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The Mid North Coast continues to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic well from both a residential property and a health perspective, according to the July Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
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"From a property standpoint, median price levels have remained steady over the past few months while stock levels are down dramatically," the valuation firm said. 
The reduction in stock levels is mainly due to potential vendors holding off listing until full confidence returns to the market.
Agents advise that appraisal numbers are high but are not yet flowing through to listings.
"The reduction in listings has meant that there are fewer properties for potential purchasers to choose from which we believe is one reason prices have held steady over this period. We anticipate that listing numbers will grow over the next few months as confidence returns and more investors re-enter the market.
"Some investors have been staying out of the market due to a lack of confidence and owner- occupiers are the mainstay at the moment, but with current interest rates so attractive, we believe investors will return as confidence returns," the valuation firm said. 
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"On the rental side we have seen a dramatic reduction in listings over the past few weeks as restrictions relax and interstate travel returns and many investors return their properties to short term accommodation stock, rather than retain them as longer term rentals," the valuation firm said. 
This will see vacancy rates returning to more normal long term levels after steep increases during the lockdown period as the reverse was happening, the report noted. 
"We believe that the market along the Mid North Coast should recover well after this COVID-19 induced slow down and perform well in the back half of this year as more city dwellers see the appeal of our beautiful slice of paradise." 
A four bedroom house in Port Macquarie has recently been sold for $625,000.
The family house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-port+macquarie-133749262" target="_blank">37 Kingston Town Loop</a> (pictured below) offers gourmet kitchen, media room, open plan living and dining and alfresco entertaining. 
Set on a 602sqm of block, the home also comes with double garage, raised garden beds and fruit trees. 
<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/2020/8/3/port%20mq%201.jpg" alt="">
A current listing is a new two bedroom home in Bonny Hills priced at $319,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bonny+hills-134112314" target="_blank">29/90 Seafront Circuit</a> home (pictured below) comprises open plan living, modern kitchen, and two carpeted bedrooms. 
It is situated in just 200m from Rainbow Beach and a short walk to Bonny Hills Centre. 
<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/2020/8/3/bonny%20hills%20.jpg" alt="">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Median price levels remain steady in NSW Mid North Coast: HTW residential  

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The median Perth rental yield has risen marginally, according to the CoreLogic June 2020 quarterly rental review.
It is the only capital city market in which rents did not experience a downturn over the period.
House yields in the West Australian capital sit at 4.3% (up from 4.2% 12 months ago), and unit yields sit at 5.2% (unchanged from 12 months ago).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%20cities%20yield.png" alt="">
The current combined median yield (for all property types) is 4.4%.
This reflects a rise of 0.3% month-on-month and 0.9% over the quarter.
For renters, this translates to a median rental price of $396 ($403 for houses and $356 for units).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%202.png" alt="">
In the 12 months to June, rental yields fell across seven of the eight capital city markets.
 
 
 
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Perth rental yields buck trend and rise: CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review 

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The median Brisbane rental yield has fallen slightly, according to the CoreLogic June 2020 quarterly rental review.
House yields in the Queensland capital sit at 4.2% (down from 4.4% 12 months ago), and unit yields sit at 5.2% (down from 5.5% 12 months ago).
The current combined median yield (for all property types) is 4.4%, down from 4.6% 12 months ago.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%20cities%20yield.png" alt="">
This reflects a downturn of 0.1% month-on-month and 0.6% over the quarter.
For renters, this translates to a median rental price of $439 ($460 for houses and $398 for units).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%202.png" alt="">
In the 12 months to June, rental yields fell across seven of the eight capital city markets. Perth was the only exception.
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Brisbane rental yields drop slightly in June: CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review

