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Developer Greaton has awarded the stage one build contract for its $300 million West Franklin residential project to Built Environs.
Stage one of West Franklin, on the corner of Elizabeth and Franklin Streets in Adelaide, will feature 272 residential apartments spread across two towers sized 18 and 20 storeys.
The contract is worth $90 million.
Nicho Teng, managing director of Greaton said they will be using an innovative construction methodology, bubble deck, which will result in a shorter construction phase.
Construction is expected to start in April and stage one is due to be completed early 2019. Over 140 sales have been secured in stage one.
Residential facilities include a 20 metre lap pool, gym, spa, sauna, resident dining rooms, BBQ facilities, cinema, golf simulator and roof top bar.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Developer Greaton awards stage one West Franklin build

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A three bedroom apartment styled by Newstead Interiors fronting the Brisbane River sold within a week.
The apartment, located on the podium level of Brisbane's Waters Edge, in the West End is sized 220sqm with a 62sqm wrap-around terrace and 13 metres of river frontage.
The residential development features a 25 metre heated infinity pool, barbecue terrace, gymnasium and private residents' lounge. 
Virginia De Luca, director of Newstead Interiors, says the apartment has been 'themed' to suit its surroundings.
"The Brisbane lifestyle is centred around the river, so we wanted to extend the apartment's connection to the river through the use of different colours, textures and materials," she said.
"The end result is an abode that is classic yet contemporary, with earthy tones throughout to match new Limed Oak American floors, enhanced by splashes of blue hues as a visual reminder that this apartment is framed by the water.
"The styling of the apartment was guided by how we imagined the new owner would want to experience their home, which led us to include soft touches like additional seating and throws to encourage 'rest and retreat' areas throughout the property.
"We have opted to keep the overall palette of the apartment neutral, light and fresh to allow the buyer to put their own stamp on the apartment."
Kim Pradella, director of developer Pradella said they wanted to redefine the concept of a riverfront home. 
"The apartment is elevated to ensure privacy and to provide spectacular 180 degree panoramic views across the river, while allowing residents direct private access to surrounding parklands, riverfront pathways and exclusive resort-style amenities.
"This apartment is truly one of a kind and it has been finished by Newstead Interiors to a standard befitting the final podium riverfront residence at Waters Edge."
<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/2017/03/07/700_interior.jpg" alt=""> 
A second apartment (above) is now on the market.
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Rare Brisbane riverfront residence sold

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Nearly 15,000sqm of developable land in Perth’s southern suburbs has been listed for sale with expectations of around $2.1 million.
The land, 535 Millar Road, Wellard, is 38km south of Perth and fronts the Kwinana Freeway. 
Ryan McGinnity from CBRE said the opportunity came at time when Western Australia’s residential market had received a considerable boost with changes to the First Home Owners Grant.
“Given the State Government’s recent decision to increase the First Home Owners Grant to $15,000 for new builds, residential development opportunities in high growth suburbs such as will be of strong interest to developers,” he said.
“With development approval to accommodate 22 green title lots, this property presents an attractive opportunity to undertake a residential project in a proven growth area.”
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Residential development land in Perth's Wellard growth zone listed

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A second two bedroom display suite at Parramatta's 20 storey residential development V by Crown Group has been opened.
The new display suite is located on level 20 and features two bedrooms, a study, a living and dining area and views across Parramatta Square to Sydney’s CBD.
It also includes LED strip lighting, SMEG appliances, mirrored splashbacks, LED strip ‘accent’ lighting and stone bench tops.
When completed, V by Crown Group will have 590 apartments, pool, gym, sauna, conference facilities, music room, theatrette, a library and a retail and restaurant precinct.
The development, designed by Sydney-based Allen Jack + Cottier and Koichi Takada Architects, won the Five Star Award for Residential High Rise Architecture Australia at the 2016-2017 Asia Pacific Property Awards.
<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/2017/01/17/VBC_Display_1_Apartment_009_LowRes.jpg" width="700" height="425">
Display apartments at V by Crown Group are available for inspection seven-days-a-week from 10am - 4pm.
For more information please visit <a href="https://www.crowngroup.com.au" target="_blank">www.crowngroup.com.au</a>.
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Parramatta’s V by Crown Group opens second display suite

