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EXPERT INSIGHT

This year will deliver a nationwide property boom. I have few doubts about that and my confidence is strengthened by the number of commentators who are now forecasting a year of strong growth. It’s not often we see all kinds of analysts agreeing about what will happen with property prices.

It’s even rarer for economists to publish optimistic predictions. Even the major bank economists are bullish about real estate this year. Pretty much everyone with a public view about the direction of real estate markets – economists, media columnists, various attention-seekers and genuine real estate analysts – have been unanimous in tipping substantial price growth in 2021.

Perhaps the only point of difference among the pundits is how much. But many of them are expecting double-digit increases in median prices. It’s not so long ago that major media, fueled by pessimistic economists, was strident in declaring an impending collapse in property values. The housing market proved the naysayers wrong: 2020 was the best possible advertisement for residential property as an asset class, as most markets delivered growth in defiance of the pandemic.

The latest figures from CoreLogic suggest that all capital cities except Melbourne had price growth in 2020, with Canberra, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart all rising between 6% and 9%. Sydney (up 4%), Brisbane (4.6%) and Perth (2%) all recorded moderate growth in their house prices, in a year when most of the nation’s cities defied the pandemic and its negative economic impacts. That’s a commendable performance but the capital cities were out-done by many of the regional markets.

House prices rose 12% in Regional Tasmania (compared to 7.7% in Hobart), 8.8% in Regional NSW (compared to 4% in Sydney), 7.8% in Regional South Australia (compared to 6% in Adelaide), 7.3% in Regional Queensland (compared to 4.6% in Brisbane) and 5.5% in Regional Victoria (compared to a 2% decline in Melbourne). Unit markets also did well in the regions, with price increases headed by South Australia (up 11.7%) and Tasmania (up 10.5%). NSW, Victoria and Queensland all recorded unit price rises between 5.5% and 6.5% in the regional areas.

The only regional market to record price decline was Western Australia, which dropped both for houses and for units. These figures show that the momentum for a national property boom is already building and indeed that some markets are already surging strongly. The infrastructure-led economic recovery planned by federal and state government will add to that impetus. Few things generate momentum in residential property markets like big spending on new infrastructure and politicians have shown they are willing to put their budgets into debt to fast-track projects that are shovel-ready or close to it. Another big factor likely to put upward pressure on prices is the level of vacancy rates around Australia.

Outside of the inner-city areas, vacancies are very low in most locations and in some they are so low it represents a rental market crisis. The upward pressure on rentals is considerable, particularly when prospective tenants are offering more than the asking price to secure properties ahead of the competition.

A further factor to consider is that the growth achieved in 2020 occurred without much involvement from investors. First-home buyers and other owner-occupiers have dominated – but there are signs this is changing. I expect investors – who, as a cohort, tend to react to market trends rather than lead them – to be a lot more prominent this year and that will further turbocharge property prices. Outside of those inner-city areas, it’s a great time to be a landlord.

Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au ryder@hotspotting.com.au twitter.com/hotspotting
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A factor to consider is that the growth achieved in 2020 occurred without much involvement from investors, first-home buyers and other owner-occupiers have dominated 

terryryder

2021 will see a nationwide Australian property boom: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER

The greatest fiction generated in mainstream media in 2020 is that prices have risen because we have record low interest rates.

In March/April economists and others were lining up to predict a collapse in residential property values because of the pandemic impact. Some forecast price decline as large as 20% to 30%.

Four or five months later, the usual suspects were lining up again to “revise” their forecasts. They were forced to admit they got it wrong and were now predicting much more bullish outcomes for dwelling values. Some of the bank economists are now expecting boom-level price growth in 2021.

Asked to explain why prices have held up so well, the standard answer is “record low interest rates” - a response that shows how little they know about house markets. We entered the pandemic period with record low interest rates and very little has changed.

Those who have recently explained everything real estate with the cheap cost of finance include AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver, Domain analyst Nicola Powell, Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, ABC business editor Ian Verrender, NAB chief economist Alan Oster and economists speaking on behalf of ANZ, Westpac and the CBA.

The “record low interest rates” rationale is the go-to response for pontificators who have limited knowledge of residential property dynamics.

When Sydney and Melbourne were having their price booms from 2013 to 2017, the standard explanation from economists was “record low interest rates”. They were unable to explain why prices were falling at the same time in Perth and Darwin, and stagnating in other capital cities like Brisbane and Adelaide.

Record low interest rates were still very much in place when the two biggest cities experienced their post-boom correction, with prices falling in 2018 and the first half of 2019.

When markets generally picked up in the second half of 2019, economists again rolled out their interest-rates arguments, ignoring the impact of the multiple other events that jointly had a huge impact, including the Federal Election result, the relaxation of lending rules by APRA and the announcement of tax cuts.

So now we have most markets rising, regardless of the pandemic-induced short recession, and record-low interest rates are again the standard answer. But little had changed with mortgage rates - the RBA has shaved a miniscule 0.15 of a percentage point off the official cash rate, but this hasn’t had any noticeable impact on the mortgage rates that typical home owners and investors are paying.

And it beggars belief that Australian consumers have only recently noticed that finance is cheap. It’s been the case for years.

I would also point out that the last two times Australia had genuine nationwide property booms - in the late 1980s and in the early year of this century - on both occasions mortgage rates were high and rising.

History shows we’re more likely to have a genuine national boom in periods when rates are high, because it means the economy is booming, consumers are spending and the people who pull the levers are trying to dampen things down (and usually not succeeding) by lifting the official interest rate.

In the late 1980s and during the 2001-02-03 boom, they kept putting up interest rates and the property booms raged on.

