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

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<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/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of 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."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

What does it really mean for a building to be 'green'?

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>

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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.

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<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>

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Ellen Walker

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

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An oversupply of apartments makes Melbourne vulnerable to a price correction, according to Wakelin Property Advisory director Paul Nugent.
"Those who are invested in high-rise apartments should definitely be concerned," Mr Nugent told the weekend Fairfax Media.
"The CBD already faces the greatest oversupply we've ever seen and that is saying something because we've followed the booms and busts of the high-rise sector for the last 20 years," he said.
He said CBD investors faced struggling to find and keep tenants, flatlining or falling rents, and negative capital growth.
Mastering the art of financing and the art of property selection at the same time is a complex process, according to <a href="https://wakelin.com.au" target="_blank">the Melbourne buyers agent</a>.
"Both processes are so complex that many prospective investors simply fail to launch because they are defeated by a process that asks them to master the art of financing and the art of property selection at the same time," said the negotiator with over 20 years experience.
"We found we could distil the process down to six major steps: financing and home equity; asset selection; negotiation; settlement; property management; and portfolio review. 
"Buyers need to pass safely through each stage, and, as importantly, to synchronise their actions for the best outcome.” 
"We found we could distil the process down to six major steps: financing and home equity; asset selection; negotiation; settlement; property management; and portfolio review. 
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Six steps to successful property investment as Wakelin put Melbourne CBD on crash alert

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I’m struggling to find a time when the bureaucrats and politicians struggled as much as they presently are when trying to define what exactly is happening to the Sydney property markets – please note that I have used plural as against the popular and misrepresented singular definition.
Australia’s head cashier Joe Hockey is having an absolute shocker given he hails from a family that has a rich real estate heritage. For example, last week he stated that more houses were needed to fix the home affordability issue. “I like many others, if you have a home, if you’re already there with a mortgage; you wonder how your children are going to get into it.” Well Joe, for starters I would immediately slash the foreign buying policy where you allow 100% of all new housing developments to be sold offshore to foreign buyers.
Then one week later announced that he “totally understands” housing in Sydney and Melbourne is expensive and advised first home buyers to “get a good job that pays good money. ”If you go back 10 years first home buyers represented 10% of the overall market – today they are struggling to record a 5% market participation. The Sydney and Melbourne property markets are overwhelmingly being driven by property investors and foreign buyers.
The real truth of the matter is that the Coalition and ALP don’t care about the buyers, or where they come from for that matter, this is all about strengthening the economy where real estate is now doing all the heavy lifting. The crux of the matter is that the property sector now contributes more to Australian gross domestic product (GDP) than mining. The property sector is estimated to generate 11.5% of GDP, employs 1.1 million Australians and pays $72.1 billion in state, federal and local real estate taxes each year.
Then we have Australia’s head teller Glenn Stevens pointing at another rate cut due to a weak economy given that the Australian economy is now weaker than forecast two years ago. In 2013 the projection was that the economy would be growing at a rate of 2.5% to 4% although by mid-2015 it will be lucky to post a growth rate of 2.5%. Stevens also commented this week that he is concerned about Sydney’s booming house prices – you see he used the term house although houses in certain parts of Sydney are not doing that well when compared to apartments.
Our research division has been recording some interesting Mosman ‘house’ sales.
<ul>
<li>Stanley Avenue Mosman sold in 2010 for $12.000 and resold in 2015 for $12.300</li>
<li>Coronation Avenue Mosman sold in 2012 for $4.200 and resold in 2015 for $4.125</li>
<li>Botanic Road Mosman sold in 2013 for $2.750 and resold in 2014 for $2.550</li>
<li>Parriwi Road (apartment) sold in 2010 for $1.050 and resold in 2014 for $1.010</li>
<li>Parriwi Road (apartment) sold in 2010 for $2.250 and resold in 2014 for $2.150</li>
<li>Bradleys Head Road sold in 2007 for $5.400 and resold in 2015 for $5.100</li>
<li>Raglan Street Mosman sold in 2006 for $4.500 and resold in 2015 for $4.750</li>
</ul>
The problem is purely that house prices are bundled as against separating houses from apartments and investors from owner occupiers. Let’s not start on what part the foreign buyers play in this equation given nobody has really bothered to measure this participation rate but I would add that it’s huge and much, much higher than the federal government ever envisaged (when they do get around to looking).
Glenn Stevens was using the HSBC research that found Australian house prices had risen 24 per cent in the past three years, though the gains had been mostly confined to Sydney and Melbourne – so why then call this Australian house prices? Sydney had jumped 39 per cent and Melbourne prices were up 22 per cent bringing the average price growth for the rest of the country at 10 per cent.
The real problem Australia is facing is getting the economy stimulated and thus far all the monetary measures have been a dismal failure. Yet again, the problem is contained directly in Canberra and the refusal to implement reform so on that basis I can see where Glenn Stevens is coming from.
Cast your mind back to 2008 when Ken Henry presented the Henry Tax Review (the Rudd government held on to it until 2010) – we need to remember what Ken Henry said at the time “Ken Henry warns of looming taxation crisis”, and said that need to change is urgent. In 2014, he warned that the Abbott government urgently needs a tax and welfare package to head off an imminent budget crisis.
Well we have a budget crisis and no tax reform and as Ken Henry put it “there will be a day of reckoning.” One only has to ask a simple question – where would the Australian economy be today had the Henry Tax Review been implemented?
So what we have is politicians only interested in re – election so any thought of reform is immediately removed until we get hit with a major economic downturn. The Henry Tax Review was designed to drive the economy and therefore minimise the likelihood of another economic downturn as experienced with the Global Financial Crisis. Governments don’t pay payroll tax however if you asked businesses what they would do with the savings if it were to be abolished – you would see a much different Australian economy than we are seeing presently.
<h5>MOSMAN – 2088</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 85
• Number of houses on the market last week – 61
• Number of houses on the market this week – 55
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 66
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 38
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 41
<h5>CREMORNE – 2090</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 8
• Number of houses on the market last week – 6
• Number of houses on the market this week – 7
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 9
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 13
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 11
<h5>NEUTRAL BAY – 2089</h5>
* Number of houses on the market this time last year – 5
• Number of houses on the market last week – 5
• Number of houses on the market this week – 3
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year– 46
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 23
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 29
 
