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Figures by SQM Research reveal national residential listings fell slightly in October 2018 to 335,014 from 335,854 in September.
Compared to a year ago, national listings rose 3.3%, boosted by a big increase in Melbourne, where listings also bucked the national trend and increased 5.9% in October.
Over the year, the stock available for sale in Melbourne jumped by 24.3%. 
In Sydney, property listings rose by 2.4% over the month to be up 18.2% higher from a year ago.
Listings also jumped by 10.3% in Canberra over the month while asking house prices also continued to rise in the nation’s capital, compared to drops in Sydney and Melbourne. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/6/SQM%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/2018/11/6/SQM%201.jpg" alt="">
Source: SQM Research
In Hobart, listings rose 0.6%, but remain down 12.9% from a year ago, reflecting a shortage of properties available for sale there.
In Perth, stock on market fell 1.1% in October, while Darwin’s listings dropped 4.9%. In Adelaide, listings dropped 3.2%. Listings were flat in Brisbane over the month. 
Louis Christopher, Managing Director of SQM Research, said a slight drop in listings is normal October after a rise in September listings.
"It is typical to record a slight decline in listings in October after an initial Spring jump in September," said Christopher.
"A second surge is usual in November, before the property market slows down for Christmas, and so we expect listings to rise again this month. 
"Having said that, listings were significantly up in Melbourne, creating large recorded rises over the year, which is illustrative of the downturn Melbourne has entered into.
"In Sydney too, listings are up compared to a year earlier, as well as Canberra, as more vendors consider selling."
Asking Prices
Capital city average asking prices were steady for houses at $939,200 while unit asking prices fell 0.4% to $569,500 over the month to 6 November.
Asking house prices in Sydney fell again, by 0.3% to $1.30 million, to be down 2.8% from a year earlier. Unit prices too fell by 0.4% to $702,700, as the property market continues to correct in Australia’s biggest city. 
Melbourne asking house prices fell again to $959,200, though unit prices were up 0.5% to $553,100. Canberra’s asking house prices in contrast rose by 0.7% over the month to 6 November to be up 12.7% from a year ago, the greatest growth of any capital city. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/6/SQM%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/11/6/SQM%202.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/11/6/SQM%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/2018/11/6/SQM%203.jpg" alt="">
Source: SQM Research
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Property listings slip modestly in October: SQM Research

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Global real estate investor and manager Cromwell Property Group (Cromwell) has secured two new leases at its Victoria Avenue, Chatswood CBD complex.
The two-tower complex, comprised of 13 storeys of A-grade office space, is positioned in the heart of the Chatswood precinct.
Cromwell has signed over 1,100 square metres across both new tenants, Sydney North Primary Health Network and Shiji Group.
Sydney North Primary Health Network has leased level five of tower two for six years to 2024, and Shiji Group has leased a spec fitout on level 10 of tower one for five years to 2023.
Bobby Binning, Cromwell head of property, said the recent deals indicated quality, well-managed office space in Chatswood was "hot".
“Chatswood is humming with activity as businesses explore office space beyond Sydney CBD. As market dynamics shift, a major drawcard to the precinct has been the amenity offering and transport options, with theChatswood to Sydenham Metro Rail planned for 2024,” Binning said.
“The position and quality of our Victoria Avenue asset has resulted in continuously high occupancy rates. We are pleased to welcome our two new tenants onsite.”
Cromwell purchased the Victoria Avenue asset in 2006. Under Cromwell’s management, the common areas and all office floors have undergone refurbishment and modernisation.
Earlier this year, Cromwell submitted a Development Application (DA) for an additional low-rise 3,500 square metre premium-grade office building and a 156-room, full-service hotel on the site.
The DA also envisages significant plaza and amenity improvements benefitting all tenants, including new end-of-trip facilities, outdoor, conferencing and dining facilities.
The DA is subject to council approval, with an outcome pending in the coming months.
Commenting on the DA, Binning said following the successful rejuvenation of Northpoint Tower, it is looking to replicate a similar offering for its Chatswood tenants. 
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Shoji Group take Chatswood CBD office lease

