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A three bedroom North Booval, Qld townhouse has been listed with an asking price of $175,000.
It is described in the listing as a "perfect home base for travellers or downsizers or tenant ready investment opportunity."
Gai Flynn of First National Real Estate holds the listing.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-qld-north+booval-129750514" target="_blank">90/50 Gledson Street, North Booval</a> the property is made up of three bedrooms two bathrooms and a single garage.
Set on 130 sqm, every bedroom features a ceiling fans, vertical blinds and built-in robes.
Featuring a concreted alfresco outdoor plus shady shrubs for privacy.
Located withing 'The Complex' which has a swimming pool and BBQ facilities available for residents and is 1.2 kilometre to the Bundamba train station.
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The median price for a home in <a href="/developments/north-booval-qld-4304">North Booval</a> is $279,500 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as -3.1%.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Three bedroom North Booval, Qld townhouse listed for mortgagee sale

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In February, the trade surplus climbed to a record high of $4.8bn, up from $4.35bn in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.6bn in December 2016. The February result exceeded expectations (market median $3.7bn and Westpac $3.8bn).
Imports surprised to the low side, declining by 1.1%, whereas we anticipate a rise of 1.1%. A drop in fuels was the source of weakness.
Exports provided an upside surprise, increasing by 0.2% vs a forecast decline of 0.9%. Notably, the expected pull-back in gold failed to materialise.
More fundamentally, a key dynamic driving a widening of the trade surplus is the boost to export earnings from higher commodity prices, notably for iron ore and coal.  Total exports in February are 13.2% above the level of a year ago, outstripping a 4.4% rise in imports.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/3/TRADE%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge: 
<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/2019/4/3/TRADE%201.jpg" alt="">
Metal ore exports (including iron ore) jumped in February, as anticipated, up by $1.0bn to $9.6bn - which is also a record high. Recall, the iron ore price leapt to US$85/t in the month as global supply was dented by the tailings dam disaster in Brazil. Iron ore is now trading close to US$90/t.
The trade surplus in the March quarter to date is running at $4.6bn a month, well up from $2.9bn per month in the December quarter. The bulk of this improvement likely reflects higher commodity prices.
The lift in commodity prices is boosting Australia's national income, which is flowing through to higher tax revenues - providing governments with additional fiscal flexibility, as evident in recent budget updates. However, despite this, wages growth remains sluggish.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/3/TRADE%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/4/3/TRADE%202.jpg" alt="">
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In February, the import bill declined by 1.1% to $35.0bn. Key to the fall was a drop in fuels, down $344mn. Imports ex fuel were broadly flat in the month, inching 0.1% lower. Similarly, for the March quarter to date relative to the December quarter, fuels are tracking sharply lower - likely a mix of lower prices and lower volumes.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/3/TRADE%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/4/3/TRADE%203.jpg" alt="">
Export earnings inched 0.2% higher in the month of February. As noted above, metal ores (including iron ore) jumped by $1.0bn to $9.6bn, a record high - driven by rising prices. Coal fell by $0.8bn on lower volumes. For the quarter to date, export earnings are up by around 4% on the December quarter - led higher by metal ores and gold, as well as rural goods, more than offsetting a softening for coal.
ANDREW HANLAN is a senior economist for Westpac
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Australia's trade account, surplus hits record high on higher iron ore price: Andrew Hanlan

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A Port Lincoln, SA mortgagee house has been sold for $129,000.
This marks an $81,000 reduction on it's 2006 sale price of $210,000.
Luke Duncan of Kemp Real Estate held the listing.
Situated at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/1-duncan-avenue-port-lincoln-sa-5606-2014967856" target="_blank">1 Duncan Avenue, Port Lincoln</a> the property is a three bedroom one bathroom house.
Set on 1,037 sqq, the house sold on March 21 2019.
Positioned on a corner allotment, the dwelling features "plenty of shedding" and a fully fenced yard.
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The median price for a home in <a href="/developments/port-lincoln-sa-5606">Port Lincoln</a> is $303,000 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 1.1%.
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Port Lincoln, SA mortgagee house sold for $81,000 loss

