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Investors in the Sunshine Coast property market have been active, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at the rental yields across the nation. 
The report notes market sentiment has improved which has in turn instilled confidence in the marketplace.
The main driver of this sentiment has been the major infrastructure projects currently under way across the coast.
The current low interest rate environment has also had investors looking to property to increase their returns.
Across the coast, gross yields normally tend to range between 4% and 15% which reflects the relative risk on investment.
"Properties situated within areas underpinned by re-development potential or situated in unique and sought after locations tend to be at the lower end of the yield range," the valuation firm said. 
A yield at the higher end of the range indicates the location, condition of the property and the additional maintenance costs required.
Units within the main tourist precincts can also achieve gross yields up to 15% however with high body corporate and management fees, these properties tend to show net yields in the 2% to 6% range.
"There has been a large increase in dual occupancy homes constructed across the coast with a main dwelling typically providing three- bedroom accommodation and an attached one or two bedroom unit," the valuation firm continued.
"These properties have been primarily purchased by investors and have been selling with gross yields between 5.9% and 6.3%."
The report suggests slightly higher yields can be achieved through the hinterland townships with properties comprising three to five flats in the Nambour area achieving yields in the 7% to 8% range.
Typically, these properties are older with ongoing maintenance required.
"In the prestige market, we have started to see an increase in the number of investors," the valuation firm commented. 
"This market is typically difficult to gauge given that there are a number of different drivers in the investment decision.
"This market is closely related to the southern markets of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, so at the moment has been pretty good."
A number of investors in this segment are certainly purchasing for a position or lifestyle choice and in quite a number of cases, with a view to the investment being the future retirement home and principal place of residence.
Therefore, a higher yield is not always driving the purchasing decision.
"All in all, the investment market on the Sunshine Coast has been pretty healthy." 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Infrastructure projects instil confidence in Sunshine Coast residential market: HTW residential 

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Paradise Point, a waterfront family home set on 81 acres in Narooma, NSW has been sold for $3.16 million. 
The South Coast property was listed by John Murray of Whale Coast Realty and David Nolan of Webster Nolan Real Estate. 
Situated in an elevated position with inlet views, Paradise Point at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-narooma-700050134" target="_blank">496 Riverview Road</a> features a four bedroom family home, licensed private jetty on Freshwater Bay, multi-purpose sheds and cleared open grazing paddocks. 
The residence comprises four bedrooms, sun room/dining room, living room, kitchen and carport. 
Additional features of the home include hardwood timber frame and flooring, outdoor dining area, landscaped garden, and views of water and countryside.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/9/4/paradise%20point%202.jpg" alt="">
The 12 metre long jetty is constructed by turpentine hardwood posts, hardwood and pine frame and deck.
Another feature of Paradise Point is the ownership to the high water mark with 2.5 kilometre frontage to Wagonga Inlet.  
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/9/4/paradise%20point%203.jpg" alt="">
The European history of Paradise Point began in the late 1800s when Peter Clow owned the land, using a part of it for cattle grazing and a small sawmill.
With only three owners in its history, Paradise Point was sold to the current owner in 1977.
Paradise Point is about 10 minutes from Narooma with supermarkets, restaurants and Golf Club, 40 minutes from Moruya Airport and one hour from Batemans Bay. 
Bidding started at $2 million and after 129 bids the property sold for $3,162,000.
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Narooma waterfront home with private jetty sold for $3.16 million

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All nine 7-Eleven servos on Burgess Rawsons auction day card have sold under the hammer.
They had nine properties on the ticket across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory which sold for a combined $40 million.
Each of the properties offered for sale came with a brand new 12 year lease to 7-Eleven.
The day opened with a strong $5.75 million for a 7-Eleven service station in Liverpool, west of Sydney (pictured top).
Bidding opened at $3.5 million for the 4,235 sqm Elizabeth Street property and sold 10 minutes later with a knockout $20,000 bid.
The sale represented one of the lowest yields of the day, near 3.8 per cent.
A $3,925,000 Clyde sale on Parramatta Road was next before the biggest sale of the day, in ACT's Braddon opposite Telstra's HQ.
The Mort Street property sold for $7.1 million on a 4.1 per cent yield. It has a net income of $291,997.
The near 20 minute auction saw bidding begin at $5 million.
The strongest yield was achieved on the last property to go under the hammer, a freestanding Pacific Highway 7-Eleven in Marks Point. The $4 million sale represented a yield of six per cent.
 
