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Values within the Warrnambool market are yet to display any decline due to the impact of COVID-19, 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.
The report notes confidence across the purchaser landscape remains solid; whether this remains the case in three months’ time is open for discussion.
"Demand in this price sector was considered to be on a slight upward trend pre-COVID-19 and we predict that trend to continue moving forward should the COVID-19 recovery come quickly and completely," the valuation firm said. 
Premier central Warrnambool properties, particularly those with heritage stylings and some level of updated interior, are very much excluded from the $700,000 price range. 
The buy-in for entry level property in this location starts at $750,000, the report noted. 
"A great example of what you get at the premier entry level is 9 Victoria Street, Warrnambool, VIC, 3280 (pictured below)," the valuation firm said. 
Three bedrooms, one bathroom, detached two-car garage on an 800 square metre allotment.
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Situated one block removed from city centre. Very basic level of fit-out with fantastic heritage features.
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Moving ever so slightly away from the premier locations, potential buyers will start to see a number of options develop.
It’s here, still centrally located (within one kilometre of the CBD and beach) that buyers will find high quality townhouses, renovated heritage dwellings and properties with further development or value adding potential start to become available in the $600,000 to $700,000 range, the report noted. 
For those with a vision and greasy elbows, look no further than 90 Skene Street, Warrnambool (pictured below).
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A circa 1880 weatherboard dwelling requiring a whole lot of work situated on a 2,100 square metre allotment. 
While the amount of renovation work required can’t be overstated, the dwelling does feature distant ocean glimpses through the Norfolk pines.
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"There’s great potential for value adding with property such as this around Warrnambool," the valuation firm said. 
The report notes buyers interested in something with a little more room to move can find larger sized property (4,000 plus square metres) in Warrnambool’s surrounding lifstyle areas. 
5 Elizabeth Street, Allansford, VIC, 3277 (pictured below). 
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Set on one acre, ten minutes from Warrnambool in the smaller satellite township of Allansford, this property features a standard quality, modern style brick dwelling of approximately 240 square metres. 
Beyond the dwelling, the property is improved with a six bay workshop and large store shed.
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"As mentioned above, if you had this kind of money to invest within the region’s property market, then you have the opportunity to purchase within most market segments, from a large, centrally located character dwelling to a rural living style property on the outskirts of town," the valuation firm said. 
Properties within this price range are generally owner-occupied and we don’t see many of them offered for rent.
"Demand in this price sector has remained relatively steady over the past few years and we predict that it will continue to remain this way over the next 12 months.
"However, with the impact of COVID-19 on the property market still unclear, it is difficult to make any predictions with confidence." 
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What a lazy $700,000 can buy in Warrnambool: HTW residential 

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Within the Mount Gambier region, $700,000 will enable you to purchase practically anywhere, according to the July Herron Todd White (HTW) 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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The report started with the COVID update.
To date there are still no clear indications of the impact of COVID–19 on property values in the Mount Gambier region. 
"Whilst the market has softened as a direct result of government enforced restrictions and general economic uncertainty, we are yet to see this reflected in any value correction.
"As restrictions begin to ease and some normality resumes, we remain positive that the impact will be limited, however are not naive to the fact that there will be ramifications within the property market," the valuation firm said. 
"Now, where to spend a lazy $700,000", the report continued. 
The report suggests few dwellings sell for more than $700,000 and demand for property tends to reduce significantly when the market value is greater than $700,000. 
Within the past 12 months there have been a limited number of houses sold for $600,000 to $700,000. 
Typically, up to $700,000 will allow you to purchase a character dwelling in a sought-after central location.
The sale at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-mount+gambier-126727478" target="_blank"> 22 Lansell Street</a> (pictured above) features a fully renovated character dwelling with high quality fit-out, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a swimming pool.
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On the outskirts of town, there have also been a few sales to come close to the $700,000 price range, the report noted. 
These sales are generally on rural living style allotments and are good quality homes featuring one to three acres, four bedrooms, two bathrooms and good ancillary improvements.
A four bedroom, two bathroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-worrolong-132075426" target="_blank">21 Eldridge Drive, Worrolong</a> (pictured below) was sold for $610,000 in April.
Set on a 4,225sqm allotment, the home offers open plan living area, study, separate formal lounge, gourmet kitchen and alfresco area. 
<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/2020/8/14/worrolong.jpg" alt="">
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"While demand is limited for properties around the $700,000 range within Mount Gambier, there is greater demand for these properties in the popular coastal township of Robe," the valuation firm said. 
The report suggests in Robe, $700,000 will allow you to purchase either a centrally located dwelling or a dwelling with ocean or lake views, such as the sale below.
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A three bedroom, two bathroom waterfront house situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-robe-129832542" target="_blank">18 Woolundry Road, Robe</a> (pictured below) was sold for $720,000 last year. 
The Cape-Cod style home comes with open plan kitchen/dining/living, chef's kitchen and lush garden. 
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What a lazy $700,000 can buy in Mount Gambier: HTW residential 

