<p>A who's who of Australian surfing, business and entertainment has emerged on title records following the completion of Esprit Rainbow Bay, the latest boutique beachfront apartment development by former professional surfer Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects.</p>

<p>The completed project has attracted an enviable collection of owners, many with long-standing ties to the southern Gold Coast and the surf culture that has helped define Rainbow Bay and neighbouring Kirra for generations.</p>

<p>Given Gedoun's own background in surfing, it perhaps comes as little surprise that some of Australia's most recognisable surfers have chosen to buy into the development overlooking one of the country's most celebrated stretches of coastline.</p>

<p>Pezet Matheson directors Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson launched the project in late 2021, and have managed the sales campaign all the way through to its sell-out and recent completion.</p>

<p><img alt="Esprit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fc6261-b84e-4b09-8a44-66d3067fd0d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-29%20at%208.51.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4AOcb6ETZwNUnMPdTtz1B3pZAIB_jgZ2" /></p>

<p>Former world champion Mick Fanning, who grew up in Coolangatta, secured an apartment in 2023. He paid&nbsp;$2.07 million. Last year he sold his Bilinga home for over $16 million.</p>

<p>Three-time world champion Joel Parkinson also purchased in the development, alongside big wave surfer Mark Mathews. Mathews bought the most expensive apartment in the building, spending just over $4 million.</p>

<p>Joining them is Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick, whose company helped shape Australia's global surfing industry over the past five decades.</p>

<p>The appeal of Rainbow Bay has extended well beyond the surfing community.</p>

<p>International DJ Paul Fisher purchased an apartment through his investment vehicle, YLB Developments, an abbreviation of his trademark phrase "You Little Beauty".</p>

<p>The purchase comes as Fisher and his wife Chloe are developing their own luxury apartment project further north in Palm Beach. Their boutique beachfront development, Pescado, comprises just seven apartments on Jefferson Lane, which start from just shy of $6 million. The couple intend to retain the two-level penthouse as their Australian base between international touring commitments.</p>

<p>Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his wife Wendy have also invested in Esprit, purchasing two apartments after spending decades holidaying on the southern Gold Coast. They also have a luxury apartment in Joe Adsett's Rockpool, less than 400m away from Esprit.</p>

<h2>Boutique project draws owner-occupiers</h2>

<p>Esprit launched in 2021 and sold strongly, with buyers drawn to its boutique scale, beachfront position and contemporary design.</p>

<p>The completed development comprises 94 apartments across 11 levels, offering expansive floorplans designed primarily for owner-occupiers rather than the investor market.</p>

<p>Crowning the building is Club Esprit, pitched as being the Gold Coast's first residential rooftop wellness centre. The roof features a&nbsp;25 metre magnesium lap pool, which is surrounded by wet daybeds and poolside cabanas,&nbsp;multiple barbecue areas,&nbsp;a yoga and relaxation play lawn, and a private dining room with a kitchen scullery, bar, lounges, and an outdoor terrace.</p>

<p>The wellness centre is&nbsp;fully equipped with a Technogym, ice bath, infra-red sauna, steam room, thermal room, and treatment room. The roof has views spanning&nbsp;Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and the Pacific Ocean.</p>

<h2>S&amp;S Projects continues to shape Rainbow Bay</h2>

<p>S&amp;S Projects founder Paul Gedoun has become one of the key figures behind Rainbow Bay's evolution over the past several years.</p>

<p>After establishing S&amp;S Projects, Gedoun has focused on delivering lifestyle-driven apartment developments designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking a permanent coastal home.</p>

<p>Esprit is Gedoun's third completed project in Rainbow Bay, following Flow and Awaken, both of which achieved record prices for the suburb.</p>

<p>He is now delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, a 38-apartment development on Boundary Street that is currently selling, and has no plans to leave the precinct anytime soon. S&amp;S Projects has also lodged plans for its fifth Rainbow Bay development, an 88-apartment project on Boundary Street featuring a strong wellness focus.</p>

<p><em>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">First look: S&amp;S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street</a></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Joel Robinson

Who's who of buyers revealed as Esprit Rainbow Bay settles

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“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.<br />
<br />
“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.”</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>"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;</p>

<p>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;</p>


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

<p>Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.</p>

<p><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></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.</p>

<p>It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.</p>


Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.</p>

<p>"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]</p>

<p>Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.</p>

<p>"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.</p>

<p>"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]</p>


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

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>"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."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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).</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

<p>To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:</p>

<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>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.</p>

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p><strong data-end="252" data-start="225">First Home Owner Grant:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong data-end="413" data-start="389">Stamp Duty Benefits:</strong> Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.</p>

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p><strong>First Home Owner Grant:</strong> Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.</p>

<p><strong>Stamp Duty Benefits</strong>: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.</p>