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The median Melbourne rental yield has fallen moderately, according to the CoreLogic June 2020 quarterly rental review.
House yields in the Victorian capital sit at 2.8% (down from 3.3% 12 months ago), and unit yields sit at 3.9% (down from 4.5% 12 months ago).
The current combined median yield (for all property types) is 3.2%, down from 3.7% 12 months ago.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%20cities%20yield.png" alt="">
This reflects a downturn of 0.6% month-on-month and 1.0% over the quarter.
For renters, this translates to a median rental price of $453 ($460 for houses and $446 for units).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%202.png" alt="">
In the 12 months to June, rental yields fell across seven of the eight capital city markets. Perth was the only exception.
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Melbourne rental yields take hit in June: CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review

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The median Sydney rental yield has fallen sharply, according to the CoreLogic June 2020 quarterly rental review.
House yields in the NSW capital sit at 2.7% (down from 3.2% 12 months ago), and unit yields sit at 3.4% (down from 4.0% 12 months ago).
The current combined median yield (for all property types) is 2.9%, down from 3.5% 12 months ago.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%20cities%20yield.png" alt="">
This reflects a downturn of 0.8% month-on-month and 1.3% over the quarter.
For renters, this translates to a median rental price of $568 ($609 for houses and $536 for units).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%202.png" alt="">
In the 12 months to June, rental yields fell across seven of the eight capital city markets. Perth was the only exception.
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Sydney rental yields fall in June: CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review

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Queensland’s Logan is set to become to the largest suburban-based medical precinct in the country as development for the new Southwest Medical Precinct commences.
Spearheaded by the Horwell family, the centre will become a hub for regional connections and community activities.
“There is a reason the Southwest Medical complex is already being coined a key component of the broader  ‘medtropolis’ – this centre is going to thrive and become a bustling centre for a broad range of health, wellness and other related products and services,” Benjamin Horwell said.
Designed by Cottee Parker Architects, the centre will be modern and fresh with an abundance of free parking.
The development builds on Logan City Council's vision within the Meadowbrook Master Plan, to be a Health and Knowledge Precinct for the city.
The complex, due for completion in late 2021, has secured a significant tenancy from the University of Queensland’s UQ Health Care.
Securing a 725 sqm ground floor tenancy, the leading research organisation will provide an extensive range of health services and offer training opportunities to the next generation of doctors and nurses.
UQ Health Care will bring over 100,000 people to the centre every year.
Sites and leases are currently available in the centre and opportunities are available for retail and complementary medical providers and specialists from 68m2 to 1,000m2. 
Located 200m from Logan Hospital and just minutes from the Logan motorway, the centre will offer its tenants and customers unrivalled exposure and convenience.
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Australia's most significant new medical precinct gets underway

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Relaxing restrictions have seen the Clarence Valley return to a state of somewhat normality, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
 The report notes the initially stalled figures, including sales rates and rentals, we saw at the beginning of the pandemic now appear to be slightly increasing across the Valley.
 Still somewhat driven by infrastructure improvements such as the new Pacific Highway, jail and other associated works, the Valley continues to have high demand for rentals and stock coming on to the market around or below median sale prices.
"Although the Valley is still a long way off its pre-pandemic state and potentially all the effects have not yet been felt, and with prices remaining relatively low compared to nearby centres, there remains a widespread sense of stability and confidence," the valuation firm said. 
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A $700,000 budget in Clarence Valley leaves you with a multitude of options whether you are chasing farmland, a residential allotment or a low maintenance unit, the report noted. 
Very few sales surpass $700,000 in Grafton, Maclean, Townsend or Gulmarrad.
A three bedroom house in Grafton has recently been sold for $360,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-grafton-133222282" target="_blank">10 Bromley Street</a> home (pictured below) comprises separated living area, renovated kitchen, rumpus room and three bedrooms. 
The timber home is located close to the river and within easy walking distance to shopping.
<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/2020/7/28/grafton%202.jpg" alt="">
 
