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Restaurateur Brien Trippas, founder and chairman of the Trippas White Group, has listed his five-bedroom, three-bathroom character home in Gordon.
It has been offered with $4.6 million hopes.
It includes a Howard Tanner-designed extension, with gardens by Annie Wilkes, and a cabana beside the gas-heated pool.
Presiding over a 1,511 square metre block, the home situated at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-gordon-129823906" target="_blank"> 29 Nelson Street, Gordon </a>comprises five double bedrooms, open plan living and dining, chef's kitchen, central garden courtyard and alfresco terrace.
<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/2018/11/22/gordon%202.jpg" alt="">
Other features include wine cellar, Jet-master fireplace, gas heated pool and double lock-up garage.
It's just an easy stroll to the rail, bus, village and convenient to North Shore's finest schools.
<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/2018/11/22/gordon%203.jpg" alt="">
The property will be auctioned on December 1.
The suburb's median house price sits at<a href="/developments/gordon-nsw-2072"> $2.3 million</a>, according to CoreLogic.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Restaurateur Brien Trippas puts his Gordon home on the auction menu 

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International student visa numbers are continuing to rise at double digit growth levels and because of this PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) is a rapidly growing industry, according to the latest Savills report on student accomodation.
<a href="http://www.savills.com.au/blog/article/170261/australia-articles/the-2018-savills-australian-student-accommodation-market-update.aspx?utm_source=PropertyObserver&amp;utm_medium=DigitalAdvert&amp;utm_campaign=POOnlineBannerLeaderboard-StudentAccomm-19Nov2018" target="_blank">The report</a> found there are 76,201 beds of PBSA in the eight Australian capital cities, however the existing supply in each city is less than 12% of the full-time student population with the exception of Canberra (27.2%).
Over the first three quarters of 2018, the key focus for the major developers in this sector has been the continued acquisition of sites and the construction and delivery of new PBSA.
Sydney currently has a total development pipeline of 4,787 beds (2.2% full-time students) expected to be delivered over the next four years, of which circa 41% is proposed by universities.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/Savills%20Graph%201.JPG" alt="">
Melbourne has the largest development pipeline of 16,137 beds (5.5% full-time students), which is a quite significant increase compared to 12 months ago.
However, the Melbourne market is underpinned by a strong demand for accommodation, with new schemes trading well.
Melbourne’s universities are active in developing their accommodation, with several projects contributing to just over 25% of the proposed pipeline.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/Savills%20Graph%202.JPG" alt="">
The pipeline of new PBSA projects in Brisbane has slowed somewhat in the past 12 months, following an extremely busy period over the 18 months prior, backed by the positive initiatives of Brisbane City Council.
Brisbane’s development pipeline is currently 6,865 beds (4.8% of full-time students).
There are some concerns Student One, 363 Adelaide St, Brisbane (pictured above) regarding the potential uptake of new PBSA being delivered into the market in the short to medium term, as there is also an increasing pipeline of residential apartments being delivered in the city in the same timeframe.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/Savills%20Graph%203.JPG" alt="">
A number of new PBSA projects have entered the development pipeline in Adelaide, predominantly focused towards the northern end of the CBD and North Terrace.
Recently completed schemes are trading with good occupancy levels.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/Savills%20Graph%204.JPG" alt="">
Currently there is no direct-let accommodation in Perth.
It is also a market that has witnessed a new phase of development, with a number of direct-let projects being promoted in the past 12 months.
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Australia's student accommodation industry a rapidly growing opportunity: Savills