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p><strong data-end="920" data-start="893">First Home Owner Grant:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong data-end="1162" data-start="1135">Stamp Duty Concessions:</strong> Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.</p>

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>First Home Owner Grant:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong>Stamp Duty Concessions:</strong> Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.</p>

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p><strong data-end="1617" data-start="1590">First Home Owner Grant:</strong> Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.</p>

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p><strong>First Home Owner Grant:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong>Stamp Duty Relief:</strong> Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.</p>

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p><strong>First Home Owner Grant</strong>: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.</p>

<p><strong>Stamp Duty Exemption</strong>: 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.</p>

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

<p><strong>First Home Owner Grant:</strong> The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.</p>

<p><strong>Stamp Duty Exemption</strong>: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).</p>

<p><em>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.</em></p>


Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

<p>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.</p>

<p>Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.</p>

<p>Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.</p>

<p>A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.</p>

<p>NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

<p>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;</p>

<p>NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.</p>

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

<p><strong>Energy Efficiency:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong>Cost Savings:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong>Environmental Impact:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong>Improved Comfort: </strong>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.</p>

<p><strong>Market Value and Desirability:</strong> 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.</p>

<p><strong>Compliance with Building Codes:</strong> 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.</p>


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?

<p>Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.</p>

<p>Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

<p>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.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]</p>

<p>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.</p>

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>


alisonwarters@gmail.com

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

<p style="line-height: 1.38;">When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.</p>

<p style="line-height: 1.38;">Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.</p>

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

<p>Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.</p>

<p>It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.</p>

<p style="line-height: 1.38;"><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></p>

<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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!</p>

<p>Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:</p>

<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>

<p style="line-height:1.38">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.</p>


Ellen Walker

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

<html><body>
<p><img src="/images/2015/11/26/NEW_RAMS_LOGO.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Buying a property alone can be more difficult than buying with someone else but with careful preparation it’s certainly doable. </p>
<p>You’ll feel a great sense of pride if you do buy a place by yourself. It’s a great achievement, and one that many first home buyers accomplish every year.</p>
<p>Here are some suggestions to get you started:</p>
<ul>
<li>Work out your budget – Remember the costs of buying such as legal fees, stamp duty and removalist charges when you’re saving for your deposit. Don’t forget strata fees, council rates, utility bills, insurance, and repair costs when working out how much you can afford in mortgage repayments.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Get pre-approval – Before you start seriously looking, get pre-approval on a home loan to confirm the amount you can borrow. This might also improve your bargaining position when you come to make an offer. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Plan for the unexpected – What would happen if you lost your job, fell ill and couldn’t work, or if property prices dropped? Consider income protection insurance as may pay a proportion of your wage if you can’t work due to illness or accident. Get home and contents insurance to cover against property damage or theft.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Be realistic – Saving for a deposit may take longer solo and you may not be able to afford as big a mortgage as if you had someone else to help out. Be prepared to make some compromises to buy what you can afford. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Ask for second opinions – enlist friends and relatives to look at properties you’re considering and tell you what they think. They may see shortcomings or benefits you’ve overlooked. Choose people you trust to give fair and constructive opinions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Seek advice – mortgage brokers, solicitors, financial planners and building inspectors can provide useful input to your decisions. Also, talk to others who have bought property alone about their experiences. </li>
</ul>
<p>Quick tip: Have confidence. Plenty of people do buy property alone.</p>
<p>TO FIND OUT HOW RAMS CAN HELP EASE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL RAMS HOME LOAN EXPERT OR DROP IN FOR YOUR <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297888911;125002156;k" target="_blank">FREE FIRST HOME BUYERS’ GUIDE</a>.</p>
<p>For more great property advice and tips on buying your first home from RAMS subscribe to <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297885979;125002157;w" target="_blank">The Great Australian Dream property series</a>.</p>
<p><em><span>For your free </span><em>Property Observer</em><span> eBook from RAMS, <em>12 tips for first-time buyers</em>, </span><span>covering</span><span> </span><span>everything</span><span> you need to know when it comes to purchasing property, click here.</span></em></p>
<p><em>Disclaimer: Information in this material is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. You should also obtain independent professional advice relevant to your financial circumstances.</em></p>
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Tips for buying solo