As for Yamba, whilst $700,000 might assure you a freestanding dwelling, it will likely be lacking any view or amenity to the beaches.
A current listing is a freestanding riverfront townhouse in Yamba priced at $625,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-yamba-133967382" target="_blank">4/16 Yamba Road</a> home (pictured below) comprises four bedrooms, open plan living and dining areas, courtyard and double garage. 
It also features covered balcony, timber staircase and timber flooring.
<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/2020/7/28/yamba%20.jpg" alt="">
 While a small unit nearer to the beaches may be possible, they have been rarely presented for sale of late, the report added. 
"In terms of return, Grafton has long been a solid rental performer with a steady demand for all rentals and this looks set to remain unchanged," the valuation firm said. 
 As for coastal locations, permanent rental returns are somewhat more conservative but still need not be ruled out.
As for the best performing investment for $700,000, if a dwelling or unit isn’t quite for you, there is also the option to build, the report noted. 
There are numerous rural vacant allotments for sale where one could buy land and establish a dwelling, or there are standard allotments where duplex construction is permissible.
"With some uncertainty around the immediate future, a $700,000 budget presents an array of options with most looking as secure as they did pre-pandemic over the medium to long term."
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What $700,000 can buy in Clarence Valley: HTW residential 

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Little has changed from 12 months ago in terms of what one can score with a lazy $700,000, however the mixture of product may have varied slightly, particularly in the more regional areas of the Richmond Valley and Kyogle Council areas, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation.
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For example, consider the following:
◗ Ten $70,000 (or less) steep timber vacant 40 hectare bush blocks in the rural localities of Drake or Tabulam; or
◗ Five $125,000 to $135,000 standard vacant residential blocks in Casino or Kyogle. These would be relatively flat but may be slightly more than $125,000 individually, so a package deal of say five at the nice round figure of $130,000 each would be hard for a vendor to pass up in the current subdued market thanks to COVID-19.
◗ Alternatively, secure a near new, four-bedroom, two- bathroom dwelling with a double garage for around $450,000 to $500,000 and throw in an original two-bedroom,one-bathroom brick unit with carport for circa $150,000 to $200,000.
"There are not too many residential properties within Casino or Kyogle township that would use up the whole $700,000 in one transaction, however those that do are typically found in the nearby rural residential estates and usually deliver the full quota of features including air-conditioning, good quality appointments, pool, established landscaping or a full renovation," the valuation firm said. 
These rural residential properties are generally in close proximity to the town centres of Casino, Kyogle and Lismore City. Typically, such properties would comprise lots ranging in size from 4000 square metres to five hectares.
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Semi-remote rural localities with properties on lots from 40 hectares to even 100 hectares may be purchased for under $700,000 and still provide semi-modern homes with established ancillary improvements.
 However, distance and maintenance of the land are factors that any potential purchaser must consider, the report noted. 
A Kyogle house nestled below the Border Ranges National Park has recently been sold for $465,000.
The four bedroom, one bathroom home is located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-lifestyle-nsw-kyogle-700074310" target="_blank">1076 Green Pigeon Road, Green Pigeon</a> (pictured below).
It features open plan kitchen, dining and living room, rural views, and near 5ha of land. 
<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/2020/7/28/kyogle%201.jpg" alt="">
"Within Lismore City, the lazy $700,000 is somewhat more restricted in its purchasing power, however opportunities still abound," the valuation firm said. 
Good quality level vacant residential lots are around the $250,000 to $285,000 mark in the new, developing residential estates... so buy two and possibly use the balance as a deposit for a house to be built on each of the lots, or maybe use the balance to purchase one of the steeper vacant blocks for around $125,000 to $135,000 (just keep in mind that your building costs will be significantly higher!), the report noted. 
It is still possible to find two residential house properties for around $350,000 each, however they are likely to be located in a flood prone area, need some cosmetic attention or front a busy road.
There are a number of two-bedroom, one- bathroom, brick and tile residential units with single carports available within reasonable proximity to shopping and educational facilities in Lismore City which have an expected price range of $185,000 to $225,000 and attract a rent of around $250 to $275 per week.
A current listing is two bedroom, two bathroom unit situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-lismore-133011578" target="_blank">1/116 Laurel Avenue, Lismore </a>(pictured below).
The 90sqm unit has been listed for sale with a price guide of $229,000.
It comes with two bedrooms, one bathroom, open plan living and single garage. 
<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/2020/7/28/lismore.jpg" alt="">
"Failing that, and if you so wish, $700,000 would go a long way to fully, or near fully, acquiring a brand new four or five-bedroom, two-bathroom, double garage residence in the modern residential estates of Goonellabah or Lismore Heights (where most of the new build action is) with pool and established landscaping," the valuation firm said. 
The rental assessments can vary widely depending on features, but expect something in the order of $550 per week.
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"At present, the market is still in the early stages of recovery from COVID-19, however there are encouraging signs with genuine enquiry improving (as real estate agents advise) and if you are one of those in the fortunate position of ticking all the boxes for the lender as a first home buyer or investor?? Wow!
"When are you ever going to get a better chance to buy real estate at ridiculously low interest rates which are unlikely to rise for some time yet as the powers that be try to kick start the economy from out of the doldrums?" 
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What $700,000 can buy in Lismore/Casino/Kyogle: HTW residential 

