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John Mcgrath has released his top suburb picks for Sydney with the top spot taken by Putney a suburb once dominated by mainly public housing residences.
1. Putney: 
John Mcgrath said, "Once dominated by mainly public housing residences, this charming waterside pocket is one of Sydney’s least known riverfront addresses.
When it goes the way of its sought-after neighbor, Hunters Hill, you’ll be regretting not owning a small piece of it."
An example of the strong Putney market is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-putney-128012602" target="_blank">310 Morrison Road, Putney</a> (pictured above).
The four bedroom two bathroom home retains a number of features from it's 1920 period construction.
Set on 651 sqm the home was originally listed with a $1.75 million - $1.85 million price guide before being reduced to $1.7 million and eventually selling for $1.6 million in mid August 2018.
However this still marks a $400,000 improvement on it's June 2014 sale price of $1.2 million.
The median price for a house in Putney is $2.275 million, according to CoreLogic data the median price in Putney has increased by 83.8% over just the past 5 years.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/17/Putney%20house%202.JPG" alt="">
A current Putney offering is 54 Frances Road (pictured above), overlooking waterfront parkland and Morrison's Bay.
The four bedroom three bathroom home comes with a price guide of $2.3 million and is slated for a February 16 auction.
Set on 606 sqm the home last sold in 1995, for $318,000.
The home was listed as a rental as recently as May 2017 for $485 per week $365 less than the median rental price in Putney of $850 per week.
Built in 1995 the home is located a short walk to Ferries, Putney village and school, as well as a short drive from Gladesville &amp; Top Ryde shopping centres.
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2. Avalon Beach: 
John McGrath said, "The glorious Northern Beaches continues to offer value to Sydney buyers for a world-class coastal lifestyle."
"Avalon Beach and surrounds is my pick of the available addresses mainly because of the charming retail village which sets it apart."
"Enjoy the Palm Beach lifestyle without the hefty price tag."
3. Maroubra:
John McGrath said, "Like Avalon in the north, Maroubra Beach offers relative value if you’re prepared to travel a few extra minutes to trek into the CBD."
"The heartland of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, this beachside neighbourhood will catch up in time to its slightly more glamorous neighbouring beaches."
4. Earlwood: 
John McGrath said, "This is one of Sydney’s most diverse multicultural communities with Greek, Italian and Lebanese heritage delivering a wonderful vibe to this beautiful garden suburb."
"And with Marrickville shops up the road, you won’t go wanting for great eating options or a strong Turkish coffee or two."
5. Stanmore: 
John McGrath said, "The Inner West continues to attract both upwardly mobile executives and families, as well as downsizing baby boomers looking to move closer to the action."
"Attached cottages, bungalows and now a selection of apartments delivers something for almost everyone within 15 minutes of the city."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Putney is John Mcgrath's pick for top Sydney suburb of 2019

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Sydney businessman Anton Aldred, scion of the Cementaid International Group family, has paid $3.26 million for a Bowral property.
The property, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-acreage+semi-rural-nsw-bowral-127931342" target="_blank">Hathaway, on Kimberley Drive</a>, features four bedrooms.
The 0.8ha fenced woodland area at the rear of the property can be accessed via a separate driveway.
It was the Hanning family who sold the 2ha property since they are returning to Mosman.
The family purchased the property in 2007 for $1.8 million, when it took a similar time to sell, according to CoreLogic. 
They had been seeking $3.65 million since March last year.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/18/Hathawat%202.JPG" alt="">
The luxury Bowral trophy home set in Michael Bligh gardens, features a 1994-built homestead.
Set across one level, the home has four bedrooms, a study and separate formal living and dining areas.
The grounds have water features, a solar heated swimming pool, a glass green house and garden shedding.
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Hathaway, Bowral sold for $3.26 million