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A Port Lincoln, SA mortgagee house has sold for $139,000.
This is a reduction of $94,000 on its 2008 sale price of $233,000.
Luke Duncan of Kemp Real Estate held the listing.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-port+lincoln-130334538" target="_blank">12 Kinmont Avenue</a>, the property is a three bedroom one bathroom house.
Set on 803 sqm the house was built in 1972.
The house features a timber deck with views over the township and ocean, plus it has a fenced backyard.
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The median price for a home in <a href="/developments/port-lincoln-sa-5606">Port Lincoln, SA</a> is $303,000 according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 1.1%.
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Port Lincoln, SA mortgagee house sold for $94,000 loss

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An entire block of eight units in Fairfield have been purchased for $2.82 million following post-auction negotiations.
The buyer of 378 The Horsley Drive, Fairfield is a non-profit organisation.
Set on an 828 sqm site, the asset is fully leased with strata subdivision.
<img src="https://f.datasrvr.com/f1/419/24442/Fairfield_2.JPG">
The property was marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial NSW Associate Director and Licensee in Charge Joseph Assaf and Sales Executive Robert Napoli.
Mr Assaf said it was a strong campaign with interest coming from a wide array of potential buyers, including both private and government funded housing providers
“The property is within walking distance to the thriving Fairfield town centre and train station, with all units having recently been renovated with generous floor plans and on-site parking.
“The asset delivers a current passing income of $155,220* p.a. and with value-add potential, and the fact we had four competing bidders on the day, it highlights how much this opportunity was appreciated," he concluded.
<img src="https://f.datasrvr.com/f1/719/83004/Fairfield_3.JPG">
The eight units consist of 7x2 bedrooms and 1x1 bedroom.
It is zoned B4 Mixed Use.
All the units have laundries, mirror built-ins to main bedrooms and the building has two additional storerooms plus a caretakers bathroom.
Situated close to the Fairfield Public School, it's 350 metres away from the Fairfield railway station and the town centre.
Last sold in 2016 as a block of 8, the building sold for $2.3 million despite an asking price of $2.49 million.
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Fairfield apartment building sold post-auction for $2.82 million

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Investors, represented by Maurice Blackburn, are taking class action against construction giant Lendlease over its share tumble last November following a surprise $350 million write-down on its engineering business that includes the major Sydney road project.
The NorthConnex project is expected to be delivered six months after schedule, due for completion in 2020.
Investors who bought Lendlease shares between February 21 and November 8 can participate in the claim.
The delayed NorthConnex project in Sydney caused its share price plunge caused after revealing it was behind schedule on the multibillion-dollar road development.
Maurice Blackburn will today begin taking registrations for the legal proceedings against the global developer.
The law firm alleges Lendlease broke the Corporations Act by failing to properly inform its shareholders about serious issues in its engineering and services arm and by engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct.
Lendlease saw its shares tumble on the day of the write-down announcement to $14.25 after closing strongly on November 8 at $17.45.
The share fall wiped billions from the company's market capitalisation over a period of five trading days, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
 
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Lendlease face class action after share price collapse

