Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

&nbsp;

Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

First look: ‘Far more than replacing a shopping centre’ as Conquest unveils 736-home Eastlakes redevelopment

Abadeen has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for one of Mosman's largest apartment developments in recent years, seeking approval to transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site on Military Road into a 100-apartment mixed-use development.

The SSDA, lodged with investment partner Phoenix Property Investors, proposes around $230 million worth of new housing on the prominent <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/494-516-military-road-mosman-nsw-2088">494-516 Military Road</a> site.

The proposal comes as Mosman Council continues to progress its recently endorsed Masterplan, which identifies the precinct for increased housing density while maintaining the suburb's established character.

Designed by DKO Architecture, the development would comprise 100 apartments above ground-floor retail, with a rooftop wellness precinct including a gym, sauna, entertaining areas and landscaped communal spaces.

Rather than pushing to the full 12-storey height identified in Council's Masterplan, the proposal ranges between five and nine storeys, stepping down towards Hale Road. A tenth level would accommodate resident amenities rather than additional apartments.

The project has been designed to appeal to a broad range of buyers, from first home buyers and young professionals through to families and local downsizers looking to remain on the Lower North Shore.

<img alt="Mosman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5dada03f-5b4c-43ba-ba62-2868add31440" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-27%20at%209.57.55%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7LBy0B.Jo8_iWAFJsClcV7Q3UnXrv49r" />

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the apartments had been designed as genuine long-term homes rather than investor-focused stock.

"The apartments have been designed as genuine long-term homes, with efficient floorplans that maximise usable living areas, generous storage, natural light and strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces," Brown says."

"We've focused on creating homes for a broad range of buyers, from first home buyers and growing families through to downsizers who want to remain in Mosman."

The rooftop wellness offering forms a key part of the proposal, with residents set to have access to a gym, sauna, outdoor entertaining spaces, communal dining areas, landscaped gardens and a multi-use recreation court overlooking Sydney Harbour.

<img alt="Mosman" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d37c2d6b-583a-4a0f-b7a9-9f46b893d2f4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-27%20at%209.58.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=FPoa5FCm2RtzjhAh2w5FTWJbV6GHfY8D" />

DKO drew heavily on the site's natural and cultural history, undertaking a Connecting with Country process with local Aboriginal Elders to inform the architectural and landscape design.

Senior Associate Matthew Ritchard said the design sought to create a building that responded to both the site's landscape and its cultural significance.

"The architectural language of the project is a deep expression of Connecting with Country, where the materiality and colour palette serve as a bridge between the site's geological history and its future as a residential sanctuary."

The proposal also retains the site's established blue gum tree as the centrepiece of the communal landscaped gardens, while introducing activated retail fronting Military Road to strengthen the connection between Mosman and Cremorne villages.

If approved, the project would deliver 100 new homes within walking distance of shops, public transport, schools and local amenities, adding to the limited pipeline of new apartments on the Lower North Shore.

<h2>Project Snapshot</h2>

Project: Honeysuckle Garden Redevelopment

Address: 494-516 Military Road, Mosman

Developer: Abadeen and Phoenix Property Investors

Architect: DKO Architecture

Lead Architect: Matthew Ritchard

Value: $230 million

Residences: 100 apartments

Key features:

<ul>
	<li>
	Ground-floor retail
	</li>
	<li>
	Rooftop wellness precinct
	</li>
	<li>
	Gym and sauna
	</li>
	<li>
	Outdoor entertaining and BBQ areas
	</li>
	<li>
	Landscaped communal gardens
	</li>
	<li>
	Multi-use recreation court
	</li>
	<li>
	Retained mature blue gum tree
	</li>
	<li>
	Connecting with Country design process
	</li>
	<li>
	Harbour, CBD and Balmoral views from upper-level apartments
	</li>
</ul>

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the apartments had been designed as genuine long-term homes rather than investor-focused stock

First look: Abadeen plans 100 apartments on former Honeysuckle Garden site in Mosman

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?