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GUEST OBSERVATION
China’s rise as a <a href="https://theconversation.com/soft-power-goes-hard-chinas-economic-interest-in-the-pacific-comes-with-strings-attached-103765" target="_blank">global power</a> is driving new flows of people, ideas and capital between China and Australia. Australian cities need to adapt to this new geopolitical reality.
For some, these changes promise new opportunities to fulfil a “<a href="http://www.defence.gov.au/whitepaper/2013/docs/australia_in_the_asian_century_white_paper.pdf" target="_blank">vision of being a land of increased opportunity, prosperity and fairness</a>”. Others see Asian “invasion” and “takeover” as a threat to Australia’s white identity and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/silent-invasion-by-clive-hamilton/9781743794807" target="_blank">political system</a>.
A new <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-5871.12311" target="_blank">collection of articles</a> demonstrates that the impact of the Asian Century on Australian cities defies both dystopian claims of a “Chinese takeover” and utopian visions of a harmonious urban multiculturalism.
<audio width="300" height="32" preload="metadata" controls="controls" data-duration="850" data-image="" data-title="Linda Jakobson, CEO of China Matters, on Australia's relationship with China." data-size="34018889" data-source="City Road Podcast" data-source-url="https://soundcloud.com/user-283789701/china_matters" data-license="CC BY" data-license-url="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><source src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/audio/1327/china-matters-interview.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></source></audio>
<div class="audio-player-caption">Linda Jakobson, CEO of China Matters, on Australia’s relationship with China. <a class="source" href="https://soundcloud.com/user-283789701/china_matters" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">City Road Podcast</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>32.4 MB <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/audio/1327/china-matters-interview.mp3" target="_blank">(download)</a>
</div>
Changing settlement patterns
The profile of migrants who arrived from mainland China since 2000 <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1745-5871.12293" target="_blank">is changing</a>. They are more highly skilled, educated and investment-focused than earlier migrants.
Their settlement patterns in Australia <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1745-5871.12293" target="_blank">are also changing</a>. Sydney is still home to half of all China-born migrants in Australia. However, the proportion of migrants settling in other capital cities is increasing.
In Sydney in 2001, China-born residents represented over 10% of the population of only three suburbs. A decade later, the number of such suburbs had risen to 22.
Smaller increases were evident in Melbourne (from one suburb in 2001 to seven in 2011) and Brisbane (zero to four).
However, Hurstville was the only Australian suburb in 2011 where China-born residents represented over 25% of the population.
This suggests a pattern of settlement that is neither extreme residential segregation along ethnic lines nor full <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1745-5871.12293" target="_blank">“spatial assimilation”</a>. Rather, it is best understood in terms of multiple moderate concentrations.
Changing homes
The choices Chinese migrants make about their homes in Australia are significant in shaping Australian cities.
The homes Chinese migrants make in Australia involve complex relations with both their past homes in China and their new lives as Australians.
Over time, many adopt Australian practices of housing consumption. This includes <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Migration_Settlement_and_the_Concepts_of?id=Fv79oAEACAAJ&amp;redir_esc=y" target="_blank">the preference for detached suburban houses rather than apartments</a>.
One environmental implication of this is that the housing footprint of China-born migrants in Melbourne increased <a href="https://theconversation.com/chinese-migrants-and-urban-consumption-in-australia-local-impacts-and-global-implications-103921" target="_blank">five-fold after migration</a>.
Nevertheless, Chinese migrants are <a href="https://theconversation.com/higher-density-and-diversity-apartments-are-australia-at-its-most-multicultural-97176" target="_blank">over-represented in apartment buildings</a>. Nationally, only 7% of Australian-born people live in apartments, compared to 31% of those born in northeast Asia, including China.
Changing cultural relations
Despite the policy shift from White Australia to multiculturalism, racism remains prevalent in Australian cities. A narrative about <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07256868.2018.1459516" target="_blank">white victimhood</a> is often used to counter evidence of discrimination against non-whites.
One recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/asians-out-not-in-this-suburb-not-in-this-apartment-103919" target="_blank">study</a> found Asian Australians have experienced twice as many instances of racism and discrimination as have other Australians. Specifically, 58% of Asia-born participants experienced some measure of discrimination when renting or buying a house.
Apartment buildings have become a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1745-5871.12282" target="_blank">key site</a> of <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230244474_2" target="_blank">intercultural encounter</a>. Often this involves tensions over the <a href="https://theconversation.com/higher-density-and-diversity-apartments-are-australia-at-its-most-multicultural-97176" target="_blank">management of common areas, washing hung on balconies, or even cooking smells in buildings </a>.
Consequently, strata or body-corporate committees have become important institutions for mediating intercultural relations in Australian cities.
In suburbs with increased concentrations of China-born residents, intercultural tensions are often expressed through local urban planning conflicts. In some suburbs, for example, white residents have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12268" target="_blank">blamed Chinese investors</a> for driving residential densification and the loss of “neighbourhood character”.
At the same time, shared interests in relation to buildings, neighbourhoods and shared social class identities can <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9789811313660" target="_blank">help to bridge ethnic and racial difference</a>.
Housing market
<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00049182.2017.1317050" target="_blank">Chinese investment </a>in residential and commercial real estate increased from A$2.4 billion in 2009-10 to A$24.3 billion in 2014-15. China was one of the largest sources of capital. Asian foreign investors accounted for 9.4% of purchases of new dwellings in New South Wales in the fourth quarter of 2015.
While much of this investment was channelled into new housing supply, <a href="https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/doi/10.1111/1745-5871.12280" target="_blank">public concern about the impact of foreign investment on housing affordability</a> is rising.
<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/abac.12110" target="_blank">One estimate</a> suggests that if foreign investment had been held steady from 2004 to 2014, house prices in Sydney and Melbourne would have risen by about 50% compared with the actual growth of 67%. Therefore, most of the increase in house prices cannot be attributed to foreign investment.
By pointing to foreign investment as the main reason for Australia’s housing affordability woes, media coverage and government statements have often shifted attention away from the <a href="https://theconversation.com/affordable-housing-policy-failure-still-being-fuelled-by-flawed-analysis-92993" target="_blank">structural causes</a> of housing unaffordability and the various drivers of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19491247.2016.1270618" target="_blank">foreign investment</a>.
Changing Australian cities in the Asian Century
Australian cities in the early 21st century face major challenges relating to housing, transport, jobs and food security.
Racialised talk of “Asian invasion” blames Chinese migrants and investors for many problems. Yet the foundations of these problems run deep into Australia’s <a href="https://www.rowmaninternational.com/book/the_geopolitics_of_real_estate/3-156-775f5a7c-6f6f-45fe-9a2a-fdfaf44f5727" target="_blank">urban histories</a> and our market-driven approach to city-making.
Debate about the impact of the so-called Asian Century on Australian cities must move beyond a discussion about utopian opportunities and dystopian threats. The reality on the ground in Australian cities is far more complex than this binary thinking.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/103917/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;">
Dallas Rogers, Program Director, Master of Urbanism. School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney
Ilan Wiesel, Senior Lecturer in Urban Geography, University of Melbourne
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-australian-cities-are-adapting-to-the-asian-century-103917" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: More than 25% of Hurstville residents were born in China, but the Sydney suburb is the exception to the rule. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/philipterrygraham/36115452672" target="_blank">Philip Terry Graham/Flickr</a>, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dallas-rogers-5269"> </a>
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How Australian cities are adapting to the Asian Century