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Just one in 10 cash-strapped borrowers who took a COVID-19 mortgage break from repayments to the big four banks have exited the payment relief program.
The Australian Banking Association confirmed many Australians are unwilling to make any repayments.
About 485,000 mortgages have been deferred in Australia with the nation’s largest seven banks, including the Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac, ANZ, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Suncorp and Bank of Queensland.
But new data released by the big four banks found that in May and June:
• About 75,800 customers on mortgage deferrals had exited the repayment holiday program (9 per cent).
• About 50,000 are making partial repayments and 62,500 are making full repayments (15 per cent).
The ABA’s chief executive, former Queensland premier Anna Bligh, said there was "a very long road and plenty of hurdles to clear." 
Customers were initially given repayment deferral for up to six months, but banks are set to offer further extensions.
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Most mortgage relief recipients still taking COVID-19 repayment break

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Streets across NSW will be transformed into vibrant pedestrian-friendly public spaces with the NSW Government announcing the successful funding recipients under the $15 million Streets as Shared Spaces program.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the funds will help 27 regional councils and 14 councils across Greater Sydney deliver temporary street transformations, such as cycleways, pop-up parklets and improved lighting.
“These projects will transform neighbourhoods across the State, making it easier for people to walk or ride to local shops and services by creating safe, attractive and accessible streets and public spaces,” Mr Stokes said.
Successful trial projects will provide new pedestrian and cycleway connections and  reclaim little-used carparks and roads across NSW, including:
•  creation of a ‘green spine’ on Harbour Drive in Coffs Harbour;
•  activation of an underutilised laneway in Parramatta;
•  a temporary road closure to create a public square in Griffith; and 
•  a pop-up park on Dunmore Street, Wentworthville. 
The Streets as Shared Spaces program provides funding for councils to support the delivery of short-term improvements to local streets and public spaces through pop-ups and pilots that encourage social distancing and improve the attractiveness of our neighbourhoods. 
There are two types of project grants under the program: Quick Response Demonstration Projects valued at up to $100,000 per project, to be delivered within three months of approval, and Pilot Projects valued at up to $1 million per project to be delivered within one year of approval. 
Councils will need to obtain all of the relevant approvals and engage with their community in delivering the projects.
 
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Shared spaces to transform streets across NSW

Lewis Land's latest apartment release within its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan is targeting one of the Gold Coast's fastest-growing buyer groups, with almost a third of apartments at Solis priced below $1 million.

The seven-storey building at Biggera Waters will comprise 91 apartments, including 24 one-bedroom residences starting from $778,000, a price point Lewis Land says is aimed squarely at first home buyers struggling to enter the Gold Coast market.

<img alt="Harbour Shires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e7486e37-22f6-4c92-b212-9b0622070b8f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=W8MJwJUCf6HkIyl_EVSksnd.QI6MZryY" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Head of Development Michael Long said the developer deliberately allocated a significant proportion of the project to more affordable apartment types.