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It was a catamaran that make the biggest splash at the Ray White Surfers Paradise’s mega-auction event yesterday topping the sales list when sold at $3.1 million.
Currently moored in Perth, the boat Onde was secured by a Gold Coast buyer through Ray White Marine.
The seller was understood to be interests associated with Denby Roberts, the only daughter of late Multiplex founder John Roberts.
The 2005 vessel had an extensive luxury refit in 2010, Onde features seven double cabins all with en suite bathrooms.
With an open plan layout and a huge 8.5 metre beam, the main deck offers expansive indoor and outdoor spaces all with fabulous lounge and dining settings for guests.
The galley was built to accommodate all applications including private cruising as well as corporate or luxury chartering for up to 47 passengers.  Equipped with twin 3406E Caterpiller diesel engine, large generators and fuel and water tanks, Onde has an economical cruise of 10 to 12 knots and long range cruising capabilities. 
Ray White publicised the deal through their twitter handle <a href="https://twitter.com/RayWhiteSurfers" target="_blank">@RayWhiteSurfers</a>.
<a href="/images/2016/01/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-25%20at%209.27.48%20am.png" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-25%20at%209.27.48%20am.png" alt="" width="393" height="312"> 
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Tweet of the day: Boat sale tops The Event sales at $3.1 million

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Queensland real estate market continued its steady pace throughout 2015, with a new record median house price in Brisbane of $610,000 ending the year with a flourish.
The market has recorded a steady sustainable growth rate of about two percent over the past eight quarters and this has led the southeast corner into firmer territory following the post GFC slump of 2011/2012.
Compared with the southern states, Queensland’s market has been relatively stable and has resisted the volatility shown in those markets.
As Sydney and Melbourne’s markets have strengthened considerably over the year, investors have been attracted to Brisbane and the Gold Coast where affordability and ROI factors have remained steady.
The apartment market in Brisbane’s inner city has remained in healthy territory, despite concerns that an oversupply was imminent. Vacancy rates have remained steady with data revealing vacancies in the inner city were around 2.5 percent to 2.7 percent.
Outside of the southeast corner, the state’s regional centres struggled to gain meaningful ground, although small gains were seen in some towns.
Tourist cities performed strongly. The Gold and Sunshine coasts recorded buoyant market conditions with investor activity picking up in both regions.
Cairns and Fraser Coast also continue to show promising signs of firming market conditions, with average days on market and vendor discounting improving on a year ago for their respective unit markets which had struggled following the GFC.
Regional centres still continue to be impacted by the resources downturn, but many now look to have reached the bottom of the market.
Local agents in Gladstone, Mackay and Townsville say the softer market conditions has started to entice more local buyers, with market confidence slowly but surely improving.
First home buyers are taking advantage of the low interest rate environment and in regional centres are gaining confidence with increased housing affordability.
House sales activity in the strengthening markets of southeast Queensland continued to improve over the June quarter.
Back in the capital city, increased prestige sales and strong buyer demand in the $500,000-plus price contributed to the lifting median house price in Brisbane.
Brisbane surrounds also showed improving buyer demand, with Ipswich and Logan recording double digit growth in sales activity over the quarter and over the year to June.
Toowoomba’s house market appears to have taken the foot off the accelerator with sales volumes tapering off for a second consecutive quarter. Given the various projects in the pipeline, such as the going ahead of the second range crossing, local agents anticipate the region will continue to record consistent growth in its real estate market.
The year ahead
In the regional centres, sales activity is mixed, however the general feel on the ground is that the bottom of the market has been met.
I believe the sales activity is encouraging. With any market recovery there is always a concern that things will take a backward step from time to time, however, that is not the case in Queensland as this consistently steady improvement across the state shows.
Our regional centres, where the impact of the GFC and mining downturn continue to be felt years later, are defiantly consistent and this is fantastic news for our state. Queensland property is an encouraging story of economic resilience and even though some of our regional centres are struggling, we are seeing signs of a return to equilibrium.
The southeast corner remains the powerhouse of the state’s real estate market, with Brisbane LGA recording a new high median house price of $610,000.
The market in the southeast corner is performing well and this will eventually be felt throughout the rest of the state.
 
