Article summary

<ul data-end="785" data-start="311">
	<li data-end="459" data-section-id="5hbcyr" data-start="311">Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at Skye Kangaroo Point, headlined by a two-storey sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm.</li>
	<li data-end="561" data-section-id="1p7lq8n" data-start="460">Early buyer interest suggests the residences could set a new Queensland apartment price record.</li>
	<li data-end="667" data-section-id="1y70z0l" data-start="562">The collection includes four move-in ready penthouses and the highly customised Skye One residence.</li>
	<li data-end="785" data-section-id="yvm0y1" data-start="668">The release caps one of Bri​sbane's most ambitious luxury apartment developments overlooking the Brisbane River.</li>
</ul>

<hr data-end="790" data-start="787" />
Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye by Pikos</a> development in Kangaroo Point, with early buyer interest indicating the flagship residences could eclipse every apartment sale previously recorded in Queensland.

The collection crowns the luxury riverfront development with five residences, including four completed penthouses and Skye One, a two-level sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm that will be tailored to its eventual owner.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374075]

Wanting to offer a fully customisable home, Pikos is offering Skye One as a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to work alongside the developer's design team to customise the home's layout, finishes and internal spaces.

The residence will feature a 247 sqm private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor kitchen and multiple entertaining areas overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

The remaining four penthouses have been completed and are ready for immediate occupation, each offering four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas, soaring ceilings and private lift access.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374059]

One of the defining features throughout the project is its use of Roman Classic Travertine, with more than 20,000 sqm of the natural stone imported from Italy after being personally selected by Pikos Group Founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos, interior designer Julie Williamson and third-generation stone specialist Mario Caucci.

Pikos said the penthouse collection represented the culmination of the company's long-term vision for Skye.

"True legacy isn't measured by what we build today, but by what endures tomorrow," Pikos said.

"Our ambition is to create places that become more valuable with time, enrich the lives of generations, and stand as timeless landmarks long after we've stepped away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374060]

Williamson said the interiors were inspired by the natural character of Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane River rather than international design trends.

"Materiality tells the story of a place," Williamson said.

"We looked to the movement of the Brisbane River, the texture of the cliff face and the warmth of the surrounding landscape to create interiors that feel understated, enduring and unmistakably Brisbane."

Positioned above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye places residents within walking distance of Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank and James Street while offering uninterrupted river and city views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=90059]

Joel Robinson

Brisbane's next apartment price record? Pikos unveils Skye's exclusive penthouse collection

Article summary

<ul data-end="888" data-start="289">
	<li data-end="442" data-section-id="8tsh6o" data-start="289">DVB Projects is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway at 137 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach.</li>
	<li data-end="573" data-section-id="1nyxl3e" data-start="443">The 34-level tower will comprise just 49 ultra-luxury residences, including half-floor, full-floor and penthouse apartments.</li>
	<li data-end="717" data-section-id="oiyimj" data-start="574">The launch follows strong demand at DVB's nearby Sea Glass project, which is more than 50 per cent sold and currently under construction.</li>
	<li data-end="888" data-section-id="epk9o9" data-start="718">The development adds to the transformation of Old Burleigh Road, with premium beachfront apartment projects continuing to reshape the tightly held Broadbeach strip.</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dvb-projects">DVB Projects</a> is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway on the Broadbeach site as the Sydney developer moves closer to bringing the ultra-luxury project to market.

The 34-level tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/137-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">137 Old Burleigh Road</a> will comprise just 49 residences, ranging from half-floor apartments through to full-floor homes and a penthouse. The launch follows the strong sales performance of DVB's nearby Sea Glass development. More than half of the apartments at Sea Glass, on the other side of Broadbeach, have been snapped up, well ahead of its late 2027 completion

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2944b4be-c84e-4b54-8dc1-c712e76704c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E02_Exterior_Street%20Level%20Entrance.jpg?VersionId=YoNig7pRdrE3HCue7sUj78LzJteeQf3H" />

The start of demolition at 137 Old Burleigh Road signals DVB Projects’ underlying confidence in the Gold Coast’s luxury beachside apartment sector.

“We see the Gold Coast as one of the most compelling lifestyle markets in Australia, particularly at the premium end where demand continues to deepen,” said Dean Brown, Managing Director of DVB.&nbsp;

“This project has been carefully designed to respond to that demand - delivering large-format residences with a level of quality, privacy and amenity that is still relatively rare in the apartment market on the beachside."

Brown says the site itself is "exceptional."