<html><body>
<p><img src="/images/2015/11/26/NEW_RAMS_LOGO.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>In even the most perfect property, you'll find little details you'd like to fix or change when you move in.</p>
<div id="tt-wrapperd8fb38b" class="tt-wrapper inread "><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">In most homes, the flaws may be minor but before you buy, it’s wise to have the building inspected for major maintenance problems, structural faults and pest infestations. </span></div>
<p>Building and pest inspection reports typically cost a few hundred dollars each up front but may alert you to problems that could cost thousands to repair in the long run. </p>
<p>If the property you want is up for auction, any reports will have to be done before the auction. </p>
<p>If you're buying privately, you could make your offer conditional on obtaining inspection reports on terms satisfactory to you, so the inspections can be done between acceptance of your offer and exchange of the sale contract or during any cooling off period. </p>
<p>You might be able to use the information you gain from a building or pest inspection to negotiate a better price for the property or have the vendor rectify a problem so you don’t have to deal with it after you’ve purchased. In any case, it’s better to be forewarned of potential issues than to get a nasty surprise after you’ve moved in.</p>
<p><span>INSPECT IT YOURSELF</span></p>
<p>Before professional assessment, inspect the property yourself.</p>
<p>Even without professional training, you may be able to spot areas of concern. When you visit a property, consider whether it looks well-maintained. Look for warning signs that warrant further investigation such as cracked roof tiles, rusty gutters, damp patches on walls and ceilings, and cracks in the brickwork.</p>
<p>Sometimes owners will try to cover up problem areas by painting or wallpapering over them, or using quick fixes that won’t last in the long run. These may be difficult for the untrained eye to pick. A qualified building inspector will be better able to spot any deficiencies in the property.</p>
<p><span>PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT</span></p>
<p>Ask around for recommendations of a licensed builder, surveyor or architect to conduct the inspections. Otherwise you could find contact details through the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, Master Builders Association, the Australian Institute of Architects, or a similar professional body. The report the inspector provides should comply with the Australian Standard for building inspections (AS 4349.1) and the inspector should have adequate professional indemnity insurance coverage. </p>
<p>The inspector should look for structural faults and damage to all accessible areas of the building as well as sheds, pergolas, fences and swimming pools.</p>
<p>Pest inspections may identify old or active termite damage, and evidence of other vermin such as mice or rats. </p>
<p>Quick tip: An inspector may not be able to access all areas of the property so they may not uncover all of a property’s flaws but they should be able to identify major defects.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>TO FIND OUT HOW RAMS CAN HELP EASE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL RAMS HOME LOAN EXPERT OR DROP IN FOR YOUR <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297886977;125002163;s" target="_blank">FREE FIRST HOME BUYERS’ GUIDE</a>.</p>
<p>For more great property advice and tips on buying your first home from RAMS subscribe to <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297890194;125002164;f" target="_blank">The Great Australian Dream property series</a>.</p>
<p><span>For your free </span><em>Property Observer</em><span> eBook from RAMS, <em>12 tips for first-time buyers</em>, </span><span>covering</span><span> </span><span>everything</span><span> you need to know when it comes to purchasing property, click here.</span></p>
<p><em>Disclaimer: Information in this material is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. You should also obtain independent professional advice relevant to your financial circumstances.</em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<div> </div>
</body></html>

Pre-purchase inspections

<html><body>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span>Sydney has had the third week in a row with a preliminary clearance rate below 60%, according to CoreLogic RP Data. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Auction volumes for the week ending 22 November are down to 1,080 from 1,223 last week. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Sydney's Eastern suburbs </span>recorded<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span>preliminary<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> clearance rate of  82.6%.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/11/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-23%20at%201.01.20%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2015/11/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-23%20at%201.01.20%20PM.png" alt=""></p>
</body></html>

mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

Eastern Sydney suburbs record 82.6% clearance rate: CoreLogic RP Data 

<html><body>
<p>Melbourne recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 64.7% for the week ending 22 November, down from last week's posting of 69.8%, according to CoreLogic RP Data.</p>
<p>The North East region holds the strongest regional performance with a preliminary clearance rate of  71.9%.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/11/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-23%20at%201.11.49%20PM.png" target="_blank"> Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2015/11/23/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-23%20at%201.11.49%20PM.png" alt=""></p>
</body></html>

Melbourne's North East the strongest auction performer: CoreLogic RP Data 

<html><body>
<p style="text-align: left;" align="center"> </p>
<p>Families from southern capitals are looking to the north for a better lifestyle at an affordable price, as median prices in Sydney are up to 75% higher than in Brisbane, says Place CEO Damian Hackett.</p>
<p>The median house price in Sydney and Brisbane during October 2015 was at the highest level in 13 years, he noted CoreLogic RP Data shows. </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="/images/2015/11/23/image003.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="/images/2015/11/23/image003.png" alt=""></p>
<p>“The last time we saw these kinds of figures was back in 2002, when the median dwelling prices in Sydney were 97 percent higher than those in Brisbane – slightly above the current figure - which reflects a 75 percent difference," he said.</p>
<p>“If we look back, an increasing median price gap between Brisbane and our southern counterparts is key in shifting momentum."</p>
<p>Sydney and Melbourne buyers are rejecting the southern pricing instability in favour of Brisbane. Investors observe Brisbane’s high yields, while young families seek affordability and a quality lifestyle, he said.</p>
<p>“Brisbane is consistent in terms of sales activity and stability, with low interest rates this year encouraging investment across the board, in addition to upgrades in the upper end of the market.</p>
<p>“Queensland owner-occupiers are quickly snapping up family homes on large blocks in Brisbane’s blue chip suburbs, where they pay a fraction of what they would in Sydney”.</p>
<p>Queensland represents value for money, an attractive option for southern buyers as Sydney and Melbourne continue to experience unsustainable growth, says Hackett.</p>
<p>"What we’re now seeing is Sydney and Melbourne prices are reaching their peak; people are looking for stable and solid growth and that’s what we have in Brisbane. Families are recognising the very high quality of living they can afford in Queensland.”</p>
<p>According to Place, the increasing transport infrastructure across Brisbane will only add to its appeal.</p>
<p>“The first direct flights from Gold Coast to China have commenced, and the G20 showcased Brisbane as a highly attractive city, while the Gold Coast is seeing a boom in i</p>
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