ROBERT SIMEON is a director of <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/" target="_blank" title="RWM" rel="nofollow">Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</a> and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985.  He has also been writing real estate blog <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Realty News" rel="nofollow">Virtual Realty News</a> since 2000. 
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robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

It’s about the economy not the property buyers: Robert Simeon

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The latest Commonwealth Bank-CoreLogic Home Buyers Index suggests housing market conditions remained relatively balanced between buyers and sellers.
It noted selling conditions in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide were stronger than elsewhere. 
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At a national level, the ratio of buyers to effective supply across the Australian real estate market has shifted slightly in favour of buyers over the past three months, resulting in a housing market which remains balanced between buyers and sellers, the report noted.
Total advertised stock levels are generally in line with the number of home loans funded, suggesting that current market conditions, at least at a national level, are balanced. 
As at April 2015 across each state and territory the results were quite different; in Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, and Northern Territory market conditions were skewed towards buyers. Every other state and territory was showing relatively balanced conditions. 
Conditions across the capital cities were typically more balanced or in favour of sellers, reflecting a different balance between advertised stock levels and demonstrated buyer demand in metropolitan versus regional housing markets.
The results also reflected the higher levels of buyer demand compared with stock levels which were occurring in the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide markets where overall conditions favour sellers rather than buyers. While Sydney and Melbourne have recorded significant value rises over the past year, Adelaide has recorded relatively soft capital growth conditions. 
<a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/personal/docs/hbi-report-apr-2015.pdf" target="_blank">The Commonwealth Bank–CoreLogic Home Buyers Index</a> provides an indication of how well market conditions are suited to buyers or sellers, based on the ratio of properties advertised for sale compared with the number of housing loans which are being committed to by customers of Australia’s largest mortgage lender, Commonwealth Bank.
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Where the number of properties being advertised for sale outweighs the number of mortgage commitments (adjusted for market share), the market is considered to be in favour of buyers; effective supply is outweighing demand.
Where new home loans are outweighing the number of homes being advertised for sale, market conditions generally favour sellers.
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HBI by capital city – April 2015
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Buyers favoured over sellers in Queensland: Commonwealth Bank home buyers index