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Property Exchange Australia Limited (PEXA) has been sold to a consortium headed by Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), alongside Link Administration Holdings Limited and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners Inc..
It submitted a bid which has now been accepted by shareholders holding a majority of PEXA's shares. 
The long touted Property Exchange Australia float was recently scrappe, paving the way for Link Group and its partners to take a majority stake.
PEXA assists members, such as lawyers, conveyancers and financial institutions, to lodge documents with Land Registries and complete financial settlements electronically. 
States across Australia have been moving across to the platform as the country aims for loans to become 100% digital.
The consortium will pay an enterprise value of up to $1.6 billion, depending on the level of final acceptances to the trade sale offer received by PEXA’s shareholders.
CBA was already a key stakeholder in the e-conveyancing platform. 
CBA chief executive officer Matt Comyn said having been a key stakeholder in PEXA since its inception in 2011, the decision represented its continued commitment to "support the property industry as it transitions towards an innovative, fully digital, settlements process that aims to provide improved experiences for customers.” 
CBA will invest a further $50 million, totalling approximately $100 million invested in PEXA to date. 
This will result in an increase in its ownership stake from 13.1% to 16%.
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No IPO as PEXA finally sold 

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In the iconic book The Lucky Country, author Donald Horne described Australia as the <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/Media%20Release10" target="_blank">first suburban nation</a>. Half a century later, the moniker is perhaps truer than ever. We calculate that the <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=eMYpDwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT119&amp;dq=Lucky+country+first+suburban+nation&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjB9Jmhw6_eAhVQEnAKHTOAAqwQ6AEIQDAE#v=onepage&amp;q=Lucky%20country%20first%20suburban%20nation&amp;f=false" target="_blank">five largest metro areas</a> now house 64% of Australia’s population. And the greatest population growth is in peri-urban fringe areas.
<a href="https://grattan.edu.au/news/most-new-housing-isnt-high-end-housing/" target="_blank">Most new housing is built in the suburbs</a>, and detached dwellings are a staple of the “Australian Dream” of home ownership. So it should come as no surprise that Australia’s <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3412.0Main%20Features42016-17" target="_blank">most rapidly growing ethnic group</a>, migrants born in mainland China, is choosing to settle in the suburbs.
<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12293" target="_blank">Our research</a> finds that the residential patterns of China-born migrants in Australian capital cities are becoming both more diverse and more suburban.
Chinese migration to Australia dates back longer than the Commonwealth itself, with the first wave tied to the 19th-century <a href="https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/chinese-goldfields" target="_blank">gold</a> <a href="https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/immigrants-and-emigrants/many-roads-chinese-on-the-goldfields/" target="_blank">rushes</a>.
In the <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/sitecore/content/Home/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/CIB/CIB9697/97cib16" target="_blank">1980s and 1990s</a>, ethnic Chinese from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the “Nanyang” countries of Southeast Asia (e.g. Singapore, Malaysia) came to Australia along with migrants from mostly southern mainland China.
Since 2000, Chinese migration to Australia has been more geographically diverse in its origins. These migrants have also been increasingly advantaged in socio-economic status and <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-we-know-about-why-chinese-students-come-to-australia-to-study-97257" target="_blank">often driven by tertiary education</a>.
Australia is now home to more than <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbytitle/D8CAE4F74B82D446CA258235000F2BDE?OpenDocument" target="_blank">1.2 million people of Chinese ancestry</a>, <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbytitle/D8CAE4F74B82D446CA258235000F2BDE?OpenDocument" target="_blank">41% of them born in mainland China</a>.
<h2>Diversity in dispersal patterns</h2>
Just like most Australians, these China-born migrants are concentrated in major cities. The Chinatowns in cities like <a href="https://theconversation.com/sydneys-chinatown-is-much-more-of-a-modern-bridge-to-asia-than-a-historic-enclave-94482" target="_blank">Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-the-story-of-fook-shing-colonial-victorias-chinese-detective-94017" target="_blank">Melbourne</a> remain as important cultural icons. Yet the reality is that, just like cities such as New York, Toronto and Vancouver, there has been an obvious trend of China-born migrants dispersing to live in the suburbs.
In our study covering the three census periods from 2001 to 2011, China-born residential patterns became more diverse over time. There has been greater dispersal in the large cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and clustering in medium and smaller cities (Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin and Canberra).
In other words, as the local population of China-born migrants gets larger and more complex, multiple Chinese enclaves emerge. These include Hurstville and Campsie in Sydney, Burwood and Clayton in Melbourne, and Sunnybank and Sunnybank Hills in Brisbane.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/243195/original/file-20181031-76405-30oc7e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/243195/original/file-20181031-76405-30oc7e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> Campsie is one of the Sydney suburbs popular with China-born migrants. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/sydney-australia-apr-6-2018-vehicle-1094335619?src=7SEue2_X5ygQd-1mlyFrzg-1-0" target="_blank">Victor Wong/Shutterstock</a>
In the smaller capital cities of Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and Canberra, residential clusters appear to emerge near major universities in inner cities. Here, housing markets and planning initiatives play a strong role as well. Clustering appears mostly in and around inner cities, which may be tied to the construction of high-rise unit blocks.
Interestingly, the diversity of this suburbanisation － particularly in Melbourne and Sydney － runs counter to the narrative of the “straight line” assimilation model. This is based on the idea that migrants and their children simply amalgamate into the population at large. Unlike what such “traditional” models predict, the integration of China-born migrants has been accompanied by concentration growing stronger over time, mainly in the outer suburbs, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
The association among residential improvement, individual advantages and entry into mixed White neighbourhoods may be weakening. This is reflected in the growing tendency towards living in Chinese-dominated communities with the benefits of easy access to Chinese-owned business and services. Formation of ethnic concentrations is voluntary, which runs counter to the idea that a lack of options forces migrants to segregate.
<h2>A new look for suburbia</h2>
With about <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2024.0Main%20Features22016" target="_blank">half of Australians</a> born overseas or having an overseas-born parent, migration has rendered Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jun/27/australia-reaches-tipping-point-with-quarter-of-population-born-overseas" target="_blank">one of the world’s most diverse countries</a>. While television shows such as Neighbours and Home and Away still <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07256868.2013.864628" target="_blank">depict suburbia as the preserve of the moneyed Anglo-Australians</a>, the composition of today’s suburbs mirrors the <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2024.0Main%20Features22016" target="_blank">diversity of the nation</a>. Just remember that next time you are trying to find a good acupuncturist!
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/thomas-sigler-339478">Thomas Sigler</a>, Lecturer in Human Geography, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-corcoran-413910" target="_blank">Jonathan Corcoran</a>, Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/siqin-sisi-wang-562255" target="_blank">Siqin (Sisi) Wang</a>, PhD and Research Assistant, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yan-liu-427762">Yan Liu</a>, Associate Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</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/where-are-chinese-migrants-choosing-to-settle-in-australia-look-to-the-suburbs-103920" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main image photo credit: <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/aerial-view-typical-suburb-australia-641677402?src=VkZnqgoaYk6tWt7fljUTTA-1-2" target="_blank">Jandrie Lombard/Shutterstock</a>
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Where are Chinese migrants settling in Australia?

