Apartment buyers in New South Wales are set to gain a decade of insurance-backed protection against major building defects, after the NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.&nbsp;

The Bill establishes decennial defect insurance, known in the market as Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), as an alternative to the existing two-year strata building bond. It cleared the Legislative Council with amendments on Tuesday evening (August 4, 2026), with the Legislative Assembly agreeing to those amendments shortly after.

Under the reform, eligible developers can satisfy their statutory bond obligation by taking out an approved decennial-style policy that gives owners 10 years of cover for major structural defects from completion, claimable directly, without first having to pursue developers or builders through costly legal action.&nbsp;

The change forms the final tranche of amendments arising from the 2021 statutory review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and related legislation.

Resilience Insurance, which originated the cover in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022, welcomed the passage and credited the NSW Government for delivering it.

“This is protection apartment buyers have needed for a long time, and the credit for delivering it belongs to the NSW Government,”&nbsp;said Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into. Reform like this is what good, evidence-based regulation looks like.”

Resilience has delivered LDI in NSW since 2022, protecting thousands of apartments, giving the State, and now the country, real-world evidence of how decade-long, no-fault protection works in practice.

The reform also places NSW within a wider national shift.

NSW is the third jurisdiction to put decennial cover into law. The ACT legislated for it in 2024, with the scheme taking effect in late 2025, and Victoria passed its own framework on 17 June. Between them, the three cover the majority of Australia's apartment market.

The reform commences once the legislation is proclaimed, which is expected in the coming weeks. From that point, developers of Class 2 residential apartment buildings can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial policy in place of the bond.

Buyers who purchased into projects that took out the cover early are among the first in the country to take keys to apartments carrying decade-long structural protection.

“With the legislation passed, the focus now turns to making it work for buyers,”&nbsp;Nugent said.

“There are already thousands of apartments in NSW covered by this insurance, bought by developers who moved early. The question every buyer should be asking in a display suite is a simple one: does this building come with 10-year defect cover, and who stands behind it?&nbsp;

“We look forward to working with the Government and the Building Commission in coming weeks as the framework moves to implementation, and to sharing what we have learned over the past four years so the protection reaches owners as smoothly and quickly as possible.”

Other states are working through their own reform programs. Western Australia has indicated that decennial cover is within consideration a later stage of its reform sequence, and Queensland has been examining the settings as it looks at the development pipeline ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Resilience Insurance acknowledges the NSW Government’s continued focus on strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing delivery across the State.

Fast Facts: What the reform means

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Proven at scale:&nbsp;Decennial cover has operated in NSW since 2022, protecting thousand of apartments.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">10 years of cover:&nbsp;Protection for major structural defects runs for a decade from completion, claimable directly and with no legal action required.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">An alternative to the bond:&nbsp;Eligible developers can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial-style policy in place of the 2% strata building bond.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Part of a national shift:&nbsp;The ACT has had decennial provisions in force since 2025 and Victoria passed its framework in June. NSW now joins them.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">No-fault, first resort:&nbsp;Owners corporations claim directly from the insurer without first having to establish who is liable for the defect.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost-competitive:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the 2% bond while offering broader, longer protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market position:&nbsp;Resilience originated LDI in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022.</li>
</ul>

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI):&nbsp;Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Consumer-first:&nbsp;Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost advantage:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market leader:&nbsp;&nbsp;Resilience Insurance originated LDI in Australia and is the national market leader.</li>
</ul>

Joel Robinson

NSW parliament passes 10-year defect insurance laws for new apartment buyers

Builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mcnab-developments">McNab</a> has wasted little time reshaping one of South Brisbane's most significant undeveloped apartment sites after acquiring the property earlier this year.&nbsp;

McNab has lodged plans to scrap an existing approval for two 30-storey towers and instead deliver a single 28-storey residential building, preserving part of the site for a future development opportunity.

The proposal, lodged over <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-peel-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">64 Peel Street and 9 Cordelia Street</a>, is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising 124 apartments above a landscaped podium, alongside a boundary realignment that preserves part of the land for a future residential project.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="743bf564-3f8f-45fc-b8d3-bbf18f5b628f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20Peel%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=EhCxGrVn_VFH3qTbKnI4WppGwaMnOn0t" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, the development will deliver 119 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments across 23 residential levels. A five-level podium will accommodate 135 car spaces, while the ground floor will include a 66 sqm commercial tenancy, an activated residential lobby with work-from-home spaces, and a publicly accessible landscaped plaza linking Cordelia and Peel streets.&nbsp;

Communal amenities will span Level 6 and the rooftop, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, kitchen and dining areas, lawn space, sauna, steam room and yoga facilities.

The application also proposes a boundary realignment to create a standalone 1,290 sqm development lot while retaining an adjacent parcel for future redevelopment, allowing the balance of the site to contribute additional housing over time.

Hayball said the architecture has been shaped by the site's elevated corner position at the intersection of Peel and Cordelia streets and Brisbane's subtropical climate.

The design incorporates generous landscaped setbacks, a masonry podium wrapped with planting, large north-facing balconies, and a slender tower profile intended to maximise natural light, cross ventilation and long-range views. The rooftop has been conceived as a wellness-focused retreat overlooking Brisbane, with amenities positioned to capture views towards Mount Coot-tha and the CBD.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5f99e84-6ad8-4a87-82d1-869685b754d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20tower%20perspective.png?VersionId=Gw0IuJaSAlk.tvGBxInhZOcQAdIB..2b" />

The planning submission positions the proposal as a response to both changing market conditions and Brisbane's Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning reforms.

McNab acquired the site after the previous approval was granted, with the existing scheme no longer reflecting current residential market demands, economic conditions, construction challenges, construction efficiencies or the quality of development outcome now being pursued, the planning report noted.

McNab continues to expand its residential development pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The developer recently launched The Tannery in West End, securing more than 60 per cent of apartments before the project's public release. It is also delivering Elements Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise and Lucia Highgate Hill, an eight-apartment boutique development overlooking the Brisbane River.

McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower

A steeply sloping Bellevue Hill site is set to accommodate a new mid-rise apartment development, with plans lodged for 20 homes that respond to the site's dramatic topography.

The proposal for the consolidated land at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/138a-140-bellevue-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">138A-140 Bellevue Road</a> has been designed by Sydney architecture practice Common Office, which has used the site’s substantial fall to distribute the building’s scale and unlock 20 apartments without presenting the full height to the street.&nbsp;

“The unique design strategy leverages the site’s substantial topographical fall to facilitate increased density, presenting a seven-storey profile to Bellevue Road while rising to 10 storeys at the rear,” Common Office said in its architectural design report.

The apartment mix spans one, two, three- and four-bedroom residences. Four two-bedroom apartments are designated as affordable housing, while the plans also include two adaptable dwellings. The mix is majority three-beds, with the typical three-bed apartment offering around 144 sqm internally, with balconies of around 15 sqm.