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The budget just before an election seems to have a special quality: the transport infrastructure will surely be more plentiful than usual, and carefully chosen to shore up the electoral bulwarks. But don’t get too excited: this year the rhetoric may be big, but the scale of the numbers is nothing unusual. What is different is the pattern of spending over the budget’s four-year forward estimates.
The budget estimates a transport spend of A$7.4 billion for the coming year, 2019-20, and $33 billion over the forward estimates period. The 2019-20 expenditure estimate amounts to 0.37% of GDP – comparable to what we’ve seen in recent years. In fact, governments have spent between 0.26% and 0.53% of GDP under Treasurers Morrison, Hockey and Swan, and Treasurer Frydenberg is no different.
What’s particularly interesting about this budget, though, is that the treasurer is chancing his arm on the medium term.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/267093/original/file-20190402-177175-1h08ig9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/267093/original/file-20190402-177175-1h08ig9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Usually treasurers leave themselves some wriggle room in the outyears. They can always spend more if the cash is available, and invariably they do. Plus, it gets easier to estimate what will be spent as the time of spending draws closer.
Of course, these days much of the promised spending is further into the future than the forward estimates. The government is touting a $100 billion, ten-year <a href="https://buildingourfuture.gov.au/assets/documents/10_Year_Infrastructure_Pipeline.pdf" target="_blank">Infrastructure Investment Pipeline</a>. There’s money all over the country.
Where does the money go?
Victoria gets particularly big-ticket items in this budget, totalling $6.2 billion, and somewhat more of it within the next four years than other states. In New South Wales, the longer-term package totals $7.3 billion, including $3.5 billion for the Western Sydney north-south rail link as well as a $1.6 billion upgrade to the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.
But if you look at what’s happening within the next four years, a notable larger item is a road safety package, totalling $400 million over four years. The longer-term goal is for this package to cost $2.2 billion.
Some of the other longer-term spending is squarely focused on rural and regional areas. This includes a billion to improve the Princes Highway in NSW, Victoria and SA.
If it all comes to pass, there’s something here for everyone.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/114597/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;">
Marion Terrill, Transport and Cities Program Director, Grattan Institute
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/total-transport-spending-is-about-par-for-the-course-but-the-pattern-is-unusual-114597" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Total transport spending is about par for the course, but the pattern is unusual

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The Willoughby headquarters of the Nine Network is about to hit the market.
The LEPC9 joint venture which consists of Sydney-based property group and funds management company Lotus Group and Hong Kong-based global property group Euro Properties is behind the sale.
The three hectare, mixed-used development located on Artarmon Road in Sydney’s lower north shore has been ‘Masterplan Approved’.
Designed by architects CHROFI, the site currently includes approval for 460 apartments across nine buildings ranging in height from four to nine storeys, as well as public piazzas and open green space.
Channel Nine will remain the tenant until late 2020.
Euro Properties Executive Director Jeff Chan said: “Since the joint venture acquired the site in August 2015, we have added considerable value in developing the masterplan and working with the award-winning architects, CHROFI to conceive this highly sophisticated concept plan for the site.” 
“LEPC9 has had numerous advances from prominent groups and has resolved to take the site to market now that significant value has been added to the site through the uplift in density with a new masterplan including improvements in overall layout as well as new connection to the nature reserve.”
Colliers International National Director, Development Sites, Residential, Guillaume Volz said they expect a hot contest amongst big development groups.
 “A lot of developers have either held off buying waiting for better market conditions or have not found suitable sites to acquire,” Volz said.
“This prudent approach has however led to many companies facing a gap in their development pipeline.
“We have seen evidence of increasing confidence as there have been several direct approaches for the Channel Nine site particularly from those developer interest is increasing with developer’s looking to restock for 2020 and beyond.
“The location and the fact the site is masterplan approved allows groups to put their mark on the development and to take it forward.
“Significantly, with Channel Nine still tenanting the site until late 2020, the site remains cash-flow positive.
“Furthermore, the supply wave of apartment sites in Sydney has dramatically dropped and there is significantly less supply coming into the market until 2021/2022.”
Volz said Colliers International planned to present this opportunity to developers overseas as well as the local market. 
“Willoughby is grossly underdeveloped and therefore perfectly placed to capture improving buyer sentiment, particularly in the highly desirable lower north shore,” Volz added.
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Channel Nine's Willoughby HQ site comes to market

