<html><body>
A four bedroom, three bathroom trophy home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-palm+beach-128773070">241 Jefferson Lane</a>, Palm Beach has quickly gone under contract just days before going under the hammer on July 29.
There's been no revealed sale price.
But the 413 square metre holding was sold for $3.53 million through Ray White last February.
It is again being sold through Ray White.
Marketed by Troy Dowker as a '"magical abode to invest in everlasting memories with family and friends or a home for rejuvenation to create moments worth reminiscing" the home, set over two levels features a fenced beachfront yard and "designer finishes".
The house is close to many amenities including cafes, public transport and several schools.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach trophy offering back on the market

<html><body>
The Sydney rental market has recorded the highest vacancy rate in at least 13 years according to SQM Research with 19,500 landlords seeking tenants.
Sydney’s rental vacancy rate rose to 2.8% in June with an estimated 19,572 residential rental dwellings sitting vacant and available for rent.
The vacancy rate rose from 2.5% recorded in May and 2% recorded in June 2017.
The 2.8% is the highest rental vacancy rate since at least 2005 when SQM Research commenced record keeping of rental listings. 
Nationally, the residential rental vacancy rate rose to 2.3% in June (from 2.1% recorded in May) with the number of vacancies Australia-wide now sitting at 75,757 properties.
Most cities recorded a rise with Melbourne rising to 1.6%, Brisbane to 3.0%, Canberra to 0.9% and Adelaide rising to 1.5%. Rental vacancies remained steady in Perth (4.1%), Darwin (3.5%) and Hobart (0.7%)
It should be noted that there tends to be a seasonal rise in rental vacancies for the major capital cities during the month of June. However it is SQM’s view that the rise recorded in Sydney goes beyond seasonal factors.  
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" width="12%">
City
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="13%">
June 2017 Vacancies
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="14%">
Vacancy Rate
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="15%">
May 2018 Vacancies
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="14%">
Vacancy Rate
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="15%">
June 2018 Vacancies
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="14%">
Vacancy Rate
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Adelaide
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
3,251
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
1.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
2,468
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
1.3%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
2,726
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
1.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Perth
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
10,638
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
5.4%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
8,235
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
4.1%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
8,426
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
4.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
8,754
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
1.6%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
7,676
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
1.4%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
9,035
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
1.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
11,497
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
3.6%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
9,331
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
2.9%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
9,886
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
3.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Canberra
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
731
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
1.2%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
498
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
0.8%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
565
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
0.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Sydney
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
13,215
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
2.0%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
17,164
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
2.5%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
19,572
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
2.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Darwin
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
961
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
3.3%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
1,051
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
3.5%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
1,062
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
3.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
Hobart
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
190
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
0.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
211
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
0.7%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
221
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
0.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="12%">
National
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="13%">
78,314
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
2.5%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
69,152
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
2.1%
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="15%">
75,757
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="14%">
2.3%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
SQM’s calculations of vacancies are based on online rental listings that have been advertised for three weeks or more compared to the total number of established rental properties.
SQM considers this to be a superior methodology compared to using a potentially incomplete sample of agency surveys or merely relying on raw online listings advertised.  
Capital city asking rents for houses fell over the month to 12 July 2018 by 0.4% to $549 a week. Unit asking rents remain steady at $444 a week. Over the year, asking house rents rose just 0.5%, while unit asking rents rose modestly by 0.9%.
While the asking rent for a three-bedroom house in Sydney remains the highest in the nation at $709 a week, rents fell 0.8% over the month to 12 July, with the upward trend in the vacancy rate easing pricing pressures. Asking unit rents in Sydney now stand at $522 a week, down by 0.2% over the month. Sydney was the only city to record falls in rents for the year with rents for houses down by 2.2% and units down by 0.1%
Canberra also recorded monthly falls in rents for both houses (0.1%) and units (2.5%) however rents are well up by 13% over the past 12 months for houses. Melbourne’s house rents fell by 1.3% for the month but unit rents rose marginally by 0.1%.
Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide and Perth house rents continue to register small increases in the past 30 days.  However, rents for units in Adelaide fell by 0.2%, making it the cheapest capital city to rent a unit at $299.60 a week.  Adelaide is also the cheapest capital city to rent a house, with the asking rent sitting at $383.10 a week, although there is an increase of 0.9% for June.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="6" valign="top" width="100%">
SQM Research Weekly Rents Index
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="39%">
Week ending - 12 Jul 2018
</td>
<td width="10%">
Rent
</td>
<td width="16%">
Change on previous week
</td>
<td width="16%">
Rolling month % change
</td>
<td width="17%">
12 month % change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Canberra
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
630.7
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-2.7  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.1%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
13.0%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
439.6
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-1.6  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-2.5%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
6.6%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Sydney
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
709.2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.2  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.8%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
-2.2%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
521.7
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.7  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.2%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
-0.1%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Darwin
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
540.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.1  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.4%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
5.8%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
405.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.0  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.5%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
1.9%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Brisbane
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
451.9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.1  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.5%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
2.0%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
370.4
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.6  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.3%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
0.8%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Adelaide
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
383.1
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.9  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.9%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
2.1%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
299.6
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.6  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.2%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
3.5%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Hobart
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
398.6
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.6  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.3%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
8.5%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
347.3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.3  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.9%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
10.4%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
522.6
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.6  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-1.3%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
2.2%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
411.8
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.2  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.1%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
2.6%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Perth
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
424.5
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.5  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.8%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
0.2%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
326.1
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.9  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.5%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
-0.4%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
National
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
432.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-1.0  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.5%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
1.2%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
355.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
1.0  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-1.1%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
1.7%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="24%">
Cap City Average
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Houses
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
549.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
1.0  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
-0.4%  
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
0.5%  
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="14%">
All Units
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="10%">
444.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.0
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="16%">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="17%">
0.9%  
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 
</body></html>