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EXPERT OBSERVATION 
While global and Australian shares had a nice bounce from their late October lows – rallying about 5%, partly reversing their 10% or so top to bottom fall, they have since fallen back to their lows as the worries about US rates, bond yields, trade, tech stocks, etc, have morphed into broader concerns about global growth and profits. Fears of a credit crunch and falling home prices are probably not helping Australian shares either, which this week dipped below their October low. Our assessment remains that it’s too early to say we have seen the lows, but we remain of the view that it’s not the start of major bear market.
The three bears – correction, gummy &amp; grizzly
Very simply there are three types of significant share market falls:
<ul>
<li>
corrections with falls around 10% (of course these aren’t really bear markets – but some might feel that they are!);
</li>
<li>
“gummy” bear markets with falls around 20% meeting the technical definition many apply for a bear market but where a year after falling 20% the market is up (like in 1998 in the US, 2011 and 2015-16 for Australian &amp; global shares); and
</li>
<li>“grizzly” bear markets where falls are a lot deeper and usually longer lived (like in 1973-74, US and global shares through the tech wreck or the GFC).</li>
</ul>
I can’t claim the terms “gummy bear” and “grizzly bear” as I first saw them applied by stockbroker Credit Suisse a few years ago. But they are a good way to conceptualise them. Grizzly bears maul investors but gummy bears eventually leave a nicer taste (like the lollies). Corrections are quite normal and healthy as they enable the sharemarket to let off steam and not get too overheated. As can be seen in the next chart, excluding the present episode since 2012 there have been four corrections and one gummy bear market (2015-16) in global and Australian shares. Bear markets generally are a lot less common, but arguably what we saw in 2015-16 was a gummy bear market.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/22/bear%20market%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/2018/11/22/bear%20market%201.jpg" alt=""> 
The next table shows conventionally defined bear markets in Australian shares since 1900 – where a bear market is a 20% decline that is not fully reversed within 12 months. The first two columns show bear markets and the size of their falls. The third shows the percentage change in share prices 12 months after the initial 20% decline. The fourth column shows whether they are associated with a recession in the US, Australia or both.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/22/bear%20market%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/2018/11/22/bear%20market%202.jpg" alt="">
If a gummy bear market is defined by a 20% decline after which the market is higher 12 months later whereas as grizzly bear market sees a continuing decline over the subsequent 12 months after the first 20% decline, then since 1900 there have been 12 gummy bear markets (these are highlighted in black) and there have been six grizzly bear markets (highlighted in red). Several points stand out. First, the gummy bear markets tend to be a bit shorter and see much smaller declines averaging 26% compared to 46% for the grizzly bear markets.
Second, the average rally over 12 months after the initial 20% fall is 15% for the gummy bear markets but it’s a 23% decline for the grizzly bear markets.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly the deeper grizzly bear markets are invariably associated with recession, whereas the milder gummy bear markets including the 1987 share market crash tend not to be. Five of the six grizzly bear markets saw either a US or Australian recession or both whereas less than half of the gummy bear markets saw recession.
It’s also the case that US share market falls are much deeper and longer when there is a US recession.
What’s it likely to be this time?
Our view remains that a grizzly bear market is unlikely because, short of some unforeseeable external shock, a US, global or Australian recession is not imminent. In relation to the US:
<ul>
<li>
Business and consumer confidence are very high.
</li>
<li>
While US monetary conditions have tightened they are not tight and they are still very easy globally and in Australia (with monetary tightening still a fair way off in Europe, Japan and Australia). We are a long way from the sort of monetary tightening that leads into recession.
</li>
<li>
Fiscal stimulus is continuing to boost US growth.
</li>
<li>We have not seen the excesses – in terms of debt growth, overinvestment, capacity constraints and inflation – that normally precede recessions in the US, globally or Australia.</li>
</ul>
Reflecting this, global earnings growth is likely to remain reasonable – albeit slower than it has been – providing underlying support for shares. In relation to Australia – yes housing is turning down and this will weigh on consumer spending, but it will be offset by a lessening drag from mining investment, strengthening non-mining investment, booming infrastructure spending and solid growth in export earnings. Growth is unlikely to be as strong as the RBA is assuming but it’s unlikely to slide into recession either. So, for all these reasons it’s unlikely the current pull back in shares is the start of a grizzly bear market.
However, we have already had a correction in mainstream global shares and Australian shares (with circa 10% falls) and with markets falling again it could turn into gummy bear market, where markets have another 10% or so leg down – a lot of technical damage was done by the October fall that has left investors nervous, the rebound from late October was not particularly convincing and many of the drivers of the October fall are yet to be resolved. Some positives
However, there are three developments that help add to our conviction that we are not going into a grizzly bear market. First, recent comments by Fed Chair Powell and Vice Chair Clarida indicate that the Fed remains upbeat on the US economy and a December hike looks assured (for now), but it is aware of the risks to US growth from slowing global growth, declining fiscal stimulus next year, the lagged impact of eight interest rate hikes and stock market volatility and appears open to slowing the pace of interest rate hikes or pausing at some point next year. The stabilisation in core inflation around 2% seen lately may support this. Past gummy bear markets (1987, 1998, 2011, 2015-16) all saw some pause or relaxation by the Fed.
Second, while it’s messy after the US/China standoff at the recent APEC forum there have been some positive signs on trade. Talks between the US and China on trade have reportedly resumed ahead of a meeting between President Trump and President Xi at the G20 summit next week and President Trump has repeated that he is optimistic of a trade deal with China and that the US might put any further tariff increases on China on hold if there is progress. The US/China trade dispute is unlikely to be resolved quickly when Trump and Xi meet. Perhaps the best that can be hoped for is agreement to have formal trade talks with the aim of resolving the issues and the US agreeing to delay any further tariff increases. With Trump wanting to get re-elected I remain of the view that some sort of deal will be agreed before the tariffs cause too much damage to the US economy. Rising unemployment (as fiscal stimulus will turn to contraction next year if current and proposed tariffs/taxes on China go ahead) and higher prices at Walmart will sink Trump’s re-election prospects in 2020. Of course, investors are now highly sceptical of any progress on the trade front. So any breakthrough in the next six months could be a big positive.
Finally, while the 30% plunge in the oil price since its October high is a short-term negative for share markets via energy producers, it has the potential to extend the economic cycle as the 2014-16 oil price plunge did. The main drivers of the fall in the oil price are slower global demand growth, US waivers on Iranian sanctions allowing various countries to continue importing Iranian oil, rising US inventories, the rising $US and the cutting of long oil positions. While oil prices are unlikely to fall as much as in 2014-16 when they fell 75% (as OPEC spare capacity is less now) they may stay lower for longer. This is bad for energy companies but maybe not as bad for shale producers as in 2015 as they are now less indebted and their break-even oil price has already been pushed down to $50/barrel or less. It will depress headline inflation (monthly US inflation could be zero in November and December) and if oil stays down long enough it could dampen underlying inflation. All of which may keep rates lower for longer. And its good news for motorists who see rising spending power. For example, Australian petrol prices have plunged from over $1.60 a litre a few weeks ago to below $1.30 in some cities. That’s a saving in the average weekly household petrol bill of around $10.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/22/bear%20market%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/2018/11/22/bear%20market%203.jpg" alt="">
Shane Oliver is Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist at AMP Capital.
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The story of the three bears and the share market: Shane Oliver