The affordable housing component represents 15 per cent of the residential floor area and allows the project to access additional height and floor space under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions. The site also falls within the inner area of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy because it is within 400 metres walking distance of Double Bay Town Centre.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1230d0f-3bfa-4a11-abaf-0928c66ef345" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da.png?VersionId=dZeMK3P.OutGjN8ycjsxm8uNsj_QFWQv" />

Common Office has arranged the building around a masonry podium and a lighter upper volume, drawing on two recurring elements of Bellevue Hill’s established architecture: sandstone bases and the vertical proportions of local Inter-war Art Deco apartment buildings.

“The proposal is governed by a holistic design language that reconciles the solid horizontal masonry of the neighbourhood’s podiums with the elegant verticality of its Art Deco heritage,” the architect said.

“The building maintains a consistent rhythmic logic utilising deep recesses and a sophisticated material transition to break down the 10-storey scale into a series of articulated, human-scale volumes.”

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0147f503-1af1-4d51-97fb-c2f1cba63a9d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20bldg.png?VersionId=GoW7q3NlK67OpnePXhk7zvklrlKb72Qc" />

Large-format sandstone tiles will define the lower levels, establishing a robust base that negotiates the change in elevation from Bellevue Road. Above, red-tinted precast concrete frames, recessed balconies, anodised aluminium screens and expanded metal details will create a more vertically expressed façade. Integrated planter beds will introduce greenery across balcony edges and recessed sections of the building.

The elongated northern façade has been divided into three recessed vertical masses to reduce its perceived length. Triangular window elements and metal privacy screens reference the geometry of nearby Art Deco buildings while controlling overlooking toward surrounding homes. The southern elevation will incorporate further privacy screening, landscaped edges and deep balconies to maintain light and ventilation.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8679cf1-18bc-4447-8a0f-0052b94ab83c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da%20rooftop.png?VersionId=5SQqQqRFf76rvE2p1TbxJSweMN70AIbc" />

Private and communal landscaping is distributed throughout the development. A landscaped garden apartment is positioned within the lower portion of the site, while a communal terrace on Level 5 will include a central timber deck, barbecue facilities, resident planting plots and areas for outdoor dining and informal gatherings.

Common Office described the terrace as an elevated sanctuary designed to capture district views and sunlight. Its planting strategy incorporates endemic species associated with the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, extending the landscape vertically through the building and providing habitat for local flora and fauna.

A second communal outdoor area is proposed at roof level, with built-in seating, paved gathering areas and perimeter planting.

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction. Positive Investment Enterprise is delivering the 16-apartment Kew Palm House on Birriga Road, while Chanine Developments is also under construction at Florian, a 36-apartment project on Banksia Road.

&nbsp;

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction.

First Look: Apartment development pitched for Bellevue Hill, Double Bay fringe

South Brisbane's apartment pipeline continues to build momentum, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a> lodging plans for a 161-apartment tower on Montague Road as developers accelerate investment across the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

The proposal for 176–186 Montague Road would replace an existing office building with a 20-storey residential tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, adding to a growing pipeline of high-density projects reshaping one of Brisbane's fastest-evolving inner-city precincts.

The project has been conceived as a "living building", featuring a flowing tower form, extensive vertical landscaping, and generous communal spaces that respond to the evolving Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

TRK Property Group Development Director Matt Kan said the project reflected the confidence developers have in South Brisbane's long-term future.

"South Brisbane is entering an incredibly exciting period, and we see Montague Road sitting right at the heart of that evolution," Kan said.

"With the former Visy site directly opposite us and significant investment planned throughout the broader Kurilpa precinct, there is a real sense of momentum around this part of the city and what it will become over the coming years.

"For TRK, this is an opportunity to be part of that next chapter and deliver a project that responds to where the precinct is heading, while contributing to the continued evolution of Brisbane's river edge."

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="590fe1ad-f892-4446-a679-80e33a16d029" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20tower%20facade.png?VersionId=uOJStrcKpyHFcPE1w6_9SMAFzVMCcZll" />

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, incorporating multi-purpose rooms in selected residences to provide additional flexibility for home offices or expanded living areas. The proposed mix comprises 15 one-bedroom, 13 one-bedroom plus MPR, 73 two-bedroom, 26 two-bedroom plus MPR, 30 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom apartments.

Rather than adopting a conventional rectilinear tower, COX Architecture has developed a sculpted form inspired by the movement of the Brisbane River.

"The proposal has been designed by COX Architecture as a 'living building' that responds to the site's riverine setting, floodplain history and evolving urban context within the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct," the planning report states.

"The architectural form draws from the fluid nature of the Brisbane River, with a curved and undulating tower form that creates a varied architectural edge and avoids a conventional rectilinear tower expression."

The podium has also been designed as an architectural feature rather than a conventional parking structure, with cascading planting, screening and natural-toned materials softening its appearance. Resident parking is elevated above ground level to address the site's flood constraints, while habitable apartments sit above flood planning levels. Upper-level communal facilities are designed to accommodate shelter-in-place arrangements during major flood events.

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01fa15d0-90df-46c7-9555-7941fc45373c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20podium.png?VersionId=mHyua.w1pHGBt9qEdWzrlsv.leztUCwO" />

Communal amenity is a major focus of the proposal. Around 1,815 sqm of shared resident space is proposed across the ground floor, level 19 and the rooftop, including co-working areas, indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, wellness facilities, dining and gathering areas, lawn spaces, a rooftop pool and spa, and extensive landscaping. At street level, a landscaped forecourt and approximately 345 sqm of publicly accessible open space along Montague Road are intended to improve the pedestrian experience while activating the building's frontage.

The development will provide 163 car spaces, including 152 resident bays and 11 visitor spaces, together with 144 bicycle spaces incorporating resident storage, visitor parking, bicycle maintenance facilities and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The site sits within one of Brisbane's fastest-changing inner-city precincts, less than two kilometres from the CBD and within easy reach of South Bank, West End, the Queensland Cultural Centre and extensive public transport connections. The Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning framework is encouraging higher-density residential development to help meet Brisbane's housing supply targets while supporting walkable, transit-oriented neighbourhoods.

TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans

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]

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

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

<html><body>
You may recall several <a href="https://his-best.biz/?s=baby+boomers" target="_blank">blogs in the past about baby boomers</a>, explaining the effect they will have upon the property market — both residential and commercial.
In 2005, I warned investors that: If you hadn't sold your traditional inner-city family home by 2010-11, you had better be prepared to hold it until 2025.
My reasoning for this was not that there would be any fewer buyers. Rather, they would be five times as many of these homes on the market — as baby boomers sought to downsize en masse.
Based on the recent buying frenzy (and the regular 70%+ clearance rates) for houses each weekend this year you may feel I had been somewhat mistaken.
However, you need to keep in mind that the GFC had effectively put everything (and everyone) "on hold" for about five years. And the residential market is merely playing catch-up, on both price and activity.
Anyway, an article appeared on page five in the weekend Australian Financial Review entitled: "Baby boomers set to flood the market with family homes", which caught my eye.
So, what will this mean?
For those boomers seeking to downsize, it will mean a growing number of similar competing listings on the market. But with no additional buyers, for these out-moded homes.
Many of them will be in need of major upgrade work. And some will have reached the point, where they only represent land value.
Therefore, you will soon face the likelihood of downward pressure on pricing, in order for you to achieve a sale.
And this new reality will certainly have some unexpected consequences:
<ol>
<li>
What you once looked upon as your de facto superannuation will be eroded;
</li>
<li>
You will have less to spend on your new "smaller" home or apartment; and
</li>
<li>
The inheritance available to your children could effectively be trimmed.
</li>
</ol>
Will this affect commercial property?
On the face of it, you would probably expect not too much impact at all.
However, during the early 2000s, many investors use the untapped equity in their homes, to set up lines of credit.
And then, used them to purchase one or more solid commercial investment properties.
The commercial properties themselves may be performing well. But it is the LVR for the line of credit, which will concern your bank over the next 10 years — as the market falls away, for your traditional family home.
As such, you may find yourself having to sell the commercial property to keep your family home. Or be forced to sell the family home, in what will soon become a soft market.
Bottom line is fortunately, most of my clients will have already taken the necessary steps to avoid this dilemma.
However, with the residential market running hot at the moment, you still have a small window in which to resolve any exposure you may currently have.
 
<hr>
 Chris Lang is an advisor to commercial property investors, sell-out author and regular speaker on how to invest in commercial property.
You can visit his website <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://property-edge.com.au/">Property Edge Australia</a> to help you get the most out of your commercial property investing.
 
</body></html>

chrislang-EQKojcgJPV

How baby boomer downgraders may affect commercial property investments 

<html><body>
This is a question often asked by traditional residential investors when they're considering the transition across to commercial property.
And you'll quickly discover the reasons are rather compelling.
Reason #1: Longer leases
Quite often, you'll find residential tenancies will be on a month-by-month basis, maybe six months, perhaps for a year.
Whereas, commercial properties will tend to lease for between three and five years, and often for longer. That means you have fewer tenancy changes, and a far more predictable income stream.
Reason #2: Greater security
When residential tenants want to exit half-way through a lease, they simply need to find a suitable substitute tenant. And then, transfer the lease across to that person.
From there on, this new tenant becomes responsible for the rental, over the remainder of the lease term.
Commercial tenants are running a business from your property. And whenever they sell their business, they also require your approval to 'assign' the lease.
However, here's the difference: If the new commercial tenant defaults in paying the rental, you also have recourse to the previous tenant as well — because commercial leases are business contracts, enforceable by law.
Reason #3: Commercial tenants pay outgoings
Typically, residential properties will provide you with a 5% gross rental return.
From this, you need to pay the rates and taxes, insurance, maintenance and so on — leaving you with about a 3.5% net return, at the end of the year.
Depending upon what (and where) they are, commercial properties will generate a 5% to 9% rental return.
However, commercial tenants are also required to pay the various building outgoings on top of their rental — making this a net rental return to you.
Reason #4: Commercial tenants operate a business
As you know, if the toilet stops working in an apartment … the tenant asks you to send around a plumber. Whereas, commercial tenants quickly attend to (and pay to fix) the problem themselves — so as not to disrupt their business.
Furthermore, the overall appearance of the property becomes a reflection on them. As such, your property is kept in good condition, at their expense.
Therefore, whether the lease requires it or not, most commercial tenants will regularly repair and repaint the property, in order to maintain a good corporate image.
Reason #5: Payment certainty
Most residential properties are rented by individuals. Therefore, the rent is generally paid in cash or by personal cheque. And this can often vary in its timing.
Because they are running a business, commercial tenants consider rent as simply another regular expense each month. And generally, this gets set up as an automatic bank transfer — and can be specified as such, in the lease.
Bottom Line: As a residential investor, you find yourself having to deal with the vagaries of individual people.
However, as a commercial investor, you tend to enjoy a more predictable long-term relationship with your tenants — based upon a proper business footing.
Doesn't that sound like a far better arrangement?
 
<hr>
 Chris Lang is an advisor to commercial property investors, sell-out author and regular speaker on how to invest in commercial property. You can visit his website <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://property-edge.com.au/">Property Edge Australia</a> to help you get the most out of your commercial property investing.
 
</body></html>

The five reasons to choose commercial over residential property

<html><body>
Australia’s wealthiest suburbs have been revealed.
According to a new Australian Bureau of Statistics publication, residents of Toorak in Melbourne’s inner-east made an average total income of $150,548 each from wages and salaries, investments, businesses, and superannuation.
Toorak was followed by three Sydney suburbs. Mosman residents were on $142,773 a pop, Double Bay/Bellevue Hill’s wage-earners took home $141,544 on average, while residents of Hunters Hill/Woolwich sat on $138,007.
Rounding out the top five wealthiest suburbs was Cottesloe in western Perth, where residents made $125,441 on average.
The report also broke down average incomes by state, finding that residents of the Australian Capital Territory had the highest incomes in Australia, with an average of $61,608 per annum.
This was followed by Western Australia where average incomes stood at $58,291, followed by the Northern Territory, with $54,794, with New South Wales close behind on $54,110 and Victorian residents on $51,398.
Residents of Queensland on average made $49,853, South Australians made $47,853, while Tasmanians made $44,018 on average.
Residents in Australia’s cities tended to record substantially higher incomes than those in regional Australia.
If metropolitan areas are stripped out, the highest-paid regional workers were those in the mining centres of Karratha and Port Hedland in Western Australia, who earned $86,826 and $86,079 on average.
Between 2005-6 and 2010-11, average incomes in Australia grew 4.9%.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory recorded the highest levels of income growth, with 6.7% and 5.3% growth respectively.
Incomes in Queensland and South Australia were just above the national average, both growing 5% per annum over the period.
Residents of the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania saw their income grow at levels just below the national average – 4.8% per year and 4.7% per year on average.
 