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Werrington, some 48 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, is the suburb where the grant recipient first time buyers are most active.
Buyers received a $7.48 million benefit - from grants and stamp duty exemptions - in their purchases over the past year.
Benefits totalling $235 million have been paid by the state government across NSW, according to figures over the past year obtained by Property Observer.
Werrington's median house price sits at <a href="/news">a record $462,500 median</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data. 
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Werrington - where the Sydney first time buyers are most active

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The debate over Sydney’s property price bubble (Yes there is! No there isn’t!) sits smack bang in the middle of one of the most fascinating economic questions of our time: how risky is sudden asset price inflation?
And if the risk is judged to be high what, if anything, are policymakers to do about it?
In the 24/7 world of US and European bond markets, traders’ Bloomberg screens have bleated dire warnings since bond yields went negative last year for the first time in modern economic history. In China, speculators watch equity markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen that have risen more than 150% in the past 12 months. And in Australia, Australian_property_bubble is its own Wikipedia page.
As my former boss Saul Eslake pointed out last week in the Sydney Morning Herald, to use the term bubble in relation to asset prices is “emotionally laden”. It has no definition in the academic literature, other than a generalised notion of a sudden and upward acceleration in asset price movements that poses the risk of a violent crash.
Alan Greenspan’s famous term “irrational exuberance,” was another expression of emotion. Bubbles – the endgame of a bull market – are not as well defined as a bear market, which generally refers to a 20% or more fall in equity prices, or an economic recession, which is two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
What is a bubble and other tricky definitions
One of the big challenges in defining a bubble is in establishing its start. Sydney property prices are a case in point. In 2014, the ABS residential property price index for Sydney indicated a 14.7% rise for the year. That’s strong growth, and was at least double the rate of growth seen in other capital cities. But extend the starting point back five years, and Sydney’s property prices have increased by 39%, roughly on par with Canberra (36%) and Melbourne (35%). Go back 10 years, and Sydney’s property price growth of 57% is significantly less than the national weighted average of (85%) and less than half that of Darwin (168%) and Perth (133%), or even Melbourne (113%).
So are Sydney property prices in bubble territory, or are they just catching up after a period of flat-to-negative growth in the early 2000s? What of other factors such as the underlying dynamics of supply and demand, housing density, urban planning and land value?
When policymakers are staring in the face a potential bubble, their real concern is the underlying drivers of that sudden, rapid surge. Is the bubble a symptom of systemic risk?
Growth in credit and foreign investors
In Sydney’s case, two potential systemic risks merit scrutiny. The first is the very rapid growth in credit being used for property investment; that is, the expansion of leverage. The second is increasing foreign investment that is reportedly flowing into the Sydney property market, purportedly from China.
These are, however, two very different risk stories. Of the two, leverage is far more pernicious. Excessive household leverage in particular walks down a well-worn path toward financial instability - as the global financial crisis amply reminded us - where it can take years for families to repair their balance sheets after a hit. “Buyer beware” is a theoretically correct construct, but not a particularly practical one should a government have to face down armies of homeowners sinking under negative equity.
Rising capital inflows hold much less risk, particularly in an Australian context. A sufficient magnitude of outflows would dampen market prices, potentially cause the Australian dollar to weaken somewhat and ultimately require some current account adjustment. One could argue that this outcome may be an upside risk for growth, not a downside one.
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens’ comments last week in Brisbane make it clear that his focus is square on the risk of leverage. He notes pointedly that Australian households already have a high debt burden taken on in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis; the point of the speech was a plea was for government to shoulder the burden by getting on with a boost in useful (non-mining) infrastructure investment while cheap finance is so plentiful.
Macroprudential actions
Should Stevens’ concerns on household indebtedness move from words to action, the policy response would be to temper leverage. The most targeted and effective approach is to make borrowing more expensive through more stringent customer debt-to-income tests.
The RBA and Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) could also reduce the allowable maximum loan-to-valuation ratios (LVRs) thereby requiring higher deposits – following the example of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand – or, in a nod to recommendations in the Financial Services Inquiry, increase the Big Four banks’ risk weights on capital held against mortgage loans.
These types of measures are often called “macroprudential”– that is, regulations applied to maintain financial system stability by directly addressing perceived underlying risks. Macroprudential regulation is a term that has come back into vogue in the post-GFC world. In reality, the concepts are not new.
As Luci Ellis and Paul Woolley pointed out in an RBA paper back in 2012, a macroprudential policy stance is more a state of mind around monitoring and acting on systemic risks rather than a specific set of policy measures or tools.
Lower stamp duties, increase capital gains tax?
A second course of action would be for the federal or state government to shift market dynamics through tax incentives. Lowering stamp duties would reduce transactions costs, potentially freeing up more supply in the existing housing stock. So could shifting the pension asset test to increase the incentive to downsize from the family home once it is no longer needed. Introducing greater capital gains tax on properties sold within a short period or reducing the benefits of negative gearing would go a long way toward discouraging investor-driven acquisitions, while imposing new levies on purchases by non-residents could dampen capital inflows.
The problem with changing property-related tax policies for residents is twofold; not everyone will be happy, and the need for gradual introduction to allow for adjustment means impacts may be slow. An additional issue with trying to limit property purchases by non-residents through tax is that its target is a great unknown.
Hong Kong’s failure to deflate
As will be discussed in depth in a paper released by the Australian Centre for Financial Studies and Finsia this week, there continues to be a remarkable lack of comprehensive and reliable data on both the source and ultimate destination of foreign investment into Australia, and particularly into the residential and commercial property market. With such thin evidence as to both the total size and the source of these anecdotal flows, policymakers are shooting in the dark.
Beyond this, it cannot be guaranteed that raising borrowing costs and shifting tax incentives would deflate a perceived property bubble. Hong Kong and Singapore have both tried it, and arguably failed. In 2010, Hong Kong moved to simultaneously require a significant increase in deposits for investment properties while also adopting additional stamp duties on investment properties, with higher penalties for non-resident investors. Singapore followed suit in 2013.
The impact on Hong Kong has been negligible. Despite concerns of market disruption in 2010, property prices continued to climb and hit an all-time high last year. Singapore did see its property prices flatten in 2013, then fall by 4% in 2014.
However, there has also been a significant decline in the volume of both existing and new home sales according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, suggesting that these measures may not have had the desired impact of increasing housing affordability or supply. And although prices have not increased, they remain high relative to Singapore household income.
Crazy indeed.
Amy Auster is Deputy Director at the Australian Centre for Financial Studies. She can be contacted <a href="https://www.australiancentre.com.au/AboutUs/Staff/AmyAuster" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Blowing bubbles: the tricky task of tackling Sydney's property market 