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A three bedroom two bathroom Maylands, WA home has been listed by its mortgagee.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-maylands-129920878" target="_blank">19/54 Central Avenue, Maylands</a>, the apartment is set for auction December 15.
Set on 140 sqm the property is part of the Horizon's complex offering features such as a swimming pool, spa, BBQ entertaining area, residents lounge and gym.
Situated within a kilometre of both public transport links and shopping options the home is 4.1 km from the Perth CBD.
The home also features two car bays and the complex allows small pets.
Last sold in 2007 the home went for $575,000.
The property was listed for rent as recently as March 2017 at $460 per week.
The median price for <a href="/developments/maylands-wa-6051">Maylands, WA</a> is $599,444 according to CoreLogic data.
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Three bedroom Maylands apartment listed by mortgagee

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A five bedroom two bathroom Clinton, Qld home has been listed by its mortgagee.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-clinton-129927822" target="_blank">9 Fairway Avenue, Clinton</a> the property has been listed for $369,000.
Set on a 894 sqm block the home features an attached double carport.
The two storey home has both established gardens and fully fenced yards as well as an in-ground salt water swimming pool.
It is located near schools and public transport links.
The median sale price for a home in <a href="/developments/clinton-qld-4680">Clinton, Qld</a> is $259,750, according to CoreLogic data.
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Five bedroom Clinton, Qld house listed by mortgagee

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A three bedroom two bathroom home in Merrimac, Qld has been listed by its mortgagee.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-qld-merrimac-129931046" target="_blank">61/6-10 Bourton Road, Merrimac</a> the townhouse is set for a December 15 auction.
Set on 192 sqm the home is in a pet friendly complex.
Featuring a single lock up garage the townhouse comes with a grassed rear courtyard and a balcony.
The gated complex features 2 pools and tennis court plus it is only a few minutes from Robina Towne Centre shopping and public transport links.
Last sold in 2010 the home went for $290,000.
The median sale price for a home in <a href="/developments/merrimac-qld-4226">Merrimac</a> is $520,980 according to CoreLogic data.
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Three bedroom Merrimac townhouse listed by mortgagee