High median price gap between Brisbane and Sydney sees buyers eyeing north: Place CEO Damian Hackett

<html><body>
<p><span>Melbourne's most expensive home reported over the weekend was sold pre-auction at Balwyn, according to the REIV.</span></p>
<p><span>The property at </span><a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/66-gordon-street-balwyn/Property-Details-sold-residential-9699536" target="_blank">66 Gordon St, Balwyn</a> was sold for $4.8 million through James Huang of Phillip Webb Doncaster. </p>
<p>The six bedroom contemporary home last traded for $3.3 million in 2009. </p>
<p>The French provincial residence sits on a 724 sqm block on one of Balwyn's most exclusive streets, a short walk to transport and numerous prestigious schooling options.</p>
<p>The estate includes two gated driveways, manicured gardens and a sandstone courtyard accompanied by an alfresco deck and pool.</p>
<p>The finishes include a timber and iron staircase, open fire lounge and Feng-Shui elements.</p>
<p>Balwyn sits third among the 87 suburbs in Melbourne that had a median house price in excess of a million dollars in September quarter 2015, according to the REIV. </p>
<p> </p>
<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="160">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Suburb"]'>Suburb</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value='[null,2,"Sep-15 Median"]'>Sep-15 Median</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"TOORAK"]'>TOORAK</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3950000]">$3,950,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CANTERBURY"]'>CANTERBURY</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2430500]">$2,430,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BALWYN"]'>BALWYN</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2281000]">$2,281,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BRIGHTON"]'>BRIGHTON</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2222500]">$2,222,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ARMADALE*"]'>ARMADALE*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2185000]">$2,185,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"KEW"]'>KEW</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2080000]">$2,080,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HAWTHORN"]'>HAWTHORN</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2053000]">$2,053,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MONT ALBERT*"]'>MONT ALBERT*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2035000]">$2,035,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MALVERN*"]'>MALVERN*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1985000]">$1,985,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAMBERWELL"]'>CAMBERWELL</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1883000]">$1,883,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PORTSEA*"]'>PORTSEA*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1875000]">$1,875,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SURREY HILLS"]'>SURREY HILLS</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1865000]">$1,865,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BALWYN NORTH"]'>BALWYN NORTH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1855000]">$1,855,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"EAGLEMONT*"]'>EAGLEMONT*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1850000]">$1,850,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAULFIELD NORTH"]'>CAULFIELD NORTH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1841000]">$1,841,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SOUTH YARRA"]'>SOUTH YARRA</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1800000]">$1,800,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"GLEN IRIS"]'>GLEN IRIS</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1785000]">$1,785,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ALBERT PARK"]'>ALBERT PARK</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1747500]">$1,747,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"IVANHOE EAST*"]'>IVANHOE EAST*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1745000]">$1,745,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HAMPTON*"]'>HAMPTON*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1725500]">$1,725,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAULFIELD*"]'>CAULFIELD*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1712000]">$1,712,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SANDRINGHAM*"]'>SANDRINGHAM*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1670000]">$1,670,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HAWTHORN EAST"]'>HAWTHORN EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1661250]">$1,661,250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MONT ALBERT NORTH*"]'>MONT ALBERT NORTH*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1650000]">$1,650,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MCKINNON*"]'>MCKINNON*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1630000]">$1,630,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BRIGHTON EAST"]'>BRIGHTON EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1625000]">$1,625,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"KEW EAST"]'>KEW EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1618000]">$1,618,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BLACK ROCK*"]'>BLACK ROCK*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1600000]">$1,600,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MALVERN EAST"]'>MALVERN EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1600000]">$1,600,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BOX HILL*"]'>BOX HILL*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1574000]">$1,574,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ELWOOD*"]'>ELWOOD*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1540000]">$1,540,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ASHBURTON*"]'>ASHBURTON*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1485000]">$1,485,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ORMOND*"]'>ORMOND*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1460000]">$1,460,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PARK ORCHARDS*"]'>PARK ORCHARDS*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1445750]">$1,445,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ALPHINGTON*"]'>ALPHINGTON*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1430000]">$1,430,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BEAUMARIS"]'>BEAUMARIS</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1410000]">$1,410,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ST KILDA EAST*"]'>ST KILDA EAST*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1382500]">$1,382,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MOUNT WAVERLEY"]'>MOUNT