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Monocle’s 2015 Quality of Life Survey has put Melbourne in fourth place among international cities, just ahead of Sydney in fifth spot.
Sydney's reputation is on the rise, climbing from 11th a year ago, while Melbourne slipped from third. Brisbane dropped off the list being in 25th place last year.
Last year’s third-time winner Copenhagen fell to 10th place while Tokyo took top spot, having been second in the 2014 list.
Monocle, a British lifestyle magazine, advised this year’s survey - its ninth - had 22 new criteria, including the price of a three-bedroom house, the cost of a cup of coffee, glass of wine and decent lunch, and access to the outdoors. Cities are evaluated based on a combination of culture, tolerance, green space, connectivity and safety.
Monocle’s 2015 Quality of Life survey ranked Tokyo in the coveted top spot due to its "defining paradox" of heart-stopping size and concurrent feeling of peace and quiet.  
Tokyo's around-the-clock metabolism helped vault it to the top with Vienna in second place.
Monocle editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé recently told a Sydney conference that the country was in danger of becoming the world’s dumbest nation because all the government’s nannying threatens to kill off common sense. 
“Wear a helmet” when riding a bike. “Don’t you dare go anywhere near the public pavement with a glass of wine in your hand” if you happen to be enjoying a shop-opening in Sydney. “Put two fences around your pool”, otherwise you’ll be liable if someone climbs over the first one (but not the second) and drowns.
"Melbourne despite the rules, gets a lot right; Sydney ditto," he wrote in his latest Fast Lane Financial Times column.
In 2014, Brûlé sold a minority stake in the UK-based Monocle magazine to Japanese newspaper publisher Nikkei Inc.
Top 25 cities:
1 Tokyo
2 Vienna
3 Berlin
4 Melbourne
5 Sydney
6 Stockholm
7 Vancouver
8 Helsinki
9 Munich
10 Zurich/Copenhagen
12 Fukuoka
13 Singapore
14 Kyoto
15 Paris
16 Madrid
17 Auckland
18. Lisbon
19 Hong Kong
20 Amsterdam
21 Hamburg
22. Geneva
23 Oslo
24 Barcelona
25 Portland
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Tyler Brûlé's Monocle ranks Melbourne just ahead of Sydney