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When it comes to risk, off-the-plan units top the list for potential investment disasters, especially if changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax go ahead.
It’s a risk that’s compounded by a number of factors, says RiskWise Property Research CEO Doron Peleg, and includes equity risk, cashflow risk and settlement risk.
“The first, and most obvious, is the risk of oversupply which is something we’ve seen in inner-city Brisbane which has created weakness in the market leading to lower valuations, rising defaults on settlements, major discounting, falling rents and ridiculous incentives to get buyers across the line,” Mr Peleg said.
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Brisbane City, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane have all been named in the Top 10 of the RiskWise 2018 list of the 100 Worst Off-The-Plan Suburbs in Australia, as have other areas in Sydney (eg Zetland and Epping) and Melbourne (eg Southbank) where oversupply of units is a huge issue.
He said the widespread oversupply issue was universally acknowledged by banks which had ‘blacklists’ for postcodes suffering potential unit saturation. In addition, lenders are scrutinising loan applications much more vigorously and either require a much higher deposit as security or they may turn down the application entirely. “It must also be remembered that rental units and owner-occupier units are not fully substitute products. The dwelling types and needs of owner-occupiers are often greatly different from the dwelling types and needs of renters,” he said. “Units that are used by owner-occupiers are larger than units that are typically used as rental properties and, more importantly, the price per square metre of rental properties is higher than the price per square metre of owner-occupied properties, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. “This means that, overall, rental units in Sydney and Melbourne are significantly less affordable than units that are owner-occupied.” However, Mr Peleg said it was the potential changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax if Labor were to win the next Federal election, which was likely, that put off-the-plan units at their highest risk ever. He said should the ALP policy be implemented there would be reduced demand to purchase rental properties due to the creation of primary and secondary markets, and this would cause new dwelling prices to decline in many regions. “The transfer of the property effectively changes its status from the primary to the secondary market, from a taxation perspective, however, the same taxation benefits from a property in the primary market would not be available to a subsequent investor,” he said. “In other words, if you buy an off-the-plan unit, and there are no changes to negative gearing, when you sell the property the new investor will have the same tax benefits of depreciation etc as the original owner, and so the fair market value will remain similar to both the buyer and the seller, as the financial benefits from the property are the same. “However, if the changes go ahead, the new purchaser will not be able to claim negative gearing against their wages and the capital gains tax discount will be cut in half. Therefore, the vendor must drop the value of the property because the benefits to the buyers are lower, and it is therefore not as attractive to potential buyers.” Mr Peleg said unless there was phenomenal capital growth, the value of off-the-plan property in many regions was likely to be reduced and it would become significantly harder for investors to enjoy capital growth from many off-the-plan units, at least in the foreseeable future. “And if you consider that many of the prices for off-the-plan units include a significant commission to the marketer, between 5-6 per cent of the value of the property and sometimes even more, and with the current risks to settle the property … all of these things together make purchasing off-the-plan units in many regions in Australia extremely high,” he said.
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Brisbane off-the-plan units the riskiest property investments