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House and land packages at Sovereign Pocket, Deebing Heights, 10 minutes from Ipswich CBD, are on the market from between $150,900-$472,900.
The Stockland development has a range of land sizes available over 700sqm.
Surrounded by homes built by Queensland’s best builders residents will be able to enjoy the central park, its play equipment and BBQ facilities.
Great shopping and public transport are just around the corner.
Six homes, such as the one above, have already been built and are available on the on-site display village.
One home, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-deebing+heights-124362482" target="_blank">50 Currawong St Deebing Heights</a> (above), is built by Bold and is on 498 sqm. It is on the market for $449,000.
Lot 557, Gem 138, is a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-deebing+heights-124886890" target="_blank">three bedroom home</a> (below) on 280sqm and is on the market for $328,917.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/3/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-03%20at%208.15.17%20AM.png" alt="">
CorelLogic estimate the median price of a home in Deebing Heights in 2016 was $385,000.
For more information, <a href="https://www.stockland.com.au/residential/qld/sovereign-pocket/life-at-sovereign-pocket" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Affordable house and land in Deebing Heights now available

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Former Brisbane Lion triple premiership captain Michael Voss and wife Donna are selling their Coorparoo home, Nu Haven.
The couple paid $2.55 million for the five bedroom family entertainer in 2009 when Voss took over as head coach at the Lions.
The residence on a 1303 square metre corner parcel is designed in a U shape, focused around a swimming pool.
A grand entertaining space with a wood fireplace, arched French windows and a chandelier overlook the manicured front gardens.
The master suite includes a lounge and bar area, dressing room, ensuite and private deck.
It became a $1,200 a week rental at the end of 2015.
The home goes to auction March 23 through Place Bulimba agents James Curtain and Warren Walsh.
Voss, the 1996 Brownlow Medal winner, had a disappointing four years at the helm of Brisbane, then returning to AFL coaching as Port Adelaide's midfield manager.
He now lives in Glenelg in a $1,200 a week rental.
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian.
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Lions legend Michael Voss lists Coorparoo home

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The results of The Wealth Report Attitudes Survey, which this year are based on responses from almost 900 of the world’s leading private bankers and wealth managers, offer an window on the issues that are influencing UHNWI investment and lifestyle decisions, according to Knight Frank’s latest report.
According to the Attitudes Survey, only 15 percent of UHNWIs use private aviation for the majority of their business and personal flights.
However, the pattern varies widely around the world.
Latin America’s wealthy residents, perhaps worried about the risk of kidnapping, are the biggest users, with 40 percent opting to go private.
Just 4 percent of Australasian UHNWIs regularly choose to take a private jet, and in Asia their usage still lags behind the region’s rapid rise in wealth creation – only 9 percent of UHNWIs routinely travel on non-commercial flights.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/1/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-01%20at%201.26.30%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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In-depth data supplied by industry analysts JETNET and WINGX, confirm these broad patterns, but also reveal some striking emerging trends.
While the US (12,717), Mexico (950) and Brazil (786) are the top three nations by some margin when it comes to fleet size, JETNET’s figures show numbers are rising fast in Asia.
Hong Kong (+535 percent), Taiwan (+367 percent), China (+347 percent) and Macau (+300 percent) all feature in the top 10 list of locations where growth has been fastest over the past 10 years. China, with 277 jets, now claims eighth position in overall ownership levels.
In terms of flight numbers America dominates – over 75 percent of the world’s 1,000 busiest routes are within the US.
“Business aviation is deeply embedded as a complement to and in some cases a replacement for scheduled airline services,” says Richard Koe, Managing Director of WINGX.
“It wouldn’t be unusual for a firm with a turnover of US$50m to have its own plane,” confirms Hardy Sohanpal of international operator Global Jet Concept.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/1/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-01%20at%201.26.43%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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As our data shows, geopolitics can have a major impact on private aviation. Traffic between Cuba and the US, for example, has taken off sharply since 2012, while the opposite is true of flights between Russia and Ukraine.
Looking ahead, the Chinese market is set to see strong growth, says Mr Koe.
“The government is starting to see the importance of business jets as a competitive tool to support corporations in pursuit of regional trade opportunities.”
There is also the potential for growth in the US depending on how the new administration’s policies play out, adds Mr Sohanpal.
“We have had a number of enquiries recently from construction and finance companies.”
But growth in Latin America is likely to be more muted, particularly in oil-dependent countries like Venezuela, he notes.
“There are a lot of aircraft being put up for sale at the moment and now is the perfect opportunity to trade up or buy first time.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/1/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-01%20at%201.26.58%20pm.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/1/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-01%20at%201.26.58%20pm.png" alt="">
Globally, however, private jet numbers are likely to rise as the desire to travel efficiently with maximum privacy becomes more of a priority for corporations and private individuals, says Mr Sohanpal.
“The introduction of new apps and charter models that are competing to become the Uber of the airways is also likely to attract those who shuttle frequently between cities travelling first or business class.”
Definition: UHNWI: Ultra-high-net-worth individual – someone with a net worth of over US$30m excluding their primary residence and HNWI: High-net-worth individual – someone with a net worth of over US$1m excluding their primary residence.
 