"Old Burleigh Road is one of the most tightly held beachfront strips, and opportunities to deliver a project of this scale and calibre in this location are extremely limited.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="398f377a-c037-455e-9250-0c5e0d84c35b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/I12_FF%20Balcony.jpg?VersionId=NwOiRWGMubR1c8wthuEfggklcja7al9." />

The project will comprise 40 half-floor residences of approximately 260 sqm, alongside eight full-floor residences spanning around 524 sqm.

A single penthouse will crown the building, featuring a private pool, barbecue area, indoor gym and dedicated entertaining spaces.

Residents will have access to a resort-style suite of amenities, including a 20-metre pool with daybeds, a gymnasium, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and private residents’ lounge and dining facilities.

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1642bb0-9a66-4427-a022-dfc0988c6287" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A02_Pool%20to%20View.jpg?VersionId=c0IXPyn_Gp_Kn3XCwzMrqIVkAdCEwVXP" />

Sales agent Todd Matheson, of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/pezet-matheson">Pezet Matheson</a>, which is marketing both 137 Old Burleigh Road and Sea Glass, said 137 Old Burleigh Road would address a clear gap in the market for genuine luxury products.

“There are very few opportunities on the Gold Coast where buyers can secure a residence of this size and quality in a new building,” Matheson said.

“What we’re seeing is a growing cohort of downsizers and interstate buyers who still want space - they’re not willing to compromise on living area, entertaining or finishes.

“This project has been designed with that buyer in mind. It offers the scale of a home, combined with the convenience and security of apartment living, in one of the coast’s most desirable positions.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59aae0ca-5639-4320-8aca-d0bf60f48e43" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E01_Exterior%20Hero.jpg?VersionId=DS8Zfy2WtgUEtdfe0TEUuf1W1GfcZq8S" />

Located on a 1,156 sqm site one block from the beachfront, the development will replace an ageing walk-up building and is expected to contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Old Burleigh Road strip into one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious residential corridors.

With the development moving into the delivery phase, 137 Old Burleigh Road is slated to hit the market later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145141]

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

A proposal to redevelop one of North Sydney's ageing commercial buildings has taken another step forward, with plans for a 38-storey mixed-use tower adding momentum to the long-awaited transformation of the Alfred Street precinct.

Now on public exhibition through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority-led State Significant Development pathway, the proposal for 271-273 Alfred Street would replace an underutilised commercial building with 95 apartments, ground-floor retail, commercial space and affordable housing. The proposal was submitted by&nbsp;Tara Shore Pty Ltd, acting for the John Taylor Family Trust.

While the project will deliver much-needed housing on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, it also represents another piece of a broader precinct that has spent years in planning limbo.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e1ce1b4-38df-48ab-992f-386814d86308" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20podium.png?VersionId=sC_h6w.A9VEoB98qsqowPlIoz__sBZBt" />

Despite its proximity to both North Sydney Station and the Victoria Cross Metro, redevelopment of Alfred Street has progressed slowly over the past decade as broader planning controls, zoning and building heights remained unresolved. The introduction of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway has provided a new avenue for projects to progress, allowing rezoning and development assessment to occur concurrently and unlocking sites that have long been earmarked for renewal.

Designed by Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder, the proposal seeks to do more than replace an ageing office building. The architects have positioned the project as the first stage of a wider public domain vision that would improve pedestrian connectivity and create a more cohesive mixed-use precinct as neighbouring sites are redeveloped over time.

The proposal includes a widened Alfred Street setback, new street trees, landscaping and outdoor seating, along with a landscaped through-site pedestrian link connecting Alfred Street with Little Alfred Street. The connection is intended to become the first section of a future east-west pedestrian network extending across the precinct.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ea39ac3-46ad-4562-b4a0-b862e91c2dda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20site.png?VersionId=K7umCd21KpetEFuVfsPlnJKhUOsmTTdV" />

The mixed-use tower would comprise retail space at ground level, commercial uses on level two and apartments from level three upwards.

In total, the development would deliver 95 apartments, including nine one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom, 56 three-bedroom and two four-bedroom residences. Twenty-one apartments, representing 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area, would be secured as affordable housing and managed by a registered community housing provider for at least 15 years.

Nine basement levels would provide 133 resident car spaces, seven motorcycle spaces and 111 bicycle spaces.

According to the Architecture and Urban Design Report, the public domain strategy is designed to transform what is currently an inward-facing commercial edge into a more active and connected pedestrian environment, creating a stronger relationship between the commercial core and surrounding residential neighbourhoods.

Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder has also prepared a broader public domain framework spanning neighbouring properties between 263 and 283 Alfred Street, arguing that a coordinated approach to redevelopment will deliver better public spaces, improved tower separation and a more connected streetscape as the precinct evolves.