WAVERLEY</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1380000]">$1,380,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ELSTERNWICK*"]'>ELSTERNWICK*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1375000]">$1,375,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"FITZROY*"]'>FITZROY*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1363000]">$1,363,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BLACKBURN"]'>BLACKBURN</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1330000]">$1,330,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"IVANHOE"]'>IVANHOE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1330000]">$1,330,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"DONVALE"]'>DONVALE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1325000]">$1,325,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"GLEN WAVERLEY"]'>GLEN WAVERLEY</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1319000]">$1,319,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"TEMPLESTOWE"]'>TEMPLESTOWE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1316000]">$1,316,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PORT MELBOURNE"]'>PORT MELBOURNE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1305000]">$1,305,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"DONCASTER"]'>DONCASTER</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1298000]">$1,298,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CARNEGIE*"]'>CARNEGIE*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1292500]">$1,292,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ASHWOOD*"]'>ASHWOOD*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1290000]">$1,290,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PRAHRAN"]'>PRAHRAN</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1290000]">$1,290,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CARLTON*"]'>CARLTON*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1271000]">$1,271,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BALACLAVA*"]'>BALACLAVA*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1268000]">$1,268,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MURRUMBEENA*"]'>MURRUMBEENA*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1257500]">$1,257,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BENTLEIGH"]'>BENTLEIGH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1255000]">$1,255,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAULFIELD SOUTH"]'>CAULFIELD SOUTH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1235000]">$1,235,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"DONCASTER EAST"]'>DONCASTER EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1232000]">$1,232,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"FITZROY NORTH*"]'>FITZROY NORTH*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1228000]">$1,228,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BURWOOD"]'>BURWOOD</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1222500]">$1,222,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CARLTON NORTH*"]'>CARLTON NORTH*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1222000]">$1,222,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"WINDSOR*"]'>WINDSOR*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1215000]">$1,215,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BOX HILL SOUTH"]'>BOX HILL SOUTH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1207500]">$1,207,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ST KILDA*"]'>ST KILDA*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1206000]">$1,206,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ABERFELDIE*"]'>ABERFELDIE*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1203750]">$1,203,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CLIFTON HILL*"]'>CLIFTON HILL*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1200000]">$1,200,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PLENTY*"]'>PLENTY*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1200000]">$1,200,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HUGHESDALE*"]'>HUGHESDALE*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1195000]">$1,195,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"NORTHCOTE"]'>NORTHCOTE</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1138900]">$1,138,900</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"OAKLEIGH EAST*"]'>OAKLEIGH EAST*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1137000]">$1,137,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ESSENDON"]'>ESSENDON</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1133794]">$1,133,794</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BOX HILL NORTH"]'>BOX HILL NORTH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1132000]">$1,132,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HEIDELBERG*"]'>HEIDELBERG*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1120000]">$1,120,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"FAIRFIELD*"]'>FAIRFIELD*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1106250]">$1,106,250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"RICHMOND"]'>RICHMOND</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1102500]">$1,102,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CLAYTON*"]'>CLAYTON*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1100000]">$1,100,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"WILLIAMSTOWN"]'>WILLIAMSTOWN</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1100000]">$1,100,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BENTLEIGH EAST"]'>BENTLEIGH EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1085000]">$1,085,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"STRATHMORE*"]'>STRATHMORE*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1080250]">$1,080,250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"OAKLEIGH*"]'>OAKLEIGH*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1065500]">$1,065,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"NORTH MELBOURNE*"]'>NORTH MELBOURNE*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1065000]">$1,065,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BULLEEN*"]'>BULLEEN*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1055500]">$1,055,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"TEMPLESTOWE LOWER"]'>TEMPLESTOWE LOWER</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1044750]">$1,044,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"VERMONT SOUTH"]'>VERMONT SOUTH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1040000]">$1,040,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BLACKBURN NORTH*"]'>BLACKBURN NORTH*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1039500]">$1,039,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SOUTH MELBOURNE*"]'>SOUTH MELBOURNE*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1035000]">$1,035,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MOONEE PONDS"]'>MOONEE PONDS</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1020000]">$1,020,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BURWOOD EAST*"]'>BURWOOD EAST*</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1004000]">$1,004,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BLACKBURN SOUTH"]'>BLACKBURN SOUTH</td>
<td data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]' data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1000000]">$1,000,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Source <a href="/news">REIV</a> </p>
<p><span> </span></p>
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Balwyn the home of Melbourne's third most expensive houses: REIV