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The Mildura local market continues to show some uncertainty with many agents still reporting reluctance by many vendors to put their homes on the market, 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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"This is more evident in the higher value range due to concerns that buyers may not yet be willing to pay a substantial amount in this time of uncertainty. Sales that are occurring indicate that values have held up well so far," the valuation firm said. 
The report notes within the local market, $700,000 is still considered a higher value range property, however as the local market has increased steadily over recent times, this amount has started to become more common. 
"$700,000 will purchase a large home located in an inner-city location in Mildura, or an above average standard dwelling in a modern subdivision on an allotment of up to 1,000 square metres. 
"Within the inner city, it is possible at this price point to find an older, extensively renovated dwelling in a preferred location," the valuation firm said. 
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The report suggests a recent example is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-mildura-132272454" target="_blank">26 Walnut Avenue, Mildura </a>(pictured below), which sold in January 2020 for $680,000.
 This property is in an inner-city location and includes an older home which has been recently renovated to a high standard and includes a pool.
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Surrounding Mildura are a number of well- regarded smaller towns such as Gol Gol, Nichols Point and Irymple, which include good quality homes on larger allotments ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 square metres. 
For around $700,000 it is possible to find modern homes built within the last ten to 15 years which include good ancillary improvements such as sheds, pools and extensive landscaping, the report noted. 
Buyers at this price point tend to prefer locations that are within a ten-minute drive of Mildura and which are connected to filtered town water.
The report suggests a recent example is 297 Irymple Avenue, Nichols Point (pictured below), which sold in December 2019 for $716,000.
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This property comprises a 2,576 square metre allotment improved with a circa 2005 built brick home featuring a pool, large shed and significant landscaping.
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These higher value homes are suited to owner- occupiers as investors chase higher rental returns at a lower price point. 
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"For investors, our advice would be to purchase two smaller, but still modern dwellings for $350,000 each, three older dwellings in secondary locations for $200,000 each or even a large block of flats (however there are few such blocks of flats at this price point).
"All of these would provide a more attractive return, of around five to seven per cent as opposed to a high-quality single dwelling. Mildura’s vacancy rates are still very low, meaning that finding tenants is generally straightforward," the valuation firm said. 
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What a lazy $700,000 can buy in Mildura: HTW residential 

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Once a destination for weekend getaways, the Geelong area has been reimaged as an ideal lifestyle for families, according to the July 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.
Immersed in nature, but remaining in close proximity to the bright lights of the city, Geelong provides the answer for those seeking a solid investment or a place to call home, the report noted. 
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"It’s well known by many that in Geelong you most certainly can get more bang for your buck when it comes to the property market," the valuation firm said. 
With Geelong also now being a well-established city in itself, hosting 250,000 plus residents, it’s turning into one of the most sought after locations.
"$700,000 in Geelong can go a long way and can most definitely provide anyone looking within this range with a fantastic home for whatever they require," the valuation firm said.
 Whether it be a large double storey family home or a sleek and modern single storey home in a nice area, most would be able to find what they need within this price range.
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The report noted an example of what is out there for around the $700,000 mark is below:
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A five bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-armstrong+creek-133180182" target="_blank">31-35 Sirrom Crescent, Armstrong Creek</a> (pictured above) has recently been sold for $765,000.
The contemporary home comes with five bedrooms, three living zones, triple garage, alfresco and backyard. 
It is located just 10 minutes to Torquay and 15 minutes from the CBD. 
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What a lazy $700,000 can buy in Geelong: HTW residential 