"First home buyers have been priced out of many parts of the Gold Coast, and we saw a clear opportunity to address this and play our part in a longer-term housing solution," Long said.

"That's why 24 of the 91 apartments being delivered at Solis have been designed and priced for the city's next generation of homeowners, quality one-bedroom apartments, half of which include an additional multipurpose room to maximise space and flexibility.

"This approach places 30 per cent of apartments in Solis under $1 million, and with close proximity to Harbour Town's future light rail extension connecting residents to the city's major employment and knowledge hubs, it's a win for buyers looking to secure their first property."

<img alt="Sores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="550526d3-73ba-4710-9739-c5f4294a30ef" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.29%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=cQQdXHt9wS0UXwZEm5Py5bH_3kAmzyhu" />

Designed by BDA Architecture, Solis will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with residences ranging up to 232 sqm. Apartments feature generous balconies and contemporary finishes, while residents will have access to Harbour Shores' lagoon pool, clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga studio and sauna.

The focus on first home buyers resonated with purchaser Holly Humphreys, who said she and her boyfriend spent more than a year searching for their first property before shifting their attention from houses to apartments.

"We fell in love with the first house we bid on and got our hopes up, but after repeated knockbacks we learned not to get too attached," Humphreys said.

"We offered at the high end of price guides, but sales kept going even higher. That's where we really struggled and we needed to re-evaluate our budget and our expectations. Standalone houses were off the table, and we pivoted to apartments and townhouses."

Humphreys said it was encouraging to see developers recognising the growing demand from first home buyers.

"There's a growing number of young buyers looking to enter the market earlier because they understand that getting in now can make a real difference as prices continue to rise," she said.

"It's fantastic to see a developer recognise this and then actively take measures to deliver an apartment with us in mind."

Solis is the first development planned within the second stage of the Harbour Shores masterplan, with early works expected to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Joel Robinson

Lewis Land targets first home buyers at latest Harbour Shores release, Solis

Luxury apartment developer Abadeen has recorded $19.25 million in apartment sales across two of its Lower North Shore developments in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, headlined by the sale of a $6.75 million penthouse at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-5-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO in Crows Nest.</a>

The transactions also included the sale of a newly completed three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences in Cremorne</a> for $6.35 million, with the residence selling shortly after the project's first public inspections following completion.

The sales come as completed, owner-occupier-focused apartments continue to attract strong demand across Sydney's Lower North Shore, particularly from buyers looking for certainty and immediate occupancy.

The penthouse at KOYO spans 491 sqm across a single level and was designed by architect Koichi Takada. The development is one of Abadeen's flagship boutique projects in Crows Nest.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=370093]

Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said buyer activity lifted noticeably in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

"We saw a clear increase in enquiry levels, inspection numbers and buyer engagement across our completed projects leading into the end of the financial year," Brown said.

"Buyers have become far more decisive over the past six months. The combination of improving confidence, limited supply and the ability to physically inspect completed residences is creating strong competition for premium apartments in the best locations."

Brown says the&nbsp;response to Park Residences following completion has been particularly strong.

"Buyers want certainty and are responding positively to the opportunity to walk through a finished product, inspect the quality firsthand and move in immediately," Brown suggested.

"Projects such as Park Residences and KOYO demonstrate that when the product is exceptional and the location is irreplaceable, buyers are prepared to act quickly."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=370116]

Abadeen CEO Joe Tack said quality continued to differentiate projects in the current market.

"Today's buyers are incredibly discerning," Tack said.

"They are seeking larger floorplans, premium finishes, walkability, lifestyle amenity and confidence in the developer delivering the project. Well-designed boutique developments continue to outperform because they offer something genuinely difficult to replace.

"The enquiry we are seeing across our completed and recently completed Lower North Shore portfolio is very encouraging, and we expect this momentum to continue into spring."