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The downturn in Sydney’s housing market has been the most pronounced of any capital city in 2018 after it enjoyed the strongest runup in recent years, according to Moody's Analytics latest report
The report found that, house values were down by 7.8% year over year in November, and Moody’s Analytics forecasts further falls in 2019.
Average Sydney home values have fallen 10.1% since their most recent 2017 peak, overtaking the prior peak-to-trough fall of 9.6% notched from 1989 to 1991.
However home values in Sydney remain around 60% higher than they were in 2012.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/14/NSW%20Forecast.JPG" alt="">
Sydney and Melbourne contain approximately 40% of Australian homes and represent approximately 60% of Australia’s housing wealth.
Housing completions for metropolitan Sydney came in at a record high in the year to September, according to New South Wales Housing Monitor.
Meanwhile, building approvals for Greater Sydney were broadly flat against a year earlier, according to the ABS.
Westpac’s consumer sentiment survey suggests that households have adjusted to a new medium-term norm, with only 10% of respondents in the December survey indicating that real estate is the wisest place for savings, the lowest result since 1974.
The authors noted, "a high level of supply has now come on line for apartments in the inner city and surrounding areas as well as dwellings in suburban areas via land releases and removal of some development restrictions. This will contribute to the forecast slowdown in 2018 and 2019."
"House values in the City and Inner South area are forecast to fall further in 2019 following a sharp decline in 2018."
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/7/Moodys%20Graph%205.JPG" alt="">
"The Inner West, which is expected to fall further in 2018, leads the way."
"The Eastern Suburbs and North Sydney are set for an entrenched slump; values are unlikely to recover before 2021," according to the report authors.
By 2020, the correction is forecast to have largely passed, but house value growth will be far from the lofty gains of recent years. Housing values are forecast to rise modestly in 2020. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/7/Moodys%20Graph%206.JPG" alt="">
The report forecasts house values in the Central Coast will escape the correction that has engulfed much of Greater Sydney in 2018 and will rise modestly in 2019, building on a 12.5% gain in 2017.
Home values rose 13% in the Outer West and Blue Mountains in 2017, although the housing market has since cooled.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/7/Moodys%20Graph%207.JPG" alt="">
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Sydney's apartment price downtown to turnaround in 2019: Moody's Analytics

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The latest realestate.com.au data shows Surfers Paradise topped the Gold Coast's list of most searched suburbs on the property website.
House hunters searched it 267,709 times in the period from January to November last year.
Southport came in second with 221,455 searches followed by Burleigh Heads (216,466), Broadbeach (211,355) and Palm Beach (194,176).
location and affordability made the suburb so popular.
“I would say we’re the most affordable beachside suburb not only in Queensland but Australia,” Mrs Keegan said.
She said some apartments were listed for as little as $300,000 and with cafes, restaurants and the beach so close, people could not go past it.
“I’d probably say mainly apartments (were searched) because most people would have that postcard picture of Surfers Paradise in their minds,” she said.
“Tourism here is the strongest it’s ever been and I can’t see it slowing down.”
Ray White Prestige Gold Coast agent Sherry Smith believed interstate buyers were driving demand in Surfers Paradise because lifestyle and prices were attracting them.
An example of an apartment in the $300,000 range is 1/34 Monaco Street, Surfers Paradise (pictured above).
Set on 577 sqm, the two bedroom one bathroom apartment sold for $340,000.
Built in 1974 the unit last sold in 2016 for $312,500.
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/17/Surfers%20paradise%202.JPG" alt="">
Another example of this price range in Surfers Paradise is 3/7 View Avenue (pictured above).
The two bedroom one bathroom apartment sold for $295,000 in late December.
Featuring a balcony with glimpses of the water, the fully renovated East facing unit is only meters from the beach. 
She said Southport was popular because it was attracting investors and families wanting to be close to schools.
Lambert Willcox Estate Agents director Mitchell Lambert said the suburb was not always highly sought-after but the popularity of renovations had attracted people to older properties in need of work.
“We’re still selling houses for record prices and they haven’t stopped going up, and why not? It’s a great area,” he said.
TOP 10 MOST SEARCHED SUBURBS (number searched Jan-Nov 2018) 
1. Surfers Paradise — 267,709
2. Southport — 221,455
3. Burleigh Heads — 216,466
4. Broadbeach — 211,355
5. Palm Beach — 194,176
6. Robina — 172,518
7. Hope Island — 162,494
8. Helensvale — 160,887
9. Coolangatta — 139,902
10. Labrador — 124,319
(Source: realestate.com.au)
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Surfers Paradise the most searched Gold Coast location in 2018 on realestate.com.au