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Melbourne’s western suburbs have rapidly evolved over the past ten years, 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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The report suggests Melbourne’s housing market has always seemed somewhat unattainable for many, however figures released have shown that Melton and Wyndham are affordable and desirable options with larger blocks of land and bigger homes.
The city of Melton is proving a popular choice according to realestate.com.au. It is also the cheapest suburb in Melbourne, with a median price of $390,000.
Those looking for large blocks and new modern houses could consider Rockbank, Caroline Springs and Plumpton at a median price of $700,000, which is an attractive choice for first home buyers and families, the report noted. 
"Melbourne’s western area is spoilt for choice around the $700,000 mark compared to that of more expensive inner Melbourne suburbs where purchasing a nice home in that range is simply not possible," the valuation firm said. 
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The report suggests the Australian dream of a big home and backyard is attainable in the western suburbs.
 It is an area that is affordable and ever developing which is why it has attracted so many first home buyers and investors looking to break into the property market. 
The convenience of being close to the city combined with the benefits of not actually being in the heart of the city has rapidly increased its population growth.
Some examples of what you can expect around the $700,000 mark are as follows, the report noted. 
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The five bedroom, three bathroom house at<a href="https://m.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-taylors+hill-133332806" target="_blank"> 37 Nicholson Terrace</a> (pictured above) has been sold for $768,000.
It comes with three living zones, functional kitchen, pergola area and oversized double garage. 
It is located within close primality to schools, transport and shops. 
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Compare this to a well-established, higher socio economic region within Melbourne’s west such as Williamstown. 
It is considered much more difficult to obtain a nice house for the $700,000 price bracket within this region as the median house price is $1.35 million.
"Realistically, only small units and apartments in Williamstown can be purchased for this price," the valuation firm said. 
The report noted an example of what you could expect is as follows.
<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/2020/8/14/williamstown.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-williamstown-133618502" target="_blank">105/133 Railway Place, Williamstown</a> (pictured above) has been sold for $675,000.
The apartment comprises two large bedrooms, one bathroom, internal balcony, and secure car space with storage. 
It is set within the top Williamstown school zones. 
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What a lazy $700,000 can buy in Melbourne's western suburbs: HTW Residential 

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The State Government's NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program - which provides green space funding for local councils - has been wholeheartedly welcomed
The announcement of a $250 million program that incentivises the fast-tracking of development assessments with funding for councils to deliver more public spaces is great news for jobs in the property development sector, the environment and the community.
Local councils that focus on fast-tracking development assessments for projects that deliver much-needed jobs and housing will be eligible for up to $5.5 million each in funding for parklands, town squares and main streets under the program.
The program is available to the 68 councils currently participating in the e-planning system.
It is great to see the NSW Government provide councils with this incentive to fast-track the assessment of projects identified under the Planning System Acceleration Program.
It is all very well for Local planning strategies to call for greater funds for open space – but this adds to the costs for new home buyers. This new government funding stream which totals $250 million will support the so the acquisition and land and works to create playgrounds and green spaces.
The approach of providing funding directly to councils to deliver new and improved public spaces will help unlock significant construction jobs during the economic shock of COVID-19 by reducing the "local green space" contributions" paid initially by developers, but ultimately added to the cost of new homes.
This new initiative will reduce the burden on new home buyers and is an important step in ensuring high quality local amenity.
TOM FORREST is the Urban Taskforce CEO
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Public Spaces Legacy Program welcomed by Urban Taskforce: Tom Forrest