Antonia Mercorella is the CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland – the first woman in its almost 100-year history and the youngest person to take on the role. She can be contacted <a href="https://blog.realestateview.com.au/author/antonia-mercorella/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bouyant Gold Coast seeing more investors

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More than $33 million in Gold Coast property changed hands when 45 of 105 properties on the order of sale at Ray White Surfers Paradise Group’s The Event sold under the hammer yesterday.
An additional 18 sold prior taking the clearance rate to 60 per cent for the 22nd annual gala auction. 
The RWSP Group chief Andrew Bell credited much of the sales success "to the value disparity that continues to exist between the Gold Coast and southern capital markets."
While the clearance rate was lower than last year, the day’s initial results were an increase in both value and volume of sales on 2015 when 58 of 99 properties sold under the hammer or prior to auction for a $20 million total. 
Southern investors led the charge at Australia’s largest annual property auction with Andrew Bell predicting an 80 per cent clearance rate by mid-week.
The auction kicked off at 11am Sunday with the final hammer coming after 5pm, with sales reflecting a $700,000 average price.
The agency put the attendee numbers at over 2000, including the Ray White chief Brian White.
There were more than 300 registered bidders, reflecting an average of about three bidders per property with the most popular attracting up to eight bidders.  
The most popular offerings were sub-$500,000.
And the day’s highest priced residential sale was $1.2 million for an 875 sqm site zoned for redevelopment at <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/biggera-waters/1407709/" target="_blank">544 Marine Parade, Biggera Waters</a>.
The passion was there among the 260 plus registered buyers for a bargain, highlighted by outrageously low, quick opening bids, but as the bidding got to the reserve price the depth of buyer interest was tested on most of the offerings. Even when sales were at below last sale price. 
A three-level hilltop home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-currumbin-121578818" target="_blank">38 Albany Avenue, Currumbin</a> fetched $1.1 million, the top priced house of the day which was listed through RW Surfers Paradise agent Jackson Paradise. But the Currumbin was $410,000 less than the $1.51 million it fetched in late 2007 when the market was at its peak. The $1.1 million was the same price as paid in 2005 for the 1986 built home.
An elevated home at <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/sanctuary-cove/1045575/?lang=en" target="_blank">4709 The Parkway, Sanctuary Cove</a> sold prior to auction for more than $2 million.
The <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/broadbeach/1005110/?lang=en" target="_blank">Broadbeach in the Park penthouse</a> at Broadbeach attracted the day's highest offer when passed in at $4 million. 
The unfinished hinterland home at <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/tallai/1407870/?lang=en" target="_blank">473 The Panorama, Tallai</a> (pictured above) attracted seven registered bidders with four appearing to make offers.
It was passed in at $2.8 million.
The elevated three hectare property came with panoramic landscape view over the whole of the Gold Coast. The land holding was bought for $1,388,880 million in boomtime 2007. 
It failed to sell at its January 2012 auction.
 
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Investors toe in the water: The Event, 2016 Gold Coast auction wrap