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced Dr Paul Paterson as the new Chair of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
The telecommunications and media consultant Dr Paul Paterson has recently been chief economist at the Department of Communications.
He has held senior roles in the private sector as a strategic advisor on telecommunications since 2004, following six years with Telstra during the transition to a competitive telecommunications market.
He managed Telstra’s role in the process of opening up the public telephone network to competition.
In the 1990s, Paterson worked for the NSW government, first as chief economist in the Premier’s Department during the Fahey government and later as executive director of policy and resources in the Department of State and Regional Development.
He has also worked as chief economist and as director of strategy for OTC Limited.
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The Premier thanked outgoing Chair Dr Peter Boxall for his significant contributions in the role over the last seven years.
“I am pleased to welcome Dr Paterson to the role and have no doubt he will continue to protect the interests of consumers and taxpayers of NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The IPART secretariat has around 130 professional staff for its price setting, quality monitoring and licence compliance roles for energy, water and transport utilities in NSW. It also conducts independent inquiries on economic and regulatory matters for the NSW Government.
Dr Paterson was previously appointed an IPART Tribunal member in 2013, before taking up his senior role in the Commonwealth Government.
He has 30 years’ of experience as a senior industry economist and has held senior roles in several Commonwealth and State government policy, research and regulatory bodies, including:
<ul>
<li>Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney Business School</li>
<li>Head, Commonwealth Bureau of Communications Research &amp; Chief Economist Department of Communications</li>
<li>Director Regulation, Telstra</li>
<li>Executive Director, NSW Office of Economic Development</li>
<li>Visiting Economist, Commonwealth Treasury, and</li>
<li>Assistant Secretary, Policy and Analysis, Commonwealth Bureau of Labour Market Research.</li>
</ul>
His first job in 1977 was at the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. In the mid-1980s he was with the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Dr Paterson will begin his appointment as Chair from 11 February 2019. 
He will join existing Tribunal members Mr Ed Willett and Ms Deborah Cope for a five-year term. 
In 2016 IPART undertook a review at the request of the NSW Government on the local government rating system.
The purpose of our review is to develop recommendations to improve the equity and efficiency of the rating system, in order to enhance councils’ ability to implement sustainable fiscal policies over the long term. 
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Paul Paterson to chair the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal 

