The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

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

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

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

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

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help eligible first-time home buyers by offering financial assistance towards the purchase or construction of a new home.

While the FHOG is a nationwide program, it is administered separately by each state and territory, meaning the eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and property requirements can vary depending on your location. This means that the amount available and the conditions attached to the grant will differ, so it is important to check the specific guidelines for your state or territory.

It’s important to note that the FHOG is just one of several incentives available to first home buyers. In most states and territories, the grant is not linked to stamp duty exemptions or concessions, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The FHOG is typically a one-off payment, reducing the overall cost of purchasing or building a new home before any stamp duty concessions are applied.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $600,000. For land purchases and owner-builders, the threshold extends to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. The FHOG applies to new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

&nbsp;

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $750,000 in the southern regions and up to $1 million in the northern regions.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides up to $15,000 for new homes, including houses, apartments, and townhouses. As of 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap for eligibility.

Stamp Duty Relief: Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.

Stamp Duty Exemption: Between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026, first home buyers of established homes valued up to $750,000 receive a full exemption on property transfer duty.

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.

Stamp Duty Exemption: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).

Eligibility criteria and application processes differ across states. Prospective buyers should refer to their respective state revenue offices for full details on grant availability, conditions, and additional concessions.

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable architecture and environmentally conscious design, systems and ratings in place can help determine the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Australia.

Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.

Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.

A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.

As new developments continue to shape the urban environment, understanding NatHERS ratings becomes essential for developers and homeowners. This article delves into the concept of NatHERS ratings, their significance, and how they contribute to creating energy-efficient homes.

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

NatHERS is a national initiative implemented by the Australian government to promote energy efficiency in residential buildings. The scheme aims to provide a standardised method for assessing the thermal performance of homes, considering factors such as insulation, orientation, ventilation, and building materials.&nbsp;

NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;

NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.

The rating helps evaluate the energy performance of buildings, guides homeowners and developers to make informed decisions about the energy efficiency of their properties, and encourages the construction of more sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective homes.

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

NatHERS ratings are determined through four accredited software tools (AccuRate, BERS Pro, FirstRate5, HERO) using a calculation engine CSIRO developed to predict building temperature based on various factors.

The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.

The outcome is a star rating that reflects the building's overall thermal efficiency, indicating how well it can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without excessive reliance on heating or cooling systems.

The star rating scale ranges from 0 to 10, with a 6-star rating being the minimum requirement for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).&nbsp;

Achieving a higher star rating demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, as the building is better equipped to minimise its environmental impact and reduce long-term energy costs.

Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

Energy Efficiency: Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings are more energy-efficient, requiring less heating and cooling energy. This reduces the structure's carbon footprint and lowers occupants' energy bills.

Cost Savings: Homes with higher NatHERS ratings are generally more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. This translates to lower energy bills for homeowners, making sustainable living environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long run.

Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduced environmental impact. Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings contribute to the overall goal of mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.

Improved Comfort: Buildings with high NatHERS ratings offer better thermal comfort to occupants. Proper insulation, well-designed ventilation, and optimal orientation maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, providing occupants with a more enjoyable and healthier space.

Market Value and Desirability: Higher NatHERS ratings can enhance the market value of a property. As energy efficiency becomes a more significant consideration for homebuyers, a well-rated building may attract a premium price and stand out in the real estate market.

Compliance with Building Codes: NatHERS ratings are a vital component of the National Construction Code (NCC), and compliance with these ratings is often a mandatory requirement for new developments. Local councils and planning authorities may set minimum energy efficiency standards that must be met to obtain development approval.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a crucial initiative shaping the future of energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective homes. With its recent upgrades, NatHERS has evolved into a world-leading tool for the building sector, supporting the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Staff Writer

What is a NatHERS rating in new off the plan apartment developments?

Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.

Residential units seamlessly coexist with commercial establishments, retail outlets, dining venues, entertainment hubs, and recreational facilities, with the combination not only enhances convenience but also fosters a vibrant lifestyle and a sense of community.

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

Mixed-use developments are designed with convenience in mind. They often integrate residential units with commercial spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]

The proximity allows residents to enjoy the convenience of having essential amenities and services within walking distance. Whether it's grabbing a cup of coffee, going grocery shopping, or accessing healthcare services, everything is conveniently located, saving residents time and effort.

