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Douglas Farrell, managing partner of the private equity firm Quintet Partners, is selling his Darlinghurst warehouse apartment.
It is in Angus House, set on the north-west corner.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-darlinghurst-128529034" target="_blank">The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property</a> has 4.4 metre ceilings in the open-plan living spaces.
There’s a stone-topped kitchen with breakfast bar seating, a covered balcony and a car space on title.
McGrath Edgecliff have it for a July 7 auction with $2.1 million hopes.
It last sold at $1,375,000 in 2014.
The former Moran Health care head office was converted into residential by the property developer Theo Onisforou.
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Angus House, Darlinghurst warehouse style apartment listed

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A three bedroom house in Western Australia's Baldivis has been listed by mortgagees.  It is listed at $250,000 by Patrick Holmes and Louis Dickenson at Raine &amp; Horne.
It was built in 2012 at Baldivis, a semi-rural residential suburb 46 kilometres south of the central business district of Perth. The building block sold at $165,000 in 2010. 
The <a href="https://reiwa.com.au/41-chestnut-way-baldivis-4046986/" target="_blank">41 Chestnut Way, Baldivis</a> house is a 423 square metre block with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an a double lock up garage. It features an open plan kitchen, dining, and living and would suit renovators, according to the marketing.
The suburb's median house price sits on $400,000 according to CoreLogic.
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Baldivis house listed by mortgagee for $250,000

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Vacancy rates were steady in May, SQM Research has revealed.
The national residential vacancy rate was unchanged at 2.1% in May 2018, with the number of vacancies Australia-wide sitting at 69,152 properties.
The vacancy rate inched higher in Sydney and Melbourne, while it fell in Brisbane for the fifth straight month.
Sydney’s vacancy rate rose to 2.5% in May, up from 2.3% in April, and higher than 1.7% a year earlier.
Melbourne also saw its vacancy rate inch higher to 1.4%, up from 1.3% in April.
Canberra’s rate was steady at 0.8%, though down from 1.0% a year earlier.
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SQM's Louis Christopher said there was good news for property investors in Brisbane, where the vacancy rate fell to 2.9% in May, down from 3.0% in April and 3.5% in May 2017.
"The decline in Brisbane represents the fifth straight monthly decline in rental vacancies," he said.
“We have more evidence that the worse is over for Brisbane property investors with vacancies falling for five straight months and even the Brisbane CBD is now recording consistent decline in vacancies. 
"We believe that a rise in interstate migration is lifting population growth rates in Brisbane plus the peak in unit completions is creating this turnaround in the rental market,” he said.
Hobart's vacancy rate was steady at 0.7%, but up from 0.5% a year ago.
Darwin’s vacancy rate rose to 3.5% from 3.3% in April.
Perth’s vacancy rate was steady at 4.1%, but down from 5.1% a year earlier as the oversupply of rental properties eases in that city.
Adelaide’s vacancy rate was also steady at 1.3%, but down from 1.7% a year ago.
Christopher, the managing director of SQM Research, said asking rents had eased in Sydney with greater supply of rental accommodation, giving some relief to home seekers.
“There are considerably more vacancies in Sydney now compared to a year ago, so landlords have lowered their asking rents slightly, which is favouring renters," stated Mr. Christopher
Capital city asking rents for houses fell over the month to 12 June 2018 by 0.5% to $551 a week.
Unit asking rents slipped 0.2% to $444 a week.
Over the year, asking house rents rose just 0.4%, 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 $715 a week, rents fell 1.6% over the month to June 12, with the upward trend in the vacancy rate easing pricing pressures.
Asking unit rents now stand at $523, down by 0.5% over the month.
Canberra is catching up to Sydney with housing asking rents now standing at $631 a week and 451 for units, after growth of 2.1% for houses and units over the month.
In Melbourne, asking rents for houses were down over the month to June 12 by 0.8% to $529 while unit asking rents rose by 0.5% to $412.
In line with the fall in vacancies, Brisbane rents registered a rise for the past 30 days with rents for houses rising by 0.8% to $450 a week and units rising by 0.4% to $369 a week.
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Brisbane vacancy rate fall for fifth straight month: SQM