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Private jet numbers likely to soar for corporations and private individuals: Knight Frank

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Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), in collaboration with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) today released a report revealing top tier female managers in Australian organisations earn on average $93,000, or 26.5 percent, less per year compared to their male counterparts.
Gender Equity Insights 2017: Inside Australia’s Gender Pay Gap, the second in the BCEC|WGEA Gender Equity Insights series, also outlines a measurable link between a gender-balanced leadership team and reduced gender pay gaps.
The analysis of WGEA’s world leading data by the BCEC explores gender pay gaps across over 12,000 reporting organisations that capture more than 4 million Australian employees.
The report explores how gender pay gaps vary across industries and occupations, and also includes special investigations on gender pay gaps for graduate program participants, workforce gender segregation and the impact of changing the gender balance in senior leadership over time.
Key findings of the report include: 
<ul>
<li>Increasing the representation of women in senior leadership positions is associated with lowering gender pay gaps.</li>
<li>Gender pay gaps for organisations with a balanced representation of women in senior leadership roles, at 10 per cent on average, are half the size of those with the least representation of women in leadership.</li>
<li>Once the management environment becomes heavily dominated by women – beyond 80 per cent, the gender pay gap among mangers increases from 8 to 17 per cent.</li>
<li>The median gender pay gap among graduates is 2.9 per cent on base salary and 2.1 per cent on total remuneration.</li>
<li>Women are consistently under-represented in the highest graduate salary bands, with some 18 per cent fewer women paid over $80,000 compared to their share of the graduate workforce.</li>
<li>For part time employees, non-managerial women out-earn men on average by 7.8 per cent, or around $4,000 a year. This pattern reverses at senior levels where part-time female managers earn on average 27.1 per cent less than their male peers.</li>
<li>Mining, Australia’s most male-dominated industry, awards the highest average pay to women. Women employed full-time in the industry earned on average $139,053 in total remuneration in 2015-16.</li>
<li>The gender pay gap grows with seniority, climbing to 26.5 per cent for top-tier managers, an annual difference of more than $93,000 in total remuneration.</li>
<li>Pay gaps among managers are exacerbated by the greater share of discretionary pay, including bonuses, awarded to men. For top-tier managers, nearly $40,000 of the annual difference in pay is made up of additional remuneration including bonuses.</li>
</ul>
Report author and BCEC Principal Research Fellow Associate Professor Rebecca Cassells said the report outcomes were a stark indicator of the different ways women and men engaged with the workforce, and how their respective contributions are valued.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/02/Chart-1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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“Not only do female-dominated organisations tend to be lower paid, but this analysis shows that in workplaces with heavily female-dominated management teams there are large gender pay gaps in favour of men,” Associate Professor Cassells said.
“It seems that where the men are few, they are more highly valued.”
Report co-author and BCEC Director Professor Alan Duncan said the findings present some of the strongest empirical evidence to date that improved gender pay outcomes are driven by companies promoting greater gender equity in senior leadership roles.
“Organisations that increased the share of women in executive leadership roles by more than 10 per cent between 2015 and 2016 recorded a reduction in the organisation-wide gender pay gap of 3 percentage points over the course of a single year,” Professor Duncan said.
WGEA Director Ms Libby Lyons said it was time to challenge the way we think about work. 
“This report shows that regardless of the industry they choose to work in, women are worse off than men when working full-time,” Ms Lyons said.
“The analysis is clear, gender-balanced workplaces and gender balanced leadership teams lower the gender pay gap.
“We must address the stereotypes dictating the work women and men ‘should’ do, if Australia is to meet the social and economic challenges in the decades ahead.”
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Gender pay imbalance in real estate industry one of the highest