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There are the Boxing Day sales, and there was this week’s rush of extremely cashed-up investors desperate to get a slice of this week’s rare 31-year government bond auction.
What’s a bond? What’s a bond auction? We’ll get to those shortly.
First, just know that the government received <a href="https://www.aofm.gov.au/program/forthcoming-transactions/pricing-new-june-2051-treasury-bond" target="_blank">A$36.8 billion</a> of bids, <a href="https://www.afr.com/markets/debt-markets/new-30-yr-government-bond-attracts-over-20b-of-bids-20200727-p55frl" target="_blank">$20 billion</a> of them within hours of opening the two-day auction on Monday.
It had been wanting to move <a href="https://www.aofm.gov.au/program/forthcoming-transactions/pricing-new-june-2051-treasury-b" target="_blank">$15 billion</a>, and could have moved that much again.
$15 billion makes it the third biggest bond sale in Australian history. The two bigger were recent – a $19 billion ten-year bond sale in May and a $17 billion five-year bond sale in July.
Each sale nets the government money it won’t have to pay back for five, ten or 31 years at rates of interest that until recently would have been unthinkably low. 
The 31-year bond went for 1.94%. That means the foreign and Australian investors who bought them (including Australian super funds) were prepared to accept less than the usual rate of inflation right through until 2051 in return for regular government-guaranteed interest cheques.
Investors who bought ten year bonds were prepared to accept only 0.92% per year, investors who bought five year bonds, only 0.40%.
<h2>What’s a bond?</h2>
Even bond traders find it hard to get a handle on what bonds are. In his novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/306424.Bombardiers" target="_blank">Bombardiers</a>, author Po Bronson writes a scene where a bond trader refuses to work any more and demands to see an actual bond, “any kind of bond”.
He tells his boss he can’t sell bonds “if he’s never seen one”.
Like many things that used to exist physically, they’re now mainly numbers on screens, but it helps to get a picture.
This one is a US 27-year bond from 1945.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/350098/original/file-20200729-33-u4eet9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/350098/original/file-20200729-33-u4eet9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> <a class="source" href="https://www.theherbstmancollection.com/dedication" target="_blank">The Joe I. Herbstman Memorial Collection</a>
The biggest part of the paper is a promise to repay the US$1000 it cost, in 27 years time.
The smaller rectangles are called coupons, and each year the owner can tear one off and take it in to get 2.5%.
If the owner wants to sell the bond to someone else (and bonds are traded all the time) it’ll be sold with one coupon missing after one year, two coupons missing after two years, and so on.
<h2>When rates fall, prices rise</h2>
The price of a bond will vary with what’s happening to interest rates. If they are falling, an existing bond, offering returns at old rates, will become more expensive and can be sold at a profit. If they go up, an existing bond will become worth less and have to be sold at a loss.
It leads to confusion. When bond rates fall, bond prices rise, and visa versa.
For half a decade now bond rates have been falling. They’ve fallen further during the COVID crisis, making bonds a doubly good investment. They offer superannuation funds and others certainty at a time when everything seems uncertain, and if rates continue to fall they increase in value.
It is an indictment of our times that so many investors want them. The government’s <a href="https://www.aofm.gov.au/" target="_blank">office of financial management</a> is going to need to sell an extra $167 billion over the coming year. The rush to buy suggests it could sell more.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/143598/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-martin-682709" target="_blank">Peter Martin</a>, Visiting Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292" target="_blank">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-government-has-just-sold-15-billion-of-31-year-bonds-but-what-actually-is-a-bond-143598" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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The government has just sold $15 billion of 31-year bonds