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Three towns in Queensland, Moura, Blackall and Ingham, have been ranked the slowest locations in Queensland.
All three locations' house listings are typically for sale for over 900 days, according to CoreLogic. 
It suggests postcode 4718's median house price sits at $200,000, and its median rent sits at $250 per week, both without any change over the past 12 months.
The rental yield sits at 6.5%.
Postcode 4472's median house price sits at $150,000, with 14.3% decline over the past year.
Its median rent sits at $150 per week, which has decreased 6.3% over the past year.
The rental yield sits at 5.2%.
Postcode 4850's median house price sits at $182, 500, which has dropped 16.1% over the past year.
Its median rent sits at $215 per week, with 4.5% decrease over the past year.
The rental yield sits at 6.1%.
An Ingham three bedroom house has been recently sold for $171,500 after spending 840 days on the market.
Last traded for $105,000 in 2003, the home initially sought $250,000, before the price steadily dropped to $219,000.
Donna Serra from Landmark Harcourts sold the home.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-ingham-122675602" target="_blank">Located at 22 Burke Street</a> (pictured top), the two storey home comes with open plan kitchen/dining, upstairs living rooms, and three good sized bedrooms.
On a 1222 square metre block, other features of the house include timber floors, air conditioning and new roof.
A Moura three bedroom house has been listed for $175,000 by Steve Paton from Moura Real Estate. It last traded for $134,000 in 2009.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-moura-128504062" target="_blank">Located at 3 Clarke Close</a>, a house on Dawson View Estate comes with three bedrooms, open plan kitchen, lounge/dining flowing to the patio and back yard and double garage. 
On a 710 square metre block, the yard is fully fenced with double gate access.
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Moura, Blackall and Ingham ranked as the slowest selling towns in Queensland

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An unusual school conversion has been listed at Woodend for $1.9 million.
The house is quite elevated, and appears to float on the gentle slope, courtesy of its unique sub-floor.
The 3857 square metre allotment is undulating. 
It's not your Victorian or Edwardian brick or timber building.
The former Catholic primary school was built in 1974 to an innovative design by a priest who was also an architect.
It has an external frame.
It has been repurposed as a family home with huge interconnected living areas.
<a href="http://www.joangladman.com.au/properties-detail.asp?ID=572" target="_blank">Joan Gladman Real Estate</a> agent Joan Gladman has the listing.
Separate from the main residence, is an elegant and sizeable studio, workshop and double garage.
Some 8kW of solar panels make an eco-contribution to the energy needs of the house. 
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Unusual 1970s Woodend school conversion turned trophy home listed

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Hotel developer and operator Paul Fischmann will market rooms in his recently acquired Surry Hills hotel through Airbnb.
He says its because it's a "hell of a lot cheaper than using online travel agents".
Airbnb charges commission rates of about 3%, while online travel agents like Expedia and Booking.com can take up to 20% of a hotel booking.
Fischmann's 8Hotels will develop a new 40-room boutique Surry Hills hotel, after acquiring a 329 square metre site off-market from Colin Rahim and Peter Sukkar, the founders of construction firm Growbuilt.
The new hotel will have a "Lower East Side New York" feel, The Australian Financial Review reported.
The site at 202-210 Elizabeth Street will be developed into a $30 million hotel. It is next to the Triple Ace Bar.
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-surry+hills-502478770" target="_blank">The site</a> had a permit for a boarding house with approval for 38 self-contained boarding house rooms including private bathrooms and kitchens and two ground floor retail shops fronting Elizabeth Street.
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Hotel developers turning to Airbnb over more expensive Expedia

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Sydney's upper North Shore and Hills District has seen a number of strong results over the last 12 months, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White.
"When most people think prestige property their attention is always drawn to the eastern suburbs or lower north shore of Sydney," HTW's latest housing report suggested.
They said that while the wider market has begun to cool, there are still cashed up buyers hunting for prime real estate.
A Dural home fetched $8.8 million last year, a record for the area.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-dural-124185582" target="_blank">654 Old Northern Road</a> (above) has eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.
It sits in over two hectares of landscaped grounds featuring a swimming pool, tennis court and district views. 
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HTW did cite the difficulty to sell property at that price, with it taking over a year to sell.
They said the length of the marketing campaign was not unusual for homes of this calibre.
"It highlights the difficulties in selling property at this price point, because if you have circa $9 million to spend in this area you are able to purchase an older home, knock down and rebuild your home to your preferred design and specifications," the report said.
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"The prestige market can be a little fickle at times due to the limited stock available of high calibre property and the length of time taken finding the right buyer at the right time."
Herron Todd White said they find that the biggest home in the suburb is not always the best.
"What appeals to the north shore market may not appeal to the acreage market," they said.
"Transactions at this level of the market are often dependant on personal preferences, what appeals to one buyer at this end of the market, may not appeal to the next.
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There are always exceptions to the rule, an example includes a property in Wahroonga selling for $7,800,000 in October 2017 after only 11 days on the market.
"This highlights that if a property ticks all of the boxes for the area then they have the ability to get snapped up quite quickly," HTW said.
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The renovated family home (below) with pool and tennis court sits on half an acre of landscaped grounds.
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-wahroonga-126632698" target="_blank">3 Stuart Street</a> has with five bedrooms, open plan living and casual meals, separate banquet-sized formal dining, and multiple alfresco areas.
 