SQM calculates highest ever number of Sydney landlords without tenants

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia’s population is set to reach 25 million in the coming weeks. This is much earlier than expected. Eighteen years ago, projections estimated Australia’s population wouldn’t get to 25 million until 2041.
Western Australian Liberal Senator Dean Smith last week proposed a moratorium on immigration to give Australia some time to “breathe” and take stock. Claiming concerns over planning and infrastructure failing to meet population needs, Smith signalled Australia was unprepared, having relied on inaccurate population projections.
Immigration is often targeted when population levels seem out of control. But will a moratorium give Australia the supposed breathing space it needs?
Migration impacts
Concerns about immigration and a perceived population crisis have crossed over the spectrum of Australian politics. One Nation’s Pauline Hanson has called for a plebiscite on immigration, while Labor leader Bill Shorten has raised concerns about the number of temporary migrants in Australia.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has said a cut to immigration numbers would have economic benefits, contradicting Treasurer Scott Morrison. And Smith’s idea to halt immigration to allow the nation’s infrastructure time to catch up with population demand is shared by prominent public figures, including Bob Carr and Dick Smith.
Australia’s population is ageing, which has potential adverse consequences for the future as proportionally more people exit the workforce, increasing reliance on a shrinking income taxpayer base. Immigration has the potential to offset these consequences of population ageing by contributing to the workforce and to government funds for essential services. Migrants also contribute to Australia’s future population by having children.
The latest available research suggests immigration levels at “about 160,000 and 210,000 seem to have the ‘best’ impact by 2050 on ageing of the population and the rate of growth of GDP per capita”.
Current ABS projections provide an opportunity to examine what Australia’s demographic composition could look like if net overseas migration was zero, 200,000 (low), 240,000 (middle) or 280,000 (high) per year.
Based on 2011 census data, and medium-range assumptions for fertility and life expectancy, the 2013 (medium range) projections are tracking well with current estimates. These projections provide an indication of the impact of migration, measured as net overseas migration. Net overseas migration reflects the balance of incoming and outgoing movements and includes both permanent and temporary migration.
The four ABS scenarios show varying population numbers over the medium to long term. The higher the net overseas migration level, the bigger the population over the projected years. Interestingly, though, while zero net overseas migration would result in a reduction in population by the year 2070, the population would still continue to grow in the medium term due to natural increase (births minus deaths).
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ukear/2/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
Population composition is an important indicator to consider, rather than size alone. Age distribution is essential to understanding the fiscal opportunities and challenges a population faces.
Comparing the four net overseas migration scenarios illustrates the important contribution migration makes to Australia. The so-called dependency burden – the ratio of the number of children (0-14 years old) and older people (65 years or over) to the working-age population (15-64 years old) – is higher for zero and low net migration levels.
The current rate of net migration provides the middle ground in balancing population age structure and growth.
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1gVxQ/2/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500"></iframe>
Population projections
Planners need to know expected population size and growth to ensure adequate services and provisions. The ABS has produced projections for national and sub-national populations since 1950.
Population inquiries throughout Australia’s history have consistently called on such statistics to enable the country’s responsiveness and preparedness to accommodate numbers. Australia hasn’t set any population targets, mainly to avoid coercive population measures (such as mandating birth rates) and to allow flexibility in government policy, particularly around immigration intake.
Estimating population size and growth into the future is about what might be (projection) and not what will be (forecast). So population projections are not predictions; they’re calculations of potential future populations based on assumptions about possible births, deaths and migration.
The “best-before-date” for population projections is considered to be around 5-10 years from the initial base year of calculation. This is why projections should be regularly updated based on best available population data (the census and vital statistics) to ensure assumptions reflect births, deaths and migration trends.
Australia is one part of the global community. Cutting immigration to Australia will impact the demographic composition of the country, with consequences for the working-age population and income tax base.
Any changes to the migration program should be considered alongside evidence. Available evidence shows Australia’s current migration program intake (190,000) is about right for Australia.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/100030/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Australia doesn’t need a moratorium. What we need is a respectful, open and evidence-based population discussion.
Liz Allen, Demographer, ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, Australian National University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/migration-helps-balance-our-ageing-population-we-dont-need-a-moratorium-100030" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Migration helps balance our ageing population – we don't need a moratorium