<hr>
 This article first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au">SmartCompany</a>.
<img style="float: left;" alt="jc-insight" height="210" width="150" src="/images/stories/2013/10/30/jc-insight.jpg">PROPERTY INSIGHTS
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/income-correlates-to-prestige-house-price-with-mining-towns-the-major-abs-blow-ins/2013102965985?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=jonathanchancellor'spropertyinsights" title="Income correlates to prestige house price, with mining towns the major ABS blow-ins">Income correlates to prestige house price, with mining towns the major ABS blow-ins</a>
"The enduring global financial crisis fallout means many of these well-heeled residents aren’t actually any the wealthier from house price gains given the top end property market still hasn’t recovered."
</body></html>

mrobin-TVRYiru7si

Toorak tops list of country's wealthiest suburbs

<html><body>
Locksmithing is an art shrouded in secrecy for many investors. We spoke to Justin Fankhauser from TopLock to try and unlock the secrets of home security.
Property Observer is starting a weekly Day in the Life series to have a closer look at some of the people who deal with real estate every day and see what lessons there are for property investors.
{qtube vid:=1f3CHUJANaE&amp;feature=youtu.be} 
Most of his jobs are taken up by rekeying jobs – people want to change the key to the property but don’t want to switch the full locks out.
He says this is especially important when moving into a new property, you never know who else might have keys. It’s a quick job but it gives tenants and owners a sense of security.
Justin says a lot of private landlords don’t realise they should be doing this and most of those jobs come from professional property managers.
Even off-the-plan properties should be rekeyed before anyone moves in. In big apartment developments master keys are given to all contractors while they work on the building. That means when you move in any number of people could have a master key to your property so it’s important to rekey.
A lot of renovators are putting internal locks on bedroom and bathroom doors to give their tenants more privacy. It’s a simple thing that tenants really appreciate.
Insurance premiums go down when there are deadlocks installed on all external doors and window locks on all the windows.
They also go down further when alarm systems or camera systems are installed.
 
This is the day (and the night) in the life of a locksmith.
8am: Justin arrives at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.toplock.net.au/">Toplock </a>factory in Northcote to start the day. He's on night shift as well today so he'll be working through the night. His dispatcher is already at work and has a full list of jobs ready for him and the growing team of locksmiths.
8.10am: Justin leaves for his first job. It’s a house in Coburg. It’s not too far and Justin makes good time.
8.40am: Justin arrives at the house and talks to the owner. The owner’s husband lost his wallet with a spare key hidden inside last week. His address was written on his drivers license and the owner thought she heard someone trying to open the back door last night. It’s a simple rekeying job.
9:00am: Rekeying is a quick job so he’s done in 20 minutes. He invoices the owner and heads back to the car to get his next job. It’s an industrial office out in Keilor East.
9:30am: Justin arrives at the office. He has a quick chat and gets started. The new tenants want to put locks on the three internal office doors. He switches out the old knobs with new keyed knobs. He boxes up the old ones so they can be reused if need be. Some of the doors weren’t quite latching properly but a quick bit of chisel work clears it up.
10:00am: He invoices the client and heads back to his office.
10:30am: Justin has a lot of administration to do. With the recent expansion of his business he spends more and more time running the administrative side of the business while his team of locksmiths run all around Melbourne.
2.30pm: He’s finished his administrative work and it’s time to hit the road again. He has a call out to a renovator in Brunswick who needs some work done.
2.45pm: It’s an old terrace being refurbished and the owners want internal locks put on all the bedroom and bathrooms. Tenants like it especially if they’re sharing a house. It gives them some extra privacy.
4.00pm: The whole house now has locks. It took a while to resit some of the doors and get them latching properly. He heads back to his car to get his next job. A nearby real estate agent wants the locks rekeyed for a new tenant.
4.20pm: He arrives at the Carlton house to rekey the front and back door. It’s a quick job for Justin.
4.40pm: He gives the new keys over to the agent and heads back to the office to prepare for the night shift.
7:00pm: Justin’s rested and eaten and ready to start the night shift. Once a week someone has to take the night shift and be prepared for all sorts of jobs.
9:00pm: The first night job comes early. It’s a call from Richmond where someone has locked themselves out. He heads over to let the tenants back in on a rainy night.
9.20pm: The traffic isn’t so bad at this time of night so Justin gets there quickly. He lets the tenant back in using a pick gun and heads back to the office.
11:00pm: Another call from someone locked out in Collingwood.
11:15pm: They’re drunk but nice. He lets them in with the pick gun again. All documentation is completed and ID is sighted to make sure it’s the right person.
2:00am: No one calls until 2am. He wakes up to take the call. Someone gets a quote, decides they don’t want the job and don’t take the job.
3:00am: He gets another call. The person is calling from a public phone box and needs to be let back in. They have bars on their windows so they couldn’t smash it.
3:00am: He lets them back in with the pick gun again and heads off.
7:30am: The night shift ends with no other call outs and Justin is free to go home and sleep.
</body></html>

awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

A day in the life of a locksmith - unlocking security secrets

<html><body>
Some 20 localities recorded average total incomes of $100,000 plus in 2010-11 across Australia, according to the latest ABS release of ATO data.
But the enduring global financial crisis fallout means many of these well-heeled residents aren’t actually any the wealthier from house price gains given the top end property market still hasn’t recovered.
Of the top 20 income suburbs, 12 were in Sydney, four in Melbourne and four in Perth.
There's no surprise by the strong correlation between the income of the residents and their propensity to pay big money for their city abodes.
The only interesting new trend - or perhaps its retracing steps back to the pioneer days - is the emergence of mining wealth.  Toorak in Melbourne recorded the highest average total income at $150,548 of all the statistical area regions.
Mosman was second at $142,773, then Double Bay-Bellevue Hill at $141,544.
The Hunters Hill-Woolwich peninsula ($138,007) and Cottesloe in western Perth ($125,411) in fifth place. Outside of the capital city regions, incomes were highest in the mining centres of Karratha ($86,828) and Port Hedland ($86,079) in Western Australia. The coal mining centre of Moranbah ($83,257) in north-east Queensland was also prominent. Singleton ranks highly in NSW regions, along with Roxby Downs in South Australia with incomes rising faster than the wealthiest city locations.
Between 2005-6 and 2010-11, average incomes in Australia grew 4.9% with Western Australia recording the highest levels of income growth.
Sydney's top five income suburbs were....
<table style="width: 470px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="123" valign="top">
 