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Strength in the prestige market north of Sydney 

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Dwelling values across Brisbane look to have seen the worst of their declines, suggests CoreLogic-Moody’s Analytics Australia Home Value Index Forecast.
House price values performed steadily last year across Greater Brisbane, with average gains of between three and four percent.
They are expected to continue to remain steady over 2018 and 2019, with small gains of around two to three percent.
The much publicised apartment oversupply affected apartment values last year, with most areas recording three to four percent losses.
But there's good news on the horizon for apartment values, with a sharp increase predicted in 2019, some areas even seeing increases of nearly seven percent. 
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After a lull in 2012, house prices in Greater Brisbane have seen strong gains as a result of strong local economies, partly tied to strong activity in finance, retail, construction and other sectors.
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In Brisbane-South, comprising Carindale, Holland Park and Sunnybank, house values have risen 40 percent since mid 2012.
Incomes per capita have risen a much smaller 6.7 percent over the period.
The number of houses approved for building reached 5,468 in mid 2016, more than double its 2010 to 2012 average, although approvals have since nearly halved.
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The effects of higher supply of houses and muted income growth mean that home values in Brisbane south are forecast to decline 1.5% in 2018, followed by a 1.2% recovery in 2019.
Overall, apartment values across Greater Brisbane are expected to recover 0.8% in 2018.
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The second housing area comprises more ‘lifestyle’ areas, including Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay, and Cairns.
Areas here are expected to perform better over the forecast period, as income growth remains robust and the degree of supply increase is not as great as in areas of Brisbane.
Housing markets in Queensland outside of Brisbane have also not seen the degree of price growth over the past few years. 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/21/rest-of-qld.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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The Sunshine Coast’s housing market has seen its value increase 32% since a slump in 2012.
Housing values are forecast to rise 5.7% in 2018, and close to 2% in 2019. The relatively stable housing market is a result of low unemployment (at 4.4% it is well below the national and state averages) and good income growth.
Building approvals across the Sunshine Coast have risen over the past two years, but at 5,000 annually they remain within historical averages and well below their rate in prior cycles 2002 and 1995. Similarly, home values in the Gold Coast are forecast to rise nearly 4% in 2018 and 6% in 2019.
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The third housing market region in Queensland is in commodity-producing areas. These include Central Queensland, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, and Darling Downs-Maranoa.
Housing markets here have seen significant value declines over the past few years partly as a result of the end of the mining boom.
In Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, house values have declined 32% since June 2012. The reduction in mining investment pushed up unemployment to 9% by 2015 and reduced incomes, which per capita have fallen about 16% since 2010.
Slower population growth has also reduced a source of demand, although this is also working to reduce unemployment.
Further declines in house values are expected before a recovery. 
Sydney's biggest drops are predicted to be in Ryde and the inner city and south areas, while in Melbourne it's the inner south values that are going to take a hit.
Nationally there's set to be a cool, but no crash.
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Brisbane's property values have seen off the worst with price falls: Moody's Analytics

