was stronger than expected and the market is only expected to improve with more than 4,000 auctions forecast for October.”
QUARTERLY OVERVIEW – SEPTEMBER QUARTER 2016
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Top 10 Growth Suburbs (Quarterly)
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<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="64">
 
</td>
</tr>
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</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
 
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</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="64">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
 
</td>
<td width="141">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="92">
Sep-16 Median
</td>
<td width="90">
Jun-16 Median
</td>
<td width="64">
Quarterly Change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
1
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
LANGWARRIN
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$561,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$467,550
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
20.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
2
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
WILLIAMSTOWN
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,353,750
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,140,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
18.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
3
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
SEAFORD
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$605,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$516,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
17.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
4
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
FOOTSCRAY
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$855,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$745,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
14.8%
</td>
</tr>
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5
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
FRANKSTON
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$504,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$440,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
14.5%
</td>
</tr>
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<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
6
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
MALVERN EAST
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,914,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,681,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
13.9%
</td>
</tr>
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7
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
KEW
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$2,153,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,907,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
8
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
BRUNSWICK
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,056,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$935,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
9
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
GLEN WAVERLEY
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,290,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,150,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
10
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
ALTONA NORTH
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$788,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$702,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 
 
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Langwarrin tops Melbourne's price growth climb: REIV

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According to SMSF Association CEO and managing director Andrea Slattery, the cut in the official interest rate to a new low of 1.5 percent will hurt SMSF trustees who have large cash balances in retirement phase.
“Although this low interest rate environment is cause for concern for some trustees, the Association is, however, greatly heartened by the fact that a current research report shows that those SMSFs in the transition to retirement or pension phases are typically coping “very well”, she said.
“Research by the SMSF Association and the retirement experts Accurium shows that the medium average return of funds in these two phases of transition to retirement and full retirement is 4.2% – a real return of more than 3% after inflation, an excellent result in this volatile investment environment. 
“Quite clearly such a real return shows SMSF trustees are getting good advice and are making informed decisions to ensure they are both safeguarding their capital and generating an income.” 
Slattery says the research should help dispel the myth that trustees – especially in the retirement phase – are a one-trick pony with their money only in cash or fixed deposits and blue-chip Australian equities.
“The reality is trustees have been able to find ways of diversifying their investment portfolios to generate healthy returns after inflation, especially considering low interest rates and difficult investment markets, highlighting, yet again, the value of sound strategic advice," she said.
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SMSF trustees in retirement phase set to be hurt after official RBA rate cut

Longstanding Gold Coast and Canberra developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/morris-property-group">Morris Property Group</a> is continuing to roll on with its Glitter Strip apartment pipeline, seeking to return to Mermaid Beach with a new 68-apartment development.

Morris, founded by Barry Morris in 1978 and one of the Gold Coast’s most prolific apartment developers over the past two decades, has filed plans for a 12-storey mixed-use building at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/36-seabeach-avenue-mermaid-beach-qld-4218">34-36 Seabeach Avenue</a>, on the prized eastern side of the Gold Coast Highway.

The 1,227 sqm site occupies a prominent corner position at Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, opposite the Mermaid Plaza retail and office precinct and around 140 metres walking distance from the future Mermaid Beach South light rail station.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a> has designed the project, which will comprise 68 apartments across a mix of 48 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom residences.

The building will rise 12 storeys, reaching a maximum height of 36 metres, with the apartments accounting for a total of 156 bedrooms. The development application also seeks approval for short-term accommodation across the 68 apartments, while two office tenancies are proposed at ground level.

The plans show 108 car spaces across the development, with parking accommodated at ground level and within a three-level basement accessed from Seabeach Avenue.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c2175c99-12fd-4a3c-9be1-89bbf258a90d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%202.59.41%E2%80%AFPM_0.png?VersionId=iNLzWcE6gaAE76rafhEXfHve.4g4Se0p" />

Resident amenity will be concentrated on level two, where Fraser &amp; Partners has designed a recreation deck with a swimming pool, 90 sqm pool terrace, outdoor barbecue area and gym.

The broader communal offering will also incorporate landscaped spaces, with the planning documents noting the amenity has been designed to provide areas for recreation, social interaction and outdoor living.

The proposal would continue the transformation of the Gold Coast Highway corridor through Mermaid Beach ahead of the arrival of the light rail.

The site is zoned Neighbourhood Centre and sits within the Mermaid Beach/Broadbeach Light Rail Corridor neighbourhood plan. While the prescribed building height is 24 metres, the site is identified within an Urban Neighbourhood context providing for a 50 per cent height uplift to 36 metres.