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The final design has been unveiled for an iconic new Sydney Fish Market which will revitalise Blackwattle Bay and expand the public’s access to Sydney Harbour and its foreshore.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the purpose-built retail and wholesale facility will be positioned over the water as the centrepiece of a new harbour-side precinct, taking advantage of panoramic views to the Anzac Bridge.
“The Sydney Fish Market currently attracts more visitors annually than the GreatBarrier Reef and accounts for around 20 per cent of international visitors to the Sydney region,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“It is already the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, trading approximately 14,500 tonnes of seafood per year.
“This brand new fish market will draw locals and visitors to Blackwattle Bay to experience the excitement of an authentic market and auction floor, and taste some of our finest seafood in state-of-the-art surrounds.”
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The building will feature a unique timber and aluminium roof inspired by fish scales floating over the building like a canopy and be home to an expanded seafood cooking school, food kiosks, restaurants, bars and outdoor spaces for social events.
Plans also include new public wharves, a waterfront promenade, a new ferry stop and new civic and community spaces.
“This will become a vibrant economic and community hub that supports NSW’s fresh seafood industry, our professional fishers and coastal fishing towns from Eden toTweed Heads,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Relocating the fish market to the new site will return Blackwattle Bay’s foreshore to the public, improve pedestrian and cycling links and connect more of Pyrmont to the water as part of the long-awaited revitalisation of the area.”
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The design was commissioned last year and is being led by Danish architects 3XN, in partnership with Sydney firms BVN and Aspect Studios.
Sydney Fish Market will continue to operate uninterrupted during construction of the new facility, which is expected to begin mid 2019, subject to all necessary approvals.
The new fish market is expected to open in 2023.
GBCA CEO Romilly Madew said the new Sydney Fish Market would be a world-class tourist attraction, with the stunning complex not only reinvigorating the CBD location, but embracing energy efficiency and water and waste-saving measures.
“We applaud the NSW Government, UrbanGrowth NSW and the Sydney Fish market for ensuring the regeneration of the fish market is undertaken with sustainability front-of-mind,” “For such an iconic Sydney attraction to embed environmental and social sustainability as a core function sets a great example for others to follow and represents best-practice.
“It also shows the importance of Green Star and how, increasingly, Sydney’s iconic buildings and precincts are aiming for and achieving certification, such as the Sydney Opera House, Barangaroo and Sydney Airport.
“We are excited to work with the key stakeholders on this monumental project, which will reshape, redefine and reinvigorate Blackwattle Bay.”
 