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From social housing to speculators. 
The first government-sold heritage terrace at Millers Point that fetched $1,911,000 just 10 months ago is back for sale.
The 1880s terrace was the first of scheduled 293 public housing properties to be sold off by Government Property NSW in August last year.
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/vacated-millers-point-four-level-terrace-fetches-1-911-000-at-private-state-government-auction">The then rundown four-bedroom heritage-listed</a> home had been vacant since early 2011 with the last public housing tenant paying $77.20 a week rent at the property which has water views over Walsh Bay.
The relisted <a href="https://sydneysothebysrealty.com/5095303/119-Kent-Street-Millers-Point" target="_blank">119 Kent Street, Millers Point </a><a href="https://sydneysothebysrealty.com/5095303/119-Kent-Street-Millers-Point" target="_blank">home</a> sits on a 109 sq m block with no parking.
The house has original fireplaces and floorboards, 3.25m high ceilings and a sandstone-walled sunlit courtyard.
It is marketed by Harriett France a Sotheby's as "recently refreshed with new kitchens and bathrooms - scope for further improvement."
Around $2.5 million is expected by the Sfeir family.
The controversial sell off, which has resulted in the relocation of public housing tenants, is tipped to set off a major gentrification in the historic suburb.
The state government <a href="https://rediscovermillerspoint.com.au" target="_blank">has created a website </a>to sell the virtues.
 
 
 
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Quick flip profits sought for 119 Kent Street, Millers Point former state government offering 

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There were 14 Sydney suburbs scoring a perfect 100 per cent auction clearance rate during the autumn selling season.
Thornleigh on the upper north shore headlined the remarkable feat with 23 sales over the three months to May 31.
In second place with 22 sales was Naremburn on the lower north shore.
Sydney's clearance rate for the autumn quarter sat at 83.3 per cent with 161 suburbs scoring auction success results above the Sydney-wide clearance rate. 
With winter auctions now underway, Thornleigh won't be on the next 100 percent list given a three bedroom weekend offering (below) was withdrawn, now for sale with offers sought above $1 million.
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<div id="Content_Content_propertyPhotos_MainImage_MainImagePlaceholder" class="img-wrapper"><a id="Content_Content_propertyPhotos_MainImage_MainPhotoLink" class="feature" href="https://www.domain.com.au/ore/Public/Gallery/Photo.aspx?adid=2011994087&amp;pic=1&amp;mode=Buy&amp;AgencyID=17346" target="ImageWindow"><img class="js-first-image" src="https://b.domainstatic.com.au/w800-h600-w1600-h1200-2011994087_1_pi_150608_045111" alt="71 beresford road thornleigh NSW 2120"></a></div>
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<div class="img-wrapper">Backing onto natural bushland with a north east to rear aspect, the elevated home was marketed as providing "an exceptional investment opportunity" with future potential for the 765sqm site. The estimated return was $600 per week according to the McGrath marketing. It was bought by a super fund at $535,000 in 2009. </div>
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<div class="img-wrapper">Nearby Cherrybrook in the Hills district was among other strong 100% performers during Autumn, according to Australian Property Monitors.</div>
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Ditto Killarney Heights on the northern beaches, North Willoughby on the lower north shore, Manly Vale on the northern beaches, Westmead and North Strathfield in the inner west and the southern suburbs' Mordale, Birrong, Kareela and Gymea South.
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There was Lalor Park in Blacktown, Wentworthville in the west.
APM Domain Group senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson most of the 14 suburbs tended to be next to much better known suburbs, but they had recently come into their own as a more affordable alternative.
The Sydney suburb with the lowest clearance rate was Middleton Grange in Sydney's west, where 46 per cent of homes sold under the autumn auction hammer.
On Saturday Sydney secured an auction clearance rate of 83.3 per cent.
 