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The cooling of the property market was expected, but the price falls have been larger than previously forecast, according to HSBC's Paul Bloxham.
He suggests the cooling has been due to a reversal of factors that drove the boom in the first place. 
These included: housing undersupply during the mining boom (2004-2012), which has been worked down by a building boom; falling interest rates, that have since stabilised; strong foreign demand, which has weakened, due to constraints on foreign buyers; strong growth in lending to investors, which has been constrained by tighter prudential settings; and, expectations of capital gains, which drove investor activity, but have eased. 
Bloxham noted the cooling is not unlike developments elsewhere, such as in London, New York and Vancouver, suggesting some common global factors.
"So far, the cooling has been orderly, with very few forced sales. 
"This partly reflects that the key fundamentals that support housing demand remain in place − strong population and jobs growth and low interest rates. 
"In addition, although housing supply has been boosted, the market does not appear to be oversupplied. 
"Our central case is for a soft landing, supported by these fundamentals.
"A harder landing is a risk and could occur if economic growth were to slow sharply and the unemployment rate rose.
"High household debt also makes Australia’s economy more vulnerable. 
"A further credit tightening, perhaps as the result of policy changes resulting from the Royal Commission, is a risk.
"Possible changes to the tax treatment of investment properties present a risk, but we see the likely effect as small."
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While the housing market correction remains orderly and jobs growth remains solid, Bloxham expects it to have a limited impact on consumption growth/
"There was little evidence of a positive wealth effect during the boom, and consumer spending has held up well recently, despite the housing market cooling.
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National housing prices rose by 46% from the trough in mid-2012 to the peak in mid-2017, which delivered a compounded annual growth rate of 8% over that period (Chart 1). Since mid- 2017, nation-wide housing prices have fallen by 5% (peak-to-current level).
However, the nation-wide average hides considerable variation across the country (Chart 2). 
He noted much of the ramp-up was in the Sydney and Melbourne markets, where prices rose by 75% and 58%, trough-to-peak, respectively. Over the same period, housing prices rose by smaller amounts in Adelaide (20%), Brisbane (20%), Canberra (22%) and Hobart (40%). In Perth, where the end of the mining boom had its largest effect, housing prices rose in 2012 and 2013, but then fell, to now be lower than in 2012 (Perth prices are the same as they were in 2009).
National housing prices began to fall in mid-to-late 2017, and since their peaks, Sydney and Melbourne prices are down 8% and 5%, respectively. Prices have continued to rise in the other cities, except for Perth. So far the cooling has orderly, "with little evidence of forced selling."
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/HSBC%20GRAPH%203.JPG" alt="">
For Sydney, the rise and fall in prices occurred to similar degrees for both houses and apartments and prices rose by similar amounts across the price distribution.
So far, the price declines have been more pronounced at the top end of the market, although prices at the bottom end are also falling.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/HSBC%20GRAPH%204.JPG" alt="">
For Melbourne, the trends are similar, although apartment prices rose by far less than detached house prices, due to a strong boost to apartment supply in recent years.
The differential between house and apartment price trends in Melbourne provides evidence that the supply and demand of dwellings (not just availability of finance and interest rates) have been key drivers of the price trends.
A large boost to Melbourne apartment supply ensured that unit prices rose by less than detached house prices.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/HSBC%20GRAPH%205.JPG" alt="">
During the housing price boom, Sydney and Melbourne were favoured over the other cities for a number of reasons.
They had much less exposure to the drag in incomes from the end of the mining boom and, as a result, had much stronger jobs and population growth
Both markets were more undersupplied, as housing construction had been weak during the mining boom; and, they are Australia's most global cities, so they attracted the most foreign investment and migrants.
Many of these forces are now acting as a drag on housing prices in Sydney and Melbourne.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/HSBC%20GRAPH%206.JPG" alt="">
The rise in housing prices since 2012 has been much more gradual outside of Sydney and Melbourne.
In Brisbane, housing prices have risen by 20% since the trough in 2012, with a significant differential between detached house and apartment prices, reflecting the effect of an apartment building boom in the central business district in recent years.
In Perth, housing prices rose in 2013 and 2014, as the fall in interest rates supported activity, but the combination of a sharp slowing in population growth at the end of the mining boom, and a boost to housing supply, has seen prices falling since then.
For the other smaller cities, prices have generally risen, given less exposure to the end of the mining boom and support from lower interest rates, among other region-specific factors.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/HSBC%20GRAPH%207.JPG" alt="">
Bloxham noted what has been unusual about the recent housing market cooling, compared with history, has been that it has occurred without the RBA lifting its cash rate, or a significant rise in mortgage rates.
"Instead, housing supply has increased to meet demand, and help clear the market, and a range of other factors (outside of the RBA’s cash rate setting) have helped to constrain demand, including constraints on foreign purchases and tightened prudential settings.
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"Because the housing market is cooling while economic growth is strong and the labour market is tightening, the cooling has, so far, been orderly. There are few signs of forced sales, aside from pockets of the ‘off-the-plan’ apartment market," he said.
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<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/22/HSBC%20GRAPH%208.JPG" alt="">
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Soft landing coming as Australian housing market continues to cool: HSBC