The proposal comes at a time where North Sydney is slated for future residential growth. Commercial developer FiveX has residential plans for the neighbouring site at 275 Alfred Street. They've proposed a 39-storey mixed-use tower with 184 apartments, while Freecity was recently approved for nearly 300 apartments across a 51-storey building on Walker Street.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-freecity-gets-green-light-for-mixed-use-apartment-and-hotel-tower-in-north-sydney">First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-plans-39-storey-residential-tower-in-booming-north-sydney">First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney</a>

&nbsp;

Alfred Street the latest North Sydney pocket to be transformed by residential development

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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?

Prominent New Zealand apartment and hotel operator, <a href="/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>, is offering up a prime investment opportunity for Australians to purchase off the plan in one of the world’s most popular ski destinations.

They recently took to market Mountain Oak Queenstown Apartments, in the growing precinct of Remarkables Park in Frankton, near the airport and at the foot of The Remarkables - the mountain range the locals like to call “The Remarks”.&nbsp;

Sydney investors have shown interest in the one, two and three-bedroom apartments that secure high-season occupancy six months over the year, primarily over summer and winter months.

They average 90 per cent occupancy across their portfolio over January, February, March, August, November and December, while shoulder season months of April, July, September and October are still occupied 70 per cent of the time, with the growing appeal of Queenstown becoming not just a hotspot for the snow, but a lifestyle destination.

Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Safari’s Safari Hotels arm can also manage the holiday letting for an investor, from the listing on holiday accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com to the cleaning and maintenance of the investment. They’ve been in the short stay management business for 15 years and offer 24/7 support for investors, an important convenience benefit for any overseas investor

Another major drawcard for Australians is that New Zealand doesn’t have a stamp duty policy - so the entry price of NZ$639,000 (AU$586,000), is all that is payable on completion.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" 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/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Safari is starting construction of the 141 apartments in Q2 this year, with a two-year build estimated to complete in mid-to-late 2027.<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="15" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczFpFAb7WuA6f4f9TtKWcqXyNwR8qqtakWv352ERkpqNlP3KwIo8YKxw67jZNHfpjEGIZGv5MQTbnvLZwNt8iu9IVdOrswOjCvBZ4zhSoOOLrpt6etVEZTN1gkBho0r_R72zdHNA?key=yq3daOanqHSb88QFd8jGYKdb" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" />​

The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;

Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.

With its strategic location near Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as key retail and dining precincts such as Market Street, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and Remarkables Market, Mountain Oak offers a strong proposition for investors seeking high rental yields and capital appreciation in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations.&nbsp;

Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

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Just like the economy, the housing market represents the forces of supply and demand. Real estate prices will move depending on whether demand for housing is increasing or reducing. And likewise, when supply of housing is increasing or falling. The two forces that make up the market are constantly moving and can be influenced by each other.
The number of residential property listings in the market represents the total current supply of real estate available to buyers*. Since 2010 the supply of residential real estate, as measured by the number of online listings, has rapidly increased. Its low point was in April 2010, when there were 219,000 listings offered nationwide. As at the end of June 2012, there were 387,000 listings – an increase of 76.6%.
Some argue that an increase in listings maybe a healthy sign of the market as it may mean vendors are becoming confident of selling their properties at their desired price. However, all the evidence suggests that total listings rise when there is a downturn in the market due to the fact that vendors are not able to sell their advertised properties within the desired timeframe. And as new vendors enter into the marketplace, they are competing with the existing vendors, thereby creating a build-up of stock.
The ABS reports that national house prices have fallen by 6.1% since the June quarter 2010.
The advantages of watching this measurement of the market is that the data is very timely and the data is complete. These days, real estate listings are updated almost on a real-time basis and are traceable due to the fact that over 95% of all real estate listings are being advertised online (as opposed to print only). SQM Research monitors these online real estate listings via the country’s major real estate listings portals including Domain and real estate.com.au, among others.
For those who are interested in this measurement, SQM research has charted this information on every postcode In the country back to 2008. You will find this information available for free on our website, <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">www.sqmresearch.com.au</a>
Right now, we are witnessing various trends when considering the listings at the capital city level. For Perth and Brisbane, we are now recording trends that suggest total listings are peaking and slowly declining, which suggests to us that there might well be more buyers in these two markets than what was the case 12 months ago.
<a target="_blank" href="/news">RP Data research also shows that the number of listings in Perth and Brisbane is declining.</a>
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*excluding what is called shadow stock (properties that are known by some participants, e.g real estate agents, that might be available if the price was right, but for now, it is not being advertised.)
On the other hand, Sydney is not at this stage recording any material decline in listings. Rather, stock levels are elevated when considering historical supply. That said, listings no longer are increasing as what transpired over 2010 and 2011. This suggests to us that the housing downturn Sydney is experiencing is no longer getting worse, however market condition could not yet be described as "improved".
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Meanwhile Melbourne as at the end of June recorded a new high on our index.
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While Hobart is at near the high on our index, however it seems listings may have peaked over recent months.
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Overall, given the amount of stock on the market we believe it is a clear indication of a buyer’s market, whereby buyers have plenty of choice and, barring exceptions, are in a better negotiating position.
Some have argued that many of the listings may represent sellers who are not willing to meet the market and so the supply numbers may be overstated. We believe that such an assessment is rather simplistic. The reality is that the property is being offered for sale, which is competing with other properties on offer in the market place. Our advice for those who have their property on way above the market is to either meet the market or withdraw their property. Given the fact that the market is not moving up, it is very unlikely such properties will sell in this current state of the cycle.
In the end, sellers who take this approach are wasting their own time and advertising dollars, not to mention the efforts of those working with them to sell the property.
Louis Christopher is managing director of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/index.php">SQM Research. </a>
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louischristopher-TWpYcZDLBK