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

One of the major advantages of mixed-use developments is the vibrant lifestyle they offer. With a diverse range of amenities and communal spaces, residents have ample opportunities to interact, socialise, and build a sense of community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]

The presence of parks, community centres, and shared spaces fosters a lively atmosphere, encouraging residents to engage in various activities and events. The vibrant lifestyle within these developments creates a unique sense of belonging and camaraderie among the residents.

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

Mixed-use developments tend to attract a broad range of tenants and buyers due to their versatile nature. This high demand can result in higher rental yields for investors and potentially lead to property value appreciation over time.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]

The integration of commercial and retail spaces attracts businesses, which can provide a stable rental income stream. Additionally, the popularity of mixed-use developments often drives up property values, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the long term.

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

Mixed-use developments typically have comprehensive security measures in place. With controlled access points, CCTV surveillance, and professional security staff, residents can enjoy enhanced safety and peace of mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

Additionally, these developments often have dedicated maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of common areas, landscaping, and infrastructure. This ensures that the overall appearance and functionality of the development are well-maintained, creating a pleasant living environment for residents.

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

One of the key attractions of mixed-use developments is the ability to achieve a desirable live-work-play balance. The integration of residential and commercial spaces allows residents to live closer to their workplaces, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance.

The proximity to various amenities and recreational facilities encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. Residents can easily access fitness centres, parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, all within the same development, leading to a more fulfilling and convenient way of life.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

The top five reasons to buy in a mixed-use development

When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.

Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.

It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C32BWkB5--c" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

In some circumstances, you may get an exemption. For some states, you won’t have to pay for stamp duty if you are a first home buyer or a pensioner for houses under a particular price. There are also stamp duty concessions, where you may be entitled to a discount.

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

Each state has different rules which affect how much you need to pay. These rules can affect the rate you pay, and the timeframe you will need to pay in. Before you buy land or a property, make sure you check the up-to-date information for your state’s stamp duty.

You can use a free stamp duty calculator online to see approximately how much you’ll need to pay. Find out if you’re eligible for an exemption by enquiring on a project via Urban!

Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1">How much your land/property is worth</li>
	<li aria-level="1">Where your land/property is located</li>
	<li aria-level="1">What type of land/property it is</li>
</ul>

Want to find out more? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanAustralia?utm_source=YouTube&amp;utm_medium=Video&amp;utm_campaign=Subscribe&amp;utm_id=Subscribe">Subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> for more property videos.

Ellen Walker

Off-the-plan property explained: What is stamp duty?

Are mortgage holders set to get a reprieve from the RBA in 2026?

Big Four bank NAB believes so. They are now expecting the next move from the RBA to be a cut, rather than a hike, which they had pencilled in for August. They are unsure of the timing of the cut however, they note in their latest&nbsp;NAB Economics RBA Watch.

NAB Chief Economist, Dr Sally Auld, said recent data suggests the economy has lost momentum and the outlook for rates has shifted, noting that the broader economic backdrop has changed since earlier in the year.

“The next move in the cash rate is likely to be down, but the timing is uncertain," Dr Auld said.

"In February, growth was above trend, the economy was operating above capacity and there was uncertainty over the restrictiveness of rates. None of these conditions exist today,” she outlined.

Dr Auld said recent data pointed to softer momentum across the economy while acknowledging that at the same time, uncertainty remains a key feature of the outlook.

“Both Q1 GDP data and the NAB business survey suggest momentum in the economy has slowed, meaning that growth has likely peaked for the cycle. That said, we are cognisant there is still considerable uncertainty around the outlook, both with respect to activity and inflation.”

Dr Auld said inflation risks and labour market outcomes would be important to watch.

“On the prices side, we are still forecasting above target core inflation through to mid-2027. Margins will compress and weaker labour market outcomes are a risk.”

She said tighter financial conditions are expected to weigh on housing and activity.

“Tighter financial conditions will be reflected in a slowing in house price growth and housing credit growth. In summary, we have greater conviction that the next move in rates is down, but less conviction on the timing.”