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GUEST OBSERVER
I hate to use the phrase but I love the Gold Coast lifestyle.
Not in any particular order but from the lack of traffic chaos, the awesome climate and the wonderful coastline, stunning hinterland and great places to eat.
The geography, location and natural landscape are right.
Nobby Beach is a family favourite, I love Burleigh and Currumbin beaches.
Inland you can’t beat time at Tamborine Mountain or Springbrook.
Then there is Paradise Point, Main Beach and The Spit, not forgetting the whole of the Broadwater/Jumpinpin and the place my family chooses to call home, Sanctuary Cove.
There’s great places to eat all over the coast now, some of the people aren’t bad either. 
For an area that started its growth in the 1960s/70s/80s so much of the architecture, let’s be honest, is pretty awful.
Luckily the past 15 years or so has seen real improvements in architectural styles whether it is an apartment building, single homes or the emerging townhouse/terrace type housing.
The Gold Coast grew from virtually nothing to over half-a-million in only four or five decades. This was fuelled by tourism, holiday homes and overseas home buyers and retirees.
Suddenly we have this substantial population — sixth in the country and no core industries or major sources of employment other than tourism which is great when the dollar is weaker as it is now, but that can create an almost never ending cycle of good and bad times.
Yes, boat building is back, but that again is an industry with highs and lows, so is construction. We need back-up plans for the inevitable quiet times of the future.
A hard task and I cannot offer any real solutions, but here is something political — sorry to the ‘no’ campaigners regarding the cruse ship terminal, but the latest offshore proposal to me is fantastic and an absolute must.
There is no doubt and it is very easy to define a market in recovery mode.
You review homes that sold at peak prices in previous years — that price then became unachievable for many years.
Only when the value of that same home has reached that former peak and moved slightly ahead can you be sure you are in recovery mode.
Right now across the Coast there are many homeowners that will happily confirm this.
So will we see growth? I believe so.
There’s good times ahead.
Andrew Winter writes columns for the News Ltd papers on real estate, with the <a href="https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/property-guru-andrew-winter-says-good-things-are-in-store-for-the-coast/news-story/87f5d24957cf797287434d1400f45330" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">comments taken from questions posed by the Gold Coast Bulletin on January 2</a>.
Andrew Winter is presenter, <a href="https://www.lifestyle.com.au/tv/selling-houses-australia/" target="_blank">Selling Houses Australia</a> presenter.
Andrew Winter says he's obsessed with houses. With 25 years experience in the property trade, he believes that if you haven’t sold your house within two months then you’re doing something wrong.
Starting his career in a real estate agency at the tender age of 17, Andrew sold his first home within a matter of months. He then went on to spend some years with a firm of Chartered Surveyors fine tuning his house selling skills, but combining it with inside knowledge of construction, structural issues, building faults and problems.
To further expand his career he made the move to Central London where he sold apartments and townhouses in the famous Baker Street and Regents Park areas. Whilst selling properties in the redeveloped Canary Wharf area in London and Kent, his career gained an added angle – he was chosen to present and research a new TV program about his favourite subject “Selling Houses”. Over the last eleven years the program has gone from strength to strength both in the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries worldwide.
Andrew and his family moved to Australia in 2005. 
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There's good times ahead: Andrew Winter

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Co-founder of AllenWargent Property Buyers Pete Wargent has tweeted more than half of the current national building work done has been in New South Wales and Victoria.
Posting through his Twitter handle <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/petewargent" target="_blank">@PeteWargent</a>, he said in Sydney, at the increase in higher density construction has to some extent come at the expense of detached house construction, with house completions in New South Wales still tracking well below historical levels.
<img src="/images/2016/01/22/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-22%20at%2010.53.04%20AM.png" alt="">
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Tweet of the day: Pete Wargent notes detached housing construction makes way for high density building