Brisbane and Perth residential stock on market declining, while Sydney static and Melbourne at new high

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Real estate group LJ Hooker will start advertising its residential and commercial listings on Chinese real estate listings portal Juwai.com following the signing of a partnership agreement between the two organisations.
The agreement will allow LJ Hooker to market its properties directly to Chinese buyers and others in Asia via Juwai.com.
Georg Chmiel, chief executive of LJ Hooker, says the real estate group has invested heavily in the online and digital space and the partnership with Juwai.com will “further expand the online reach of our residential and commercial listings and provide access to one of the fastest-growing markets for our clients”.
Chinese investors spent $4.2 billion on Australian real estate in 2011, representing about $48 million in estate agent commissions.
LJ Hooker is the first real estate network in Australia to enter into a partnership with Juwai.com, which launched in December last year.
Juwai.com promotes itself as the largest international property search and information platform for Mandarin-speaking Chinese consumers and says that 84% of its traffic comes from high-net-worth Chinese buyers.
The site has also been adopted by global Chinese communities living in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia, providing Juwai.com customers with comprehensive exposure within China and across south-east Asia.
LJ Hooker was one of the first real estate firms to establish a physical presence in China, setting up an office in Shanghai in 2004.
“We are delighted to have LJ Hooker join Juwai.com, and to play the lead role in the network’s reach into China and south-east Asia,” says Simon Henry, co-founder of Juwai.com.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

LJ Hooker to market commercial and residential property listings on Chinese portal Juwai.com

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Australian retailers are in for a "retail shakeout" over the next three years, and retailers including Harvey Norman are scaling back plans for new stores in anticipation, according to research by Citigroup.
Citigroup warns that while retail share prices may have halved, the retailers have not yet rationalised floor space.
It highlighted Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi as the "most vulnerable" and indeed Gerry Harvey, executive chairman of Harvey Norman, is putting new bulky goods developments on hold.
"We've never stopped like we've stopped at the moment," Harvey toldFairfax.
Harvey Norman opened between five and 15 stores a year in the past but Harvey says now "we're doing very little or nothing."
Citigroup's research found that deflation and online sales will constrain bricks and mortar growth and non-food retailers will need to cut floor space by 10% or more before margins can recover.
It found that many retailers have threatened to close stores, but few have actually done so despite subdued demand, signalling a rocky time ahead for retailers.
"Retail insolvencies were only at a similar level in 2011 as what they were in 2007, before the retail downturn," Citigroup found.
The research is echoed by industry analyst BIS Shrapnel's latest report on the retail property sector which warns that retail turnover growth this decade won't return to the "golden age" that ran from the mid-1990s to the financial crisis.
BIS Shrapnel forecasts that growth over the next five years will average just 2.9% a year, compared to the mid-1990s, which saw turnover growth of almost 5% a year on average in real terms.
Maria Lee, author of the report and senior project manager at BIS Shrapnel, told SmartCompany it was "subdued news for retail."
"It's not a disaster, we are not going back to pre the financial crisis but that was not a normal period, there is a new normal now," she says.
"If you look at total retail spending, we don't think that is going to grow all that fast, as people are saving more than they did pre the financial crisis and they are not spending as much of their household budgets on retail."
Lee says it is "not uncommon" to hear of retailers like Harvey Norman who have put expansion plans on ice.
"There are retailers still expanding but there are certainly some who are putting new stores on hold."
However, Lee says a halt to expansion does not always spell bad news for retailers.
"Quite often it is because they are seeing the internet side of their business growing more strongly so they are investing more in that," she says.
"Internet shopping really has taken hold and all retailers need to be on board, some are still reluctantly coming on and see it more as a defensive move."
Online retailing has a two-pronged impact. There's the obvious effect of taking market share from traditional retailing, but Lee says internet shopping also affects profit margins in store.
"Consumers are using price comparison websites or apps on their mobile phones when in-store, and then demanding a price-match in order for them to buy there and then," says Lee.
"This can have an impact on retailer profit margins."
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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cwaters-YrtBR88nBe