The sales follow increased enquiry across Abadeen's Lower North Shore portfolio which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective in Naremburn</a> which also completed recently.

KOYO penthouse headlines Abadeen's $19.25 million EOFY sales flurry

The City of Sydney has approved plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia Group</a> and Metrics Credit Partners’ $3.5 billion Castlereagh Place project in the heart of the Sydney CBD

The towers will be among the tallest in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw-2000">Sydney</a>'s CBD, with more floors than any other residential tower in the city.&nbsp;

The 6,000 sqm site was acquired by the joint venture partners in 2024. It is the largest amalgamated land parcel in the Sydney CBD and comprises eight individual sites fronting Castlereagh, Pitt and Liverpool Streets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castlereagh-place-sydney-324-348-pitt-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Castlereagh Place</a> will transform an underutilised city block into a landmark mixed-use destination, anchored by two 82-storey towers comprising 607 luxury residences above an 8-level podium housing a 209-room luxury hotel. A 1,000 square metre civic park on ground level features a curated mix of food, beverage and retail.

The plans have been refined over the past year to rebalance the residential and hotel offering, and reconfigure the retail footprint to create a stronger, more dynamic dining experience.

A three-level flagship building on the prominent corner of Pitt and Liverpool Streets will be the gateway to the Castlereagh Place lifestyle precinct. Set to become a Sydney icon, the building is capable of housing multiple hospitality venues.

“Castlereagh Place is designed to be the City's next great urban oasis - an energetic mixed-use precinct that pulses with life, day and night,"&nbsp;said Joseph Kinsella, Group Director of Billbergia.

"It will bring the vibrancy of places like Barangaroo and Darling Quarter into a more accessible, central destination at the very heart of Sydney."

Kinsella said the project will build on&nbsp;Sydney’s growing laneway culture with the City’s largest network of new activated lanes - an expanded, next-generation take on precincts like Angel Place, Palings Lane and Ash Street in Wynyard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374401]

Castlereagh Place has been designed by architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">fjcstudio</a> in collaboration with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design, joint winners of an international design competition in 2018.&nbsp;

Signature design elements from the original scheme remain unchanged, while the public domain has been significantly enhanced, delivering 60 per cent more open-to-sky space.

Pedestrian access will also be enhanced through new laneways linking Pitt, Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets, drawing people into a new civic park with outdoor seating, landscaping and integrated public art.

With activated laneways supported by strong hospitality offerings, Castlereagh Place is tipped to become a vibrant new dining destination in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

It marks the largest undertaking to date for the Billbergia and Metrics Credit Partners partnership. Together they are developing other underutilised Sydney sites into mixed-use precincts, including the $2.2 billion Concord Central and the $1.3 billion Chatswood Grand Residences.

Metrics Managing Partner and Group CEO Andrew Lockhart said Castlereagh Place is a landmark project that will redefine Sydney’s skyline.

"As the tallest residential high-rise development, the revitalised site will offer panoramic views across the CBD and surrounds. We are excited to partner with Billbergia to reinvigorate an underutilised site and create a sophisticated and contemporary mixed-use offering situated in the heart of Sydney.”

Total apartments within the towers have increased to 607 dwellings, with a focus on larger floorplans. Aligned to growing market demand, Castlereagh Place now comprises 299 three-plus-bedroom apartments, 198 two-bedroom units and 110 one-bedroom configurations.

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Resident amenities will include an exclusive residents club containing a gym, rooftop pool, dining rooms, co-working spaces, library, golf simulator, games room, cinema room, and access to an exclusive concierge service. There will be around 500 basement car spaces below the towers.

The development will also include a state-of-the-art wellness centre, set to feature a bathhouse with magnesium pools, hot/cold plunge pools and premium amenities.

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According to fjcstudio, the towers will feature distinctive yet elegant architectural design reflecting Sydney’s geometry and urban character, with a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces activating the streetscape.

"Castlereagh Place is a city-making project of significant scale and ambition," said Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio.

