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

Joel Robinson

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

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

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

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

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

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

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help eligible first-time home buyers by offering financial assistance towards the purchase or construction of a new home.

While the FHOG is a nationwide program, it is administered separately by each state and territory, meaning the eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and property requirements can vary depending on your location. This means that the amount available and the conditions attached to the grant will differ, so it is important to check the specific guidelines for your state or territory.

It’s important to note that the FHOG is just one of several incentives available to first home buyers. In most states and territories, the grant is not linked to stamp duty exemptions or concessions, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The FHOG is typically a one-off payment, reducing the overall cost of purchasing or building a new home before any stamp duty concessions are applied.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $600,000. For land purchases and owner-builders, the threshold extends to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. The FHOG applies to new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

&nbsp;

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $750,000 in the southern regions and up to $1 million in the northern regions.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides up to $15,000 for new homes, including houses, apartments, and townhouses. As of 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap for eligibility.

Stamp Duty Relief: Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.

Stamp Duty Exemption: Between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026, first home buyers of established homes valued up to $750,000 receive a full exemption on property transfer duty.

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.

Stamp Duty Exemption: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).

Eligibility criteria and application processes differ across states. Prospective buyers should refer to their respective state revenue offices for full details on grant availability, conditions, and additional concessions.

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable architecture and environmentally conscious design, systems and ratings in place can help determine the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Australia.

Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.

Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.

A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.

As new developments continue to shape the urban environment, understanding NatHERS ratings becomes essential for developers and homeowners. This article delves into the concept of NatHERS ratings, their significance, and how they contribute to creating energy-efficient homes.

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

NatHERS is a national initiative implemented by the Australian government to promote energy efficiency in residential buildings. The scheme aims to provide a standardised method for assessing the thermal performance of homes, considering factors such as insulation, orientation, ventilation, and building materials.&nbsp;

NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;

NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.

The rating helps evaluate the energy performance of buildings, guides homeowners and developers to make informed decisions about the energy efficiency of their properties, and encourages the construction of more sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective homes.

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

NatHERS ratings are determined through four accredited software tools (AccuRate, BERS Pro, FirstRate5, HERO) using a calculation engine CSIRO developed to predict building temperature based on various factors.

The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.

The outcome is a star rating that reflects the building's overall thermal efficiency, indicating how well it can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without excessive reliance on heating or cooling systems.

The star rating scale ranges from 0 to 10, with a 6-star rating being the minimum requirement for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).&nbsp;

Achieving a higher star rating demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, as the building is better equipped to minimise its environmental impact and reduce long-term energy costs.

Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

Energy Efficiency: Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings are more energy-efficient, requiring less heating and cooling energy. This reduces the structure's carbon footprint and lowers occupants' energy bills.

Cost Savings: Homes with higher NatHERS ratings are generally more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. This translates to lower energy bills for homeowners, making sustainable living environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long run.

Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduced environmental impact. Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings contribute to the overall goal of mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.

Improved Comfort: Buildings with high NatHERS ratings offer better thermal comfort to occupants. Proper insulation, well-designed ventilation, and optimal orientation maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, providing occupants with a more enjoyable and healthier space.

Market Value and Desirability: Higher NatHERS ratings can enhance the market value of a property. As energy efficiency becomes a more significant consideration for homebuyers, a well-rated building may attract a premium price and stand out in the real estate market.

Compliance with Building Codes: NatHERS ratings are a vital component of the National Construction Code (NCC), and compliance with these ratings is often a mandatory requirement for new developments. Local councils and planning authorities may set minimum energy efficiency standards that must be met to obtain development approval.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a crucial initiative shaping the future of energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective homes. With its recent upgrades, NatHERS has evolved into a world-leading tool for the building sector, supporting the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Staff Writer

What is a NatHERS rating in new off the plan apartment developments?

Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.

Residential units seamlessly coexist with commercial establishments, retail outlets, dining venues, entertainment hubs, and recreational facilities, with the combination not only enhances convenience but also fosters a vibrant lifestyle and a sense of community.

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

Mixed-use developments are designed with convenience in mind. They often integrate residential units with commercial spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]

The proximity allows residents to enjoy the convenience of having essential amenities and services within walking distance. Whether it's grabbing a cup of coffee, going grocery shopping, or accessing healthcare services, everything is conveniently located, saving residents time and effort.

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

One of the major advantages of mixed-use developments is the vibrant lifestyle they offer. With a diverse range of amenities and communal spaces, residents have ample opportunities to interact, socialise, and build a sense of community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]

The presence of parks, community centres, and shared spaces fosters a lively atmosphere, encouraging residents to engage in various activities and events. The vibrant lifestyle within these developments creates a unique sense of belonging and camaraderie among the residents.

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

Mixed-use developments tend to attract a broad range of tenants and buyers due to their versatile nature. This high demand can result in higher rental yields for investors and potentially lead to property value appreciation over time.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]

The integration of commercial and retail spaces attracts businesses, which can provide a stable rental income stream. Additionally, the popularity of mixed-use developments often drives up property values, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the long term.