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
New housing supply is simply not expanding affordable housing opportunities for the poor in a way that reduces the homelessness count. We <a href="https://cloud.3dissue.com/122325/122578/143598/WhyNewSupplyisnotExpandingHousingOptionsfortheHomeless/index" target="_blank">argue that</a> this is due to certain barriers that prevent new supply from filtering down to low-income groups.
Politicians and economists often claim <a href="http://sjm.ministers.treasury.gov.au/speech/005-2017/" target="_blank">a housing supply crisis</a> is to blame for the lack of affordable housing in Australia. They say increases in housing stock are failing to keep pace with population growth.
In a 2017 address to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Treasurer <a href="http://sjm.ministers.treasury.gov.au/speech/005-2017/" target="_blank">Scott Morrison said</a>:
"… for certain Australian households, housing affordability is an issue regardless of where they live due to economic reasons … However, in Sydney and Melbourne where supply has failed to keep pace with rising demand, the problem is far more acute… The principal cause of declining housing affordability is the failure of housing supply to adjust to increased demand…"
Yet housing approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statics show the growth in housing stock has actually outpaced rates of population increase in all Australian capital cities.
<iframe src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/WGWnh/1/" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
Between 2005-06 and 2014-15, housing stock has expanded by over 22% while population growth has lagged behind at 19%. Despite this, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08111146.2017.1374945" target="_blank">median residential property prices nearly doubled</a> in the same period.
How it should work in theory
Increasing housing stock only works to make housing more affordable if certain <a href="http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674543430" target="_blank">filtering processes occur</a>. This is how it looks if the number of new homes increases while the number of households stays fixed or increases at a slower pace.
Those in higher-income households may wish to upgrade to a newer, more expensive house. The established home they vacate would be more appealing to other households if it falls in price. This would then make it affordable to a middle-income household. And the home this middle-income household will vacate would then also fall in value and become affordable for a lower-income household.
Eventually, affordable housing opportunities would trickle down to the homeless, and the homelessness count would decline. But, in Australia, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/2049.0" target="_blank">homelessness is on the rise</a>. Back in 2006, fewer than 90,000 people were homeless. Within a decade, that number has climbed by nearly one-third, to more than 116,000 people – a 10% increase.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/227549/original/file-20180713-27018-kl93d8.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/227549/original/file-20180713-27018-kl93d8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The number of homeless people in NSW has increased more than any other state. 
New South Wales has fared the worst. The number of homeless people in NSW has soared by 70% between 2006 and 2016. With the exception of the Northern Territory, all other states and territories witnessed an increase in homelessness in this period.
So, despite the rise in housing stock, most states and territories have failed to contain, never mind reverse, the rise in homelessness over the last decade. Why are the filtering processes not working?
Barriers to affordability