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GUEST OBSERVER
Sydneysiders desire to have a house with a harbour or ocean view. Elsewhere a distant mountain view will do. But a view from the house to the vast space is bad for us – the allure of the capacious world out there can only make our body, and our mind, relentlessly unsettled.
The French proverb la forteresse assiégée – fortress besieged – is often used to describe the dilemma of being strangled inside while the freedom of space outside is irresistible. Brilliant though it may seem, the external world lying tantalisingly beyond a thin layer of glass is an inescapable distraction. The million-dollar view, or the readily available one via a smartphone, is not only bad for our body, but also our soul.
<h2>Turning away from the interior</h2>
The ancient Romans would have been terribly puzzled as to why the moderns would want a view of the depressing distance. The rich lived in introvert courtyard houses called domus, while the poor lived in multi-storey apartments known as insula. The poorest of all lived on the upper levels of the insula, with a view (the invention of the safety lift by Otis in 1852 has, up to now, reversed the vertical social pecking order in a multi-storey apartment building).
The Chinese, too, lived in inward-facing courtyards for thousands of years until well into the 20th century. For both the Romans and the Chinese, a slice of sky and the watchful eye of Heaven sufficed. Abundant in pre-modern Chinese literature is the recurrent theme of melancholy caused by gazing into the space afar in a lofty building; Nietzsche’s “pathos of distance” evokes similar sadness and frustration of modern times.
What then has triggered us to clamber willingly into la forteresse assiégée, which, incidentally, the Chinese writer Qian Zhongshu used as a metaphor for an unhappy marriage? Our relentless pursuit of the expansion of space, in both matter and manner, has caused the loss of interior and, more preciously, its associated strength of one’s inner life, which is essential to withstand the pressure of an increasingly depersonalised exterior world.
The works of Edward Hopper – the 20th-century American painter who is said to have portrayed the quintessential human alienation in our time – may shed some light on this syndrome. Hopper’s paintings reveal glimpses of life in a house. The characters, John Updike observes, are as silent as those found in 17th-century Dutch paintings:
As with Vermeer, a mystery seeps in and saturates the most modest levels of activity.
But the solitude is of a different kind: Hopper’s characters are no longer as content as Dutch housewives and children. They are painted with impasto and with no detail, stiff and expressionless. Updike calls this “a polluted silence”.
Polluted by what, I have wondered. Only daylight, oxygen and view are abundant.
Consider this painting by Hopper, Excursion into Philosophy: the man, dignifiedly dressed in white shirt and business trousers, sits on the rim of a solid bed. Beside him lies an opened book. But his frowning facial expression is impervious and yet unsettling – a classical Hopper.
Yes, Hopper is about suspension and the beautifully unsaid, but we still puzzle over what causes the man’s impossible reconciliation: he is torn apart between the book and the half-naked woman lying in bed behind him, and more so the expansive green prairie and blue sky outside the window.
The view invades the room with aggressive glare; the two large patches of light cast on the floor and the wall make it impossible to snug in a corner of the room. Even the bed, painted with Hopper’s heavy brushstroke, looks as hard as a rock.
Hopper once joked about this painting: “He has been reading Plato rather late in life”. But judging from the near-impeccable blue cover of the bed, nothing ever happened.
Did Hopper’s paintings in the early part of the 20th century foretell the increasing impossibility of the interior? His characters, it seems, are struggling for some degree of interior life. Hopper’s windows often have blinds for the upper part, whereas the large area of glass in the lower part admits view and light with abundance.
Dutch windows, unlike that of Hopper’s, and certainly nothing like that of our modern rooms wrapped by floor-to-ceiling clear glass, work in subtle ways. They help to create a cosy intimacy in the room with hints of the street or the garden beyond. In these rooms we see a water jar here, a mandolin there, and a map on the wall. A map or seascape oil painting adequately avails an imagination of the external world, which the Dutch had <a href="https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dutch_Empire">under their command</a>.
The intimacy in a room, which makes one feel at home and content in one’s world, is contributed by a serene illumination. Daylight admitted in these rooms is never abundant. Dutch windows often do not serve the purpose of viewing out.
It is a little eerie to notice that a Dutch window is a reversed Hopper: the lower part, which is the larger part, of the window is equipped with shutters only (glass was expensive and a rare commodity in those days), while the upper part has fixed leaded panes. Daylight pours in from the upper part to give the room a heavenly illumination. Only when weather permits is the lower part opened.
If glass can be afforded, the lower part is a casement frame fixed with coloured glass. Daylight as such is dimmed down to emit a mysterious gloom in the room.
As for the English in the 18th and 19th centuries, with heavy drapes drawn, they were content to sit around the warm fire to read a long novel: while the body is in a comfortably sedentary posture, the mind is let loose to roam freely in the space of imagination.
What we therefore ought to realise is that the million-dollar view is the bait of a modern trap – its fatal destiny, most tellingly settled by T.S. Eliot, is simply to be “distracted from distraction by distraction”.
Xing Ruan is professor of Architecture, Associate Dean International and Director of Architecture, UNSW Australia and author for The Conversation.
He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/xing-ruan-219197" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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Why the million-dollar Sydney view is bad for our body and our soul