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
2005/2006
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
2010/11
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Income annual growth %
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Mosman
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$114 971
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$142 773
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
4.4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Double Bay-Bellevue Hill
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$114 507
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$141 544
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
4.3
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Hunters Hill-Woolwich
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$110 865
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$138 007
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
4.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Dover Heights
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$100 951
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$125 350
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
4.4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="123" valign="top">
Rose Bay -Vaucluse-Watsons Bay
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$100 871
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
$125 091
</td>
<td width="123" valign="top">
4.4
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The figure is an aggregate of wages and salaries, investment incomes, businesses, and superannuation.
The data also indicated provided insights into other additional income, including investment income - with Mosman recording an average income of $42,998 from this source in 2010-11. The Double Bay-Bellevue Hill incomes were potentially supplemented by $66,258 from investment income. Hunters Hill incomes were supplemented by $54,678 investment income.
So a quick look at the Sydney median house prices are:
<a href="/news">Mosman</a> $2.17 million - down 5.5% over past five years with an average 114 days on market with 9% average discount required to secure a sale.
<a href="/news">Double Bay </a>$2.7 million - up 14.6% over past five years with an average 142 days on market with 12% average discount required to secure a sale.
<a href="/news">Bellevue Hill </a>$2.88 million - down 14% over past five years with an average 148 days on market with 13% average discount required to secure a sale.
<a href="/news">Hunters Hill </a>$1.587 million - up 9% over past five years with an average 94 days on market with 10% average discount required to secure a sale.
<a href="/news">Dover Heights </a>$2.4 million - no change over past five years with an average 116 days on market with 11% average discount required to secure a sale.
The Melbourne median house prices are: 
<a href="/news">Toorak</a> ($150,548) $2.65 million - no change over past five years with an average 160 days on market with 10% average discount required to secure a sale. Toorak was also prominent in investment income terms - recording an average income of $89,841 from this source in 2010-11.
<a href="/news">Brighton</a> on the coast of Port Phillip Bay had the second highest average total income in 2010-11 ($111,966). Its $1.69 million house median up 1.6% over past five years with an average 99 days on market with 10% average discount required to secure a sale.
Then followed Albert Park, ($104,168) East Melbourne ($103,268) and Malvern-Glen Iris ($94,697). 
Perth's top five were
<a href="/news">Cottesloe</a> ($125,411) - $1.725 million down 15% over the past five years 131 days on market with an average 10% discount required to secure a sale. 
then Nedlands-Dalkeith-Crawley, ($116,269); Mosman Park-Peppermint Grove, ($116,253); City Beach ($115,829) and Claremont ($99,777). 
<a href="/news">Port Hedland </a>($86,079) - $1.2 million median house price up 50% over past five years with an average 101 days on market with 11% average discount required to secure a sale.
Recently RP Data research indicated the top end was at the beginning of renewed price growth after premium housing markets recorded a larger correction in values following the GFC. Cheaper price segments have recorded a higher recovery rate to-date than the prestige home market.
<img alt="kusher-oct-18-one" src="/images/stories/2013/10/18/kusher-oct-18-one.gif" width="470" height="238">
The latest quarterly figures suggest the tide may be turning for Australia’s more expensive housing markets.
The premium market, comprising of the most expensive 25% of capital city suburbs, recorded quarterly value growth of 4.1% compared to 3.6% across the middle 50% of suburbs and 2.8% growth across the most affordable suburbs. It's especially noticeable in Melbourne houses, and also Sydney, but not yet in Brisbane and Adelaide.
<img alt="kusher-oct-18-three" src="/images/stories/2013/10/18/kusher-oct-18-three.gif" width="470" height="199">
The annual growth in house values is noticeably stronger than unit values. Over the most recent three months, premium house values are 4.2% higher and unit values are 2.9% higher. 
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Income correlates to prestige house price, with mining towns the major ABS blow-ins

<html><body>
This time last month I wrote that we had reached what I called the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/we-ve-reached-the-tipping-point-of-a-balanced-rental-market-ewan-morton/2013091264962">delicate rental market tipping point</a>. I said it would be fleeting and it appears I was right. That moment when rents and mortgage outlay are in line has passed. Figures released over recent weeks highlight house prices in Sydney jumped 2.5% in September with a 10% growth overall so far in 2013. Compare that to figures released by APM yesterday showing average Sydney house price rents haven't moved over the last 12 months and predictions are they will remain stable for much of the year ahead. That's great news if you're renting.  For those in the market to buy it is an interesting revelation. It's certainly another reason not to get caught up in talk of the market going gangbusters, and while it might sound gloomy I think investors should factor in a uniform rental return when doing their numbers on the value of a potential rental property. Better to be happily surprised rather than financially squeezed.   However it is also good to remember that those numbers are the average and there are pockets where rental demand is strong. We manage a large number of properties in and around Pyrmont where demand continues to outstrip supply so rental return is very healthy. If you are a potential investor don't be discouraged but do be discerning.
 
<hr>
 Ewan Morton is managing director of the Sydney based <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mortonandmorton.com.au/" rel="nofollow">Morton &amp; Morton</a>.
</body></html>