Deregulation of Australian financial markets and tax concessions have combined to make residential property an attractive investment, especially for higher-income households. So a higher-income earner would gain an additional property rather than swapping one for the other and leaving the vacated one affordable for the next in line.
And if a substantial share of new housing is being purchased as holiday homes or investments, this can stifle the trickle down of affordable housing opportunities.
The recent growth in net overseas migration is a likely barrier as well. Between 2004 and 2015, net <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3412.02015-16?OpenDocument" target="_blank">overseas migration climbed</a> by 30%, from 138,800 to 181,050. This has outstripped the 22% housing stock growth rate over roughly the same period.
While migration is included in overall population numbers, in this case, the houses migrants are vacating to move to Australia remain in their home country. So this doesn’t contribute to the filtering process.
Transaction costs (mainly high stamp duties) can deter people from trading up, or downsizing. Transaction costs are a <a href="https://www.taxinstitute.com.au/australian-tax-forum/stamp-duties-land-tax-and-housing-affordability-the-case-for-reform" target="_blank">drag on resident movements and suppress housing stock turnover</a>.
Finally, land and building regulations can play a role. Elderly people who may wish to downsize from a family home to an apartment usually <a href="/news">want to live in the same neighbourhood</a>. Yet planning interventions may prevent the construction of units in the suburbs downsizers would prefer.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/95926/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Until these barriers are lowered, simply increasing new housing supply cannot be the silver bullet that fixes homelessness and the housing affordability concerns of the Australian population.
Rachel Ong, Professor of Economics, School of Economics and Finance, Curtin University 
Gavin Wood, Emeritus Professor of Housing and Housing Studies, RMIT University
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. 
</body></html>

What is causing Australia's homelessness problem?

<html><body>
One Tree Agriculture has moved to divest a Goondiwindi aggregation spanning more than 9,000 hectares.
Located 50 kilometres west of Goondiwindi, the 9,129 hectare dryland cropping enterprise was only purchased by One Tree Agriculture in 2016.
A portion of the aggregation, ‘Kinbeachie’ (pictured above and below), was purchased from Australian Pastoral Group.
The aggregation, comprising properties, ‘Kinbeachie’, ‘Morville’ and ‘Birribindibil’, is located nearby the township of Toobeah and benefits from frontage to the Barwon Highway and Weir River.
<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/2018/7/23/Kinbeachie%202.jpg" alt="">
CBRE Agribusiness’ Danny Thomas and Simon Cudmore have the listing.
“The aggregation features characteristics of a highly productive broadacre cropping platform,” Thomas said.
“The scale, operational efficiency, fertile soils and location highlight the aggregation’s suitability for summer and winter cropping.”
Cudmore said the aggregation would be offered in one line or as separate assets depending on market interest.
“There is a genuine opportunity for corporates, families and individuals to secure part or all of the offering as they see fit,” Cudmore said.
“The significant land development of the aggregation over the past couple of years, coupled with a management focus on soil health means the aggregation is positioned on a rising plane of production.”
One Tree Agriculture is owned by private equity fund manager Proterra Investment Partners, which was launched in 2016 as an investment advisory and private equity fund manager.
</body></html>