<html><body>
<p><span>The number of homes taken to auction remains high, with 3,087 auctions held this week, down from 3,274 over the previous week, however, the preliminary clearance rate of 60.8% has fallen, down from 62.3% last week, mainly due to the drop in Melbourne’s clearance rate, which is currently sitting below 65%. Over the corresponding week last year, the clearance rate was a stronger 65.7% and 3,315 auctions were held.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Capital-City.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Capital-City.jpg" alt="" width="612" height="464"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Melbourne’s</strong><span> clearance rate remains under 70 per cent for the 5th week in a row, with this week’s preliminary clearance rate recorded at 64.7 per cent, down from 69.8 per cent last week, and weaker than the clearance rate for the city one year ago (66.1 per cent). This week, Melbourne was host to 1,477 auctions, lower than the 1,567 held last week, but higher than a year ago when there were 1,433 Melbourne auctions held over the week. Of the 9 individual Melbourne sub-regions, this week the strongest performer, in terms of clearance rate was the North East region. So far, CoreLogic RP Data has collected 153 results for the region and the preliminary result shows 71.9 per cent of these auctions were successful.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Melbourne.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Melbourne.jpg" alt="" width="670" height="450"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>Across </span><strong>Sydney</strong><strong>, </strong><span>the preliminary auction clearance rate was 59.3 per cent this week, the third week in a row where Sydney has recorded a result below 60 per cent. Last week, Sydney’s clearance rate was 58 per cent, the lowest clearance rate seen since the week ending 10 February 2013 (55 per cent); significantly lower than one year ago, where results show that 71.8 per cent of Sydney homes taken to auction were successful. In terms of the number of auctions across the city, this week volumes were lower, down to 1,080 from 1,223 last week. One year ago 1,337 Sydney homes were taken to auction. The Eastern suburbs sub-region of Sydney has shown the strongest performance so far this week, with 82.6 per cent of the 69 reported results selling, with 33 remaining results yet to be collected.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Sydney.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Sydney.jpg" alt="" width="667" height="448"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>The preliminary clearance rate in </span><strong>Brisbane</strong><span> this week was 43.6 per cent, up from 39.5 per cent over the previous week. Auction volumes were higher this week with 226 auctions held, up from 198 last week. Meanwhile, across the </span><strong>Gold Coast</strong><span>, 32 per cent of the 50 reported auctions were successful.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Brisbane.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Brisbane.jpg" alt="" width="690" height="458"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Adelaide</strong><span> recorded a clearance rate of 66.7 per cent across 141 auctions this week, up from 52.4 per cent across 121 auctions last week. At the same time last year, 147 homes were taken to auction, with 61.2 per cent recording a successful result.</span></p>
<p><a href="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Adelaide1.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></p>
<p><span><img src="/images/2015/11/23/20151122-Adelaide1.jpg" alt="" width="702" height="470"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>There were 39 <strong>Perth</strong> auctions this week and so far 22 results have been reported, with just 36.4 per cent selling. Last week there was a 44.4 per cent clearance rate for Perth across 39 auctions and at the same time last year, 38.3 per cent of the 55 auctions held were successful.</p>
<p><strong>Canberra’s</strong> clearance rate was 63.6 per cent this week across 111 auctions, compared to 63.2 per cent last week across 102 auctions.</p>
<p>Of the 5 <strong>Tasmanian</strong> auction results reported so far this week, 1 sale has been recorded.</p>
</body></html>

smiller-vwPjRHTkST

Sydney’s clearance rate under 60% for the third week in a row: CoreLogic RP Data's Shana Miller