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Sydney’s Darling Harbour: popular but noisy and expensive. Here’s how we could do better to provide a safe place to work and play. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/download/success?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload.shutterstock.com%2Fgatekeeper%2FW3siZSI6MTU0NzU0MzAxNiwiYyI6Il9waG90b19zZXNzaW9uX2lkIiwiZGMiOiJpZGxfMTg4Mjk2MDMxIiwiayI6InBob3RvLzE4ODI5NjAzMS9tZWRpdW0uanBnIiwibSI6MSwiZCI6InNodXR0ZXJzdG9jay1tZWRpYSJ9LCIyeXl2aTFtdVhSZEpodktYN2FRMVR0akZmY0kiXQ%2Fshutterstock_188296031.jpg&amp;pi=41133566&amp;m=188296031&amp;src=FRqrebc_WbmZL_pwE2pIQA-1-11"> </a>
More towers at Sydney’s Darling Harbour are among redevelopment plans for the inner city waterfront precinct and this has prompted <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/population-of-a-small-town-the-transformation-of-darling-harbour-20181112-p50fgo" target="_blank">recent debate</a>.
Plans open for public commentary include proposals for <a href="https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/News/2016/Have-your-say-on-the-redevelopment-of-Cockle-Bay-Wharf" target="_blank">new tall buildings</a> at <a href="https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Assess-and-Regulate/State-Significant-Projects/Cockle-Bay" target="_blank">Cockle Bay</a> and <a href="https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/News/2016/Have-your-say-on-the-redevelopment-of-Harbourside-Shopping-Centre" target="_blank">at the Harbourside Shopping Centre</a>.
Critics include <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/city-of-sydney-objects-to-darling-harbour-developments/" target="_blank">Russell Hand and Christopher Ashworth</a>, senior planners at the City of Sydney, who have lodged <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/tall-towers-for-darling-harbour-spurned-by-city-of-sydney-planners-20170111-gtpeeh" target="_blank">formal objections</a>.
Alex Greenwich, independent MP for Sydney, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/no-planning-merit-cockle-bay-redevelopment-attracts-strong-opposition-20180824-p4zzln" target="_blank">describes the Cockle Bay proposal</a> as “very poor planning”. In the same article, Graham Quint of the National Trust says Darling Harbour would be “degraded” by overdevelopment.
Celebrated architect Philip Cox fears the area has “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/population-of-a-small-town-the-transformation-of-darling-harbour-20181112-p50fgo" target="_blank">gone backwards</a>” as it does not really create a unique urban space, nor does it contribute much to the city.
Plans for ever larger buildings, bringing in more people and attracting more tourists may mark a point of no return for the precinct. It would place increased pressure on the available space, which already houses a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/population-of-a-small-town-the-transformation-of-darling-harbour-20181112-p50fgo" target="_blank">town full of people</a>.
More development of the type proposed also leaves little space to regenerate the city, to create places where nature and open space can help to deal with floods or heat, let alone create a valuable ecological landscape.
To see where development of Darling Harbour went wrong and what we could do better, we need to consider the area as a whole. That’s <a href="https://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-city/darling-harbour" target="_blank">Darling Harbour</a> itself, <a href="http://www.cocklebaywharf.com.au/" target="_blank">Cockle Bay</a>, the <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-how-westconnex-can-deliver-sydney-a-better-city-centre-90171" target="_blank">Darling Harbour Corridor</a>, <a href="https://www.barangaroo.com" target="_blank">Barangaroo</a>, <a href="https://www.darlingpark.com.au/home" target="_blank">Darling Park</a> and <a href="https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/facilities/parks/major-parks/tumbalong-park" target="_blank">Tumbalong Park</a>.
Three examples highlight how development of the Darling Harbour area over the past 30 years has been botched.
1. Darling Harbour as a noisy neighbour
Walk down Darling Harbour towards Barangaroo on a random night and this is what you’ll face.
Noisy bars and restaurants along Cockle Bay are full; quieter places inside are, even for Sydney’s standards, expensive; bright lights compare with the neon of Shanghai’s Nanjing Road; and there is activity everywhere, even on the water where party boats disturb not only human but also animal life.
I am not against a lively precinct. But Darling Harbour is currently operating like your noisy neighbour — a nice guy but with too many bad habits. He eats too much, burps whenever it is convenient, grows fat and watches the same programs every day.
There it is, consuming tourists (<a href="https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/darling-harbour-visitor-profile-ye-march-2018.pdf?x15361" target="_blank">4.6 million in the year ending March 2018</a>), growing bigger buildings all around, producing noises no-one wants to hear, and looking like a huge TV screen flickering flashy lights into the night.
Barangaroo is the next stage of “badnertainment”, adding more expensive drinking and eating venues, increasing traffic congestion, and continuing the <a href="https://theconversation.com/packers-barangaroo-casino-and-the-inevitability-of-pokies-15892" target="_blank">gambling boulevard</a> all the way through to <a href="https://www.barangaroo.com/see-and-do/things-to-do/itineraries/barangaroo-reserve/" target="_blank">Headland Park</a>. Compared to the former port facilities that stood there, at least people can enter this space up to the water’s edge.
But Barangaroo remains a private collection of colossal buildings, impenetrable if you don’t belong to the corporate world.
2. Tumbalong Park, hidden behind a highway
Tumbalong Park is hidden behind a highway, so far back no one can see the water. Though there are paths, plants and a stage, the overkill of lights and noise is not what you’d expect from a park.
Anyone who wants to spend time there on a hot day will experience the “<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/urban-heat-island/" target="_blank">heat island effect</a>”. Here, heat is amplified compared with the surrounding area as the grass is surrounded by large chunks of concrete and glass. That, combined with a feeling of being observed from all sides, might explain why you hardly find people sitting on the grass.
3. Highway cuts up public space
Where do people plan a highway through a public space? In Sydney, this is quite normal. The Western Distributor splits the City from Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. A spaghetti of ramps, concrete traffic lanes and multilayered traffic disconnects surrounding areas including Ultimo and Haymarket from the real beauty: the water and water’s edge of Cockle Bay. What could be a coherent urban precinct is cut in half and displaces the urban front from the water’s edge.