Gerry Harvey shelves plans for new stores as retailers warned to get used to a new kind of normal

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What happened to Darrell Lea could happen to Australia. It made the same mistakes Australia is in danger of making. Darrell Lea could never adapt to the fact that the good times had gone and that the old boom-time strategies had to be changed.
Former BHP Billiton chief Don Argus, writing in The Australian today, warns than Australia will face the same problem if China slows. Like Darrell Lea, Australia is basing its finances on a continuation of boom times.
Accordingly, Darrell Lea represents a warning to governments and companies that booms do not last forever and if you enshrine boom-time strategies then come the tough times you suffer badly.
More directly, the collapse of Darrell Lea is a further alert to all retailers and manufacturers: Re-engineer your business to cater for modern trends and improve productivity or you will die. The lesson applies to owners, managers and workers.
In the retail sector, Darrell Lea is no isolated example. We have seen a string of retailers get into trouble including big brands like Myer and David Jones, plus Billabong. Appliance retailers have been particularly hard hit.
Manufacturers and service industries have the same story.
Darrell Lea stores still look almost exactly as I knew them as a child. Yet they don’t have the same magic, even to my grandchildren. Darrell Lea confectionery is not as cheap as supermarket confectionary and many of us now buy former Darrell Lea type purchases via the upmarket brands.
Darrell Lea is in high rent areas and the confectionary margins don’t allow it. A reader says he knew they were in strife when they changed the layers of licorice in the licorice allsorts. I suspect that the company did not invest in the latest manufacturing equipment at a time when more and more confectionary is being made overseas. In other words, productivity did not keep up. Of course it would have been very expensive to substantially curtail local manufacturing because of retrenchment benefits but it would have lowered Darrell Lea retail prices closer to those of competitors.
And if you have an extensive franchise chain, you need to advertise. Darrell Lea did not have the money.
I don’t know how to solve the Darrell Lea problem but I know some of the ingredients in the solution will be more online retailing; lower production costs via importing; a different product range; lower rents and much smarter marketing.
And if you think about it, many of those ingredients are also part of the solution for other enterprises and they are part of the Australian solution. Here at Business Spectator we have been alerting Australia that the lower productivity we are experiencing is not just about unions, IR laws and infrastructure – it's also about bad management. Treasury has woken up to this.
The Telstra Productivity Survey shows that less than one in three enterprises and even fewer government bodies can be bothered measuring productivity (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/article/telstra-productivity-survey-australian-economy-it-pd20120323-sn7up?opendocument">Waking up to productivity</a>, March 28). I hope that someone can find a formula to restore Darrell Lea. Eighty-five year old businesses are something special but no matter how old the business, unless its re-engineered to the modern environment, it is vulnerable.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.businessspectator.com.au/" target="_blank">Business Spectator.</a>
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What happened to Darrell Lea could happen to Australia: Gottliebsen