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RBA governor Philip Lowe has suggested banks were becoming too cautious in their lending, in a speech that signalled he viewed lending as having gone from too easy to too tight.
A percentage of borrowers will always end up in financial strife and be unable to meet their obligations, Lowe said in his speech entitled “Trust and Prosperity”. 
“We need banks to be prepared to make loans in the full expectation that some borrowers will not be able to pay them back.”
“Banks need to take risk and manage that risk well. If they become afraid to lend simply because of the consequences of making a loan that goes bad, our economy will suffer,” he said.
Lowe’s comments were at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).
Lowe’s speech further noted the banking royal commission along with the five years of flat wages had been damaging to trust in Australia. 
“Flat real wages are diminishing our sense of shared prosperity,” he said.
“The lack of real wage growth is one of the reasons why some in our community question whether they are benefiting from our economic success.”
“It is clear that the behaviours highlighted by the royal commission have dented the community’s trust in parts of our financial sector,” Mr Lowe said.
“Strong penalties can play an important role in incentivising good behaviour, and this is an area we should be looking at.” 
Columnist Robert Gottliebsen recently wrote that Australia is going through a credit squeeze without precedent following a period when bank credit standards have been too low.
"The banks have been told to raise those standards, which effectively cuts at least 20% from what they would loan on a property," he wrote in The Australian.
He then added there were also "the unconventional credit clamps... like a cancer growing below the surface, and no one’s talking about them".
Gottliebsen noted that bank managers were under attack at the same time as a credit squeeze - "so a strange new inner fear had developed among banking people at all levels as regulators are set to walk into banks to check what they are doing".
In July Wayne Byres, who heads up the Australian Prudential and Regulatory Authority (APRA), suggested it was important that the concept of caveat emptor (buyer beware) remains in the system. 
“Regulators cannot be everywhere overseeing everything. It is important the community understands that.”
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RBA's Philip Lowe says bank lending has become too cautious

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A new Coolum Beach apartment development is targeting the luxury end of the market.
Latitude Coolum Beach from HMR Projects <a href="https://www.latitudecoolum.com.au/" target="_blank">offers seven apartments, including one penthouse</a>.
<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/2018/11/19/coolum%20beach%20.jpg" alt="">
The 809 square metre Beach Road lot is close to the main beach and Coolum Esplanade.
HMR Projects Director Ken Reed said he expects strong interest in the apartments.
“Our recent developments in Buderim, including Sage Landing and Elevate on Buderim, have shown positive demand for high quality new homes right in the centre of a vibrant and social precinct and Latitude Coolum Beach offers both an outstanding location and the premium finishes our buyers have become accustomed to,” Reed said.
“This is our first development in Coolum for quite some time and we are excited to launch a quality product in the heart of a fantastic beachside locale. 
“Coolum is all about lifestyle and we feel confident Latitude will perfectly embrace and enhance all the beachside township has to offer.
“The apartments will be spacious ranging from 177 square metres to 247 square metres and are designed for comfort and convenience with many taking in the spectacular views to the beach and rolling surf. 
“Latitude Coolum Beach really epitomises what people love about the coast — both the locals and those looking to make a sea change.”  
<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/2018/11/19/Latitude%20Coolum%20Beach_EXT_Unit7_Terrace%20ext-2.jpg" alt="">
North Shore Realty’s selling agent Ben Thomson said sales had been strong in the Coolum area, particularly from downsizers.
“There is very limited stock in the luxury apartment market in the Coolum area, with 99 per cent of off-the-plan sales in Coolum selling out prior to construction commencing,” Mr Thomson said. 
“Coolum Beach is a sought-after destination for both residential purchase and tourism investment and we have enjoyed a strengthening property market in 2018.
“We feel really confident that this is the right type of development for the area, so expect demand will be high both from those wanting to stay in Coolum and those moving into the area.
“Working with HMR Projects has been really rewarding as the team is focused on delivering quality over quantity and their commitment to building high-end, luxury product is clearly evident in the build of Sage Landing in Buderim which is currently underway.
“The Reed family has long had a reputation for delivering quality developments across the Coast and beyond and it’s great having a developer of this calibre turn their attention to Coolum.   
“Coolum’s proximity to Noosa and some of the coast’s finest restaurants as well as its fabulous beaches, boardwalk and surf culture are appealing to downsizers and professional couples who want spacious living without the day-to-day maintenance of a freestanding home.”
The apartments are priced from $869,000.
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Latitude launches in Coolum Beach targeting luxury downsizers 