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Sydney Fish Market final design unveiled

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Massive though it is, the property market isn’t a monolith – it’s a seething mass of individuals all trying to make their mark and make money from one of the most talked about assets there is.  
And whether you want to get into the property market, hate the property market or are already up to your neck in it, you’ll know that any notable movement in the market can cause a major shakeout and affect the rest of the economy.
As part of the annual Boom &amp; Bust Report for 2019, SQM Research will present a list of the real movers and shakers in the Australian housing market. 
These Top Ten people listed can impact either the demand for or supply of property or direction and sentiment in the market.  
These are the people we at SQM listen very closely to.
These influential individuals who have moved housing prices in 2018 and may well move them again in 2019 are listed below.  In our 2019 Boom &amp; Bust Report we will cover off what they could do next and how it will impact the property market. 
The Top Ten List:
10. Mark Steinert - Stockland CEO
9. Bill Shorten - Opposition Leader
8. Daniel Andrews- Premier of Victoria
7. Gladys Berejiklian - Premier of NSW
6. Donald Trump - US President
5. Scott Morrison - Prime Minister
4. Brian Hartzer - Westpac Bank CEO
3. Matt Comyn - Commonwealth Bank Australia CEO
2. Wayne Byres - APRA Chairman
1. Dr Philip Lowe - Reserve Bank of Australia
Louis Christopher is the <a href="http://sqmresearch.com.au/about-us.php" target="_blank">managing director at SQM Research.</a>
 
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The 10 people most likely to shape property prices: Louis Christopher

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Gruzman House, the Darling Point home designed by the late architect Neville Gruzman to emulate Lloyd Wright's famous Falling Water, has been sold.
Filled with wooden ceilings and glossy timber-panelled walls, it has been restored by its current owners, Clean Energy Derivatives Corp chief Ashleigh Antflick and his wife, Suzanna Helia, who, when they purchased it eight years ago, promised the Gruzman family they would maintain the architect's legacy.
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The home's living room was once described by Sydney Opera House architect Jorn Utzon as "the best living room in Australia". Before his death in 2005 Gruzman endeavoured to leave the home to the nation, without success.
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The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-darling+point-129297090" target="_blank">Oswald Street home</a> was listed with $7.75 million hopes. Just a week after its sale the neighbour, spa entrepreneur Barry Wain has listed his home through Alison Coopes at Agency by Alison Coopes who is seeking offers by November 28.
This article was first published in The Sunday Telegraph.
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Gruzman House at Darling Point sells

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A boutique retail investment in Richmond is set to go under the hammer.
The single level, 110 square metre building on a 140 square metre site at 487 Church Street is currently utilised as a café and has been home to different food outlets for more than 30 years.
Teska Carson’s listing agents George Takis and Michael Ludski said that the property was a owner-occupier opportunity with potential development upside.
They said the property has Commercial 2 zoning which aims to promote offices, appropriate manufacturing and industries, bulky goods retailing, and other retail uses, as well as associated businesses and commercial services.
“Dubbed the innovation capital of Melbourne this area is experiencing increasing demand from tenants and developers looking for city fringe opportunities,” Takis said.
“Recent strong local and offshore investment and the number of projects underway or in the application process in the area are testament to its high desirability.”
Ludski said owner-occupiers and tenants would benefit from exposure to a high level of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
“This is an exceptional location in terms of close proximity to all essential amenities which will continue to attract tenants and drive strong capital growth. At the same time the property offers the potential for further development (STCA),” Ludski said.
An onsite auction will be held on Thursday, November 22 at 12pm.
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Church Street, Richmond café site set for auction 

<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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139552]

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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