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Landlords of Darrell Lea's 69 stores are concerned about what the future holds for them after <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/050633-confectionary-group-darrell-lea-placed-in-voluntary-administration" target="_blank">administrators were appointed</a> to the confectionery and chocolate company yesterday.
If Darrell Lea is liquidated the retail stores will need to be released and each centre will deal with that in accordance with their individual leasing policy, according to Simon Fonteyn, founder and managing director of Leasing Information Services.
"Anecdotally there is evidence that leases which go into administration usually carry a higher incentive, but that depends on the quality of the location," he says.
"Landlords as a general rule do not like any vacancies whatsoever, so they will meet the market to get it re-leased."
Fonteyn says if Darrell Lea is sold as a going concern then it is just "business as usual", but a buyer may look at some closures on a case-by-case basis.
"From what I've read there are a number of factors at play. I know that Darrell Lea was well represented in terms of their tenancy; they were paying market rates and were well advised," he says.
"Obviously blind Freddie knows that in retail things are tight but other retailers are weathering the storm, so there are likely to be other factors involved in the collapse."
Darrell Lea's employees are also frightened about their job prospects .
PPB's Mark Robinson said a major review of the business was underway in the hope a buyer could be found to help save the 85-year-old company and its 700 workers.
"At this time it is business as usual and our primary focus is for the employees and store owners that are impacted by this unfortunate event," Robinson said in a press conference yesterday.
"This is an iconic brand which means a lot to Australians and I'm sure it will live on in some form into the future."
Robinson said the company's directors were disappointed and "saddened" by the problems they faced, although he said there was some hope for the business as the administrators had received several unsolicited approaches.
Jennifer Dowell, national secretary of the Australian Manufacturers and Workers Union food and confectionery division, says she is concerned that all 700 employees would lose their jobs if the company was liquidated.
"We don't really know a great deal at this stage. We spoke to the administrator yesterday and we are waiting for them to confirm that they have signed off on funding to pay the workers' wages, we are still waiting on that," Dowell says.
"They are saying they need a couple of days to ascertain the financial situation of the company and it does not look good.
"We are trying to find out if there is enough money to cover the employee entitlements and we are not sure if there is at this stage."
Dowell says PPB expects to have a better idea of what the financial situation looks like.
"Aside from securing funds to pay the wages, their first priority is to sell the company. They say to sell they may have to restructure and we are always worried when they talk about restructuring that someone is going to lose their job.
"The workers themselves are absolutely beside themselves as most of them found out through the media so they feel like they haven't been treated very well and, of course, they are upset and frightened."
Even Prime Minister Julia Gillard weighed in on the debate, saying it was sad news for the company.
"I certainly hope that we can see someone step forward and take this business over and keep that very famous Darrell Lea brand going for us,'' Gillard told reporters in Ipswich yesterday.
"Everybody has probably eaten a lot of their Rocky Road over the course of their lives, I know I have.''
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php">SmartCompany</a>.
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What Darrell Lea's collapse means for retail landlords

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There was a small increase in the percentage of properties available to rent in the inner and middle suburbs of Sydney over June, according to figures compiled Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW).
The residential vacancy rate eased by 0.2 percentage points from 1.6% to a rate of 1.8% in the inner-Sydney suburbs (0-10km from CBD) and by 0.1 percentage points in the middle suburbs (10-25km from CBD) from 1.7%, also to a rate of 1.8%.
Rental vacancies tightened in the outer suburbs (25km or more from CBD) by 0.1 percentage point from 1.9% to match the vacancy rate in the rest of Sydney at 1.8%
The overall Sydney vacancy rate has hovered around the 1.8% mark since the start of 2012, up from 1.5% in the second half of 2011.
Despite the small improvement in the inner and middle suburbs Sydney remains an extremely tight rental market favouring landlords – according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) a vacancy rate of 3% indicates a balanced market.
REINSW June 2012 Sydney vacancy rates
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Outside of Sydney all the other major metropolitan centres recorded increases in the percentage of available rental properties last month.
Wollongong recorded the strongest increase, rising 0.4 percentage points from 2.8% to 3.2%.
Newcastle increased by 0.1 percentage point to 1.7% and on the Central Coast the percentage of available properties rose by 0.2 percentage points to 2.8%.
Coffs Harbour recorded the highest rental vacancy rate of 5.1%, and the Orana District recorded the lowest in the state at 1.2%
REINSW June 2012 regional NSW vacancy rates
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“Wollongong continues to record vigorous growth in the number of available rental properties, which are now more than three times the 0.9% level recorded in June 2011,” says REINSW president Christian Payne.
“June did prove to be a good month for those looking to rent a property with some strong increases recorded in available properties towards the end of the financial year.”
“Nowhere is this more the case than in Wollongong, which now offers prospective tenants a wide choice of available property.
“Elsewhere across the state there were more modest increases, which have also improved the situation for tenants,” Payne says.
‘It is clear that whatever the reason for the increases, it is still too early to be seeing any impact from the state government’s budget initiatives announced in May.
“Given the incentives are only just starting to come online now and the full package not expected to be in place until October, the increases we have seen in the rental market are attributable to other factors,” he says.
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Sydney's rental vacancy eases slightly but property market still favours landlords: REINSW