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A new commercial development in Fremantle is set to be the first mass timber-framed office development in Western Australia.
Located on the corner of Josephson and High Streets, 'hArbour' by Yolk will be developed by Yolk Property Group in partnership with Harris Jenkins Architects and Josh Byrne and Associates.
The six story project will comprise 1895 sqm of office space and 150sqm for a café/bar/retail offering.
It will feature a vertical garden across more than half of the building’s exterior.
Yolk Property Group Director Pete Adams said “studies have shown workplaces that utilise natural materials like wood, incorporate plant life and allow for natural light, result in happier and more productive employees” 
“Our aim with this this project is not just to develop a highly sustainable building but to create an environment that has a positive impact on those within it." he said.
City of Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said “This project is an example of a development using sustainability and innovation to create positive outcomes for the community." 
Situated in the heart of Fremantle, it is just 100 metres from the new King Square development.
The development will take 18 months to build, with completion expected mid-2020.
Strata spaces at hArbour by Yolk range from 57 sqm to full floors of 380 sqm and are available to purchase from $347,500, with leasing opportunities also available. 
Additional sustainability features that will be incorporated include solar usage and storage system; storm and grey water collection, distribution and recycling; and a new commercial greywater system using filtration and ozone disinfection to recycle shower and hand basin water to the planters in the green façade.
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WA's first mass timber office building set for Freemantle

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

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The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

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Joel Robinson

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Investors may soon find themselves with fewer reasons to buy established property and more incentives to look towards the new apartment market.

Proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions would see new and off-the-plan apartments retain access to the tax benefits, while established properties would miss out, creating a clear advantage for buyers purchasing newly built housing.

The policy direction aligns with what many developers have been saying for several years. Australia needs more housing supply, and governments are increasingly looking for ways to encourage investment into new stock rather than existing homes.

The challenge for investors is that suitable product is becoming harder to find.

For much of the last decade, one-bedroom apartments were the cornerstone of investor demand. They offered a lower entry price, strong rental appeal, and were a common feature across most apartment developments.

Today, the development pipeline looks very different.

Across both New South Wales and South East Queensland, developers are increasingly targeting owner-occupiers and downsizers, delivering larger two, three and four-bedroom apartments in response to changing buyer preferences. While one-bedroom apartments still exist, they now form a much smaller portion of many new projects.

That shift has created a shortage of investor-friendly stock, particularly in well-located projects close to transport, employment hubs and lifestyle amenity.

At the same time, rising apartment prices have pushed many new developments beyond the reach of traditional investors. On the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find new apartments priced around the $1 million mark, particularly those offering strong rental fundamentals and long-term growth prospects.

We've rounded up four new apartment developments where investors can still secure a foothold in the market for around $1 million or less.

<h2 data-end="1140" data-start="844">Flourish Soleira</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $1.07 million</h2>

Popular Palm Beach developer Sherpa is soon to officially launch its newest local apartment development, Flourish Soleira.

The one-bedroom apartments in the building were only offered to first home buyers rather than investors, and all of those have been snapped up. The two-bedroom apartments will start from $1.07 million, and the three-bedrooms, still a good investment given the popularity of Palm Beach for owner-occupiers, starting at $2,045,000.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

Flourish Soliera will comprise 153 apartments across two buildings, connected by a skybridge, the first ever delivered in the suburb.

True to Sherpa's booming Flourish brand of apartment projects, Flourish Soleira will have extensive rooftop amenity across both buildings including a&nbsp;wellness centre with gym, work from home, yoga, pilates, a&nbsp;heated pool, private dining rooms, pizza oven and barbecues, basketball court, and golf simulator.

<h2>Corallo, Palm Beach</h2>

Priced from: $841,500

Nearby Flourish Soleira is Changfa Group's beachfront-inspired Corallo development. They still have some one-bedroom apartments remaining, priced from $841,500.

The 105-apartment project on Palm Beach Avenue is otherwise dominated by larger two and three-bedroom residences, many of which are aimed at owner-occupiers and downsizers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112194 project_image_fid=808]

For investors, the appeal lies in Palm Beach's continued transformation from a laid-back beachside suburb into one of the Gold Coast's most sought-after residential markets. Residents at Corallo will be within walking distance of Palm Beach's surf beaches, the recreational amenity of Tallebudgera Creek, and the increasingly popular collection of cafes, restaurants and boutique retailers along the suburb's central dining precinct.