Let’s transform this ‘blinging, boring barrier’
These three failings form an urban sink hole for Sydney’s residents — a gap in which tourists are trapped and the corporates show off. <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-how-westconnex-can-deliver-sydney-a-better-city-centre-90171" target="_blank">Through traffic and congestion</a> dominate the area.
Darling Harbour is full of bling, the park is boring, and the highway is a barrier. Sydney created a blinging, boring barrier.
Why can’t Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay be a sensitive space, where you can experience relative darkness and silence when eating and drinking, and you can enjoy the tranquility of dark water so close to the city centre?
Wouldn’t it be sensational if you could whisper a secret message to your darling instead of shouting how his or her working day was? Wouldn’t it be great if you could sit on the edge of the harbour, dangling your tired feet in the water? How great could it be if the space was green with trees, bush, ecofriendly river edges, where kids could explore water and nature?
Tranquility, darkness and human scale are the ingredients for an environment that can be completely green and still urban. Higher densities are possible as long as these are sustainable, we use environmental-friendly materials and are placed in a larger green and ecological zone fronting the water. This then creates the space for people to enjoy the environment and relax.
Climate change makes this urgent
This is urgent. Climate change will cause and enforce changes to city centres, especially when they’re fronting water edges, like Darling Harbour.
Rising sea levels (<a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/new-maps-show-the-risk-of-sea-level-rises-to-australian-cities/news-story/2cd13d732b102365c9c708c4a223961f" target="_blank">up to 2m by the end of the century</a>), and more flash flooding as a result of more intense rain are expected.
So green buffer zones on either side of the water’s edge are required to deal with rising water levels and more intense rain events.
Environments must be flexible, adaptive and resilient to survive. The types of activities currently in the Darling Harbour area are mono-functional, inflexible and vulnerable to climate impacts.
Here’s what we can learn from other cities:
Toronto
Toronto’s city centre has a series of greening projects along its <a href="https://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/portal/waterfront/Home" target="_blank">waterfront</a>. These include nature reserves, a bicycle path, sandy beach-like areas and zones in which urban water is purified at the same time made available for the public to use in playgrounds.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/253789/original/file-20190115-180494-182n6ou.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/253789/original/file-20190115-180494-182n6ou.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Toronto’s water purification site is also an urban playground. Author provided
New York
Another good example is in New York, where Manhattan is transforming its Hudson River edges with <a href="https://hudsonriverpark.org/" target="_blank">parks and green areas</a>. There is open-air office space such as the <a href="https://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/" target="_blank">Hudson Yards</a>, and continuous parks along the river, such as the Riverpark Boulevard.
These continuous parks can not only protect the city from flooding but also suit the daily needs of the jogging, cycling or wandering New Yorker.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/253790/original/file-20190115-180510-xwhxhi.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/253790/original/file-20190115-180510-xwhxhi.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
New York’s Riverpark Boulevard has been designed to protect the city from flooding, as well as providing people place to walk, jog or wander. Author provided
Shanghai
In Shanghai there’s a large program to green the river edge. Over 100,000 trees are being planted along the Huangpu River. This program is meant to clean the air, mitigate the urban heat island effect and offer space to occasional floods. But it also functions as an enormous park, with a continuous cycle-path and the option to run the marathon (once up and down).
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/253791/original/file-20190115-180488-p8270n.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/253791/original/file-20190115-180488-p8270n.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Shanghai is transforming its riverside with more than 100,000 trees and parklands long enough to run a marathon. Author provided
Amsterdam
Finally, Amsterdam is redeveloping the northern shore of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IJ_(Amsterdam)" target="_blank">IJ river</a>. Here, new green spaces, water purification and ecological reserves are realised in the midst of a high-density mixed-use urban environment. One of the eye-catchers is EYE, the national movie theatre.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/253792/original/file-20190115-180488-28ukf5.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/253792/original/file-20190115-180488-28ukf5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Amsterdam is transforming the IJ north shore. Author provided
Sydney, it’s up to you
These examples show that large, western cities are successfully implementing sustainable ecological developments along their waterfronts.
These are not realised because of some high-level green ambition, but out of pure necessity. People ask for cleaner environments so they can enjoy, exercise and play with their kids in a healthy and safe place.
In Darling Harbour, we’re faced with short-term economic benefits, with a focus on tourists, and a vulnerable waterline. Is this the long-term future for Sydneysiders?
Or could the waterfront become the lovely place for humans and nature, which also protects Sydneysiders living immediately behind the waterfront?<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/109869/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;">
Rob Roggema is a of Professor Spatial Transformation, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/hanze-university-of-applied-sciences-groningen-3849">Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen</a>.
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-darling-harbour-was-botched-and-could-be-reborn-109869" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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How Darling Harbour was botched (and could be reborn)