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Developers within the Australian Capital Territory need now apply for land tax relief using the Application for a Builder’s Land Tax Exemption Form due to changes in the Land Tax Act 2004 (ACT) which came into effect 24 November 2015.
Prior to the change, land in the ACT owned by a company to build residential homes for sale were exempt from land tax for two years.
Now a builder or land development company must apply in writing for a declaration that a parcel of ACT land is exempt from land tax. 
The company will be eligible for the declaration if the parcel is used by the company only to construct new residential premises and if the new residential premises are to be sold by the company when finished, according to Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers, who said once a declaration is given, the exemption applies for two years beginning on the first day of the first quarter after the company becomes the owner of the land.
The Application for a Builder’s Land Tax Exemption Form can be found <a href="https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/duties-and-taxes/land-tax/general-information" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Property 101: ACT property developers must now apply for land tax exemption

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OK, here we go again. 2016 has well and truly kicked in and before we know it January will be gone. Strewth, it's Australia Day next week!
So have you set your goals for 2016?ï¿½ Yeah, I know...boring!
Yes, goal setting can be pretty dry - what do they say? Make your goals SMART - Specific, Meaningful, Action Orientated, Realistic and Timely. That's so 1980's - I'm going to an 1980's themed birthday party soon, maybe I'll dress as a SMART goal!
So here's my fun way to set goals.
Each year I go away on a girls weekend and we share our goals or dreams for the following year over a few glasses of wine. One of us stays sober enough to write them all down and then we check in to see how we've all tracked the next year, over more wine of course. It's fun and sharing our goals in this way makes us more accountable.
What I tried to do this year was think about what I wanted to achieve from my goals or dreams. Actually, I focussed on HOW I was going to ENJOY the results of achieving the goals rather than the goals themselves.
So here's the results of my goals that I'll be enjoying soon:
- more time hanging out with those I love.
- going to Europe next year with those I love.
- relaxing time at the beach or immersed in other elements of nature.
- becoming fitter and healthier.
- growing my awesome business.
As Napoleon Hill said; "A goal is a dream with a deadline".
Once I had written down what I wanted to enjoy from achieving my goals, writing the goals and setting the deadlines was easy.
Basically my goals are to create more opportunity. Opportunity is defined as; a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
Opportunity, whether it be to make money or to meet people or to simply relax, is golden. Being specific and visualising opportunity is important. But the most important thing is to take action.
I've been talking to a number of people lately who are doing just that - taking action. There are some that I'd spoken to months ago, in fact one chap I started talking to five years ago, and after thinking about their investment goals over the Christmas break, they are now ready.
So action will be taken, sooner than later and by Property Bloom for these new clients. By helping them develop property, I'll also be achieving my goals.
I read a funny Seth Godin story where he lists seventeen times to start taking action, my favourite is "The best time to start was last year, the best opportunities are gone" (I've heard this one so many times from property investors) but then he finishes his long list of the best time to starts with; "Actually, as you've probably guessed,ï¿½the best time to startï¿½was last year. The second best time to start isï¿½right now."
ï¿½
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managersï¿½<a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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Setting your 2016 property investment goals: Jo Chivers