Rural One Tree Agriculture lists Goondiwindi aggregation

<html><body>
A north facing Palm Beach weekender house with vistas spanning the oceanfront and Pittwater has been sold for $3.4 million.
It was offered by Jonathan Fletcher from McGrath with $3.3 million price guidance.
Held by the one family for 56 years,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-palm+beach-128543134" target="_blank"> 5 Florida Road</a> offered updated interiors, wide decks and a private position.
<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/2018/7/23/5%20florida%20rd%201.jpg" alt="">
It came with three queen-sized bedrooms with built-ins, gas equipped kitchen, family bathroom and tropical gardens. 
Other features include lime washed floors, ducted air, gas fireplace.
There was single garage plus driveway parking. 
It's just steps from Rock Bath Road pathway to the beachfront.
<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/2018/7/23/5%20florida%20rd%203.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

 Palm Beach trophy home with ocean vistas sold for $3.4 million

<html><body>
A Richmond based architect has paid $2.94 million for a leased investment property with development upside at Hawthorn East. 
According to selling agents, Teska Carson’s Michael Taylor and Richard Munday, the 9 Mayston Street property attracted strong enquiry from a broad range of buyers including investors and developers. 
The property attracted small investors and SMSFs with a secure lease to a national tenant, but also offered long term development upside and as such attracted a strong contingent of prospective purchasers.
"The location within one of Melbourne’s most popular and tightly held retail precincts also offered excellent capital growth prospects,’’ Taylor said.
Located near the intersection of Camberwell Road, the property comprises a 470 square metre single level, warehouse/office/showroom premises in good condition with rear roller door access to Gillman Street.
The 562 square metre site has 11 metres street frontage and is zoned Commercial 1 under the City of Boroondara planning scheme and is situated within a tightly held precinct within close proximity of Burke Road, Camberwell shops, Swinburne University and Burwood Road retail.
The property was sold subject to a lease to long standing tenant, Ultra Tune, at a current rental of $90,000 per annum plus outgoings and GST on a five year term with two, five year options and annual 4% increases.
Munday said the purchaser bought the property with the intention to develop in the long term.
The vendor was a local investor.
</body></html>

Architect pays $2.94m for Ultra Tune Hawthorn investment

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Markets are now broadly pricing in Westpac’s view on the outlook for the RBA cash rate with only around a 50% chance of a rate hike by the end of 2019. That is in stark contrast to a year ago when our call that rates would remain on hold in 2018 and 2019 was well out of market with markets anticipating around 75 basis points of tightening by the end of 2019.
A weakening housing market; soft inflation and wages growth; an uncertain consumer and pressures on funding have all conspired to cool markets’ expectations. That key dynamic around an uncertain consumer facing constraints on income growth with a falling savings rate always stood out as a key constraint on the ability of the household sector to lift spending in the way anticipated by the markets.
While markets have moved largely to embrace our view, the Reserve Bank still expects to be raising rates over the course of 2018 and 2019. I think that is apparent in their ongoing above trend growth forecasts for 2018 and 2019. But, as we have argued before, the Bank does not have a perfect track record with its forecasts (as none of us in the economics community do) and it will react to any differences between its forecasts and “reality” in a timely fashion.
On the other hand our forecasts for the US Federal Funds rate have been consistently above market expectations. Our analysis of the current market pricing is for around 65 basis points of further tightening through 2018 and 2019. We have expected a total of 75 basis points over that period with one 25 bps hike in September, followed by a pause, and then 25 bps hikes in March and June with the rate peaking at 2.625% in mid–2019.
We have expected that signs of the US economy slowing into the second half of 2019 (partly under the weight of a sharp slowdown in government spending) would see the FED curtailing its tightening cycle in anticipation of eventually cutting rates from 2021.
Under that scenario we had been arguing for a weakening AUD/USD which had subsequently peaked around 0.81 in late January this year.
Under our relative rate profile the AUD/USD cash rate differential would sink to an unprecedented –112.5 basis points by June 2019 (previous mark in the post stagflation history was –50 basis points in the late 1990s).
That was likely to take a heavy toll on the AUD/USD with our target being 0.72 by next June.
That sum of 75 basis points of hikes from the FED was still slightly above market expectations but we now believe we need to be even more bold on the FED forecasts. Trends in core inflation; wages; and employment are increasingly casting doubt on a FED pause between September and March.
On a six month annualised basis, the core PCE is now running at 2.3% (to May) and the Employment Cost Index is rising at 2.9% (to March). This pace is somewhat faster than we had expected providing the FED with ample justification for not pausing. In that regard we note that the FED has emphasised the symmetrical nature of its inflation objective and therefore not indicating any immediate concern that the momentum in the core PCE is running above the 2% target. As such, we are still expecting the gradual (3 month intervals) approach to the tightening cycle.
Bill Evans is economic spokesman for Westpac and is head of economic research
</body></html>