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A three bedroom one bathroom, Burdell, Qld house has been listed by its mortgagee for $235,000.
This marks an increase of just $25,000 from its August 2005 purchase price of $210,000.
It was sold twice in 2005 the first time in February 2005 for $165,000.
The listing is held by Allison Gough from Explore Property. 
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-burdell-130060234" target="_blank">32 Kayleen Court</a> the home has a semi open plan living area and split system air conditioning.
Set on 677 sqm the home was built in 1991.
The home was listed earlier last year for "Mid $200,000's" and has sat on market just shy over 100 days over 2018 and 2019.
Featuring a 12 x 6 metre work shed, solar power and an internal laundry the property is located 15 minutes north of the Townsville CBD and Townsville Airport.
The suburb's median house price sits at <a href="/developments/burdell-qld-4818">$367,000</a> according to CoreLogic, who calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 0.2%.
Its median days on market currently sits at 87 days.
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Three bedroom Burdell house for sale by mortgagee

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A three bedroom house in Andrews Farm, a locality in SA, has been sold this year for $205,000.
It has seen a growth of $95,000 from its 2009 sale price of $110,000.
Ken Loft of Harcourts sold the property.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-andrews+farm-129229090" target="_blank">8 Lonsdale Crescent</a> the 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home has two undercover parking spaces.
Set on 300 sqm the property also features gardens and is near public transport and education facilities.
The suburb's median house price sits at <a href="/developments/andrews-farm-sa-5114">$272,750</a> according to CoreLogic, who calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as -0.1%.
Its median days on market currently sits at 90 days.
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Mortgagee's Andrews Farm home sells for near double purchase price

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A four bedroom house in Mount Louisa, a suburb in Queensland's Townsville, has just sold for $290,000.
It has seen a loss of $121,700 from its 2015 sale price of $411,700.
Michael Martini of Harcourts sold the property.
It was on the market for around 150 days initially having a $335,000 asking price.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-mount+louisa-129103894" target="_blank">44 Roosevelt Loop</a> the four bedrooms two bathroom home is located in the Liberty Rise estate.
Set on 482 sqm, the property was listed for rent in February last year at $370/W and in 2015 at $360/W.
The suburb's median house price sits at <a href="/developments/mount-louisa-qld-4814">$340,000</a> according to CoreLogic, who calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as -2%.
Its median days on market currently sits at 90 days.
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Mount Louisa home sold by its mortgagee for $120,000 loss

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A two bedroom unit in Mooroobool, a suburb in Qld, has been sold by its mortgagee for $190,000 late last year.
It has seen a loss of $47,000 from its 2007 sale price of $237,000.
Ray Murphy of RE Max sold the property.
Located at 308/22-24 Ward Street the two bedroom one bathroom home is Situated in a modern gated complex offering resort style facilities such as a pool and gym.
Set on 123 sqm the property was sold at auction after 27 days on the market.
The suburb's median house price sits at <a href="/developments/mooroobool-qld-4870">$371,500</a> according to CoreLogic, who calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as -2.6%.
Its median days on market currently sits at 57 days.
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Two bedroom Mooroobool unit sold for $50,000 loss by mortgagee

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

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."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

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>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

Staff reporter

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