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BIS Shrapnel has just released its Residential Property Prospects, 2012 to 2015 and states that:
“Sydney is forecast to record a 17% increase in median house prices over the next three years, compared to 9% for Adelaide, 5% for Hobart, 3% for Melbourne, and just 1% for Canberra.”
Whether there growth forecasts are correct or not, it is clear that Sydney will be the focal point for price growth (driven by demand) over the near term.
So apart from organic population growth and migration, what will support growth in Sydney property prices? Investors!
Investors are slowly turning their attention back to the property market as they consider their future returns from current investments. For many, property is slowly starting to make its way back onto the radar and into their minds. Investors naturally want to preserve and grow wealth, so what will turn them back to investing in property? Oddly enough, confidence! This is what is drawing their attention back to property - the opposite of course is true - currently for home buyers.
So why is there growing confidence in property? The lack of confidence in the stock market due to volatility supported by uncertainty and the headwinds from Europe, China's slowing economy, falling interest rates locally however, property is showing good and strengthening rent returns (in the numbers not the hyperbole) as well as offering the bonus of some capital growth in the asset class proving to be the least volaitile and therefore is looking interesting again.
We have noticed this interest from investors in our business,  and while it is not overwhelming and we don't expect “weight” to return to the market or that investors returning will drive up values greatly, savvy investors are certainly looking at select residential and commercial investment again and getting strong returns with bonus growth.  On the western corridor of Sydney’s CBD fringe for example, we recently purchased an off-market property for under $19 million with a net yield of 7.4%,  and in the residential sector, a house in Clovelly (at a discount to market) delivering a 5% yield, which will provide growth of between 3-4% minimum, providing total returns of circa 9%.
Investors are starting to look at property (according to our private bank and HNW affiliates) as term deposits for example start to mature and interest rates tail off, income returns for property are looking attractive again – with the bonus of some capital growth, investors are targeting minimum total returns of between 7-9% pa. Even with the heady days or property doubling in value every seven to 10 years (probably behind us for some time), property has always kept pace with CPI historically, so with an average of about 3.2% p.a. over the long term and face yields of circa 5.5% on units for example, the returns, while not sexy, are safe, less volatile and makes gearing look attractive again in the current interest rate environment.
The trick as always will be knowing what to buy and where –  factoring in all the variables including on costs, anticipating future ownership/rental demand, finding assets that complement an individual’s investment style and strategy as well as managing the downside risk – or, if you want to sell within three years of ownership, is the asset that has been purchased likely to get you the purchase price + costs back and if it was, how would you know?
It's probably worth getting some independent property advice (from a buyers' agent) in addition to any financial advice you may want to get.
Stuart Jones is business development director of Sydney-based buyers' agency <a target="_blank" href="https://www.roseandjones.com.au/">Rose and Jones</a>
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Investors returning to Sydney property market

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Commercial property investors are likely to shift their focus away from retail property and focus on better-performing office and industrial assets, according to a new report by BIS Shrapnel
In its latest forecasts for retail property to 2022, BIS Shrapnel expects only modest retail turnover growth over the next decade principally due to the rise of online shopping and an oversupply of new retail floor space.
According to BIS Shrapnel, the growth of online spending overseas helps explain why consumer spending in total (including overseas online spending) is growing at a solid pace but retail turnover growth is subdued.
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Australians are also travelling overseas more and spending their retail dollars abroad.
Both of these factors are likely to continue to be a drain on retail turnover growth as long as the Australian dollar stays high, says BIS Shrapnel, which declares that the golden age of retailing has come and gone and won’t be returning.
It is forecasting annual retail growth of 2.9% per annum over the next five years compared with the “halcyon era” of retailing from the mid-1990s to GFC, when it averaged close to 5% per annum due to a “debt-fuelled spending surge by consumers”.
The most recent data from the ABS shows that retail turnover rose just 0.5% in May, and is trending up 3.3% on an annual basis.
“Without firming yields to save the day, modest income growth won’t be enough to generate the strong investment returns that investors have become used to,” says report author Maria Lee.
She says prospective returns for regional shopping centres are between 9% and 10% over a five-year and 10-year investment horizon.
“This is OK, but not impressive.
“Some investors are likely to turn their attention to stronger-performing office and industrial property instead,” she says.
Figures compiled by Colliers International for the first half of 2012 show that foreign capital flows into the Australian retail sector made up just 4% of offshore acquisitions (out of a total of $4.06 billion), with the transaction of three assets valued at around $184 million.
However, local investors appear to be more keen, with the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/retail/perron-group-to-acquire-half-stake-in-three-centro-centres-for-%24690-million-setting-post-gfc-commercial-retail-record/2012051754740">privately owned Perron Group paying a post-GFC record of $690.4 million</a> to acquire a 50% share in a portfolio of three Centro flagship regional shopping centres –the Colonnades in South Australia, The Glen in Victoria and the Galleria in Western Australia – in a deal brokered by Simon Rooney, Australian head of retail investments at Jones Lang LaSalle.
Shopping centres in particular are likely to lose their investment sparkle according to BIS Shrapnel due to lower rates of turnover growth thanks largely to the growth of online shopping and the “dilutionary effect of additional retail floor space”.
According to BIS Shrapnel, the construction of new retail floor space continues to outpace both population growth and real retail turnover growth, a long-term trend in Australia, broken only during the late 1990s/early 2000s period of unusually strong turnover growth.
“It’s surprising that this is happening now, when floor space growth is relatively muted due to the challenges facing development in the post-GFC environment,” says Lee. “It means that, in real terms, turnover per square metre is falling.”
Instead, Lee says, some investors are likely to turn their attention to stronger-performing office and industrial property instead.
According to BIS Shrapnel, online retailing has a two-pronged impact - the obvious effect of taking market share from ‘traditional’ retailing, but another effect that could be equally important.
“Consumers are using price comparison websites or apps on their mobile phones when in-store, and then demanding a price match in order for them to buy there and then,” says Lee. “This can have an impact on retailer profit margins.”
She also points out Australians are purchasing more online from overseas retailers.
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Retail property to provide only modest returns to investors by 2022: BIS Shrapnel