Planning documents describe the stretch of the Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Nobby Beach as increasingly characterised by medium and high-rise development, with the proposed Morris tower joining projects including Ventura, The Alfred, Oceans and Otto.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="911f193f-e381-4a55-be08-58be87fcf978" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%202.59.48%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=oxVvLJaY.SOXEdXrIcogfyEXDfvCmmpM" />

The development would mark Morris Property Group's latest investment in Mermaid Beach, where it has already delivered two apartment projects.

Otto, at 1 Bondi Avenue on the western side of the Gold Coast Highway, comprises 70 apartments across nine storeys. The project was completed in 2019 and includes a residents' gym, recreation deck and swimming pool.

Morris also developed Oceans at 46 Ocean Street, a nine-storey, 70-apartment build-to-rent development completed in 2019. Oceans was the group's first build-to-rent project and incorporates commercial space at ground level.

The two existing Morris projects sit further north along the same Gold Coast Highway corridor as the proposed Seabeach Avenue development. Fraser &amp; Partners' planning analysis specifically identifies both Otto and Oceans among the established built-form precedents surrounding the site.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14925119-7b71-4812-8149-340317512c7c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%203.00.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=aEJqYuw_nTCjcin17BSD0piB1EFotTlj" />

Mermaid Beach represents only part of Morris' considerable Gold Coast footprint.

The family-owned developer has been particularly active in neighbouring Broadbeach, delivering projects including Sierra Grand, Eclipse, Synergy, Qube, Koko, Opus and Malo, while its current pipeline includes Maison and the two-tower Crest development.

Further south, Morris has also developed a string of projects in Burleigh Heads, including Element, Boardwalk and Sandbar, while Essentia expanded its footprint north into Surfers Paradise.

The Seabeach Avenue application has been lodged by PMM Broadbeach Pty Ltd and seeks a development permit for a Material Change of Use for multiple dwellings, short-term accommodation and office uses. Zone Planning Group prepared the planning application, with Fraser &amp; Partners commissioned as architect.

The project comes as the developer continues to expand its Gold Coast pipeline while retaining a significant presence in Canberra. Morris now has more than $2.5 billion of development in its national pipeline and has delivered more than 7,000 homes during its near five-decade history

Joel Robinson

First look: Morris Property Group returns to Mermaid Beach with new Seabeach Avenue apartment development

<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3hvFB2uWTRfEyEcpTSnnK9" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis" target="_blank">Fortis</a>&nbsp;is continuing its stronghold on Sydn​ey’s eastern suburbs apartment market, launching&nbsp;in September&nbsp;its latest boutique&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0GI5S9-wNeiLUnM-d1uYkw" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">Double Bay</a>&nbsp;development,&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2YNouJQcFjiTTgVHbgDLA-" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">55 William</a>.

55 William presents&nbsp;just eight north-facing&nbsp;two-bedroom, three-bedroom and full-floor&nbsp;residences to the market, priced from $4.5 million.

The upcoming launch comes just weeks after Fortis secured approval for the $80 million development, its third eastern suburbs approval in two months. Construction is already underway, with completion targeted for 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376250]

55 William adds to a growing concentration of Fortis projects in and around Double Bay, a market the developer has become increasingly active in over recent years.

Fortis previously completed the nine-residence Marmont on New South Head Road, while it is currently developing a mixed-use residential and retail project at 12 Cross Street. Its wider Double Bay footprint also extends into commercial and retail development.

The developer's broader Sydney residential pipeline is particularly concentrated across the eastern suburbs, with projects spanning Doub​le Bay, Ro​se Bay, Wo​ollahra, Dar​ling Point, Poi​nt Piper and Eli​zabeth Bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376253]

At 55 William, Fortis has again turned to MHN Design Union, the architecture practice behind several of its eastern suburbs projects, while London-based 1508 London has been appointed to handle the interiors and Wyer &amp; Co the landscaping.

The six-level building will comprise a combination of two and three-bedroom apartments, including a garden residence, full-floor apartments, a sub-penthouse and penthouse. Each residence will have secure basement parking and private outdoor space.

A rooftop terrace for all residents, along with select apartments, enjoys views across Double Bay Harbour and toward the Sydney skyline.

Ceiling heights will reach up to three metres&nbsp;in select residences, while the kitchens will feature natural stone and integrated Gaggenau appliances.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The boutique nature of the project reflects the type of stock Fortis has increasingly targeted across Sydney's eastern suburbs, where larger apartments and smaller buildings are being pitched primarily toward local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

Fortis Group General Manager Ed Eve said the developer continues to see demand from buyers wanting to remain in the eastern suburbs but move into newer, lower-maintenance housing.