emorton-DecMjPQt5h

Moment when rents and mortgage outlay are in line has passed: Ewan Morton 

<html><body>
Is now a good time to buy a property or home?
74% of respondents in the RP Data – Nine Rewards survey believe now is a good time to be buying property. While the results show the vast majority of those surveyed think the timing to purchase a home is good, the results are a reduction from our May 2013 results where 80% of respondents thought it was a good time to purchase a home. The result is also slightly lower than a year ago when 76% of respondents thought it was a good time to be purchasing a dwelling.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2634" alt="1 time to buy" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/1-time-to-buy-580x206.jpg" width="470" height="167" style="margin: 0px auto 15px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; outline-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961); max-width: 100%; text-align: center; height: auto; display: block; vertical-align: bottom;">
Across the regions the results for this question showed some diversity. Not a single respondent in the Northern Territory thought now was a good time to be buying a dwelling, perhaps reflecting a reduced level of buyer sentiment in the top end housing market. Similarly, a smaller proportion of Sydney respondents (63%) thought now was a good time to be purchasing a dwelling. The May results were 10 basis points higher for Sydney at 73%. Dwelling values have moved 12.2% higher across the Sydney housing market since values bottomed out in May 2012. Many prospective Sydney buyers have either been priced out of the market or would be viewing the current level of capital gains as unsustainable.
More than 80% of survey respondents thought it was a good time to be buying a home in Adelaide, Regional Western Australia, Regional Queensland and Brisbane.
Is now a good time to sell a property or home?
Despite the strong housing market conditions only slightly more than half of respondents thought now was a good time to be selling their home. The results are dramatically higher than a year ago when only 29% of those surveyed thought it was a good time to be selling.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2640" alt="2 time to sell" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2-time-to-sell-580x204.jpg" width="470" height="165" style="margin: 0px auto 15px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; outline-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961); max-width: 100%; text-align: center; height: auto; display: block; vertical-align: bottom;">
The strong housing market conditions in Sydney have prompted the largest proportion of respondents to suggest now is a good time to sell. About 74% of Sydney based respondents thought that now was a good time to be selling their home. Based on RP Data’s most recent weekly statistics, the typical Sydney house is selling, on average, in just 27 days, highlighting the strong selling conditions that are prevalent across this market. 65% of respondents in Melbourne thought now was a good time to be selling and 61% of Perth respondents though it was a good time to sell their home.
Housing markets where capital gains have been softer, such as South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania, have prompted survey respondents to be less bullish on selling conditions. Only 23% of those surveyed in regional South Australia thought now was a good time to be selling and 29% in regional Queensland.
In your opinion is Australia’s housing market vulnerable to a significant correction in values?
This is the first time this question has been included in the RP Data – Nine Rewards survey. The results show 60% of survey respondents believe the Australian housing market may be vulnerable to a significant correction in values. The survey didn’t probe further about what level of value decline would be considered ‘significant’, however, it is clear that there is a level of unease about the future of Australian dwelling values.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2639" alt="3 vulnerable" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/3-vulnerable-580x258.jpg" width="470" height="209" style="margin: 0px auto 15px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; outline-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961); max-width: 100%; text-align: center; height: auto; display: block; vertical-align: bottom;">
Respondents based in the Australian Capital Territory, Perth and Sydney showed the most significant level of pessimism when it came to their belief that dwelling values are vulnerable to a significant correction. 70% of respondents in the ACT thought the local housing values were vulnerable to a significant fall, as did 68% of Perth respondents and 65% of Sydney respondents. Both Sydney and Perth have seen a greater than average run up in dwelling values over the most recent growth cycle which may be contributing to the perceived threat of a downturn in home values.
Conversely, respondents in Tasmania, where the housing market has been the weakest of any state or territory, are much less pessimistic. Only 36% of respondents thought the housing market was vulnerable to a significant correction in dwelling values. The proportion of pessimistic responses was below 60% for respondents based in the Northern Territory, regional NSW, Adelaide, Brisbane and regional Victoria.
What is the most important factor when purchasing a property?
The vast majority of respondents believe the most important factor to consider when purchasing a property is their personal financial situation at 52%. Slightly more than half of the survey participants felt this to be the most important factor when considering a property purchase. Interestingly, the housing market’s prospects for capital growth also rated quite high, with just under 20% of respondents indicating this was their most important consideration. 15% of respondents thought the interest rate setting was the most important factor, while only 10% of respondents felt that job security was their most important consideration.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2638" alt="4 most important" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/4-most-important-580x211.jpg" width="470" height="171" style="margin: 0px auto 15px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; outline-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961); max-width: 100%; text-align: center; height: auto; display: block; vertical-align: bottom;">
Do you believe home values will rise, fall or remain stable over the next six months?
51% of respondents were expecting home values to rise over the next six months compared with just 33% of respondents in October last year. Only 6% of respondents were expecting values to fall over the coming six months.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2637" alt="5 6 monhts" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/5-6-monhts-580x335.jpg" width="470" height="271" style="margin: 0px auto 15px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; outline-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961); max-width: 100%; text-align: center; height: auto; display: block; vertical-align: bottom;">
Of those respondents who are expecting home values to rise over the next six months, their expectations of growth remain relatively measured, with just over half of those respondents that thought values would rise over the next six months indicating that growth would be between 2.5% and 4.9%. The vast majority were expecting growth to be less than 5% over the next half year.
According to the 6% of respondents who think values will fall over the next six months, the largest proportion (41%) are expecting the fall to be less than 2.5% and almost 75% of respondents think values will fall by less than 5% over the coming half year.
Do you believe home values will rise, fall or remain stable over the next 12 months?
A larger proportion of respondents believe Australian home values will rise over the next 12 months, with 57% of respondents expecting values to lift. Compared with the survey responses in October last year, only 42% of respondents were expecting home values to rise over the coming year.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2636" alt="7 12 months" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/7-12-months-580x225.jpg" width="470" height="182" style="margin: 0px auto 15px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; outline-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961); max-width: 100%; text-align: center; height: auto; display: block; vertical-align: bottom;">
Of those respondents who are expecting dwelling values to rise over the coming 12 months, the vast majority (78%) expect the magnitude of growth to be less than 5%.
Do you believe home rental rates will rise, fall or remain stable over the next 12 months?
 Most respondents (55%) to the survey are expecting rental rates to continue rising over the coming year, with only 4% of individuals surveyed expecting a fall in rents.
Of those respondents that are expecting a rise in weekly rents over the coming year, 41% are expecting a rise of between 2.5% to 4.9% while the second largest proportion are expecting rents to rise by under 2.5% over the year.
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2635" alt="8 rents" src="https://blog.rpdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/8-rents-580x248.jpg" width="470" height="201" style="margin: 0px auto 15px; padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; outline-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961); max-width: 100%; text-align: center; height: auto; display: block; vertical-align: bottom;">
Respondents based in Northern Territory are the most bullish on rental markets, with three quarters of the respondents expecting higher rents over the next twelve months. Just under 70% of Adelaide respondents were expecting higher rents and more than 60% of respondents were expecting rents to move higher over the year in Regional NSW, Tasmania and Sydney.
Residents of regional South Australia showed the lowest expectation of rental rises over the coming year, with only 38.5% of respondents indicating they were expecting rents to move higher. Fewer than half the respondents in ACT, regional Vic and Perth were expecting higher rents over the coming year.
 
<hr>
 Tim Lawless is national research director of <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.myrp.com.au/" target="_blank">RP Data.</a>
 
 
 
</body></html>

tlawless-5VLUrbAk9s

Do people think it's a good time to buy or sell a property? Consumer sentiment survey results