"It will create a rich urban complex of public open spaces, landscaped gardens, and vibrant laneways. Defining these new public spaces and the important streetscape of Castlereagh Street is a sequence of fine-grained, diverse retail and hotel architecture designed in collaboration with Aileen Sage, Polly Harbison Design and Trias.

“Rising above the tree-lined, human-scale streetscape are two slender residential towers that will transform the city skyline and look towards the Harbour, Hyde Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden.”

Demolition and early construction works have commenced onsite at Castlereagh Place.

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Billbergia, Metrics, approved for $3.5 billion Sydney skyscrapers

International developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spg-land">SPG Land</a> is preparing to re-launch its long-awaited $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/paradiso-place-surfers-paradise-103-ferny-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Paradiso Place</a> development at Budds Beach, bringing a new price point to the Surfers Paradise apartment market.

The developer will release one-bedroom apartments from $825,000 and two-bedroom apartments from $1.24 million in the three-tower development.

According to Urbis, the starting price for the two-bedroom apartments is more than $400,000 below the weighted average sale price for comparable two-bedroom apartments in Surfers Paradise during 2025, which was pinned at $1.7 million.

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Urbis reported quarterly average sale prices for new two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments ranged from around $1.2 million to $1.7 million throughout 2025, peaking in the December quarter.

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Paradiso Place is now moving into its formal sales campaign, with a limited early-release opportunity available ahead of the public launch.

The development will comprise 845 apartments across three towers rising 40, 41 and 44 storeys from a 1.15-hectare site spanning an entire city block. The towers will sit above a new retail precinct.

"Paradiso Place represents a rare opportunity in today's market, offering premium apartments at a price point that is significantly more competitive than anything else currently available," SPG Land Sales Director Brad McMahon said.

"When you look at comparable new developments across Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and the Southern Beaches precinct, buyers are typically paying hundreds of thousands more for a similar product.

"The scale of this project and the developer-builder construction model allows us to unlock efficiencies that smaller developments simply cannot achieve. We are passing those benefits directly to buyers, while still delivering a five-star residential experience with an unmatched lifestyle."

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Each of the three towers designed by Rothelowman will have its own podium, connected by an elevated skybridge network to create a beachside village for residents. The resident amenity has been designed to rival a five-star hotel, with private dining rooms, resident lounges and entertainment spaces.

McMahon said the pricing strategy was a deliberate response to the current market.

"What Paradiso Place offers is a unique balance, genuine value within a premium market. Buyers are not compromising on quality, design or amenity, they are gaining access to it at a more competitive price point at a time when prices across the Gold Coast continue to reach new highs."

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Located around 100 metres from the beach and within walking distance of the Surfers Paradise North light rail station, Paradiso Place occupies one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held beachfront precincts.

Construction is continuing to progress, with eight of the project's 112 foundation piles now complete. Excavation has also commenced on the first diaphragm wall panel, with the first concrete poured on 15 June, marking a key milestone in the project's early works program.

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SPG Land launches $1.5 billion Paradiso Place at attractive price point

Luxury developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lowe-living">Lowe Living</a> has achieved a new Victorian benchmark for an off-the-plan apartment, with the sale of two penthouses at its ultra-exclusive Maison Savoy development in Brighton.

The two penthouses achieved a combined sale rate of $49,926 per sqm. Both transactions eclipsed the previous identified Victorian off-the-plan price-per-square-metre benchmark, set by the 449 sqm apartment at Como Toorak, which sold at $46,659 per sqm.

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maison-savoy-brighton-150-esplanade-brighton-vic-3186">Maison Savoy</a>, Lowe Living's redevelopment of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel on absolute beachfront land at 150 The Esplanade, Brighton, has gained significant momentum since launching just eight weeks ago. Around 30 per cent of the project's 19 residences have already been secured, generating approximately $45 million in sales.

"Securing two of the three penthouse sales at this stage, within eight weeks of launching to market speaks to the confidence our clients place in Lowe Living," Lowe Living co-founder Emma Lowe said.