Mortgage relief? NAB forecasts RBA rate cut, not hike, after softer economic conditions

<html><body>
Darwin was the weakest capital city for prices in 2017, according to CoreLogic.
CoreLogic's Tim Lawless believes Darwin's housing downturn is "entrenched" given prices have fallen by 21.5 per cent since May 2014.
But there is a silver lining for the Northern Territory capital as the substantial fall in values has pushed Darwin City rental yields higher.
Darwin's rental yields are 5.9 per cent, the highest out of all capital cities.
For Darwin, Lawless noted Darwin values down 6.5 percent during 2017.
Its rental prices were down too - by 1.5% over the year. 
Sales last year where vendors look a loss included a three bedroom, two bathroom 2003 apartment at $375,000. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nt-darwin+city-125224626" target="_blank">The Carey Street apartment </a>had sold in 2005 at $399,000.
The rental estimate was given as $550 to $600 per week for the recently repainted apartment with leafy aspects from all bedrooms and water views from the balcony. It sold through Rhiannon Oakhill and Karl Secondis at One Real Estate after 100 days on the market.
It has council rates of $1,395 per annum and body corporate fees of $2,560 per quarter.
A three bedroom, two bathroom apartment sold at around the same time for $400,000 was quickly snapped up after becoming available at $550 a week rental.
Situated in Vantage Point, with sweeping views across Frances Bay towards Bayview, a seventh floor apartment in White Tower, sold at $395,000, after three years on the market.
 The rent was $650 per week with a DHA lease due to run until June 2017.
It was available for rent in July at $545 a week.
It had sold at $450,000 in 2005, so fell $55,000 in price.
There was a big price drop at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nt-darwin+city-124708002" target="_blank">19/96 Woods Street</a>, when a $450,000 sale was achieved for a 2009-built three bedroom apartment (below).
<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/2018/1/8/darw.jpg" alt="">
It sold off the plan at $466,000 then onsold at $560,000.
The rental asking price was $750 in 2013, then $650 in 2015, and then a $610 asking price in 2016. The selling agent, Stuart Rodda at Territory Real Estate advised the current tenant was paying $560 per week. 
At the prestige end of the market, a 320 sqm penthouse in the Arkaba complex sold for $1.25 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nt-darwin+city-117516567" target="_blank">The 25/13 Esplanade offering</a> had previously sold at $1.7 million in 2009. It had been on and off the market since 2014, at one stage rented out at $1400 a week.
The four bedroom penthouse had body corporate levies of $4,826.25 per quarter. The rates were $2,200pa.
There are currently around 185 units for sale in the 0800 Darwin postcode.
Offers over $700,000 are being sought for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nt-darwin+city-125395458" target="_blank">a two level 26th floor penthouse</a> that sold at $785,000 in 2015.
With the growing demand for executive style living in a central location, the spectacular apartment was a hot pick for anyone working in the CBD, the FIFO worker or Defence personnel tenant, the Raine &amp; Horne listing agent suggests.
A two bedroom 1980s unit last sold at $365,000 in 2014 that was seeking offers over $299,000 has been pulled from sale.
It was then available for rent at $280 a week, having been previously listed at $330 a week asking rent in 2016.
First National agent Michael Keith is offering what he has marketed as a long-term 5% net yielding property, "providing a genuine set and forget investment."
It is in the tightly held City Garden Apartments in the Darwin CBD which consists of 16 two bedroom self-contained serviced apartments.
The apartment is 70sqm in size on the 1st floor overlooking a resort style pool. The income was listed as $1,735 per month fixed for two years with 3% increase annually thereafter. There is a rent review every five years adjusted at 5% on valuation. There is an option for three additional five year rental periods. The council rates are $1,400 per annum and the body corporate fees are $500 per quarter.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Buying discounted property in Darwin, Australia's weakest capital city

<html><body><div>
Heir apparent Ginia Hope Rinehart, who married last year and had a baby recently with husband, Simon Robinson, purchased a Bondi Beach penthouse for $14.8 million mid-year.
It was likely <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-bondi+beach-121875218" target="_blank">the highest priced first home acquisition ever</a> in Australian property history.
She's the daughter of Gina Rinehart, the mining tycoon who has more recently stepped up her interest in outback cattle farming.
Fresh-faced and more mature first time buyers began to make an impression on the Sydney market this year.
Model Jordan Stenmark joined his twin brother and fellow model Zac on the property ladder earlier this year, securing his first apartment, a $1.19 million unit in Bondi.
Bachelorette and former 2DayFM radio personality Sam Frost secured her first Sydney home, however it was not the coastal apartment she'd initially been after.
Sam settled on a $1.2 townhouse near Sydney Park, one of Sydney's best park playgrounds.
South Sydney Rabbitoh rising star Tyrell Fuimaono paid $785,000 for a two-bedroom Alexandria unit.
There were also the emerging rentvestors, who have secured an investment property as their first acquisition.
<div class="m_8380867177741228828gmail-tg-tlc-storybody_intro">
There were some 10,496 first time buyers in a recent four month period who dived into the market after stamp duty concessions came into effect in July arising from the Berejiklian government’s big state budget measure. Just 3094 first timers had accessed stamp duty concessions when they were limited to new properties in the same time last year.
</div>
With continued low interest rates, softening prices across Sydney and the tougher lending rules applied to investors, we’re likely to see more first-home buyers entering the market next year.
No avocados on toast over the Christmas break for them while saving for a deposit.
Nine out of 10 properties in Sydney are out of the reach of first-home buyers, a recent study suggested, with most having to secure something 30 kilometres from the CBD to easily afford an apartment, and 50 kilometres for a free-standing house.
The average first-time buyer has $500,000 to spend in Sydney where the median price is over $1 million.
It comes as there's been a pull back in investor spending along with disconcerting higher fees for foreign investors.
Developers are also seeking out first timers with lower deposit requirements too.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
</div></body></html>