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Shoe label Tom Gunn has leased 22 square metres of space within one of Melbourne's laneways – Howey Place, off Little Collins Street.
The rent is $4,318 per square metre, per annum – or about $95,000 a year. It’s one of the smallest lease deals to be offered in the Melbourne CBD.
The cutting-edge Australian shoe label was launched in 2008 by Brisbane-based designers Gabrielle Thompson and Shannon Gunn, whose training was at the Ars Arpel School in Milan.
“Melbourne’s iconic laneways are incredibly sought after by retailers keen to position themselves at the forefront of the city’s cutting edge fashion scene,” Colliers International retail leasing agent Ben Tremellen says.
“CBD laneways have been activated by an influx of high-profile, popular tenants in recent times, and Howey Place is one of the best performers.
“It is tightly held, recording record rents and is home to one of Alannah Hill’s best trading stores,” he says.
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Shoe label Tom Gunn steps into Melbourne’s laneway retail market

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Australia is a nation of pet lovers.  It is estimated that 63% of Australian households have some type of pet, with more than 50% of us owning a dog or a cat.
Over many years, Australian and international research has shown that owning pets can help improve a person’s mental and physical health, reduce the effects of stress, help children learn about responsibility, facilitate social interaction between people and build a sense of community.
And according to a recent release by the <a target="_blank" href="https://petnet.com.au/">Petcare Information and Advisory Service (PIAS)</a>, the structural shift to higher-density living has the potential to impact our love of pet ownership and the benefits we derive from having a beloved moggy or ridiculously cute sausage dog called Kransky.
In many countries, according to PIAS, where high-density living has been the norm for a longer period of time, pets have been successfully integrated into city life.  And while it appears more and more landlords and bodies corporate in Australia are open to tenants and owners having pets, we still have a long way to go before we reach the acceptance levels of our compatriots overseas.
I have always been a cat person. I grew up with cats with imaginative names like Sylvester, Panther, Sebastian and Spike.  Our first cat was called McFur, which I must admit is pretty damn cool.
I was pet-less for about 15 years as I wandered around the globe, but about four years ago I inherited a cat a colleague had found living in a drain. The story goes that the previous owners had packed up and quite purposely left the cat behind. I still shake my head about it to this very day.
<img style="margin: 5px; float: left;" src="/images/stories/2012/07/trixie.jpg">
Now this cat lived in a drain for several weeks and was only rescued once it decided to start stealing food from people’s houses. She was obviously very hungry, but also admirably resourceful. The vet nicknamed her “Worms” and she lived there for two months before the last day of her existence was nigh. My colleague, an avowed animal-lover who already had a large enough collection of pets herself, put out a last desperate call for someone to save the cat’s life. For some reason, I answered that plea and within six hours had a very frightened, pitch-black, green-eyed fur-person delivered to my townhouse. Her first toy was a feather duster.
We named her “Trixie” (Trixie McMoo Moo in reality, which is quite embarrassing for me and for her) and she is the most affectionate, clumsy, slightly crazy cat I have ever known. We kept each other company over those years, but like so many people when I decided to move into a new property, there was a “no pets” policy. I thought about sneaking her in but decided against it. The next best option, of course, was to call my mum.
No doubt there is research out there somewhere about the tens of thousands of animals that end up living with mum and dad. Mum was due to retire, had lots of outdoor space for Trixie to roam around and roll in, and best of all, I could still see her whenever I wanted.  I saw her yesterday actually, but I must admit (as cats are wont to do) her affection for me has waned and is now firmly lodged with my mother. But that’s OK because she is happy and healthy where she is. But if I’m completely honest, part of me still pines to have her back living with me – especially now that it’s winter so she could keep me warm under the covers.
Nicola McDougall is media and communications manager for the <a href="https://www.reiq.com/" target="_blank">Real Estate Institute of Queensland</a>. This article originally appeared on the<a href="https://reiqblog.com/" target="_self"> REIQ blog</a>.
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