"They know we'll be with them through every stage of the journey, and that assurance is something we've worked hard to earn and never take for granted."

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Lowe said Maison Savoy was conceived as a genuine alternative to a prestige Brighton home, combining house-scale proportions with the convenience, security and lock-up-and-leave appeal of apartment living.

Lowe Living co-founder Tim Lowe said the early sales success demonstrated the resilience of Melbourne's prestige market and highlighted the growing demand for house-sized apartments among ultra-high-net-worth buyers.

"The Melbourne market has definitely been tested in recent years, with interest rates and global economic factors all creating a period of uncertainty across the real estate sector. The sales success at Maison Savoy however demonstrates that confidence remains exceptionally strong at the top end of the market.

"The prestige market is being driven by long-term lifestyle decisions rather than short-term market sentiment, which continues to create a level of certainty that befits an absolute beachfront property in a blue-chip location like Brighton.

"Brighton's fundamentals remain among the strongest in Melbourne, with limited new supply, enduring demand from an overwhelmingly local owner-occupier market, and a rare combination of beachfront amenity and proximity to the CBD."

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According to Cotality, Brighton remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held prestige suburbs, with an average ownership tenure of 15.3 years for houses and 12.3 years for units, while more than 73 per cent of homes are owner-occupied.

Tim Lowe said selling two of the project's three penthouses so early in the campaign was an uncommon result.

"This sales result is a reflection of quality and understanding the local market. It's incredibly rare to transact the penthouses so early in a sales campaign in any project so to have sold two of the three penthouses at Maison Savoy so soon after launch, all in-house without any external sales agency appointed, is reflective of our careful consideration of our buyers' needs and lifestyle.

"This is knowledge that is accumulated not just from data and demographic analysis, but via a deeply embedded understanding of how this type of buyer wants to live and feel in their home. We pride ourselves on getting to know our clients personally, and over the last 10 years we have been able to refine our product offering by talking one-on-one with our clients about their design and floorplan preferences.

"Being a fully integrated developer-builder with an in-house design and sales team allows us to lead every part of the process and ensure the highest quality of product and service at every touchpoint. It's a really important part of our DNA and the recent sales success at Maison Savoy indicates that our clients and purchasers are resonating with this point of difference.

"It reinforces that demand remains strong for thoughtfully designed residences that offer rarity, lifestyle and long-term value in tightly held locations, which ultimately validates Maison Savoy's positioning as creating a new benchmark for house-scale, wellness-led apartment living on Brighton's beachfront."

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The residences at Maison Savoy start from 295 sqm, with most enjoying uninterrupted views across Port Phillip Bay. The project sits moments from the Brighton Bathing Boxes, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Middle Brighton Baths and Church Street's retail and dining precinct.

A key feature of the development is its private residents-only bathhouse, curated by the founder of Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse and modelled on traditional European bathing rituals and the award-winning Sorrento bathhouse.

The wellness offering includes a hydrotherapy pool, salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, foot activation zone and a Vichy rainfall bed, one of only a handful in Australia. Residents will also have access to a Technogym studio, lounge spaces and a dedicated concierge service offering everything from morning coffee delivery and restaurant bookings to dry cleaning and home coordination.

"Wellness-led design has become a defining factor for luxury buyers," Emma Lowe said.

"Purchasers increasingly value homes that enhance wellbeing through thoughtful design, private amenity, privacy and liveability."

The penthouse purchasers are now undertaking a bespoke customisation process curated personally by architect Pete Kennon and the Lowe Living team, one of the developer's signature service offerings.

Construction on the $160 million transformation of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel site commenced last month, with completion expected in early 2028. The project has secured funding from NAB alongside development partner Monark.

Just one penthouse remains available, along with a limited number of two and three-bedroom residences starting from $3.75 million.

Lowe Living currently has eight projects on the market across Melbourne and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, having grown a $1 billion development pipeline alongside a $350 million construction pipeline.

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