Hope for first home buyers

<html><body>
2017 saw a continued trend across Sydney's inner city suburbs where dilapidated terraces hit the market.
Some with no internal walls or ceilings, the DIY and small time developers were primed to pay top dollar purely for the location and land size.
Property Observer has given a run down of the top five run down inner city terrace sales of 2017.
  
1. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-terrace-nsw-surry+hills-124937998" target="_blank">102 Reservoir Street</a>, Surry Hills - $2,111,000.
<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/2017/12/8/res1.jpg" alt="">
Kicking off the year of the run down terraces was a windfall result at Reservoir Street.
In slightly better shape than some of the others, the four bedroom terrace sold for over $2.1 million.
BresicWhitney's Michael Kirk and Lincoln Westerman sold the home.
They said the old terrace was a project home to suit the true visionaries, however suggested its perhaps dilapidated enough to deter any dreamers.
There was a north-facing courtyard on the 123 sqm corner block.
 
2. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-darlinghurst-126288502" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.16px;">141 Womerah Avenue</a>, Darlinghurst - $1,885,000.
<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/2017/12/8/dump10.jpg" alt="">
The dilapidated Darlinghurst terraces saw potential buyers carefully streaming over its slightly perilous wooden floorboards before during the inspections.
The four bedroom home, that dates back to the 1890s, was listed with $1.75 million hopes through James Peach at Ray White.
It features an original floorplan spanning two levels on the 108 sq m block.
It last sold in 1955 when machinist Humbert Teuma paid £3,150.
Aspiring owner-builder Luke Hickel inspected the Darlinghurst offering, but just to research values and costs.
He agreed with the estimate from the listing agent James Peach that $500,000 plus would be needed to bring the terrace up to scratch.
We have a video from the auction here.
 
3. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-surry+hills-126699394" target="_blank">148 Reservoir Street</a>, Surry Hills - $1.7 million.
<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/2017/12/8/dump1.jpg" alt="">
The terrace on Reservoir Street hadn't traded in over three decades before its November sale.
A transformation of the home had begun but was never finished, so there were newer elements to the attic and staircase.
BresicWhitney Darlinghurst agents Lincoln Westerman and William Phillips had a buyers guide of $1.5 million.
The home last sold for $85,000 in 1985.
 
4. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-surry+hills-126489002" target="_blank">43 Waterloo Street</a>, Surry Hills - $1.6 million.
<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/2017/12/8/Dump3.jpg" alt="">
One of the most staggering results was another Surry Hills terrace, which sold for $1.6 million after just five days of marketing.
The home, completely dilapidated with missing ceilings and floors, was sold through Bresic Whitney Darlinghurst agents Darren Pearce and Romany Brooks.
The wide terrace, which was a four bedroom, two bathrooms house, is set on a 150 sqm Waterloo Street parcel in the heart of Surry Hills.
It was advertised as having limited access for inspections.
Recently $70,000 was spent on installing beams to support the ceiling and staircase.
Rubbish and household items were also removed in the process.
The home had been vacant for the last decade, with neighbours complaining about rubbish pile up.
 
5. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-redfern-127020598" target="_blank">544 Elizabeth Street</a>, Redfern - $1.11 million
<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/2017/12/8/dump5.jpg" alt="">
The most recent sale of an inner city dump was in Redfern where a terrace fetched $1.1 million at its recent December auction.
Ray White agents James and Teresa Natoli were marketing the home as an exceptional opportunity on a generous footprint in a prime location.
They had an auction guide of $900,000 to $950,000. Teresa said told realestate.com.au that there was no access approved to the site.
"The property is being offered to market in unliveable condition and requires a rebuild," their marketing said.
It last sold for $143,000 in 1991 and has been vacant for the last decade.
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

The five inner Sydney terrace dumps that all fetched over $1 million in 2017

<html><body>
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/mystery-bus-tour-takes-brisbane-buyers-to-developers-door/news-story/b799e6c37b2a54ff58012218db2333d9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a>There are two bargain hunter property tours planned for buyers seeking apartments in Brisbane next month.
It follows the wave of new apartments hitting the Brisbane market.
Bargain hunters are being bussed to newly built projects where defaults — largely by Chinese buyers — have led to units back on the market at a discount.
<div id="story-description">
“The Boxing Day sale of real ­estate” is how David Beard opens his tour commentary for the five-hour mystery tour.
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/brisbane-group-buy-property-tour-tickets-40331512640" target="_blank">Tickets on the bus</a> cost $57 for early birds, then up to $115.
"The apartment prices available today won’t be available tomorrow,” he suggests, adding that on defaulted apartments, developers are using the forfeited 10 per cent deposit to cut prices, and then discount further.
</div>
The Australian reported from a bus tour earlier this month.
They noted those on the bus included hopeful first-home buyers and investors, all wanting deeply discounted price.
There was also a handful of real estate agents seeking a good buy for their own clients along with stickybeak property advisers curious on just where the tour went.
The first port of call was a ­masterplanned community at Hamilton on Brisbane’s northside at a 10 per cent discount on the retail price.
A two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit offered at $513,000, down from $569,000.
Next stop was Ascot, where a developer had reduced his $550,000 asking price on a two-bedroom, two-bathrooom units to $510,000.
It was onto Bowen Hills, but given the 19 per cent discount on several new apartments, an investor had quickly snapped them up.
Brisbane's first “branded residential property”, in Fortitude Valley, was next on the bus tour.
A two-bed, two-bath apartment reduced from $581,000 to $495,000 created much interest, but was off limits for viewing because it’s part of a hotel complex.
The final port of call, in Yeronga saw a $435,000 two-bed, two-bath apartment, that had been reduced from $490,000.
Beard cites a report that one in five foreign apartment buyers in Brisbane are failing to settle due to tighter restrictions on moving money out of China.
“If you had a project that was predominantly sold to China, you would have a headache,” Mr Beard told The Australian.
"Now is the time for local Australian buyers to capitalise on these deposit defaults!
"You can save up to $120,000 on a standard 2 bedroom apartment right now in Brisbane.
"If you are going to buy property in the next 12 months, you would be crazy not to make the most of this situation.
"This is a once in a life time opportunity to instantly make capital gains and save thousands on your mortgage!"
 
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

The Brisbane bus tour for "Boxing Day bargain" apartment prices 

<html><body>
One of the first residential towers set to rise on the Gold Coast’s Mermaid Beach will target owner-occupiers.
The $88 million Naia is set to rise in the heart of a small residential enclave bordering Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach.
Located 400 metres from the beachfront near the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and The Star Gold Coast entertainment complex, Naia will be pitched at the city’s burgeoning apartment dweller buyers.
Eastview (Australia), which has a decade-long history of project delivery on the Gold Coast, recently launched the 24-level project
Naia comprises one, two and three-bedroom apartments complete with ocean views.
There will be a communal rooftop precinct with sweeping ocean and city views.
Designed by architects TVS, Naia’s 97 apartments will be wrapped in a seaside-inspired design and will feature an exclusive rooftop residents’ lounge with a swimming pool.
 <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/2017/12/22/MERMAID3.jpg" alt="">
Contemporary apartment product is scarce in Mermaid Beach, especially priced from $380,000.
<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/2017/12/22/MERMAID2.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
Naia is the latest in a string of landmark apartment towers for Eastview, which has completed $1 billion in work on the Gold Coast including The Wave, Vogue and Verve at Broadbeach, Sanbano Coolangatta, and the Ivory and Element buildings at Burleigh Heads.
The company currently is progressing the absolute beachfront tower Northcliffe Residences in Surfers Paradise, where almost 70 per cent of the 75 apartments have sold.
 