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The movement of private wealth across the world is critical in driving the performance of asset markets and, in particular, property, according to Knight Frank’s latest Wealth Report.
Some movements in wealth take the form of temporary investments while others, like migration, are more permanent.
And as these shifts grow in both frequency and magnitude, so too do their impacts and the extent of the reaction to them.
As with most global trends these days, if you want to understand the scale of wealth flows there is no better place to start than China, where a heady mix of stellar wealth creation and political and economic volatility has led to rising capital movement.
Capital outflows from China have been a constant since early 2014, prompted by a slowdown in the domestic economy, instability in local asset markets, a desire for diversification and the need for a hedge against depreciation as China sells dollars to support the yuan.
Property remains a substantial target for this outbound capital.
This is borne out by the findings of The Wealth Report Attitudes Survey, which confirm that 32% of UHNWIs will invest in offshore real estate in the next two years.
Chinese investment in US residential property, for example, has risen from barely US$300m in 2006 to over US$30bn in 2015, and now accounts for nearly one in every five foreign purchases.
As money moves at a faster rate, so government efforts to control its movement also gain momentum.
Once again, by way of illustration we need look no further than China where wealthy investors – officially limited to US$50,000 a year in offshore transfers – have become adept at maximising opportunities for converting money into other currencies.
The Chinese government reacted in 2016 by regulating access to casinos in Macau, a classic route for moving money, and limiting credit for card- holders travelling abroad.
In 2017 the authorities went further by tightening the rules regarding acceptable investments for offshore transfers – with property explicitly excluded.
Further restrictions seem likely, either formally via policy announcements, or informally through administrative processing.
But China is not unique in its efforts to restrict movement. Examples abound.
Foreign companies with direct property holdings in Russia are now obliged to file details with the authorities.
Since the start of 2016, Brazil has required the identification of natural persons who are the ultimate beneficial owners of newly registered entities.
And, as The Wealth Report went to press, the UK government was consulting on similar moves for foreign companies, mirroring rules introduced in 2016 for UK registered companies.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/1/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-01%20at%201.07.39%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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This growth in regulatory activity based on understanding where private wealth sits globally will surge further in 2017, ahead of the introduction of the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard (CRS).
The CRS is set to have a critical impact on wealth migration, heralding as it does the sharing of unprecedented amounts of financial data on foreign citizens between governments.
As we explore overleaf, this new reality is raising some searching questions on data and personal security and even potential investment and residency patterns.
Even money already held in offshore centres is not immune from greater oversight.
These are significant wealth pools: at the end of 2016, the store of private wealth held in offshore financial centres totalled around US$10 trillion.
Although only 1% and 6% of private wealth from the US and UK respectively is held in these centres, for the Middle East and Latin America the total is closer to 25%.
While the rate of growth in wealth held in centres such as Hong Kong and Singapore has averaged 10% annually in recent years, a rash of tax amnesties in preparation for CRS is persuading some investors to repatriate funds.
The Indonesian tax authorities’ amnesty on undeclared tax liabilities arising from foreign assets ran from July 2016 until March 2017, and is predicted to result in an outflow from Singapore in particular.
The Greek government has put forward plans for a tax amnesty covering funds held in Switzerland which would tax, legitimise and potentially lead to the repatriation of hitherto undeclared funds.
The Greek proposal comes in the wake of a similar amnesty announced by Italy in 2015, and is intended to discourage the flow of funds from Switzerland to other offshore jurisdictions ahead of the introduction of the CRS.
The past 12 months have also seen a rash of new rules that aim to control the destination of investment flows.
Three Australian states – Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland – have introduced an additional stamp duty surcharge for foreign buyers of residential property, in addition to the new 10% withholding tax on sales by foreign residents of high-value Australian property.
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Elsewhere, we see a new capital gains tax for short-term property investments in New Zealand, the additional rate of stamp duty on high-value property purchases in the UK, and a new empty homes tax in Vancouver.
Clearly, the expansion of so-called “cooling measures” designed to control international wealth flows into property shows no sign of easing.
As The Wealth Report confirmed in 2016, migration of wealth can also take more enduring forms, with 16% of UHNWIs considering a permanent move overseas.
The latest data from Henley &amp; Partners indicates that the world’s wealthy spend over US$2.4bn each year acquiring new nationalities.
Demand is highest from China, Russia and the Middle East, with around four-fifths of US EB-5 visas going to Chinese nationals.
The cost varies considerably, from a few hundred thousand dollars in some Caribbean islands to US$1m and more for citizenship in Cyprus and other European locations.
In the context of continued rising demand for overseas property, the fact that such schemes offer property as an investment route is a powerful draw.
Even here though, pressure from regulators is for rule change to reduce or even prohibit demand for property altogether (see reforms in the UK and Singapore by way of example).
Inevitably, this will have a dampening effect on demand for these particular schemes.
The overriding impression left by any analysis of global wealth flows is one of flux.
Nevertheless, there are two constants: first, ever growing demand from the wealthy to move their money into safe havens; and second, the corresponding determination of governments to exercise control over that process.
Evidence to date suggests that while wealth flows can successfully be corralled and redirected, they will not be curbed.
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Movement of wealth becoming crucial in the property market: Knight Frank