<html><body>
The increasing interest from offshore Asian buyers, and largely Chinese buyers, has been attracting a lot of attention. Not only are real estate agencies expanding out to these areas, but Chinese-language news outlets and online portals specialising in property are going from strength to strength.
It's interesting then, that many are restricted by certain types of rules and regulations. Property Observer set out to find specifically what stock these buyers can purchase, and what they're looking for.
Australian Property Monitors' Andrew Wilson points out a few major points that are of interest to Chinese buyers.
Firstly, he says, it's a case of replacing the 'location, location, location' mantra with "good schools, good schools and good schools."
Linked to this, they look for highly established quiet to upper-mid price range neighbourhoods, as well as those with "cultural connections". For Sydneysiders, this may mean a suburb such as <a href="/news">Ashfield</a>.
Value is then the final most important consideration.
The categories of buyer
However, we must be wary when categorising all Chinese investors together. Just as resident buyers do not fall into any one strict category, there are a number of buyer-types here also.
Andrew Taylor, co-CEO of <a href="https://Juwai.com" target="_blank">Juwai.com</a>, a listings portal for Chinese buyers to find international property, helped us categorise the buyers into these three segments.
He explains that they classify offshore Chinese buyers into four distinct categories, based on net worth.
1.    Extremely high net worth: Those seeking prime properties, from $5 to $50 million in value. Usually for immigration or as secondary residence. These buyers are fewer in number, but account for a significant dollar amount of total investment.
A typical investment for this type of buyer, may look like a $6.5 million listing they had of a property on Wategos Beach, Byron Bay.
2.    High net worth: Those seeking luxury properties, from $1.5 to $5 million.
3.    Upper middle class: Those seeking properties from $750,000 to $1.5 million. The greatest number are in the $1.2 to $1.5 million range.
4.    Middle class: Those seeking properties from $250,000 to $750,000. The greatest number of these buyers are in the $500,000 to $650,000 range.
He points to the top reasons for buying, across the categories, being for reasons of education, migration and investment diversification. Often, all three are combined.
This may be a buyer purchasing an investment property and renting it out, until a few years later their children live in it to study in Australia, with the entire family staying when they visit.
"Then, perhaps one day, they immigrate to Australia and retire to the home," says Taylor.
In fact, Chinese buyers can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/understanding-chinese-property-buyers-and-sellers/2012012653148">also differ in their buying needs and wants due to their ethnicity</a>.
OH Property Group's Oliver Stier pointed to the following points:
- They like full-brick homes (as opposed to brick veneer, weatherboard or fibro – unless they plan to knock it down).
- They like rectangular-shaped land.
- They generally would prefer not to have a swimming pool. Swimming is not a big part of the Chinese upbringing and many Chinese-born children don’t know how to swim. Therefore a swimming pool is seen to be more a danger and a chore than a source of pleasure.
- They like level and clear land with not too many trees (especially protected species such as gum trees, which are not always possible to remove).
- They like low-maintenance properties (e.g. paved backyard as opposed to cottage-style garden).
- They prefer high side of the street and generally dislike properties that have an entrance below street level.
- They have a preference for newer properties and less of an appreciation for older-style features such as an ornate ceiling or picture rails, etc. Therefore, a heritage-listed property usually does not appeal to Chinese buyers.
- Position is important, and many Chinese buyers will not want to purchase properties that are at a T-junction, for example.
- Aspect is also important, and Chinese buyers typically prefer morning sun than afternoon sun.
- Some feng shui-related features are important.
A window into Chinese buyers' thoughts
If you're interested in understanding the Chinese buyer, look no further than the Chinese developers, says Taylor. Particularly those who are developing in Australia, as often this is to attract Chinese investors.
“I had dinner with two small Chinese developers this week, both with projects worth around $65 million. They just purchased several blocks of land on the coast in Queensland and New South Wales. Their requirements are that the land be close to schools or close to good hospitals. Their target market is investors, especially Chinese investors, who will rent out to locals," he says.
In December, he wrote  for Property Observer <a target="_blank" href="/news">four tips for those looking to sell their property to Chinese buyers</a>.
We've also recently written about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/marketing-your-property-to-chinese-buyers/2013092465226">marketing your property to Chinese buyers</a>.
Which cities are seeing interest?
Measuring activity on Juwai.com, comparing January and August 2013 (including page views, searches, search results and enquiries) the following trends emerge.
China’s Top Aussie Cities 1. Sydney 2. Brisbane 3. Melbourne 4. Gold Coast 5. Adelaide  
China’s Fasting Growing Aussie Cities 1. Melbourne 2. Perth 3. Mandurah, WA 4. Launceston, Tasmania 5. Canberra 6. Adelaide  
Source: Juwai.com
This week, Century 21 Australia and New Zealand chairman, Charles Tarbey, mentioned to Property Observer that <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/lack-of-stock-behind-price-rises-exclusive-interview-with-charles-tarbey/2013102365923" target="_blank">Adelaide has been starting to market developments to Chinese buyers </a>more heavily.
Next page: Chinese Australian buyers and the changing wants of buyers
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Chinese Australian buyers
Sophie Jiang, from The Vision China Times, told Property Observer that it is definitely hard to generalise about what Chinese buyers want in a property. Budget, purpose, personal background and situation are, of course, game changers for every investor.
However, some constants are definitely clear from what the experts are saying.
Jiang notes that she has spoken to a number of different development groups, such as AVJennings, Fraser Property, Payce and Legacy group, and that this has created a fairly clear picture in her mind as to what is being marketed and snapped up.
However, it's not just non-resident Chinese buyers that are purchasing. Chinese Australian buyers, obviously, are looking for a certain type of stock.
"For owner occupiers especially those with young kids, quality schools are always on the top of their criterion list in selecting location, followed by the access to public transportation, amenities, neighbourhood," Jiang lists.
"Many Chinese Australian buyers are family oriented so they like to live close to each other and  still be able to enjoy the same lifestyle as in China. That is the reason why those suburbs with large Chinese population have been enjoying high demand," she explains.
When looking at the specific property, Chinese buyers steer towards double brick with large land content, due to opinions that this creates solid capital growth.
"Good position and floor plan in compliance with Feng Shui are also very important," she says.
A Feng Shui inappropriate floorplan may include features such as the front door looking on to another door, doors being in too close proximity (known as "arguing doors"), too many windows and doors in a row, and bedrooms that are situated over specific rooms that are not deemed peaceful (e.g. over a garage).
New apartments and townhouses, due to their low maintenance appeal, are also being favoured by Chinese buyers. While, for solely investment buyers, new and off-the-plan in the inner city are more important.
"Popular features are location (proximity to transport, university, shopping, CBD, beach), architectural design, finishes and amenities," Jiang concludes.
Taylor agrees with this, also listing the following themes:
- Water views and frontage
- New or recently renovated construction
- Proximity to educational institutions
- Proximity to Chinese Australian communities
- Easy access to amenities, shopping and transport The changing wants of buyers
While all of these factors may sound fairly prescriptive, the sands are regularly shifting around buyers' profiles and their wants.
“In Australia, I’m constantly surprised when I hear from agents. There’s always a new suburb where vendors are benefitting from having these investors show interest in their property. Whether it’s in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, semi-rural Dural, or an outer suburb of Adelaide, Chinese buyers are turning up in places they seldom did before," Taylor says.
“I don’t think Australia has ever seen a group of foreign investors as numerous as the Chinese. As they learn more about Australia and come to love it, they are exploring new communities and property types. That’s why you see Chinese buyers in more suburbs now than you did just a year ago."
Similarly, observer Terry Ryder notes that they are not always achieving what they want from property. This will, likely, change.
"I think Chinese buyers [want] something they are not getting: they want good investment properties at market prices. At the moment they are sold bad investments at inflated prices," Ryder explains.
"They are being targeted by Australian developers with properties they can't sell in the local market because of oversupply, particularly the inner-city areas of Melbourne and the Gold Coast."
He says that he was speaking at a seminar in Melbourne, and was approached by a man in the audience who had flown from Shanghai to hear the talk, telling Ryder later that his family and friends had been ripped off by developers and marketers in the past, buying the wrong stock.
Commercial property is also emerging as being of interest to this buying group. Read Property Observer on Monday for some more information.
In the meantime, you can read observer Pete Wargent's thoughts on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/trends/the-chinese-buyer-phenomenon-pete-wargent/2013101565710">reasons behind the Chinese buyer 'phenomenon'</a>.
 
</body></html>

jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

What do Chinese buyers want?