</body></html>

Naia, Mermaid Beach tower eyeing owner occupiers

<html><body>
Three penthouses soaring 200 metres above the Melbourne streetscape are still for sale in the off the plan Collins House development, set to be the fourth thinnest tower in the world upon completion.
Collins House, developed by Golden Age Group and designed by award-winning architects Bates Smart, takes in the 1908 Collins House facade (below) and uses the Art Noveau influences throughout the tower.
The development will restore the heritage-facade under the eyes of architectural heritage consultants Lovell Chen.
<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/2017/12/14/collins3.jpg" alt="">
The three penthouses on levels 54 and above range from 210 sqm to 255 sqm and each offer a corner placement of the building, with views over the Yarra River, the Melbourne skyline and towards Port Phillip Bay.
They all have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, scullery kitchen, separate living room, a powder room and two car spaces.
Prices range from $3.5 million to $6.88 million.
<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/2017/12/14/collins2.jpg" alt="">
There have been over $210 million sales so far in the xxx apartment development.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Jeff Xu, Golden Age Group managing director, said Collins House has been meticulously designed for a lifestyle experience of unsurpassed sophistication.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
“Our vision for this project is founded in the respectful restoration of this beautiful building, first and foremost we wanted to ensure the design of Collins House was true to its former life and appropriate for contemporary living.” 
A key design element of the building that evokes the site’s important heritage is an inlaid silver pattern, reminiscent of 19th century parquetry. This distinctive feature wraps around the entire building and is a visually striking link between past and present.
“Both in its terms of its visual presentation and its luxury offering to residents, Collins House is a landmark address for Melbourne,” said designer Kristen Whittle, director of Bates Smart. 
“The interiors are raw yet refined, offering a pared back contemporary aesthetic with beautiful, sumptuous materials.” 
“Collins House places you at the epicentre of the world’s most liveable city, with everything you love about Melbourne within easy walking distance,” added Whittle. 
Residents will also have access to the facilities at Collins House. Collins Terrace on level three is a private indoor and outdoor space offering luxurious open-air lounge and dining areas. 
On level 27, the opulent St. James Club provides residents access to a private dining room and lounge, state-of-the art gym, outdoor deck and bar, and sweeping city views.
To find out more about Collins House <a href="http://www.collinshousemelbourne.com.au" target="_blank">click here.</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Collins House penthouses available in the world's fourth slimmest tower

<html><body>
Weekend auction volumes decreased across the capital cities as the extended Christmas break nears.
There are just a handful of auctions scheduled for next Saturday, December 23.
The penultimate pre-Christmas auction weekend saw a preliminary national auction clearance rate of 64.2 per cent, according to CoreLogic.
The rush of vendors who hopefully thought that buyers needed to buy something before the end of the year and were willing to pay ‘anything’ were increasingly mistaken, as the market changed gears from the intensity of early 2017.
Sydney especially looks set to finish the year with an auction clearance rate in the 50s, and even dipping into the high 40s in some regions.
The number of homes taken to auction nationally fell to 2,865 auctions, down on the prior weekend's 3,371 auctions.
The nation's top auction offering was in Brighton with a four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-127014594" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">12 Cole Street </a>but which was passed in on a $5.5 million vendor bid.
It had been listed with $5.95 million to $6.44 million hopes, but now comes listed at $5.95 million.
It was a contemporary Steve Domoney Architecture-designed home where the four-bedrooms hugged a Zen-inspired courtyard garden and pool, also accessed from living and dining zones. It came with a two-room Gaggenau kitchen, and a four-room parents’ wing. 
Melbourne's highest sale was $3,825,000 in Carlton.
The four bedroom, one bathroom terrace at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-carlton-127015838" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">173 Drummond Street </a>had been listed with $3 million to $3.3 million hopes. It last sold in 1983 at $165,000, and before that slightly higher in 1982 at $179,000 before the full effect of Australia's second last recession was felt.
Melbourne, Australia’s largest auction market, finished the year off with an auction clearance rate of 67.3 per cent across its weekend 1,628 auctions in a last minute rush to auction.
This time last year, 1,288 properties were taken to auction across Melbourne and a clearance rate of 73.9 per cent was recorded, CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan noted.
Mosman had Sydney's highest weekend auction outcome when 8 Cobbittee Street fetched $3.57 million pre-auction.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mosman-127005662" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">It was offered </a>for the first time in 93 years. 
Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate was 60.8 per cent across 690 auctions. Over the same week one year ago, 878 auctions were held across Sydney and a clearance rate of 71.4 per cent was recorded.
Sydney's pre-auction sales with undisclosed prices included the McMahons Point home (pictured) of the retired litigation lawyer Peter Keel, a former Clayton Utz partner, and his wife Angela.
They had listed their McMahons Point home for December 16 Stone auction.
It was 1999 when the couple commissioned Jon Johannsen to design the modernism <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mcmahons+point-126782410" target="_blank">double sandstone residence</a> with five bedrooms. It comes with a pool on the double block.
They bought an 1880s-era terrace in the early 1990s for $420,000, and then added its twin in the late 1990s for $620,000.
Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, had the nation's cheapest weekend house sale.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-slacks+creek-126022630" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The two bedroom 44 Atkinson Street home</a> on 600 sqm fetched $285,000 through Ray White.
It had sold at $267,000 in 2010.
There were 196 Brisbane weekend auctions with a clearance rate of 54.8 per cent, compared to a year ago when there were 234 auctions with a success rate of 42.6 per cent.
Adelaide finished the auction year with the strongest weekend clearance rate of the capital cities, at 70.1 per cent, with 107 reported results across a total of 152 scheduled auctions, increasing on last weekend’s 65.2 per cent and the 58.4 per cent one year ago.
Adelaide's results included a three bedroom at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-lockleys-127058442" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3 Veronica Crescent, Lockleys</a> sold at $581,000, exceeding what it had been tipped by Belle Property to sell between $490,000 and $530,000.
But a three bedroom at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-south+plympton-127081426" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">68 Wheaton Street, South Plympton</a> sold prior for $586,000, fell short of its price guidance which was $599,000 to $649,000.
 