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Thornleigh's 100% autumn auction success rate - and the 13 other stellar Sydney hotspots

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A clearance rate of 80 per cent was recorded across Melbourne today, continuing on its merry way despite recent commentary.
Last weekend a clearance rate of 72 per cent was recorded over the subdued Queen's Birthday weekend, compared to 80 per cent on May's last weekend.
There were 766 auctions reported to the REIV today. 
Armadale secured the highest residential house price when 39 Lambeth Avenue, Armadale fetched $4,660,000.
The renovated Victorian trophy home had five bidders.
Next priciest was <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/27-summerhill-road-brighton-east/Property-Details-buy-residential-8909566" target="_blank">27 Summerhill Road, Brighton East</a> at (below) $3,980,000 through Marshall White, then 29 Regent Street, Mount Waverley $3,300,000 and 32 Barrington Avenue, Kew $3,150,000.
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The REIV was expecting about 920 auctions in 251 suburbs on the weekend. On the same winter weekend last year there was a 72% success rate from 919 auctions. 
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TOP 5 BARGAIN HOUSES 
1. 115 Glynns Road, North Warrandyte $85,000 2. 42 Mt Eagle Way, Wyndham Vale $265,000 3. 1/4 Dawn Avenue, Dandenong South $275,000 4. 3/70-71 Nepean Highway, Seaford $285,000 5. 11 Donald Street, Dallas $295,000
TOP 5 APARTMENTS 
1. 7 Lawson Street, Hampton $1,770,000 2. 3A Abergeldie Avenue, Mckinnon $1,387,500 3. 6/7 Warwick Court, Surrey Hills $1,380,000 4. 61 Michael Street, Fitzroy North $1,250,000 5. 1/56 Union Road, Surrey Hills $1,229,888 
TOP 5 BARGAIN APARTMENTS 
1. 4/232 Nicholson Street, Footscray $207,000 2. 3/483 Princes Highway, Noble Park $278,000 3. 7/37 Osborne Avenue, Glen Iris $280,000 4. 5/7 Waltham Street, Flemington $285,000 5. 12/63 Ulupna Road, Ormond $296,000
Source <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/Property-Research" target="_blank">REIV</a>
The top auction locations were South Yarra (20 auctions) followed by Glen Waverley and Glen Iris with 14 auctions each. 
There was a development site at 50 Montclair Avenue Glen Waverley that fetched $5,505,000 at auction yesterday.
<div>Melbourne’s west is the most popular region for auctions this weekend with around 130 listed.  </div>
Melbourne’s east continues to see a high buyer demand, with 10 suburbs recording clearance rates of between 95 per cent and 100 per cent in the month of May.
There were 275 auctions reported to the REIV over the long weekend.
The REIV reported the 2015 auction market hit a peak in May, with 5,000 auctions held – more than any other month this year. The May clearance rate, at 79 per cent, was also well ahead of May 2014 , when it was 71 per cent.
APM reported Melbourne’s outer east recorded 88.5 percent closely followed by the inner east with 88.0 percent, the north 84.7 percent,  the north east 84.2 percent, the inner south 83.5 percent, the west 79.6 percent, the south east 76.3 percent and the inner city with 72.3 percent.
APM reported Melbourne recorded a clearance rate of 79.2 percent over May which which was the highest monthly success rate since April 2010. 
The May clearance rate was the third highest ever recorded for that month – behind only the price boom years of 2007 and 2001.
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APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson noted Melbourne recorded its highest ever month for auction sales over May at 3670 at a record total value of $3.58 billion. 
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<div>"The median price of homes sold at auction in Melbourne over May also climbed to a new monthly record of $820,000 – an increase of 11.2 percent over the month and 13.9 percent higher than May last year," he said. </div>
 