<html><body>
When you've been attending a number of open homes, you quickly realise what is and isn't unusual for a property in the area. "Unusual" isn't always a good thing to associate with your investment property, but a desirable, scarce and highly valued difference can ensure that your property is in good stead for future growth.
This concept comes up consistently from a number of investment professionals. Yesterday evening, at WBP Property Group's ‘Property Investment Symposium’ event, which Property Observer attended (you can read all of the tweets from the event, and some reader questions, via <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23propertyobserving&amp;src=typd">#propertyobserving</a>) this concept was heavily talked about.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WBP philosophy: capital grth is king, historic performance crucial, high Land value, scarcity <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23propertyobserving&amp;src=hash">#propertyobserving</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/propertyobs">@propertyobs</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23wbpsymposium&amp;src=hash">#wbpsymposium</a>
— Jennifer Duke (@JennieDuke) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/JennieDuke/statuses/392929851125936128">October 23, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
Disputing the myths, WBP Property Group's property adviser, Phil Manning, stopped at a slide that said 'Location, location, location' and said that the reason we say it three times isn't because location is important enough to be mentioned thrice. In fact, it's because we should be looking at three location factors when it comes to a property:
Location in the suburb
Location in the street
Location in the block
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Phil Manning wants to give us some basic thoughts/fundamentals <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23propertyobserving&amp;src=hash">#propertyobserving</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/propertyobs">@propertyobs</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23wbpsymposium&amp;src=hash">#wbpsymposium</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/JSNFAntcqx">pic.twitter.com/JSNFAntcqx</a>
— Jennifer Duke (@JennieDuke) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/JennieDuke/statuses/392928808778469376">October 23, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
He later brought up an example of a property that they purchased. He noted that it had several 'scarcity' aspects to it, that ensured it would stack up. Not all of these would have been apparent to someone looking at the properties - and not all of those in the block would have had the same result.
For instance, it had views of Melbourne's skyline that could not be built out due to a heritage overlay. Those on the ground floor level would not have this view, and so would not be considered as having investment grade scarcity. It also had a pull down ladder to storage space in the roof - something very few units have, which counters many buyers' concerns about the difficulties of storage in apartments.
For this reason, apartments in large towers may not be the most preferable asset choice for investors with this strategy.
The concept of scarcity ties in nicely with supply and demand, in that it is a scarce type of supply. However, it's a little bit more difficult to determine. Without regularly viewing properties in the area, it can be hard for an out-of-town investor to know what is common within a property and what is not, and which factors are desirable. For instance, buying a weatherboard house in a primarily brick area, something Manning refers to as buying property that is anomalous to that in the area, could be to your detriment.
Monique Sasson Wakelin <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/properties-that-will-double-in-value-in-seven-to-10-years-monique-sasson-wakelin/2013091265003">previously told </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/properties-that-will-double-in-value-in-seven-to-10-years-monique-sasson-wakelin/2013091265003">Property Observer</a> that scarcity applies to both houses and units. "The same criterion applies to apartments. With apartments you want anything from 1930s through to about the 1970s. Those are the assets that really confer and satisfy that criterion of scarcity value," she said.
"When it comes to houses we like to choose investments that are anything from the 1880s probably to about the 1940s or 1950s."
For the reason of scarcity, Manning also said that you shouldn't go into every purchase leaving your emotions behind. Remember, the next buyer down the track will likely be an owner occupier buying based on emotion and you want to be aware of how they may feel towards a property, and how it suits their lifestyle.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Lifestyle offers that property makes is crucial. Transport is assumed. Walk to recreational says Manning <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23propertyobserving&amp;src=hash">#propertyobserving</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/propertyobs">@propertyobs</a>
— Jennifer Duke (@JennieDuke) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/JennieDuke/statuses/392932367620243456">October 23, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
Be emotional when you enter - see whether it has a feeling that appeals. Is the bay window, or fireplace, or similar, that you don't see much in other properties, that you could easily see an owner occupier paying a premium to have? Is it the view? Is it the slightly larger garden? See how it is located to desirable factors e.g. bike paths, recreational centres, and similar.
Where you don't want to be emotional, he said, is with the price you pay.
{module Do you consider scarcity value when considering investment properties?}
</body></html>

Assessing capital growth potential: Scarcity factor

<html><body>
If the past 10-15 years in real estate has taught us anything, it’s that no amount of regulation and legislation can protect consumers from bad advice or crooks hell-bent on ripping them off.
The 1990s was the era of the get-rich-quick seminar, when tens of thousands of Australians were duped by two-tier marketeers, seminar gurus and others into paying inflated prices for badly-located real estate or grossly over-priced “mentoring” services.
Eventually, the level of consumer outcry reached levels where politicians had to act. Queensland enacted the PAMDA laws in 2001 and in the following years most of the other states revised their real estate legislation, supposedly to stamp out the worst excesses of the residential property industry.
But in most cases the politicians sought advice on what should be done to protect consumers from the real estate industry. It was tantamount to asking the mafia for advice on how to stamp out the drug trade.
So, essentially, nothing has changed. Dummy bidding is still part and parcel of the auction process. Agents still over-quote to win listings and under-quote to attract auction crowds. Crooked operators continue to run seminars which promise to make people overnight millionaires. Shonky businesses still claim to possess “wealth secrets” which they will reveal for a hefty fee. Marketing operations receiving huge commissions from developers continue to describe themselves as “buyers agents” or “clubs” purporting to represent the interests of buyers.
As I recorded <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/sorting-out-the-good-the-bad-and-the-downright-ugly-of-investment-property-advice-terry-ryder/2013082664566" target="_blank">in a previous column</a>, the Melbourne Home Show in August was teeming with dodgy operators seeking to exploit consumers rather than provide genuine services.
If anything, matters have got worse. It’s an open secret that accountants and financial advisors, with all the required qualifications and registrations, earn commissions of up to $35,000 per deal whenever their clients buy developer stock. Not only is the advice based on vested interests, but the consumer is paying a price inflated by the outrageous marketing fees – and invariably in a project located in an under-performing market, because developers need to pay massive commissions only when they’re struggling to sell their stock.
We have developers building high-rise apartments in over-supplied markets because they can sell them at inflated prices to uninformed distant investors. In the late 1990s and early 2000s they went interstate or out west to find gullible punters. Now they take roadshows to China. Then they run ads telling Australians they should be buying because the Chinese are – and we all know how much research the Chinese do.
The problem with regulation is that it’s only as good as the enforcement. And, across Australia, there are few government bodies willing to take responsibility for enforcing laws designed to protect real estate consumers. All states and territories have offices of fair trading or consumer protection but, with the exception of the Western Australia body, they are all toothless tigers.
The only way real estate consumers will be protected is through education. Real estate needs to be taught in schools. It’s a basic life skill everyone needs. Everyone will become a tenant, so we need to teach the rights and responsibilities of tenants, and two-thirds will eventually become home owners. Many will seek also to be investors.
But, as I observe day after day, most wannabe investors have little idea on how to proceed. They don’t have clear objectives, nor strategies for achieving the objectives, nor an understanding of finance options, nor the first clue on where to go for the information they need to make informed choices about what, where and when to buy.
The lack of knowledge displayed by most real estate consumers is little short of tragic.
We will never be able to pass laws to adequately protect Australians from the rip-off merchants who prowl the real estate industry. The best we can do is give them some tools to protect themselves by providing a basic real estate education, starting in high school.
<hr>
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: 14px;">hotspotting.com.au</a> and you can contact Terry via <a href="https://mailto:%20ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email</a> or on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank" style="font-size: 14px;">Twitter</a>.
</body></html>

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News