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All nine 7-Eleven servos sell at bumper Burgess Rawson auction day

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The Exchange on Port Melbourne’s Bay Street, close to the Melbourne CBD, has been listed for sale. 
The 39 Bay Street property, located on the corner of Bay Street and Rouse Street, is offered on a WALE of close to seven years.
It comes with street-side dining and a 3am general (late night) license attached.
Formerly home to Molly Blooms, the property has been operated as a pub for over a century.
CBRE Hotels, has it listed in conjunction with CBRE Melbourne Strip Retail Investments. 
The two-story building is fully leased to the Australian Venue Co (AVC), which operates about 150 venues across Australia and New Zealand.
The Exchange hotel is being sold with almost seven years to AVC remaining on their current term, providing annuity income, a 6-month bank guarantee and rental growth through to April 2026 with an additional 5x5 year options taking the lease term to 2051 with all options. 
It is listed with an anticipated yield range of over 5% for its onsite auction on November 29.
 
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Port Melbourne's The Exchange Hotel listed for sale

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St Kilda’s former Greyhound Hotel razed site has been listed for November 22 auction.
CBRE has been appointed by failed developer Steller’s receiver KordaMentha.
Steller bought the 911sq m corner site at 1 Brighton Road for $7.5 million in 2017.
It has three street frontages with permit approval for a seven-level building with 34 apartments and three shops.
Set opposite St Kilda Town Hall, CBRE’s Mark Wizen told the Herald Sun he expected to attract offers “in excess of $5 million”.
The 163-year-old pub was demolished despite a bid for heritage protection.
Its Art Deco-style facade which was built over the original in the 1930s disqualified the venue from heritage listing.
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CBRE tips $2.5 million loss for Stellar's St Kilda Greyhound Hotel site offering

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The RBA governor Philip Lowe said he was prepared to cut the cash rate further if it was needed to improve economic conditions in Australia.
And he maintains the recent cuts are working.
"Low interest rates are supporting jobs and overall income growth. 
"At the same time, though, we recognise that monetary policy is not working in exactly the same way that it used to."
Lowe effectively repudiated former treasurers Paul Keating and Peter Costello's view that monetary policy has "run its race." 
The former treasurers have both suggested that monetary policy was not useful any more after the three 0.25 percentage point interest rate cut.
<div class="_3MT_w" data-experiment-target="paywallPrompt">The RBA has already lowered interest rates three times over the year to a record low 0.75 per cent. </div>
“We are confident that these reductions are helping the Australian economy and supporting the gentle turning point in economic growth,” Dr Lowe said when he delivered the Sir Leslie Melville lecture in Canberra yesterday.
He noted high levels of debt meant that "people are more careful with their spending and are less inclined to take on yet more debt. 
"This is especially so when income growth has disappointed, as it has over recent times.
"In a number of countries, both government and households feel constrained by their previous decisions to borrow and are seeking to put their balance sheets on a sounder footing. 
"One way they can do this is by spending less and saving more," he noted
“We also recognise that low interest rates hurt the finances of many people, particularly those relying on interest income. So there is a balancing act here,” he said.
“The board is prepared to ease monetary policy further if needed.
"Having said that, it is extraordinarily unlikely that we will see negative interest rates in Australia.
“It is likely though that we will require an extended period of low interest rates to reach full employment and for inflation to be consistent with the target.”
Lowe said it is the duty of the Reserve Bank Board to ensure that its policies are directed to the greatest advantage of the people of Australia so as to best contribute to:
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<li>the stability of the currency of Australia;</li>
<li>the maintenance of full employment in Australia; and</li>
<li>the economic prosperity and welfare of the people of Australia.</li>
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RBA governor Philip Lowe says low cash rate was working

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Over the June 2019 quarter, resales of Darwin properties generated $25.7 million in profits and $15.6 million in losses, according to the latest findings from CoreLogic's Pain &amp; Gain report.
The market also recorded $269.5 million in realised profits which accounted for 1.6% of profits nationally.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/10/29/Resales%20DAR%201.JPG" alt="">
Over the quarter, the share of houses resold at a loss increased while the share of unit resales at a loss rose. 
Click to<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/10/29/Resales%20CAN%202.JPG" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/10/29/Resales%20CAN%202.JPG" target="_blank"></a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/10/29/Resales%20CAN%202.JPG">
The Pain &amp; Gain report also examined other Australian capital cities like <a href="/news/wa/quarter-of-australias-loss-making-property-resales-occurred-in-perth-corelogic-pain-gain-report">Perth</a> and <a href="/news/tas/hobart-property-resale-losses-remain-low-despite-market-slowdown-corelogic-pain-gain-report">Hobart</a>, as well as trends such as <a href="/expert-insights/investing/investors-more-likely-than-owner-occupiers-to-resell-property-at-a-loss-corelogic-pain-gain-report">investors being more likely to resell property at a loss than owner occupiers</a>.
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Canberra resales at a loss on the rise: CoreLogic Pain & Gain Report