 
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Melbourne auctions maintain Autumn glow into winter

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A 12 square-metre car space at Kirribilli sold at auction today for $120,000. The company title S7/29 Carabella Street offering was not restricted to building residents, selling to a neighbour. There are 23 apartments in the six-storey near harbour front 1960s block.
<img class="image" src="https://media.mcgrath.com.au/webimages/properties/0/2/6/4/3/7/2/6E94979D-EED4-870F-6A014A2B980EC3B0_m.jpg" width="376" height="299">
The highest weekend result was at Mosman for $6 million, which had been offered with $4.5 million plus guidance.
At Maroubra auctioneer Damien Cooley secured $3.57 million. The 650-square-metre oceanfront property at 19 Mermaid Avenue traded for $1.1 million in 1998.
The Surry Hills warehouse studio-home of Kay Lanceley and her artist husband, the late Colin Lanceley sold pre-auction through BresicWhitney for an unconfirmed $5 million.
The Lanceley's has bought the Esther Street warehouse in 1992 for $450,000 from their friend, art dealer, Ray Hughes.
The Surry Hills, Sydney warehouse abode had been listed with $4.2 million plus hopes.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/photogallery_new.ds?id=119798979&amp;theme=rea.buy" rel="photos" style="line-height: 1.3em;" data-id="119798979"><img src="https://i2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/5254f577100eab51c113d3ff6d35df3cd4495a03c9908eb47ea046f6b41ed149/image19.jpg" alt="2 Esther Lane, Surry Hills" title="2 Esther Lane, Surry Hills" data-index="18"></a>
 
There was an 83.3% initial weekend clearance rate, with an emerging softening apparent in the latest APM data, while Melbourne auctions shows strengthening results.
Some 673 Sydney homes were listed to go under the hammer, well up on last Saturday’s 395 Queen's Birthday weekend tally, and also higher than the 615 auctioned over the same weekend last year.
The weekend tally which secured $465 million in sales saw a $1.26 million Sydney median house price and a $775,000 Sydney median unit price.
<div>Sydney’s south hosted the most number of auctions of the suburban regions with 96 scheduled.</div>
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<div>The next highest was the city and east with 86 followed by the upper north shore 81, the lower north 75, the south west and the inner west each with 68, the west 51, Canterbury Bankstown 50, the northern beaches 45, the north west 32, the central coast 19 and the Blue Mountains with two auctions scheduled this weekend.</div>
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<div>The most popular suburb for auctions in Sydney this weekend is again Mosman with nine followed by Wahroonga and Baulkham Hills each with eight.</div>
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<div>There were just the six Mosman results notified.</div>
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<div>Seven auctions were scheduled on Saturday in Hornsby, Hurstville, Bexley, Lane Cove, Randwick and Bankstown.</div>
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<div>Huge crowds attended weekend auctions after a week of histrionic property commentary. At 25 Grove St, Casula a crowd of 150 watched four bidders - from the 18 registered - run the price up to $807,500 through Trevor Byrne at One Agency Carnes Hill. Auctioneer Rob Trovato had a crowd of around 120 watch as 277a North Rocks Rd North Rocks sold for $980,000 as five bidders sought to secure the battle axe home.</div>
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<div>Last weekend’s Queens Birthday long-weekend holiday break showed signs of easing in Sydney’s red-hot auction housing market, recording a weaker, but still strong clearance rate at 85.1% - which was revised down to 82.9% on late notified results. Last Saturday’s clearance rate was significantly higher than the 73.7% rate reported over the same weekend last year. 
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<div>The May monthly clearance rate was 83.9 percent result over the full month.</div>
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<div>"This was the fourth consecutive month that Sydney has broken the clearance rate record in a remarkable unprecedented performance," APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson said.</div>
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<div>Sydney also notched up its second highest ever monthly total number of auction sales over May at 3375 – just behind the November 2014 all-time record of 3717.</div>
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<div>The value of homes sold at auction over May soared to $4.14 billion – again just below last November’s all-time record of $4.24 billion.</div>
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