<h2>Corner House, Stones Corner</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $880,000</h2>

One of only two Brisbane apartment developments to make the list with prices under $1 million is DeMartini Fletcher's Corner House development in Stones Corner.

One-bedroom apartments start from $880,000 within the 88-apartment development, providing investors with exposure to one of Brisbane's most established inner-south locations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149098 project_image_fid=330594]

Stones Corner has long been supported by strong tenant demand due to its proximity to major employment and education destinations. The suburb sits less than five kilometres from Brisbane's CBD and is within easy reach of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Queensland Children's Hospital and several university campuses.

The project's location within a walkable urban village environment, surrounded by retail, dining and public transport infrastructure, continues to attract both professionals and healthcare workers seeking accommodation close to work.

Parkdrive Apartments, Chermside

Priced from: $749,000

The most affordable apartments across Brisbane's new and off the plan market are in Chermside where developer AusDev is selling one-bedroom apartments from $749,000, and two-beds from $929,000, at its recently launched Parkdrive development.

The development is strategically positioned in one of Brisbane's largest employment and retail precincts, placing residents within easy walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and the suburb's major bus interchange.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Already under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2028, Parkdrive benefits from Chermside's ongoing evolution into Brisbane's northern metropolitan centre. The suburb continues to attract significant public and private investment, supporting population growth and underpinning long-term rental demand.

For investors focused on yield and tenant depth, the combination of healthcare, retail and transport infrastructure within close proximity provides a strong foundation for occupancy and rental performance.

Investors to turn to new apartments after Federal Government changes spark hunt for Queensland's best $1 million apartments

A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Often when it comes to purchasing property, the biggest barrier to entry is the deposit. Buyers of established homes typically aim for a 20 per cent deposit to avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance, while most property transactions require around a 10 per cent deposit when contracts are exchanged.

The off-the-plan market works differently, with buyers typically paying a deposit during construction and settling the balance upon completion. As completion approaches at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fabbrica-fitzroy-369-gore-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fabbrica Fitzroy</a>, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace</a> is making it easier for buyers to secure a residence through a deposit-matching incentive. Purchasers need only contribute a five per cent deposit*, with Pace matching the remaining five per cent.

The offer comes as Pace unveils a completed display apartment and townhouse, now available for inspection by appointment ahead of the project's Spring completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371009]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/winwood-mckenzie-architecture">Winwood Mckenzie</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, Fabbrica draws on Fitzroy’s industrial and manufacturing history, incorporating references to the former Argyle Shirt Factory and Life Savers Confectionery Company that once occupied the site.

The development comprises 85 residences, spanning low-maintenance apartments through to larger-format townhouses with private street access and double lock-up garages, a relatively uncommon offering in Fitzroy’s higher-density apartment market.

Pace says the project has been designed to appeal to buyers seeking inner-city convenience without sacrificing space, flexibility, or amenity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371016]

Inside the residences, Winwood Mckenzie has focused on adaptable layouts and integrated detailing, with features including custom joinery, and concealed storage solutions. The material palette leans into warm, tactile finishes intended to complement the building’s industrial architectural language.

Fabbrica’s rooftop amenity is a key part of the project offering. Spanning around 800 sqm, the communal rooftop includes a private dining room, communal kitchen, lounge spaces, work-from-home zones, and outdoor dining areas overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371017]

Landscape architecture studio Acre has introduced a layered rooftop garden designed to soften the urban setting while creating a more communal environment for residents.

The Fitzroy location also positions residents within walking distance of Brunswick Street, Smith Street, parks, cafés, galleries, and public transport, while remaining only minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. The project has an enviable Walk Score of 96.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371025]

Pace, which is also delivering the project as builder, has developed more than 100 projects across Melbourne over the past three decades. The vertically integrated approach has become increasingly common among developers seeking greater control over construction delivery amid broader market pressures affecting the apartment sector.

The strikingly contemporary Gore Street development is now around 70 per cent complete, with purchasers expected to move into their new homes in Spring 2026. A limited number of residences remain available under the current deposit match offer.

*Conditions apply in relation to the deposit match offer.

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Pace offers five per cent deposit match at Fabbrica Fitzroy ahead of Spring completion

Sydney developer Hyecorp's roots on the Lower North Shore stretch back three generations, and that deep understanding of the market continues to shape where and how it develops today.