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Australian mortgage delinquencies, which increased over the year to November 2018, will continue to increase through 2019, according to Moody's Investors Service latest delinquency report.
"Mortgage delinquencies will continue to increase over 2019, because of high debt levels, subdued wage growth, the conversion of a large number of interest-only mortgages to principal-and-interest loans and declining house prices," says Alena Chen, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst. 
"However, delinquencies will remain low overall, given the rate of economic growth and low unemployment, which will continue to support borrowers' ability to meet their mortgage repayments," says Chen. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/3/moody%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge
<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/2019/4/3/moody%201.jpg" alt="">
The proportion of Australian residential mortgages that were more than 30 days in arrears increased by 0.13 percentage point to 1.58% over the year to November 2018.
Mortgage delinquencies increased in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory over the year to November 2018, but declined in Queensland.
<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/2019/4/3/moody%202.jpg" alt="">
In NSW, the delinquency rate increased to the highest in five years, though it remains relatively low compared with most other states and territories and NSW's long-term average.
Regions with exposure to the mining sector continued to dominate the list of areas with the highest delinquencies. 
Moody's semi-annual delinquency map report provides a detailed analysis of the rate of residential mortgage arrears at a national, regional and postcode level in Australia. 
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Mortgage delinquencies set to continue rising through 2019: Moody's

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National residential listings increased by 3.3% in March 2019 to 354,459 from 343,190 in February 2019 as the market opens up for its first full trading month, figures released by SQM Research reveal.
All states experienced an increase in property sales listings over the month, with Melbourne experiencing the highest increase in listings at 8.3%, followed by Canberra at 6.3% and Sydney 5.9%.
Darwin recorded the lowest increase at 2.5% and was the only state to record a year-on-year decline of 2.2%. Compared to a year ago, national listings rose 4.8%.
Melbourne recorded a huge increase of 24.9% year-on-year followed by Canberra with a 21.4%. 
Sydney recorded an 8.3% increase year-on-year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/3/SQM%201%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
<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/2019/4/3/SQM%201%20.jpg" alt="">
Residential property listings continue to accumulate, reflecting the ongoing capital city housing market downturn. The rise though, is mainly attributed to older stock failing to sell. While new listings did increase over the month, very low sales rates are exacerbating the overhang of older listings. Overall, the weight of listings continues to put downward pressure on asking prices as vendors keep adjusting their asking prices in order to meet the market.
Asking Prices 
<a id="LPlnk65000" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=18a622aef9&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Capital City</a> asking prices for houses and units declined by 0.3% and 1.2% respectively, for the month to 2 April 2019. Unit asking prices are now $563,400 and houses $908,200.
<a id="LPlnk886131" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=249a806da1&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Melbourne</a>, <a id="LPlnk517675" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=d405b1713a&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Brisbane</a> and <a id="LPlnk950386" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=dfb2e33ca6&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Adelaide</a> recorded asking price declines in both houses and units. Whilst <a id="LPlnk499696" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=d4a5a0141d&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Sydney’s</a> house price remained steady at $1,235,100 asking price, the city’s unit prices has dipped 1.7% over March to $690,000. <a id="LPlnk449125" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=7f521ac19f&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Perth</a> experienced a marginal growth in house prices of 0.5% but unit prices continue to decline at 0.7%. <a id="LPlnk598582" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=93e052cc08&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Canberra</a> and <a id="LPlnk615027" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=5e88f7796e&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Darwin</a> are the only two states that recorded both house and unit asking price growth.  <a id="LPlnk640247" href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=1cf3afc21f&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Hobart</a> is still outperforming all states in house price growth over the month, although only marginally at 0.9%. However, unit prices in Hobart have declined by 1.9% - the biggest decline amongst all states.
Year-on-year capital city asking prices also posted declines of 3.4% for units and 7.3% for houses. Hobart continues to show the strongest growth year-on-year for both houses and units with a 4.6% increase in houses and 5.1% for units. Canberra also experienced yearly growth of 3.1% in houses and 1.6% growth in units. Sydney’s 12 month decline is now 9.9% for houses and 5.8% for units. Melbourne’s house price also continues to decline at 7.3% but unit prices increased 1.5% over the 12 months to 2 April.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/3/SQM%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge  
<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/2019/4/3/SQM%202.jpg" alt="">
 
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Melbourne listings jump 8.3%: SQM Research

For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

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The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

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The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

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According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

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Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

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Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

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Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

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Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

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Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

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Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

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Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

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Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

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La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

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