<html><body>
<div>One of the occupational hazards of middle age is that from the mouths of babes can spout seemingly simple questions which are devilishly difficult to answer. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>This troublesome issue was highlighted in a wittily observed <em>Bigpond</em> advert a decade or so ago, in which a hapless father answers to his curious son that the Great Wall of China was built by "Emperor Nasi Goreng...to keep the rabbits out."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>The difficulty in answering an apparently straightforward question such as "how much money is there?" is twofold. Firstly, this is because the answer depends on what you mean by "money". And secondly since the money supply is a moving target, by the time you have scraped together a coherent answer more money will inevitably have been created. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How much money is there?</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>For those of us with bank accounts today, generally we don't come in to direct physical contact with most of our money. Instead, we just see a number on a screen which changes daily.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The latest figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) showed that the total there is more than $65 billion of currency and $250 billion of current deposits - for a total of just over $315 billion which is represented by the green line in the chart below and known as the "M1" measure of the money supply in circulation.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It's an arresting thought that in the years since I was born there is more than 30 times more M1 money knocking around in Australian circulation.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/11/23/A1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/11/23/A1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<span>Of course, as the above chart shows, the green line is only a small and increasingly insignificant part of the money supply, partly because today most of us use alternative forms of payment, including credit cards and EFTPOS.</span><br><br><span>The red line in the chart above (known as "M3") - which includes term deposits, certificates of deposit, and various other deposits from building societies and credit unions with banks - totals well over $1.8 trillion, the dollar value of M3 money in circulation having increased by more than 45 times over the same time period.</span>
</div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/11/23/A1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></div>
<div><span><img src="/images/2015/11/23/A1-1.jpg" alt=""></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Adding the green shaded areas in the graphic above (currency and current deposits, or "M1") to the blue shaded areas (the aforementioned other deposits) gets us to "M3", while there is a broader measure of money still, which funnily enough is known as "broad money" - it includes certain other borrowings denoted by the red shaded area.<br><br>All up the money supply comprises $1.83 trillion of broad money in circulation.</div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Boiling frogs</span></strong><br><br><div>One thing that we all learn in childhood is that if something that a lot of people want is scarce, then it tends to go up in value. Unfortunately, however, the supply of money has been anything but scarce. </div>
<div>
<br>While 6.3% growth in M3 money over the past 12 months (following on from 8% in the preceding year) may not sound like all that much, due to the power of compounding these cumulative increases in the money supply have snowballed into an enormous expansion.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This, of course, is why folk have tended not to leave large sums of money in their bank accounts earning low returns for too long, and often instead aim to invest in inflation-busting businesses, "hard assets" with intrinsic value such as gold and silver, or well-located residential property with a high land value component. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Over time we expect the price of quality assets in high demand to appreciate, while the value of any associated debt is surprisngly quickly inflated away. Only one decade ago the broadest monetary aggregate ("broad money") showed $784 billion of money supply in circulation, an amount which has comfortably doubled and then some to $1.83 trillion today.<br><br>Summarily there is well over double the amount of money chasing a limited supply of desirable assets. These figures are in themselves powerful enough, but in truth even the money supply in circulation represents only one part of the tale.</div>
<div> </div>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Credit where it's due</span></strong><br><br><div>The other part of the story is that of "credit", being loans, advances and bills discounted to the private sector (but excluding loans made to other financial intermediaries).<br><br>Note in the chart below the massive surge in credit growth following the deregulation of the financial system in 1983 which lasted all the way through until the early 1990s "recession we had to have".</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/11/23/A3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
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<div>While there is not necessarily a link between the expansion of the broad money supply and growth in credit, the data over the long run suggests that a relationship between the two clearly exists, albeit a complex one.</div>
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<div>As explained by a Bank of England research paper last year, the way in which most money is created in a modern economy is through banks making loans. When a bank creates a loan, it also creates a deposit in the borrower's bank account (and in turn it follows that if a bank lends me money to buy your house, then that after the settlement you will have more money in the form of a deposit).</div>
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<div>Thus, contrary to what you might intuitively expect, deposits are not created by households saving income, but by banks creating money through loans, although of course there is ultimately a speed limit as to how much banks can lend.</div>
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<div>The above chart shows what has happened to the amount of "narrow credit" (a measure which excludes securitisations) sloshing around Australia since 1976, which is to say that it has expanded at an even more furious pace from $36 billion to nearly $2.4 trillion, thereby increasing by an astonishing factor of more than 66 times. </div>
<br><div>While back in the year I was born housing accounted for only 24% of ourstanding credit (refer to the red shaded areas in the chart below), today that figure has expanded to 61%, with housing credit growth continuing to outpace the growth in lending to businesses.</div>
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<div>There are a number of identifiable reasons for this trend, but probably the most significant of these is simply that banks love to lend against housing - for even if you default on a mortgage you cannot easily take the house with you, and in any case the land that it sits on isn't going anywhere.</div>
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<div>There have been many predictions of falling house prices over the last decade, but a bet against housing has essentially been a bet against the above chart, which shows that over the past ten years the stock of outstanding housing credit has more than doubled, from approximately $700 billion to $1.5 trillion.</div>
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<div>Of course, the price of all residential property has not increased as a result of this flood of credit. There is no scarcity of land in many mining regions, for example, and the demand for it has been declining in recent years, resulting in spectacularly crashing prices in many cases. Outer suburban Sydney property is now correcting sharply in some instances due to similar dynamics.<br><br>It would be true to say, however, that suburban land values in capital cites have generally been increasing strongly over time.</div>
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<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The outlook for credit growth</span></strong></div>
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<div>Onthe subject of speed limits, the regulatory body APRA recently decreed that it would like to see lenders growing their investor mortgage books at a pace of no faster than 10 per cent per annum, and for this reason we can expect to see banks instead pushing products in their largest and most profitable market sector, being owner-occupier housing credit.</div>
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<div>The private sector credit figures arguably represent one of the more significant indicators of what is happening in the domestic economy, and for this reason I analyse the data on this blog at the end of each calendar month. </div>
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<div>As I looked at in more detail at the end of last month the series showed that while commodity prices may be tanking over the year to September annual business credit growth moved up to a 79 month high of 6.3%, while housing credit growth had also accelerated to a 60 month high of 7.5%.</div>
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<div>Now sure, 7.5% is certainly a lower level of growth for housing credit than we have seen in cycles past - mainly because we are starting from a higher base - yet if sustained it would be enough to more than double the stock of outstanding housing credit to beyond $3 trillion within the next decade, which is food for thought (gulp).</div>
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<div>Whether or not banks can continue to expand owner-occupier credit growth will be one of the key housing market narratives to watch over through 2016. I'll analyse all the key figures here, of course. </div>
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<p><span><em>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>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>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>.</em></p>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