<div> </div>
 
</body></html>

Fewer bright auction results signals tougher sellers' market ahead in 2018

<html><body>
<div>
<div>
After forecasting house price rises every year since 2013, economic commentator Chris Joye has reaffirmed his April 2017 advisory that the property boom is over.
He forecasts that prices will fall in 2018, despite falling unemployment.
He noted Sydney prices started sliding in September this year with the national five-capital city index falling by October, according to CoreLogic numbers.
"Whereas Sydney values have slumped 1.9 per cent, prices across the five capital cities have corrected by a more modest 0.4 per cent.
"And there will likely be the normal seasonality afflicting this data as values typically pull back in December," Joye told readers last week in The Australian Financial Review.
"It's also interesting to observe that there has been no capital appreciation in the stubbornly ebullient Melbourne market since November," he added.
Joye suggests when Australia's jobless rate falls below 5 per cent in 2018, the central bank will have no choice but to raise rates once or twice "assuming it acts rationally."
"This will reinforce the magnitude of the expected correction," he anticipates.
</div>
<div>
Joye looks to the past for solid precedents.
"After the last big bubble that kicked off in earnest in 2001 and ended in December 2003, Sydney prices fell 6.3 per cent in the following three years.
"In the 12 months after their 2003 peak, dwelling values in Melbourne and across the five largest cities declined by 3 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively."
</div>
<div>Joye notes the 2003 household debt-to-income ratio was merely 150 per cent, "miles below the current 194 per cent mark."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Joye also noted after the cash rate increased from its then "crisis level" of 3 per cent to 4.75 per cent, home values shrunk 6.7 per cent between late 2010 and early 2012.</div>
<div>
"As a minimum I expect prices to match this result.
"Assuming 100 basis points or more of rate increases, my central case is a 10 per cent plus drawdown in what should be a relatively benign mean-reversion in Australia's otherwise unprecedented house price-to-income ratio."
Joye, a portfolio manager with Coolabah Capital Investments which invests in fixed-income securities, noted the heftiest fall on record was 8.3 per cent in 2008.
He wrote in October while the next downturn may cause "temporary hysteria" in markets, the tremendous deleveraging of bank balance-sheets, coupled with the de-risking of their business models and a notable improvement in the austerity of lending standards, should ensure they are well-placed to absorb what will be, by international standards, a modest lift in home loan losses.
His April column noted his concerns about "the runaway housing boom."
To address the issue, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) had introduced tough new macroprudential constraints on interest-only lending, in an effort to stifle irresponsible lending and borrowing decisions, in a move backed by Treasurer Scott Morrison.
Joye anticipated a softer auction clearance rate to continue throughout 2017, in tune with a pronounced deceleration in price momentum. 
“I expect this to continue over the rest of the year, which should alleviate the concerns of rating agencies animated by the blindingly obvious financial stability risks propagated by the RBA's cheap money policies,” Joye wrote in October. 
He noted Perth home values had slumped 10 per cent since their December 2014 peak with Joye then predicting that this could eventually happen in Sydney and Melbourne, thus wiping out half the equity of all first time buyers.
</div>
</div>
Residential property in Sydney had benefited from capital gains of 73 per cent since March 2012, care of the RBA slashing its cash rate from 4.75 per cent to 1.5 per cent, transferring wealth from prudent savers to spendthrift borrowers, Joye suggested. 
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Nascent 2017 falling property prices to exceed 6 percent or more through current cycle: Chris Joye