The latest outlook from Westpac's interest rate whisperer: Bill Evans

<html><body>
The Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) have elected two new board directors including CoreLogic's head of content Kylie Davis as its membership base has been growing.
ASPIRE Advisor Network’s Richard Crabb has also been appointed to the PIPA board recently.
Ms Davis (pictured above) is a 25-year media veteran and has nearly 10 years’ experience in property, as national network editor at News Corp Australia and four years in solutions and real estate marketing roles at CoreLogic.
The PIPA chairman Peter Koulizos said PIPA is delighted with Ms Davis’s appointment given her strong media background and expertise in property "both professionally and personally.”
The Sydney-based Davis said she looked forward to working with the rest of the board to raise awareness of professional standards in property investing.
“I’ve been a property investor for the past 10 years and know how fraught the experience of getting quality advice can be and how very important good research is,” she said.
“With APRA changes making it more difficult to fund property investment and affordability issues, there has never been a more important time for professional standards to be raised and increased transparency in the industry.”
Victoria’s Richard Crabb of the ASPIRE Advisor Network was also elected to the PIPA board of directors.
Crabb brings a wealth of knowledge to the board table given his 20-plus years in senior financial services and leadership roles.
“As well as being a successful property investor himself, the ASPIRE Advisor Network has transacted about $250 million in investment properties across Australia,” he said.
Mr Crabb said he was looking forward to representing the ethical practitioners working within the brand-new property investment space.
“This is a segment of the market that unfortunately, with no regulation, has seen many operators, marketers, spruikers and self-proclaimed property investment advisers ‘sell’ properties by any means to investors,” Mr Crabb said.
PIPA was formed by industry practitioners with the objective of representing and raising the professional standards of all operators involved in property investment
</body></html>

CoreLogic's Kylie Davis appointed to PIPA board

<html><body>
A Coopers Shoot house with views over the hinterland, coastline, Julian Rocks and Cape Byron Lighthouse has been listed for sale.
It is offered by Su Reynolds from First National Byron Bay.
The home was last sold in 2013 for $1,300,000.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-coopers+shoot-128778894" target="_blank">Located at 54 Coopers Shoot Rd</a>, the large open plan living wing of the home comes with solid American Oak wide floorboards and a bespoke stone wall with fireplace.These spacious living dining and kitchen zones open through wide doors to multiple covered outdoor living spaces overlooking the pool and gardens.
<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/2018/7/9/coopers%20shoot%202.jpg" alt="">
The first floor and bedroom wing of the home feature uninterrupted views over Byron Bay, the lighthouse and along the coastline for miles.
Other features include kitchen with Carrara marble benches, separate media room, large office, pool cabana and lush landscaped gardens. 
Positioned on a north facing 2719sqm block, it is just a few minutes' drive to both Byron Bay and Bangalow.
Coopers Shoot is a suburb in the Byron Shire of the Northern Rivers region in New South Wales.
<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/2018/7/9/coopers%20shoot%203.jpg" alt="">
 