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Across the nation, a higher proportion of houses are resold at a profit than units, according to the latest CoreLogic Pain and Gain report for the June quarter.
They found that this trend is also evident across the combined capital city and combined regional markets.
In Melbourne, units were more than 4.5 times likely to resell at a loss than houses while in Brisbane units were 5.5 times as likely to resell for a loss as houses and in Canberra units were 7.4 times more likely to resell at a loss than houses.
Each and every individual capital city and rest of state region recorded a greater share of unit resales at a loss than houses.
Click <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/10/29/Resales%20NAT.JPG" target="_blank">here</a> to enlarge
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/10/29/Resales%20NAT.JPG" alt="">
"For the capital cities, the proportion of houses reselling at a gross profit was lower over the quarter in all capital cities except for Hobart and Darwin," the report said.
"For capital city units, the share of resales at a profit was lower over the quarter across each capital city except for Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.
"For the regional housing markets, the proportion of houses reselling for a profit reduced over the quarter in all regional markets except WA.
"For units, profit-making resales increased over the quarter in regional Vic, regional SA, regional Tas and regional NT with declines recorded elsewhere."
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Unit resales at a loss were double house resales: CoreLogic Pain & Gain Report

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Australian residential prices remained “40% overvalued” and the bubble is yet to burst, the international doomsday commentator Harry Dent has claimed.
Australia was going to lead the next global bust, he said.
Dent forecast “Australian prices would fall 50%” in the next downturn and he ranks Australia as the third most overpriced market in the world, coming in behind Hong Kong and China.
“Don’t take the ‘oh, we had a little crash and it’s over, time to buy again because we don’t want to miss out’,” Dent said.
“Real estate, mark my words, will in five, 10 or 15 years time never be better than this. The best cities, Sydney and Melbourne, are going to go down more than say Adelaide. Rich people will lose the most money,” he tipped.
Dent again claimed that Australians’ exposure to a weakening Chinese economy would be the primary trigger of the downturn.
“It’s going to be more pervasive,” he said ahead of his seminar tour to Sydney next month.
He said while Australia escaped the worst of the global financial crisis, it would not avoid the next global downturn, which would be worse than the 1929 depression.
Dent says the recent Reserve Bank of Australia rate cuts would only exacerbate the looming correction.
“Maybe we’re over-forecasting this, that’s possible, but there’s not much upside in real estate anywhere in the world left after a bubble this size,” Dent added.
“Your great Australian real estate bubble is going to burst … maybe I am wrong, maybe it’s 30 or 40%.
“But there’s no way real estate is going to go up much further … and there will be no soft landing,” he said.
When Dent was on his 2016 tour he forecast a 50% fall. However, Sydney prices rose by 75% after that forecast, followed by a 15% decline over the past two years. Dent gave his latest forecast to Martin North at Digital Finance Analytics, who noted that debt is higher than it’s ever been.
“Yet the Reserve Bank here is basically encouraging people to get into the market now to try and support the economy,” North said.
Dent’s latest doomsday claims have been slammed by mainstream property analysts.
“He has never been correct on the Australian housing market,” the boss of SQM Research Louis Christopher said yesterday.
“I am concerned for people who get hoodwinked into his seminars,” Christopher added.
Property economist Dr Andrew Wilson said Dent was a “discredited doomsayer”.
Wilson said that the bubble collapse claims were “click-bait”.
“And, as usual, outrageous predictions of steep and sustained house price declines will prove to be so much nonsense — as has clearly again been the case this year,” he said.
“With the prospect now of a lengthy period of relative certainty and predictability ahead, buyers and sellers will increasingly ignore the snake-oil salesmen and take advantage of the ongoing benefits of home ownership and investment,” Wilson said.
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 
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Harry Dent is back predicting property prices will "fall 50%"

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A shop in the Hawthorn Lido Cinemas complex, Victoria has been leased.
Hungarian patisserie Kurtosh, the Sydney-based eatery, has leased the 112 sqm space within the Lido Cinemas complex on Hawthorn’s Glenferrie Road.
Fitzroys Associate Director Chris James negotiated the lease at $85,000 per annum net.
He said the straight 10-year lease signed by Kurtosh highlighted the faith retailers have in the area, and in the cinema complex’s positioning on the popular shopping strip.
Kurtosh is known for its kürtőskalács - spiral Hungarian pastries also known as chimney cakes, and a range of other cakes and pastries.
The patisserie has just opened its fourth Sydney location at the new Darling Square precinct in Haymarket.
Kurtosh will join Axil Coffee Roasters, Huxtaburger, frozen yoghurt group Yo-Chi and and Venetian bar and restaurant Vaporetto within the building.
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Hawthorn Lido Cinemas retail space leased to Hungarian patisserie

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

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After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<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/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

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ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

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Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

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Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

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Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

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The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

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The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Staff reporter

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