“We're seeing continued demand from local owner-occupiers and downsizers looking for high-quality homes that allow them to remain in the eastern suburbs, close to the lifestyle and community they know,” Eve said.

55 William is also one of the early projects to respond directly to the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms. Fortis had previously secured approval for just two townhouses on the 599 sqm site before revising the scheme to eight apartments following the planning changes.

Situated one street back from Double Bay's water's edge, the project enjoys an enviable harbourside setting within walking distance of Double Bay Village and the ferry wharf.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376252]

Fortis has increasingly made the eastern suburbs a major focus of its Sydney pipeline. Beyond Double Bay, it recently completed the 14-residence Piper in Point Piper and has projects underway or planned across Rose Bay, Woollahra and Darling Point.

The developer recently secured approval for Verano in Rose Bay, a six-level development comprising 21 two, three and four-bedroom apartments, also designed by MHNDU.

55 William&nbsp;is soon to be release to the market with VIP appointments commencing early September,&nbsp;with residences priced from $4.5 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152579]

Fortis continues eastern suburbs push with 55 William launch

UAE-based developer Arada has unveiled plans for a $2 billion twin-tower apartment development in Broadbeach, marking its first move into Queensland as it continues its rapid expansion across Australia.

Arada will develop 952 apartments across two towers on a prominent site opposite the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the project targeted for completion ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The project represents Arada's largest commitment to the Australian market since arriving in the country in 2024 and significantly expands a local pipeline that has now grown to eight projects and more than 5,000 homes.

It will also be the first major Queensland project delivered by Roberts Co since the tier-one contractor was acquired by Arada Group in 2025.

Plus Studio has designed the Broadbeach development, which will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two towers connected by a landscaped podium.

A significant resident amenity offering will include lagoon and lap pools, a gym, sauna and steam room, alongside a mist room, infrared room and salt scrub facilities. Communal terraces, private dining areas, a library, residents' lounge and work-from-home spaces are also planned. Around 1,200 sqm of retail and hospitality space will occupy the ground floor.

The site puts Arada in one of the Gold Coast's most active apartment markets, directly opposite the convention centre and within walking distance of Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and Broadbeach's dining and retail precinct.

It also has immediate access to the Gold Coast light rail network and sits just a few blocks from the beach.

Arada Group Chief Executive Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said Broadbeach represented an opportunity for the developer to expand beyond its initial NSW pipeline.

“Broadbeach is a world-class address that gives us the canvas to create a community of exceptional design and lifestyle quality that genuinely enriches the daily lives of the people who call it home,” Alkhoshaibi said.

“This is our first development outside New South Wales, and it reflects our growing ambition to grow in key urban markets around the country.”

Alkhoshaibi said bringing Roberts Co into the project would give Arada greater control over the development and construction process.

“Delivering this project through Roberts Co, our own tier-one construction business, means we can bring the quality, pace and accountability that our buyers expect.”

The move into Broadbeach comes as Arada accelerates its Australian expansion following its entry into the market two years ago. The developer has assembled a pipeline of eight projects comprising more than 5,000 homes, while the acquisition of Roberts Co last year gave the group its own Australian construction capability.

Globally, Arada has a development portfolio valued at $50 billion comprising more than 55,000 homes across the UAE, United Kingdom and Australia.

The Gold Coast is emerging as the next major market for the developer, with strong population growth and infrastructure spending ahead of the 2032 Games continuing to underpin significant apartment development across the coastal strip.

Arada plots $2 billion Broadbeach towers in major Queensland move

Sydney’s downsizer market is changing, with a growing cohort of buyers prioritising the right home over simply finding a smaller one.

Coronation Property Head of Sales Cam Porter says the traditional idea of downsizing does not necessarily reflect what many buyers are now looking for, particularly those moving from established family homes across Sydney.

Instead, he says they are increasingly becoming “right-sizers”, seeking lower-maintenance homes without sacrificing the space, amenity or quality they have become accustomed to.

“We are increasingly seeing buyers who are not motivated by the idea of simply moving into a smaller property,” Porter says.

“They are right-sizers. They want a home that is easier to manage and better connected, but they still expect generosity, quality and a floorplan that supports the way they live.”

It is a subtle but important distinction in a market where apartment developers are increasingly targeting established owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377495]

For many of these buyers, moving from a house to an apartment is not driven by a desire to dramatically reduce their living space. Instead, the appeal is in removing some of the maintenance associated with a larger home while retaining generous living areas, storage and enough flexibility to accommodate family and friends.