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The value of the world’s leading prime residential markets recorded slower growth in 2016, according to Knight Frank’s unique Prime International Residential Index (PIRI), which tracks the value of luxury homes in 100 key locations worldwide.
On average, values rose by 1.4 percent in 2016, compared with 1.8 percent in 2015.
However, the PIRI 100 also reveals a huge gap of 49 percentage points between the top and bottom ranking, up from 45 in 2015.
The top tier is dominated by cities in China, New Zealand, Canada and Australia, while oil-dependent markets such as Moscow and Lagos bring up the rear.
Of the locations tracked by PIRI, 61 percent recorded flat or rising prices in 2016, down from 66 percent the year before.
Along with the slight drop in average price growth already noted, this suggests a marginal slowdown in the performance of global luxury residential markets.
That said, there are several outstanding performers that will raise an eyebrow among even the most experienced investors.
China’s cities have catapulted themselves up our rankings with Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou claiming the top three slots, all exceeding 26 percent year-on-year growth.
Last year’s front-runner, Vancouver, was once again a top performer, but it was a year of two halves for Canada’s third most populous city.
Sales volumes grew ever higher leading up to the summer, before cooling off and then retreating after British Columbia imposed a 15 percent tax on foreign buyers in August.
Prime prices ended the year 15 percent higher, notably lower than the 25 percent increase recorded in 2015.
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London, where many of the world’s super-rich have a home, slipped down the PIRI rankings with prime prices declining by 6.3 percent year-on-year.
The data shows it was the 3 percent hike in stamp duty for additional homes, introduced in April 2016, rather than the UK’s decision to leave the EU that helped to rein in demand.
But the tail end of 2016 saw an uptick in sales volumes and improved sentiment as the market readjusted to the new tax burden.
And what of the world’s other big-hitting financial hubs? New York had its challenges in 2016.
The strong US dollar negated some overseas interest and the delivery of a large number of new luxury projects helped inflate supply. But while volumes slowed, prices proved resilient.
With President Trump expected to embark on a programme of fiscal stimulus, reduced regulation and infrastructure investment, there is potential for stronger growth in 2017.
For its part, Hong Kong, which has languished in the bottom half of our PIRI rankings since 2014, has started to drift upwards, recording annual growth of 2.1 percent in 2016.
The increase would be higher were it not for the extension of a 15 percent rate of stamp duty that now brings Hong Kong residents (who previously paid 8.5 percent) in line with non-residents.
This latest tax change is just one of a raft of measures introduced since 2010 to keep a lid on price inflation in one of the world’s least affordable housing markets.
Given Hong Kong’s currency peg to the US dollar, some further relief may be proffered by the Federal Reserve if it restarts its rate-lifting campaign in 2017.
However, it will have to go some way to counter the demand from buyers based in mainland China, eager to hold a US dollar-linked asset.
Over the coming months, all eyes will be on policymakers in China as they attempt to reign in prices in the largest cities.
The wider mainstream market, where price growth of 30 percent year-on-year is not uncommon, continues to overshadow the luxury sector.
New cooling measures, including higher deposit rates and home purchase restrictions, have already been introduced in some cities in the hope of both slowing the rate of growth and deterring speculative demand.
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By the final quarter of 2016, these were beginning to take effect.
While some of our strongest performers, such as Auckland, Sydney and Berlin, appear to have become permanent fixtures at the top of the rankings, a number of our newer prime movers, such as Guangzhou, Seattle and Amsterdam, can attribute their sudden ascent to the fact that their prime prices are rising from a low base.
Guangzhou, for example, now finds itself sitting alongside Shanghai in the rankings, having recorded 27 percent annual price growth.
Yet in real terms, prime prices here are half those found in China’s financial capital. Seattle and Amsterdam are also rising from a low base, but in both cases this can be considered a price correction following falls of 29 percent and 18 percent respectively post-Lehman.
Meanwhile, Europe continues to send out mixed messages. Of those locations recording a fall in prices in 2016, 50 percent were located in Europe.
A year earlier this figure was 65 percent, suggesting that the continent’s recovery is gaining traction. Amsterdam, Gstaad, Munich, Berlin and Barcelona were Europe’s top performers in 2016, but second home markets such as Ibiza, Mallorca, the Western Algarve and Lake Como also rose up the rankings.
A breakdown of the PIRI 100 by world region shows that Australasia (+11.4 percent), Asia (+5.1 percent) and North America (+4.5 percent) are the key engines of growth.
Europe and the Caribbean sit firmly “mid table”, recording moderate shifts of 0.5 percent and -0.3 percent respectively. Latin America (-2.7 percent), the Middle East (-3.3 percent), Africa (-3.4 percent) and Russia/CIS (-5.5 percent) all recorded negative growth, due to a combination of weak currencies, slowing economies, rising inflation, low oil prices and growing political risk.
Wealth creation and resulting cross-border flows have continued to shape prime property markets in 2016, with security concerns, currency movements, education and even healthcare also emerging as influential market drivers.
However, this year’s PIRI results highlight two key points.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/1/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-01%20at%202.25.42%20pm.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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First, local economic activity has a strong bearing on price performance (all of this year’s top 10 rankings report 3 percent or more in annual GDP growth).
And second, economic growth is firmly concentrated in the world’s cities (22 of the top 25 PIRI rankings are occupied by cities).
A breakdown of the PIRI results by property type also confirms this latter point.
Based on results from 2016, the value of a city-based luxury home increased by 2.4 percent on average, a ski home by comparison saw 1.9 percent growth, and a beach or coastal property slipped marginally by 0.5 percent.
The long-held “safe haven” narrative still has its place, but with strong capital growth eluding the world’s top financial capitals, we expect secondary markets across Europe and the US to come under the spotlight.
Cities that offer the potential for attractive margins, where prices are rising from a low base and where any risk is tempered by a level of transparency and good governance (Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Dublin, Chicago and Seattle) look likely to perform well.
Definition: UHNWI: Ultra-high-net-worth individual – someone with a net worth of over US$30m excluding their primary residence and HNWI: High-net-worth individual – someone with a net worth of over US$1m excluding their primary residence.
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Sydney out of top 10 leading prime residential markets: Knight Frank Wealth Report