Right now interest rates are low because the economy is struggling - a time when people are less likely to be bullish and spending big on real estate.

So, given that interest rates are clearly not an acceptable explanation, why have property markets held up so well in 2020?

As with all things in real estate, there are many different factors working in unison.

The national economy was been stronger than predicted. The recession was muted and lasted only one quarter. Unemployment did not go into double digits as economists predicted. More importantly, many local economies have been strong through the pandemic period.

With the exception of Melbourne, most of the nation got the virus under control early and it’s been busy as usual, apart from the closure of state borders.

Many Australians have sought the safety and solidity of bricks and mortar. Various surveys have shown that consumers have rated residential real estate highly as an asset class in 2020 – and it has not disappointed them.

Government stimulus measures and support from lenders has made a big difference. Support was not switched off at the end of September (economists got that prediction wrong as well) and continues to have an impact.

First-home buyers have been highly active, boosted by record levels of government aid.

Vacancy rates are ultra-low in most locations, putting upward pressure on rents and prices.

The Exodus to Affordable Lifestyle, the most powerful trend estate rend this century, is driving strong demand in regional markets and the smaller capital cities.

Expats returning home to the relative safety of Australia have more than compensated for the absence of overseas migrants coming into the country.

The combination of all those factors have allowed housing markets to resist the negative forces of the pandemic and to not only survive but thrive in 2020.

It’s put residential real estate in a strong position heading into the New Year.

Stand by for the infrastructure-led property boom in 2021.

Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au

ryder@hotspotting.com.au

twitter.com/hotspotting
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The last two times Australia had genuine nationwide property booms - in the late 1980s and in the early year of this century - on both occasions mortgage rates were high and rising



Record low interest rates not the reason the housing market didn't collapse: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER 
Regional NSW is showing nation-leading strength, with a record number of towns and suburbs recording growth in their sales activity in our new quarterly survey.

A total of 116 locations have rising markets, easily the highest number in the six years that Hotspotting has been conducting its quarterly surveys. The previous best were 70 growth locations in a mid-2018 survey and 77 late in 2019.

The results show evidence of the Exodus to Affordable Lifestyle trend which is sweeping the nation, with growth markets right across the state but most noticeably in locations close to Sydney.

The No.1 market, by a considerable margin, is the Central Coast. As the closest sea change market to Sydney, this market is getting significant uplift from the Exodus trend. There are 17 suburbs with rising sales activity and we expect strong price growth in the near future.

South of Sydney, the Wollongong, Shoalhaven and Shellharbour LGA jointly have 10 suburbs with upwardly-mobile markets.

Hill change markets within striking distance of Sydney are also rising, including the Blue Mountains (where four locations have rising sales activity) and the Southern Highlands (with five towns in the Wingecarribee LGA having upward sales momentum – refer below for data on price growth).

The Queanbeyan-Palerang LGA just outside Canberra is also thriving – it has five locations with rising sales activity. Nearby Goulburn is also a growth market.

The data for Newcastle is somewhat muted – it has only five growth suburbs, which is a small number for a city of its size in the current circumstances.

But neighbouring municipalities are doing better: Lake Macquarie has six growth suburbs, while Hunter Valley LGAs like Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook jointly have seven growth locations – with the Maitland LGA the standout.

The growth momentum has now spread further afield, with strength evident in markets like Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Armidale, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Albury and Wagga Wagga.

The strategic regional cities of Tamworth and Wagga Wagga both have five suburbs with rising sales activity.

In the Eurobodalla LGA on the state’s south coast, there is growth impetus in Malua Bay, Moruya and Tuross Head.

In terms of price performance, Regional NSW has done well in the past 12 months but in particular in the latest quarter.

Two-thirds of locations across Regional NSW have recorded growth in their median house prices in the past 12 months, but eight out ten have recorded uplift in the most recent quarter.

This indicates that the regional areas of the state have had an uplift in price performance recently, with the Exodus to Affordable Lifestyle a major influence.

The outcomes in annual terms include 67% of locations with apartment markets recording increases in their median unit prices and 65% of locations also having increases in median house prices.

Multiple locations have delivered double-digit increases in their median house prices over the past 12 months.

The Southern Highlands region south of Sydney is a standout. Median prices are up strongly in Bowral (23%), Burradoo (13%) and Mittagong (10%), boosted by the trend of people relocating from the big cities to lifestyle locations.

Parts of the Wollongong market are showing signs of benefiting from the trend, with Bulli up 13% and Thirroul up 18%. The Central Coast is a natural beneficiary also and several suburbs have delivered strong rises, including Umina Beach (10%) and Wyong (15%).

Ballina is also doing well, with annual median price increases in the suburbs of Ballina (15%), East Ballina (10%) and West Ballina (12%). Further north, locations in Tweed Shire are rising, including Kingscliff (12%) and Murwillumbah (10%).

In the far south of the state, the Wagga Wagga region continues to be a strongly-performing market, with median house prices rising in Lake Albert (11%), Mt Austin (11%) and Wagga Wagga (14%).

Growth markets are sprinkled throughout the regional areas of the state and across different price ranges. They include Caves Beach (up 11% to $870,000), Corowa (up 11% to $265,000), Inverell (up 11% to $290,000), Kyogle (up 12% to $300,000), Maitland (up 15% to $460,000), Malua Bay (up 24% to $640,000), South Grafton (up 12% to $280,000), Windradyne (up 11% to $460,000), Yass (up 18% to $500,000) and Young (up 11% to $310,000).

Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au 
ryder@hotspotting.com.au 
twitter.com/hotspotting 
 
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Regional NSW property market showing nation-leading strength: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Terry Ryder

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