How much money is there? Pete Wargent

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<p><span>Sydney’s clearance rate is under 60 per cent for the third week in a row for the week ending 22 November, according to CoreLogic RP Data's Market Indicator Summary.</span></p>
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<p><span>Melbourne’s </span><span>clearance rate stayed under 70% for the fifth</span><span> </span><span>week in a row.</span></p>
<p><span>Nationally, some 3,087 auctions were held during the week with the preliminary national clearance rate has fallen to 60.8% from 62.3% last week.</span></p>
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Sydney’s clearance rate under 60% CoreLogic RP Data 

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<p><span>Housing markets show different performances geographically as well as across product types and pricing points.  </span></p>
<p><span>Across the capital cities, a useful measure of capital gain across broad price points is our stratified hedonic index.  </span></p>
<p><span>The CoreLogic RP Data Stratified Hedonic Index looks at the movement in home values across three broad value based segments of the housing market.  The three segments are divided across quartiles and provide an insight about capital gains across the most affordable 25% of capital city suburbs, the middle 50% of capital city suburbs and the most expensive 25% of capital city suburbs.</span></p>
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<p><span>Over the 12 months to October 2015, dwelling values across the combined capital cities increased by 8.2% across the most affordable suburbs, 9.6% across the middle priced suburbs and 11.4% over the most expensive suburbs.  The trends are somewhat different over the past three months with the most affordable suburbs recording the strongest value rises.  </span></p>
<p><span>Over the period, the most affordable suburbs have seen values increased by 1.5% compared to 1.2% growth across the middle market and a 1.3% increase in values across the most expensive suburbs.  Over the current growth phase, which broadly commenced in June of 2012, combined capital city home values have increased by 26.5% across the most affordable quarter of capital city suburbs, by 32.4% across the ‘middle’ of the market and by 33.7% across the most expensive quarter of suburbs.</span></p>
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<p>Looking at the data across the five largest capital cities shows some quite different results.  Across the most affordable capital city suburbs, home value changes over the past year have been recorded at +14.3% in Sydney, +8.8% in Melbourne, +3.1% in Brisbane, +3.4% in Adelaide and -1.4% in Perth.</p>
<p>  Looking at the middle 50% of suburbs the value changes over the past year have been recorded at: +14.8% in Sydney, +11.2% in Melbourne, +4.6% in Brisbane, +2.6% in Adelaide and -2.9% in Perth.  Finally the most expensive quarter of the market recorded value changes over the past year of +17.1% in Sydney, +14.6% in Melbourne, +3.5% in Brisbane, +1.5% in Adelaide and -4.3% in Perth. </p>
<p>Based on these results you can see that it has been the most expensive suburbs recording the greatest value rises in Sydney and Melbourne with the most affordable suburbs recording the slowest rate of growth.  In Brisbane the middle market is seeing the greatest rise in values while the most affordable suburbs are seeing the slowest rate of growth. In Adelaide and Perth the best performed segment is the most affordable end of the market with the most expensive suburbs the weakest. Note that in Perth all three segments analysed have recorded value falls over the past year.</p>
<p>Focussing on quarterly data, the most affordable suburbs have been the strongest for growth in Melbourne, Adelaide in Perth. The middle market has recorded the strongest value growth over the quarter in Brisbane while in Sydney the most expensive suburbs have recorded the highest rate of value growth.</p>
<p>The differing performance of the segments provides a good insight into the current market dynamics as to where housing demand is strongest.  In Sydney and Melbourne it is typically higher priced stock, in Brisbane it is the middle market and in Adelaide and Perth demand is largely for more affordable housing stock. </p>
<p>As the rate of growth slows in Sydney and Melbourne we are likely to see the profile of where demand is strongest also change in those cities.  Furthermore, if Sydney and Melbourne buyers look to purchase in other cities they may be able to afford more expensive stock than the local buyers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.  As a result we may see higher levels of value growth across the higher priced market segments.</p>
<p><span><em>Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/author/cameron-kusher/" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></span></p>
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