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Older women have been recognised as the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia in recent years.
Yet until now we have not known exactly how many older women are at risk of homelessness. Our research, released today, finds about 240,000 women aged 55 or older and another 165,000 women aged 45-54 are at risk of homelessness.
The startling data from our research give us a much better picture of the scale of the problem. We also quantify the impacts of the various factors that may increase women’s risk of becoming homeless.
Effective policy is grounded in quantifying the nature and complexity of issues. To date, a limited but <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/publications/older-womens-risk-homelessness-background-paper-2019" target="_blank">growing number</a> of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.aag.asn.au/documents/item/2234" target="_blank">studies</a> have highlighted the experiences of older women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. But few studies quantified the numbers at risk and the factors that increase the risk.
<h2>What puts women at risk? 
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Older people are generally considered to be at less risk of homelessness because of their <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/home-ownership-and-housing-tenure" target="_blank">higher rates of home ownership</a>. But increasingly <a href="https://cepar.edu.au/resources-videos/research-briefs/housing-ageing-australia-nest-and-nest-egg" target="_blank">unaffordable housing</a> has added to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/home-ownership-now-the-great-divider-of-australian-society-20190919-p52syz" target="_blank">concerns</a> about the circumstances and living situations of older people who do not own homes, have limited wealth and savings and do not have the benefit of living in social housing. These households rely on the private rental market and are at considerable risk of <a href="https://www.anglicare.asn.au/research-advocacy/the-rental-affordability-snapshot/docs/default-source/default-document-library/rental-affordability-snapshot-2020" target="_blank">housing affordability stress</a> and hence homelessness.
To examine risk profiles, we constructed an empirical model of risk of homelessness since the 2007-09 Global Financial Crisis using data from the <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/hilda" target="_blank">Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey</a>. The modelling included people who hold a mortgage or pay rent in private or public housing and are aged 45 or older.
This work found older women are more likely to be at risk of homelessness if they have one or more of the following characteristics:
• have been at risk before
• are not employed full-time
• are an immigrant from a non-English-speaking country
• are in private rental housing
• would have difficulty raising emergency funds
• are Indigenous
• are a lone-person household
• are a lone parent (but little evidence for those never married).
We estimated these profiles using a statistical model to analyse the relationship between homelessness risk and the characteristics of interest. We controlled for other characteristics that are likely to influence the risk of becoming homeless but which were not the focus of the study.
<h2>Risk factors compound each other</h2>
Multiple factors compound the risk of being homeless. While noting sampling limitations (small samples in subgroups of the data and annual volatility), the HILDA data for the post-GFC period suggest:
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for women aged 55-64 in a private rental, about 28% are likely to be at risk
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for women who are also not employed full-time the percentage at risk increases to about 34%
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for those who are also a lone parent the risk rises to over 65%
</li>
<li>
the risk increases to over 85% if, in addition, they have experienced at least one prior occurrence of being at risk.
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/349837/original/file-20200728-23-15z661u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/349837/original/file-20200728-23-15z661u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Bar chart shows how a women's risk of homeless increases with each extra risk factor"></a>
Data: HILDA Survey, Author provided
Clearly, a person’s propensity to be at risk of homelessness is cumulative over time.
<h2>Why the numbers at risk will grow</h2>
Our estimates of the numbers of people at risk are accurate to within plus or minus 10%. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3236.0" target="_blank">population projections</a>, it is clear that, without changes to policy, these numbers are likely to increase due to one important factor. The model shows a lone-person household is a dominant factor in increasing the likely risk of homelessness.
Lone-person households are expected to comprise 24-27% of all households by 2041. This equates to between 3.0 and 3.5 million Australians (of all ages). Female lone-person households are projected to increase by between 27.6% and 58.8% (ABS 2019b).
Australia has made <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-11/flat-wages-soaring-house-prices-australians-lifetime-renting/11898122" target="_blank">little policy progress on housing affordability</a>. We also have a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/306" target="_blank">severe shortage of social housing</a> to meet demand. This points to the need to pursue other avenues to improve the lives of older low-income households.
The Ageing on the Edge Older Persons Homelessness Prevention Project – funded by the <a href="https://www.eqt.com.au/philanthropy/jo-and-jr-wicking-trust" target="_blank">JO and JR Wicking Trust</a> and administered by Housing for the Aged Action Group (<a href="https://www.oldertenants.org.au/haag/about" target="_blank">HAAG</a>) – has worked over the past five years to give voice to these older women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The project works with interested agencies (government and non-government) to identify and promote early intervention and prevention strategies and to lobby for government policy change.
Of course, there is one simple answer to achieving long-term outcomes that allow people the basics of a decent older age: an appropriate affordable home.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/142906/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/debbie-faulkner-1137108" target="_blank">Debbie Faulkner</a>, Senior Research Fellow, UniSA Business, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180" target="_blank">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laurence-lester-1139402" target="_blank">Laurence Lester</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119" target="_blank">University of Adelaide</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/400-000-women-over-45-are-at-risk-of-homelessness-in-australia-142906" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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400,000 women over 45 are at risk of homelessness in Australia