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House values in Melbourne's inner south are set for the biggest price drop over the next two years, according to Moody's Analytics CoreLogic's Hedonic House Value Index.
The latest figures suggest the area will see a 2.5 percent house price value drop, followed by a 5.5 percent decrease in 2019.
House values in the inner south area fell in April for the first time since the end of 2012.
Housing supply has ramped up significantly in recent years and remains elevated by historical standards, with a strong pipeline of completions ahead.
This correction in the housing demand/supply balance is likely to see home values in Melbourne’s inner suburbs continue to decline, CoreLogic suggest. 
The weakness is expected to be most acute in the inner south, where home values are projected to fall until mid-2020.
Similarly, apartment prices in the Inner South are projected to start falling from mid-2018, before firming by mid-2019.
For Melbourne-Inner and the Inner East, home values are expected to fall until the first half of 2019, after which a modest recovery is likely to take hold.
Apartment prices there are expected to hold up relatively well, with the price gains likely to continue.
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Melbourne's house price growth has slid for 11 consecutive months and fell in April to a 62-month low of 3.1 percent y/y.
The slowdown is most pronounced in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. House values in Melbourne's inner east edged up just 0.3% y/y, a 11⁄2-year low.
Apartment price growth is also cooling. Apartment values in Greater Melbourne were up 5.7% y/y in April, a 15-month low, with the Inner South leading the slowdown.
The downswing has not been confined just to Melbourne’s inner suburbs, with house values across Victoria generally rising at a slower pace.
In Melbourne’s outer suburbs, where house prices recorded stellar double-digit growth through 2017, growth has also decelerated markedly.
Annual house price growth is down at a 38-month low in the North East; a 35-month low in the North West; a 19-month low in the Outer East; a 16-month low in the South East; a 34-month low in the West, and a 20-month low in the Mornington Peninsula.
Geelong is bucking the trend in the rest of Victoria. 
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It saw a 10.6 percent house price value increase in 2017, and is set to see those prices soar another 12.3 percent this year and then a further 11.2 percent in 2019.
Ballarat is set to see consistent house price growth, as is the north west region.
Sydney's biggest drops are predicted to be in Ryde and the inner city and south areas while Brisbane has seen off the worst of its price falls.
Nationally there's set to be a cool, but no crash.
 
 
 
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Melbourne's inner south property values to fall the most: Moody's Analytics

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Ryde and Sydney's inner city suburbs are set to be the hardest hit in the housing downturn, according to Moody Analytics CoreLogic's Hedonic Home Value Index. 
After experiencing a 15.6 percent increase in house value in 2017, Ryde has a forecasted median house price drop of 9.2 percent.
The value drop is expected to carry on in to 2019, with declines of just over three percent predicted.
Sydney city and inner south suburbs, which have seen house value increases of over 70 percent since 2013, saw nearly the same percentage of house value increase as Ryde last year.
The house values are expected to drop 8.7 percent this year.
Unlike Ryde however, the house values in the city and inner south suburbs are expected to rebound in 2019, with a predicted jump back of 7.6 percent.
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CoreLogic's latest release suggests the Sydney housing market 'remains in a funk.'
The dwelling price drop in April was a ninth consecutive month of falls.
The prior upward cycle began around 2013, and from there to mid-2017 dwelling values across Greater Sydney increased 70%, according to the CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index. Since then, values have declined 4.2%. 
The strong dwelling price growth was borne out of the upbeat state of the economy, low unemployment figures, public infrastructure investment and the prevalence of interest-sensitive industries such as hospitality and construction.
Incomes in NSW have grown faster than the national average and underpin some of the recent gains in home values (see below). 
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However, housing values have grown even faster and thus are overvalued relative to equilibrium value.
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CoreLogic expect house prices across Greater Sydney to fall by 4.7% y/y in 2018, after a 12.8% gain in 2017.
They expect apartments to also slow but not as sharply, with a 0.6% y/y expansion expected in 4 2018, from the 9.8% growth in 2017.
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By 2019, the correction is expected to have largely passed, with house and apartment values forecast to increase by 0.9% and 2.2. 
Apartment values in Sydney have not experienced the same degree of growth as houses in recent years, and so are not expected to correct as sharply over 2018. 
Historically, apartment values are less volatile than houses. 
Supply constraints factor heavily in Sydney’s housing market and contributed to the strong runup in prices in prior years. 
A high level of supply has now come on line for apartments in the inner city and surrounding areas as well as dwellings in suburban areas via land releases and removing some development restrictions. This will contribute to the forecast price slowdown in 2018. 
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Outside Sydney, the story of the housing markets in rest of the New South Wales is a little different.
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As potential homebuyers’ incomes have not kept pace with the Sydney housing market, demand for areas outside Sydney has risen, as affordability is better.
This is especially so for areas such as the Central Coast, where house values are forecast to grow 4.3% in 2018, after a 13.4% increase in 2017.
Illawarra and Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas have a similar story. Robust local economic conditions are driving house values in these areas
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However, regional areas farther away from Sydney where population growth is slower and supply constraints are reduced, such as New England and North West or Hunter Valley, have lagged. 
House values in New England and North West grew a tamer 1% in 2016 and in 2017 and are forecast to increase 5.5% in 2018 and 4.5% in 2019.
Melbourne's biggest drops are predicted to be in the inner south, while Brisbane has seen off the worst of its price falls.
Nationally there's set to be a cool, but no crash.
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Ryde and Inner city Sydney values to be hardest hit: Moody's Analytics 

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Joel Robinson

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

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]

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?

Staff reporter

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