Coronation’s sales team is seeing buyers place particular importance on natural light, practical storage and additional rooms that can be used as guest bedrooms, home offices or secondary living spaces.

Kitchens and dining areas are also playing an increasingly important role, particularly for buyers who regularly entertain or have children and grandchildren visit.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377494]

“These buyers still want their home to feel generous,” Porter says.

“They may want less maintenance, but they are not looking for less life.”

The challenge for the broader housing market is providing enough of the right stock to encourage that move.

While much of the discussion around Sydney’s housing shortage has centred on the number of homes being delivered, Porter says the diversity of those homes is equally important.

Older homeowners can remain in large family houses for longer when they cannot find an appropriate alternative in the neighbourhoods where they have built their lives.

“The decision is rarely as simple as wanting fewer bedrooms,” Porter says.

“People are weighing up their connection to a neighbourhood, the space they need for family, the quality of the home and whether it will continue to work for them over the long term.”

It also has implications beyond the downsizer market. Providing suitable apartments for smaller households can free up established houses for families who need the additional bedrooms and land, creating greater movement through the housing market.

<h2>Lillian targets the next stage of apartment buyer</h2>

It is a buyer Coronation is targeting at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lillian-erskineville-9-metters-street-erskineville-nsw-2043">Lillian</a>, its new collection of apartments, terraces and penthouses at Erskineville Village.

Designed by Silvester Fuller, Lillian has been shaped around larger living spaces, natural light and flexible floorplans, alongside landscaped areas, wellness amenity and communal spaces for residents.

The development will form part of Coronation’s broader Erskineville Village precinct, which will combine new homes with green space, retail, hospitality and new pedestrian connections.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377688]

McPherson Park will sit at the centre of the precinct, creating a significant new green space alongside the project’s retail and hospitality offering.

For Porter, the opportunity is to give buyers another housing option without forcing them to leave the part of Sydney they already know.

“People should be able to change the type of home they live in without having to change their entire life,” he says.

“For many buyers, Lillian offers the opportunity to remain connected to the Inner West and the city, while gaining access to a more convenient, walkable and considered way of living.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377687]

Coronation will explore the changing <a href="https://lillianresidences.com.au/news/lillian-x-space-x-downsizers-event-27-august/">right-sizer market at an event on August 27</a>, bringing together experts across property, design and lifestyle.

Held in partnership with SPACE, Poliform and Downsizer.com.au, the event will include a property market outlook from economist Michael Blythe alongside discussion around the considerations facing buyers planning their next move.

Attendees will also be able to learn more about the residences and amenity planned at Lillian Erskineville.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135149]

From downsizing to right-sizing: What Sydney buyers want from their next home

Family-owned builder and developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/omaya">Omaya</a> is bringing its 27-storey The Maybelle development to market, with the 229-apartment tower rising alongside Ismay Reserve near North Strathfield.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-maybelle-21-parramatta-road-homebush-nsw-2140">The Maybelle</a> will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with its height providing elevated outlooks towards the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge, while other residences will look across neighbouring Ismay Reserve.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/squillace-architects">Squillace Architects</a>, the tower combines its parkside setting with proximity to the established retail, dining and transport amenity around North Strathfield.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376196]

Residences will feature open-plan living spaces and a choice of two interior schemes, while communal amenity is spread across two elevated levels of the building.

Level 8 will be home to the Garden Pavilion, a full-floor resident space incorporating communal entertaining and breakout areas, seating and recreation spaces. Further up the tower, a landscaped Sky Terrace on Level 14 will provide another communal area with panoramic views towards the Harbour Bridge and Sydney skyline.

At ground level, the development sits directly alongside Ismay Reserve, where lawns, walking paths, children's play areas, picnic spaces and recreational facilities extend the green space available immediately around the project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376194]

The Maybelle is also within walking distance of North Strathfield and the Bakehouse Quarter, which provides a mix of cafés, restaurants, shops and everyday services.

Existing rail and bus services provide connections across Sydney, while the future North Strathfield Metro and access to the M4 will add to the transport options available around the precinct. Walking and cycling routes also extend via Powells Creek towards Sydney Olympic Park and its sporting, entertainment and parkland precincts.

Families are also well positioned for access to a broad selection of established schools and education options across Strathfield and the surrounding Inner West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376181]

Omaya has operated in Sydney for more than 35 years, managing projects from acquisition and design through to construction and delivery. The family-owned company is both developer and builder of The Maybelle.

Apartments start from $560,000, with the development protected by 10-year Latent Defects Insurance.

Construction is well underway, with completion expected by the end of 2026 and move-in anticipated from Q1 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134873]

Staff reporter

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