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In an apparent about face, the NSW government has halved land tax for developers of build-to-rent housing.
It came weeks after the the Treasurer Dominic Perrottet launched a report that called for a <a href="https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/draft-report" target="_blank">greater reliance on land tax</a> as a replacement for stamp duty.
The greater reliance on land tax is a long-term goal. At the moment family homes are exempt, along with boarding houses, caravan parks, retirement villages and farms. Most other users pay land tax, including <a href="https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/squiz-sandbox/land-tax/exemptions-and-concessions" target="_blank">landlords</a> and businesses.
The change will give developers who invest in build-to-rent schemes offering <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-to-cut-land-tax-for-20-years-in-ambitious-build-to-rent-scheme-20200728-p55gbm.htm" target="_blank">long tenancies</a> a 50% discount on their land tax for 20 years.
<h2>Why build-to-rent?</h2>
Most Australian rental properties are owned by individuals, units in apartment blocks as well as free-standing houses. Half are owned by landlords with only one property; <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/901-Housing-affordability.pdf" target="_blank">three quarters</a> by landlords with only one or two properties.
If you want to rent from a corporation, or from someone with wide experience in owning and renting properties, you’ll find it hard.
It makes Australia unusual.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/350346/original/file-20200730-17-1kp56wj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/350346/original/file-20200730-17-1kp56wj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Nails in walls can cause problems for tenants.
In other countries corporations rent out housing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-australia-can-learn-from-overseas-about-the-future-of-rental-housing-90401" target="_blank">big time</a>. America’s five largest corporate landlords own 420,000 properties. Germany’s largest landlord, Vonovia, owns more than 330,000.
Overseas experience suggests corporations provide more affordable housing, and in many ways they make better landlords.
Individuals who own just one property have put most of their eggs in one basket.
Because they can’t afford for anything to go wrong they check the condition of the property regularly.
They prohibit nails in walls and pets, and typically offer only short-term leases.
Corporations can play the law of averages.
Because they know most properties will be well maintained they are satisfied with less-frequent inspections. They allow modifications, and typically offer long-term leases.
They offer an experience pretty close to ownership, in return for rent.
It’s this that the NSW government wants to encourage.
To ensure it happens and to ensure built-to-rents don’t revert to the Australian pattern of individual investors owning individual units, it will specify that the apartments have at least 50 units and are managed under <a href="https://nsw.liberal.org.au/Shared-Content/News/2020/LAND-TAX-CUT-TO-DRIVE-BUILD-TO-RENT-REVOLUTION" target="_blank">unified ownership</a>.
<h2>Tax makes it hard</h2>
At the moment such developments are discriminated against when it comes to land tax. No tax is due if the land value is below a threshold.
Individual landlords are usually below the threshold (some spreading their portfolio between multiple states to ensure they don’t trigger each state’s threshold).
Wholly-owned apartment blocks are above the threshold and can’t escape it. University of Technology Sydney calculations suggest land tax on build-to-rent developments can consume up to 27% of the annual rent collected.
And they are subject to goods and services tax. They can reclaim some of it but not all.
The announcement comes at a time when the COVID crisis has cut stamp duty receipts and created an oversupply of vacant apartments, particularly around universities.
The initiative appears to have been crafted before the crisis and to be more forward looking. Many of the build-to-rent projects will take years to complete.
<h2>It’s about changing the mix</h2>
That said, any extra building activity will support the construction industry and extra stock will reduce home prices and rents.
The initiative doesn’t spell the end of mum and dad landlords. They will still predominate for a long time.
It’s about providing options and security for tenants that isn’t widely available and will become more important as a <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-edges-of-home-ownership-are-becoming-porous-its-no-longer-a-one-way-street-119995" target="_blank">greater proportion of Australians rent</a>.
Other states will be taking note.
For a government that wants to eventually make land tax universal, the 50% cut is a step in the wrong direction. It might have been better to remove the threshold for small landlords.
But there’s no sign the NSW government has given up on its longer term goal. It’s unlikely to be the last time land tax rules are changed.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/143594/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/harry-scheule-3573" target="_blank">Harry Scheule</a>, Professor, Finance, UTS Business School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936" target="_blank">University of Technology Sydney</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-nsw-is-skewing-its-tax-system-toward-build-to-rent-apartments-and-away-from-mum-and-pop-landlords-143594" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why NSW is skewing its tax system toward build-to-rent apartments and away from mum and pop landlords

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The focus of attention in the Central Coast Region market now seems to be on recovery and future planning, 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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NSW Central Coast Region Coronavirus Update
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The report notes in line with many regions, there have been little reports of new cases of COVID-19 for some time.

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For many, life seems to be returning to normal. The tourist and visitor centres of Terrigal, The Entrance and Ettalong Beach have been busy for the past several weekends as crowds return.

"Recovery will be as big a challenge as the restrictions and lockdowns themselves. Looking around, a number of businesses have suffered terribly and some have closed. But confidence is returning. 

"Tempering this new confidence, our health professionals are reminding us that we may not have seen the end of this with a second wave likely," the valuation firm said. 
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What will a lazy $700,000 buy in the Central Coast region of New South Wales

A quick snapshot of some suburbs where investing $700k seems to be a good idea, the report noted. 

Wadalba – a newish and still developing suburb located towards the northern end of the region with plenty of schools, shops and easy access to the M1 Motorway.

A typical new project style dwelling, single level with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and double garage, recently sold for $690,000. 