</body></html>

Coopers Shoot home listed for sale

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=350986]

The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=359152]

The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

A rooftop pool and spa overlooking the Brisbane CBD, private dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens and a residents' lounge are set to crown <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/callista-on-park-west-end-49-mollison-street-west-end-qld-4101">Callista on Park</a>, the final residential building within Brisbane's West Village precinct.

The rooftop amenity collection has been designed as an extension of the lifestyle already established throughout West Village, providing residents with a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that capitalise on the building's elevated position above West End.

A swimming pool and heated spa form the centrepiece of the rooftop offering, surrounded by landscaped gardens developed through a collaboration between developer Sekisui House and ASPECT Studios. The design incorporates expansive lawn areas surrounded by English garden-inspired planting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370648]

Residents will also have access to two barbecue and outdoor dining areas positioned to take advantage of views across Brisbane's skyline, neighbouring Mollison Park, and the surrounding inner-city landscape.

For larger gatherings, the rooftop includes a private dining room centred around a substantial stone island bench, complete with a full kitchen and a 10-seat dining table set beneath four-metre-high ceilings. The space has been designed to overlook both the rooftop gardens and the Brisbane CBD skyline.

A separate residents' lounge provides an additional indoor retreat connected to the broader rooftop amenity offering, creating another space for residents to work, relax or entertain guests.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370647]

The attention to detail extends beyond the rooftop.

Upon arrival, residents will enter through a lobby featuring a bespoke ceiling light installation developed in collaboration between Sekisui House and Alcorn Middleton Architecture. The arrival experience is complemented by private resident mailboxes and carefully considered interior finishes designed to reflect the premium positioning of the building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=372541]

The amenity offering forms part of Callista on Park, the final residential release within the decade-long transformation of the former Peters Ice Cream Factory site into West Village, one of Brisbane's most established mixed-use communities.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>, Callista represents the most premium residential offering within the masterplanned precinct.

Construction is now entering its final stages, with scaffolding beginning to come down and completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Prices for the three-bedroom plus MPR apartments start from just over $2.6 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=351535]

Callista will mark the final opportunity to purchase within West Village, where residents have direct access to more than 35 retail, dining, wellness and medical operators including Harris Farm Markets, Woolworths, Function Well and Goodlife Health Clubs, Metro Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants and cafés.

Located just 800 metres from the Brisbane CBD, the precinct also places residents within walking distance of South Bank, West End's dining scene, riverfront parklands and major public transport connections.

For Sekisui House, which has delivered more than two million homes globally, Callista serves as the concluding piece of the West Village masterplan, bringing together the precinct's heritage character, parkland setting and emphasis on walkability in a final collection of larger-format residences.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134800]

Rooftop pool, private dining and skyline gardens to crown West Village's final apartment release, Callista on Park

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=262183]

Transport connectivity supports the suburb’s liveability without compromising its quieter residential character. Wahroonga and Turramurra train stations provide direct rail access into the Sydney CBD, while the nearby Pacific Highway and M1 motorway strengthen links across the North Shore and broader metropolitan area. At the same time, the heavily treed streetscape and low-density character continue to distinguish the precinct from more urbanised parts of Sydney.

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate forms the first stage of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a>’s broader masterplanned vision for the precinct, delivered alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=364995]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>, the development integrates landscaped communal spaces including a pet-friendly Green Spine, resident lounge, BBQ pavilion, and direct bushland access, reinforcing the project’s focus on outdoor connection and community-based living.

Now under construction by Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate will deliver a collection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $990,000, with completion anticipated in 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Staff reporter

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News