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

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Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Joel Robinson

Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

As apartment buyers increasingly look beyond the four walls of their residence, the quality and depth of shared amenity has become a defining factor in how developments are designed and experienced, particularly in the high-rise, new apartment development space.

In Southbank, where high-density living continues to evolve, developers are placing greater emphasis on creating environments that support wellbeing, connection, and convenience as part of everyday life.

That approach sits at the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">AURA</a>, the latest residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a>’s $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct. Rising 67 storeys above Hoff Boulevard, the 673-apartment development has been conceived around what OSK describes as a “vertical wellness ecosystem”, a layered collection of amenities that extends throughout the building rather than being confined to a single podium level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370263]

The amenity offering begins on the seventh level within the AURA Club, a dedicated resident hub focused on health, relaxation, and daily convenience. Here, residents will have access to an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, spa, sauna, and steam room, alongside a fully equipped gym, reformer Pilates studio, and yoga room.

The wellness facilities are complemented by a range of spaces that acknowledge the changing ways people live and work. Work-from-home lounges and co-working areas sit alongside a library, music room, games room, cinema facilities, and open-air terrace spaces, providing residents with flexible environments that can adapt throughout the day.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367468]

Beyond the internal amenity, AURA introduces a series of Japanese-inspired gardens that form a quieter counterpoint to the tower’s social spaces.

Landscaped retreats feature curated outdoor dining, tranquil courtyard seating, fire pit, and a tea house pavilion. Rather than functioning as simple recreational areas, the gardens have been designed as places for reflection and informal gathering, drawing on principles of balance, nature, and calm that underpin the project's broader design philosophy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367810]

The social amenity continues to evolve as residents move higher through the building. Levels 49 and 50 house the Meridian Club, where a lounge bar, conservatory spaces, and private dining rooms take advantage of elevated city views. At the summit of the tower, the exclusive Cumulus Club spans Levels 66 and 67, offering additional lounges, private dining, and meditation and treatment rooms positioned above Melbourne’s skyline.

For OSK Property, the extensive amenity offering reflects a broader focus on wellbeing as a core component of apartment living rather than an added feature.