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Multiplex has completed Central Equity’s $300 million high rise residential apartment tower in Southbank, Southbank Central.
The 48-level tower 1-13 Balston Street in Southbank comprises 485 one, two and three bedroom apartments.
Southbank Central also features a six level podium with retail, car parking and resident facilities including an indoor swimming pool and gymnasium.
Double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows capture views of Southbank.
Central Equity has <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-southbank-127084578" target="_blank">one bedroom plus study apartments</a> listed at $449,000.
There are <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-southbank-127084614" target="_blank">two bedroom offerings</a> at $545,000.
There are three bedroom apartments listed for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-southbank-127169862" target="_blank">around $1 million</a>.
<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/2017/12/15/mutliplex2.jpg" alt="">
Graham Cottam, Multiplex's regional managing director in Victoria, said Southbank Central delivered on time and to an exceptional standard for residents.
The completion of Southbank Central represents Multiplex’s 15th project for developer Central Equity, with the contractor having delivered towers including Southbank Grand, Southbank One and City Tempo apartment buildings - all of which are HIA award winning developments.
Multiplex has also completed a number of new residential projects in the Melbourne CBD over the last 12 months including Hengyi Pacific’s Light House, ICD Property’s Eq.Tower, and Salvo Property Group’s Platinum Tower.
It also has several residential projects set for completion including LK Property Group’s Capital Grand, Fragrance Group‘s Premier Tower and Hengyi Pacific’s Swanston Central in Carlton. 
Central Equity recently dismissed suggestions as to the existence of "ghost" apartments.
The developer –  which claims to have built half of the skyscrapers in Melbourne's Southbank – took a swipe at market doomsayers.
Financial reports for the company show it booked a record $145 million profit from $507 million revenue last financial year.
"Central Equity projects are enjoying very low vacancies resulting in effectively full occupancy," the group's directors, Eddie Kutner, Dennis Wilson and John Bourke, said in an annual report.
"The low vacancies (less than 2 per cent) are underpinning the rental market and providing solid and recurring rental returns," their report noted.Central Equity said its Melbourne development pipeline had swelled to $3.2 billion.
"Lack of affordability has created a pent-up demand which not only underpins pricing but will also act as a cushion against future shocks, if any," the group said.
Central Equity will concentrate now on sales its Melbourne Grand project at 560 Lonsdale Street, a 58-level apartment tower with 650 plus apartments.
Demand has shifted towards larger two and three-bedroom apartments, it acknowledged.
One bedders start at $499,000, two bedders from $599,000 and three bedders from $889,000.
 
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Multiplex complete Southbank Central for Central Equity

<html><body>
CoreLogic is tracking 2,666 scheduled auctions across the combined capital cities over what is the last week for auction reporting for 2017.
It sits lower than the 2,735 held over the corresponding week last year. 
This is lower than last week’s final results which saw 3,371 auctions held.
Week-on-week activity across Melbourne and Sydney is set to fall as the end of year fast approaches, with a bumper 1,514 Melbourne homes scheduled to go to auction this weekend, down from the 1,833 auctions held last weekend.
Last week was the second busiest week for auctions this year across Melbourne.
In Sydney, there are 664 scheduled auctions this week, decreasing from the 1,007 auctions held last week.
All of the busiest suburbs for auctions this week are in Victoria, topping the list with 32 residential homes set to go under the hammer is Reservoir, followed by Craigieburn (27), Epping (23), and Frankston (23).
The Reservoir offerings include <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-reservoir-127037502" target="_blank">21 Locksley Avenue</a> (above), with $650,000 to $700,000 price guidance through McGrath.
There are fewer than a handful of auctions on Saturday December 23.
</body></html>

Latest Buying Insights

Mortgage relief? NAB forecasts RBA rate cut, not hike, after softer economic conditions

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Buying Insights

Mortgage relief? NAB forecasts RBA rate cut, not hike, after softer economic conditions

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News