From high-rise towers to boutique apartment projects, the family-run developer has built its reputation by focusing on a part of Sydney it knows intimately. Founded by Michael Abolakian in the early 1990s, Hyecorp is now led by his sons Stephen, Troy and Patrick.

Stephen Abolakian, joint managing director alongside Troy, has spent more than two decades in the business, overseeing development, planning, finance, marketing and sales.

Abolakian says the developer's disciplined focus on where it chooses to operate has been, and continues to be, one of Hyecorp's greatest strengths.

“We know the buyer profile exceptionally well,” Abolakian says.

“The demographics between places like Willoughby, Chatswood, St Leonards and Roseville are very similar. There are nuances between suburbs and projects, but culturally and from a buyer perspective, there’s a strong overlap.”

That buyer has historically been overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven.

Unlike many Sydney apartment developers that have traditionally relied heavily on investor demand, Hyecorp’s projects have typically attracted downsizers, upsizers, rightsizers and family owner-occupiers seeking long-term homes rather than short-term investments.

“Historically, investors have been a much smaller portion of our demand profile,” Abolakian says.

“We design for owner-occupiers. We don’t design for yield, we design for comfort, amenity, family living and long-term usability.”

That philosophy extends well beyond apartment layouts.

From landscaping and communal gardens to shared amenities and circulation spaces, Hyecorp’s developments are designed around how people actually live, something Abolakian believes has become increasingly important in Sydney’s apartment market.

“There was probably a period where having an approved project in market was enough,” he says.

“There wasn’t as much competition and if you built it, buyers would come. That’s no longer the case.”

“There’s more supply in the pipeline now, particularly with TOD precincts and low and mid-rise reforms opening up opportunities across Sydney. Buyers have more choice, so if you get the product wrong, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110379 project_image_fid=311393]

The shift has forced developers to become more sophisticated in how they approach apartment design, particularly as owner-occupier expectations continue to rise.

For Hyecorp, that means thinking beyond who the buyer is today and designing for who they may become in five or 10 years' time.

“People buying now often aren’t moving in for several years,” Abolakian says.

“You might have a young couple buying today, but by the time they move in they may have children, older children, or changing lifestyle needs. You’ve got to think about how families evolve.”

That thinking also shapes Hyecorp’s approach to amenity, which positions wellness at the forefront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362634]

While resort-style facilities have become increasingly common marketing tools across Sydney apartment developments, Abolakian says the challenge is ensuring amenities are genuinely usable and appropriate for the scale of the project.

“If amenities are done right, they can materially improve the living experience,” he says, adding however that if you&nbsp;overdo it or get it wrong, you can end up with facilities nobody uses that simply create ongoing strata costs.”

That balance is something Hyecorp is aiming to strike with projects like Roseville Avenue, one of the group's upcoming Lower North Shore developments, which Abolakian describes as bringing a resort-style living experience into a metropolitan setting.

“It’s about creating something that feels special without being excessive,” he says.

“Good gardens, quality apartments, thoughtful amenity. Creating that resort feeling in a metro location.”

<img alt="Hyecorp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13c4c0f3-b1b7-44cf-9344-0b3d1d07797a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-02%20at%2012.14.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9OLWjyj2bYkDV35F78WJnyMSPfc2bJ2z" />

The focus on owner-occupier product comes as Sydney’s apartment market continues to navigate a difficult development environment.&nbsp;For Hyecorp, maintaining an in-house operating model across construction, sales, marketing and development management has become increasingly important in navigating that environment.

“We’ve always believed in keeping a lot of the process in-house,” Abolakian says.

“It creates efficiencies, but it also creates quality control. You can make faster decisions and ensure the end product stays aligned with the original vision.”

Despite the challenges, Abolakian believes demand for quality owner-occupier apartments across Sydney remains strong beneath the surface, particularly across established Lower North Shore suburbs where downsizers continue to seek new housing options close to existing communities.

“There are definitely people waiting,” he says.

“Once some of the broader uncertainty settles, whether that’s the global environment or some of the local economic noise, I think the right projects will perform very strongly.”

Hyecorp currently has three residential developments on the market across Sydney’s Lower North Shore.&nbsp;Audrey, St Leonards, positioned opposite Newlands Park, is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents, with the project now almost sold out.

Hyecorp has also recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine Chatswood</a>, an architectural tower, while continuing to deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet Roseville</a>, a more boutique scale of development with just 34 apartments.

Staff reporter

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