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank,” says OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367796]

AURA’s amenity strategy extends beyond the tower itself through its integration with the wider Melbourne Square precinct.

Residents will have direct access to Kennedy Park, Southbank’s 3,745 sqm landscaped public park, alongside a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare centre, hospitality venues, and approximately 1,600 sqm of additional retail planned within AURA’s lower levels. Together, these elements create a highly connected residential environment where daily needs, recreation, and wellness are woven into the fabric of the community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370253]

As Melbourne’s apartment market continues to mature, developments are increasingly judged by the lifestyle they provide beyond individual residences.

Through its combination of wellness facilities, landscaped retreats, social clubs, and precinct-wide amenity, AURA represents a shift toward a more comprehensive model of vertical living, one where shared spaces play as significant a role as the homes themselves.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151921]

AURA elevates amenity living at Melbourne Square

Builder-developer Scion is the latest to target Sydney's booming Hills Showground Metro precinct, filing plans for more than 100 apartments within walking distance of the station.

Scion has lodged a concurrent rezoning and State Significant Development Application for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/27-33-middleton-avenue-castle-hill-nsw-2154">27–33 Middleton Avenue</a>, where it plans to replace four existing homes with an 11 and 14-storey mixed-use development comprising 109 apartments, six affordable housing dwellings, and a ground-floor café.

Designed by BHK Architects, the proposal includes three levels of basement parking with 174 spaces, more than 1,200 sqm of communal open space, and extensive landscaping across the 3,791 sqm site.

The development has been designed as two buildings connected by a recessed wintergarden spine, with the 14-storey building positioned to the south and the 11-storey building to the north.

<img alt="Scion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64dc359d-736b-43b8-87a8-70a8285cab47" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-25%20at%208.47.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PXh.m8id_aevBPHEckPf88wQ2RQThPos" />

The apartment mix has been weighted towards owner-occupiers, with 13 one-bedroom apartments, 55 two-bedroom residences, 31 three-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom lofts, and four four-bedroom homes. Six apartments will be dedicated as affordable housing in line with the NSW Housing SEPP.

According to the Architectural Design Report by BKH, the proposal seeks to create "a place-responsive architecture" inspired by the natural landscape surrounding Cattai Creek, while strengthening the public domain through landscaping, active frontages and a neighbourhood café.

Atlas Urban, in its Urban Design Report, says the proposal takes a different approach to increasing density around Hills Showground Station by favouring a more slender, vertically articulated built form over a conventional mid-rise outcome. The report argues this allows for greater deep soil planting, improved solar access and a better public domain outcome, while still delivering additional housing close to rapid public transport.

The site sits around 500 metres from Hills Showground Metro Station, within a precinct earmarked for significant residential intensification following the opening of the Sydney Metro Northwest line. Planning documents accompanying the application note that Greater Sydney's population has grown by more than one million people since planning for the precinct first began, reinforcing the need to accelerate housing delivery around existing transport infrastructure.

Scion is expanding its development pipeline which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/chatham-west-ryde-2-6-chatham-road-west-ryde-nsw-2114">Chatham in West Ryde</a>, 62 apartments which are approaching completion. They also have a State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/96-anzac-avenue-west-ryde-nsw-2114">145 apartments on Anzac Avenue</a>, also in West Ryde.

First look: Scion plots Castle Hill apartment development near Hills Showground Metro Station

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>&nbsp;has unveiled its scaled-back plans for a pair of towers rising up to 49 storeys directly opposite Bella Vista Metro Station.

The builder-developer will deliver 674 apartments and a new mixed-use hub at the gateway to the station precinct.

The State Significant Development Application has been lodged under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway for the 6,979 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-11-mawson-avenue-bella-vista-nsw-2153">9-11 Mawson Avenue</a>, with the apartments sitting above a mixed-use podium. Initial plans were for closer to 900 apartments across two 40-storey towers.

Located around 30 metres from the Bella Vista Metro Station entrance, the development is intended to act as a catalyst for the long-planned Bella Vista Station Precinct, transforming a vacant site into a transit-oriented residential and commercial destination.

Planning documents describe the project as delivering "a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21c08216-589e-490d-ad08-2d88b6fa62d9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20podium.png?VersionId=3TnwjjQCNwTsmyQRaWnFrLTSAF0CJeka" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, the project comprises 674 apartments, including 102 affordable housing dwellings representing 15 per cent of the residential floor space. The housing mix spans studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of townhouse-style residences integrated into the podium levels. The development also includes specialist disability accommodation and an elevated provision of adaptable and liveable housing.