"With slightly older two-storey options available for similar prices, we consider these to represent good value for first home buyers and growing families finding the area to their liking," the valuation firm said. 

Values have remained static overall over the year, so buying for quick financial gain isn’t great and returns are estimated at around the 4.5 to five per cent mark which is acceptable. Comparable suburbs to Wadalba include Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah, the report noted. 

A four bedroom, two bathroom home in Wadalba has recently been sold for $591,500. 

The single level home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-wadalba-133071962" target="_blank">7 Voyager Street </a>(pictured below) comes with expansive kitchen, dining area, lounge room, four bedrooms and fully fenced yard. 

It is located close to schools, supermarkets and parks. 

<img alt="" 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/wadalba.jpg">

The Entrance – one of the region’s older suburbs which sits between the ocean and lake. It is the day tripper and visitor centre at the northern end of our region, the report noted. 

Although there is a large permanent and long term occupant population (renters account for approximately 60 per cent of the area’s occupants), the area is very popular with the weekender market.

Units prevail in the town centre due to the ocean and lake views, shops and beach.

"We note that $700,000 can buy a two- bedroom unit with views within the town centre. But $700,000 is heading towards the higher end of unit values at The Entrance and we feel the more attractive options would be in the $350,000 to $400,000 price range for older units with lesser views," the valuation firm said. 

This price range has been more consistent in terms of price stability and returns which seem to be around the 4.5 per cent mark on a permanent occupancy basis.
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Bateau Bay – another of the region’s more established suburbs. The Entrance runs through the suburb thus creating two distinct markets.

The eastern (ocean) side is generally the more expensive option. If $700,000 is the marker, then good value on the no less popular western side of The Entrance Road is available. 

Generally older style but well established and accessorised property is the norm. 

An 80’s style, large, four- bedroom, single level dwelling with two bathrooms and double garage has just sold for $710,000 and a renovated 80’s style four-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling with inground pool and off street parking recently sold for $685,000. These represent good value for those aspiring to live in Bateau Bay, the report noted. 

Terrigal – some would suggest that only good things happen at Terrigal and if price point is the gauge, there may be some foundation to this. 

$700,000 will likely secure an old style, rundown dwelling or perhaps a two- or three-bedroom unit or townhouse away from the town centre. 

"You might however get a vacant block of land with a little change left over – but you will need to be quick," the valuation firm said. 

Next door Wamberal shares these same qualities, with Erina to the west being not far behind, the report noted. 

A current listing is a one bedroom apartment in Terrigal priced at $699,000.

The contemporary apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-terrigal-133757722" target="_blank">3/10 Pine Tree Lane</a> (pictured below) comprises large bedroom, study, open plan lounge and dining area, and garage. 

It is set in a boutique complex, only metres walk to cafes, restaurants and Terrigal Beach. 

<img alt="" 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/terrigal%201.jpg">

Point Clare – sitting on the western shores of Brisbane Waters, this is an older and established location with just a short drive to meet up with the M1 Motorway. 

"Surprisingly, Point Clare has never been an area at the top of mind. We don’t know why, because there are a number of properties that can be purchased for less than $700,000," the valuation firm said. 

An 80’s style, slightly compact, four-bedder with single garage, landscaping and inground pool recently sold for $680,000.

While the median value across the region has fallen just a little over the past year, Point Clare has actually increased – just a little.

The area is predominantly owner-occupied with returns estimated to be around the 4.5 per cent mark.
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Umina Beach – located towards the southern end of the region, Umina Beach, Woy Woy and Ettalong Beach enjoyed better than average value increases, but since September 2018, the median value has steadily declined and is approximately ten per cent lower. 

Rentals account for around 30 per cent of properties in Umina Beach with the remainder being owner-occupied. Due to the high number of second dwellings in Umina Beach, we tend to think there is a hybrid factor going on here with owners remaining in their dwellings while renting out the second dwelling.

In value terms, there are still a lot of properties being sold under or around the $700,000 mark. 

A renovated three-bedroom, one-bathroom dwelling with plenty of undercover parking recently sold for $700,000 whilst a similar dwelling, but minus the parking sold for $670,000.

Older, more basic dwellings with the potential to add a second dwelling are selling for similar prices, the report noted. 
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The focus of attention now seems to be on recovery and future planning.

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What a lazy $700,000 can buy in NSW Central Coast Region: HTW residential  

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."

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374402]

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.

&nbsp;

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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