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Armadale's Redcourt, one of Melbourne’s most prestigious houses, has been bought by Wendy and Anastasious Tasiopoulos from the Dr Tass cosmetic clinics.
<a href="https://redcourtestate.com.au/home/" target="_blank">Redcourt,</a> built in 1888 by the merchant Edward Yencken, fetched $11.5 million according to documents lodged on its settlement last month.
It was sold by entrepreneur Adam Garrisson, who had bought the Queen Anne-style mansion in 2009 in a derelict condition from the state government.
The heritage-listed 3500 sqm property had been a residence for art and music students in the 1950s, but was abandoned in 1996. 
Yencken, honoured as 'father' of the Melbourne merchants, sold the Joseph Reed-designed home in the 1890s to the mining entrepreneur, founder of BHP and member of Parliament, WR Wilson. After Wilson came John Turnbull Esq, Western district and Queensland pastoralist, then Norman Falkiner, the grazier, racehorse breeder and politician, who engaged the architectural firm of Butler &amp; Bradshaw to carry out extensive additions in 1914.
Redcourt at Orrong Road, Armadale, was listed in 2013, then 2014, selling late last year. Kay &amp; Burton’s Gerald Delany and Ross Savas were the listing agents.
Garrisson's four-year renovation project featured work from fashion designer Akira Isogawa and chef Shannon Bennett.
It had last sold at $3.65 million.
Melbourne GP and cosmetic physician Dr Tass Tasiopoulos practices non-surgical procedures from clinics in Port Melbourne, Elsternwick and Crown Spa Melbourne.
 
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Dr Tass buys Armadale trophy home, Redcourt after makeover

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<div>Futures markets have been assigning fully a 100 per cent chance of an interest rate cut by the second half of this calendar year.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Yet the ABS Lending Finance figures for November released recently suggested that low rates and a lower dollar may just be gaining a little more traction, with total lending increasing to a new trend high of $74.7 billion.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In seasonally adjusted terms, total lending was some 20 percent higher than one year ago. </div>
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<div>
<div>Importantly, commercial lending picked up by a seasonally adjusted 1.1 per cent in the month, hinting at somewhat brighter news for Australian businesses, with business loans up by 23 per cent over the past year and revolving credit commitments up by 21 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Arguably some of this additional lending might have been sparked by macroprudential measures taken to slow investment property loans. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>If that is truly the case, then it was a kick up the backside that Australian banks and lenders surely needed. The alternative narrative may simply be that the lower dollar is gradually encouraging competitiveness and investment. Your call.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Lending to owner-occupiers for housing purchases and construction continues to rise very strongly at the national level, trending up by 24 per cent over the year to a new high of $22 billion, although lending for major renovation activity has remained resolutely in the (unrenovated) doghouse.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Meanwhile, personal finance lending continues to slide (except for cars!) to sit at 9 year lows, suggesting that consumers are behaving rather more cautiously.</div>
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<div>
Investor loans consolidate <div> </div>
<div>I looked at the surprisingly strong November Housing Finance data last week <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/housing-finance-wallops-expectations" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Lending Finance release today provided more detail at the state level, and it revealed a moderate rebound in November investor lending in New South Wales ($4.8 billion), Victoria ($2.8 billion), Queensland ($1.6 billion), and South Australia ($0.4 billion). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Looked at in rolling annual original terms, the chart will now begin to show that cooling macroprudential measures initiated by the regulator APRA have tamed the investor beast. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The latest available figures - as well as initial forays back into the investor market by banks such as AMP and Suncorp - imply that monthly investor lending may begin to track at around $11 to $12 billion per month, well down from the all-time record $14.2 billion we saw in April 2015.</div>
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<div>
<div>A cautionary word to be noted here is that in some markets the slowdown in investor lending has largely been matched with an increase in owner-occupier lending, suggesting that loan finance is seeking the path of least resistance. 
</div>
<div>To take the example of New South Wales, total November housing finance of $13.9 billion in original terms suggests that in aggregate lending has been fairly flat for the past five months, and is still up by 19 per cent from a year ago.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Thus while investor loans are down by about 12 per cent over the year, owner-occupier lending has gone berserk to be up by 48 per cent over the year. </div>
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<div>It is far from such a buoyant picture everywhere, however. With asking rents having tanked, investor loans are decelerating at an alarming pace in the Northern Territory, and this time around there may be no China-led commodities boost to save the day.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2016/01/22/LF5.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div>As such, all key indicators are pointing to a significant and arguably overdue correction in the Darwin property market.</div>
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<div>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>. 
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
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