The mixed-use podium has been designed to create an active urban centre around the Metro station, incorporating a 1,423 sqm supermarket, a 3,029 sqm gym, specialty retail spaces, a 100-place childcare centre and a publicly accessible "city room" community space. A secondary laneway, active frontages and landscaped public areas are intended to improve pedestrian connectivity through the site and strengthen links between the station precinct and surrounding neighbourhood.

In the project's design report, Turner said the proposal responds to Bella Vista's emerging role as a higher-density centre within Sydney's north-west growth corridor.

"The project transforms a strategically located site into a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting," the report states.

"Active frontages, a publicly accessible city room, a secondary laneway and a mix of uses including a local supermarket, child care centre and gym create a more complete and socially useful urban environment for residents, workers and the wider community."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fde6220-82de-4f6a-9b63-d0fd8157acc9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20da.png?VersionId=7hEmuSutH8plTd_RqqdmPu055F6qe554" />

Urban Property Group has been one of the busiest developers across Greater Sydney this year.

The developer is progressing around 1,000 apartments across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-urban-property-group-plans-next-major-wollongong-tower">two projects in Wollongong</a>, with several thousand more homes in the pipeline across Newcastle, Castle Hill, Little Bay and Penrith.

First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station

Burwood's southern town centre precinct is set for another major injection of housing, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/holdmark-property-group">Holdmark</a> unveiling plans for three mixed-use towers containing 900 apartments above new retail and commercial space.

The State Significant Development Application covers a consolidated 10,265 sqm site at 36-46 George Street and 16-26 Elsie Street, immediately south of Burwood's commercial core and within walking distance of Burwood Station, Westfield and Burwood Park.

The proposal comprises <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/36-46-elsie-street-burwood-nsw-2134">three mixed-use towers</a> ranging between 32 and 43 storeys.

<img alt="First look: Holdmark unveils 900-home mixed-use precinct for Burwood town centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84b90b18-a54c-426d-885b-6f205bc2b883" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/burwood%20da1.png?VersionId=cJrb7Snn7qNpRzgXBOXK13PKF2CK021Z" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/studiosc">Studio.SC</a>, the scheme is positioned as a significant extension of Burwood's evolving high-density centre. The project would be delivered across two interconnected development parcels, replacing existing commercial buildings and creating a new pedestrian-focused precinct linking George Street, John Street, Elsie Street and Railway Crescent.&nbsp;

The design report describes the proposal as "a contemporary response to this evolving urban condition," adding that it seeks to "reinforce George Street's role as a human-scaled, active street while contributing to the broader rhythm and grain of the town centre."

The development features a mix of residential, commercial and retail uses, with activated ground-floor frontages intended to strengthen pedestrian connections between Burwood Station, Burwood Place, Westfield and the wider town centre.&nbsp;

The proposal also incorporates extensive communal facilities, landscaped open space and new through-site links designed to encourage public movement across the precinct.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Holdmark unveils 900-home mixed-use precinct for Burwood town centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="89a6bccc-b78b-4a97-a49f-cac1761f34b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/burwood%20podium%20a.png?VersionId=6HBYg_pKxAc3yCND_wDKZmfMfzfneHmz" />

Studio.SC said the project draws inspiration from Burwood Park and the area's mature tree canopy, with "warm, earthy tones and robust materials such as brick and sculpted concrete" used to anchor the buildings within their urban context.

The scale of the proposal reflects Burwood's growing role as one of Sydney's key metropolitan centres. Planning documents note the suburb's strong population growth, high apartment living rates and increasing transport accessibility, particularly with the future Burwood North Metro station expected to further strengthen the area's connectivity. The development is designed to capitalise on those transport links while introducing a substantial amount of new housing stock into the town centre.

Burwood is expected to see a development boom, with the NSW Government rezoning the Burwood North Metro Precinct, a move expected to deliver around 15,000 new homes surrounding the new station.

Earlier this month, Nascon lodged plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-nascon-targets-burwood-growth-corridor-with-112-unit-apartment-tower">100-apartment development on the edge of the town centre</a>.

Holdmark's broader portfolio includes plans for nearly 800 new homes at Macquarie Park, currently before the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority. The developer is also behind a significant portion of the Melrose Park masterplanned redevelopment, as well as the former Caddens Corner drive-in site, where around 500 homes are planned.

Staff reporter

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