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

Mixed-use developments typically have comprehensive security measures in place. With controlled access points, CCTV surveillance, and professional security staff, residents can enjoy enhanced safety and peace of mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

Additionally, these developments often have dedicated maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of common areas, landscaping, and infrastructure. This ensures that the overall appearance and functionality of the development are well-maintained, creating a pleasant living environment for residents.

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

One of the key attractions of mixed-use developments is the ability to achieve a desirable live-work-play balance. The integration of residential and commercial spaces allows residents to live closer to their workplaces, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance.

The proximity to various amenities and recreational facilities encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. Residents can easily access fitness centres, parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, all within the same development, leading to a more fulfilling and convenient way of life.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

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

When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.

Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.

It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C32BWkB5--c" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

In some circumstances, you may get an exemption. For some states, you won’t have to pay for stamp duty if you are a first home buyer or a pensioner for houses under a particular price. There are also stamp duty concessions, where you may be entitled to a discount.

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

Each state has different rules which affect how much you need to pay. These rules can affect the rate you pay, and the timeframe you will need to pay in. Before you buy land or a property, make sure you check the up-to-date information for your state’s stamp duty.

You can use a free stamp duty calculator online to see approximately how much you’ll need to pay. Find out if you’re eligible for an exemption by enquiring on a project via Urban!

Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1">How much your land/property is worth</li>
	<li aria-level="1">Where your land/property is located</li>
	<li aria-level="1">What type of land/property it is</li>
</ul>

Want to find out more? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanAustralia?utm_source=YouTube&amp;utm_medium=Video&amp;utm_campaign=Subscribe&amp;utm_id=Subscribe">Subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> for more property videos.

Ellen Walker

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

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

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Do you remember when Professor Steven Keen, (the economist, author and renowned pessimist when it comes to property), was selling his house because of he thought the property market was overpriced?
I do. The year was 2008.
I remember seeing him on TV (A Current Affair or Today Tonight) doing a walk-through of his apartment and explaining to the reporter how overpriced the market is and it’s time to sell.
Fast forward to today and this morning I read that in <a href="https://news.domain.com.au/domain/real-estate-news/back-to-boom-sydney-house-prices-jumped-14-per-cent-in-2014-20150128-1304n8" target="_blank">2014 property prices are up 14% alone</a>.
Here’s a chart up to 2013 – so add a lot more and to the end and you get the picture.
<img class="center" src="https://m.c.lnkd.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/5/005/0b3/0a2/1ff6cc9.png" alt="" width="588" height="293" data-loading-tracked="true">
Source: Housing NSW, Arek Drozda
But, at the time, Steven Keen certainly made me think. He made me ponder putting some property onto the market.
Why? Because I thought and still feel that relative to wages property seems expensive. This is probably based on my childhood, where my father could support five kids and a wife on the one wage and still have a house in Concord NSW (back then I was a Westie - now I'd be a latte sipping urbanite).
But times have changed.
Now, I don’t know what the future holds but my lessons or takeaways from this experience are:
<ol>
<li>Don’t get your facts from ACA or Today Tonight. 
</li>
<li>I'm glad I didn't listen to you Mr Steven Keen 
</li>
<li>Don’t sell property unless you really have to (the costs of getting into and out of the property market are really high). 
</li>
<li>Australia has so many varying factors that have helped keep our property market strong 
</li>
<li>There are many different markets within Australia – so it’s too simple to say the Australian property market will go this way or that. 
</li>
<li>When i can buy money at 5% or below fixed for five years, .hard to see the market heading south anywhere in a hurry.</li>
</ol>
Did you sell? Where do you think the market is headed now?
Tyron Hyde is director of <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au/" target="_blank">Washington Brown Quantity Surveyors</a>.
His book <a href="https://www.claim-it.com.au/?utm_source=wbsite&amp;utm_medium=image&amp;utm_campaign=homepagebanner" target="_blank">CLAIM IT!</a> helps property investors maximise their tax benefits through smart deprecation.
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tyronhyde-GVUTYT8ZT3

I am glad I didn't listen to Steve Keen: Tyron Hyde

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Luci Ellis, the head of Financial Stability Department at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), had her thoughts presented to the World Economic Forum at Davos last month.
She noted Australia's prevalence of variable rate mortgages was seen as stabilizing because it encourages rapid amortization, beyond what the loan contract requires.
But she also noted the use of fixed rate loans is regarded as stabilizing in German-speaking countries. 
Attendees at the World Economic Forum at Davos were told both 1929 and 2008 were financial landmarks, but they were not unique, according to an analytic report prepared by the <a href="https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Emerging_Horizons_Real_Estate_Profile_Prescriptions_Proposals_report15.pdf" target="_blank">Steering and Advisory Committees of the Emerging Horizons in Real Estate – Asset Price Dynamics Initiative</a>. 
"Institutional settings that have been regarded as sources of vulnerability in some cases can be sources of stability in others, depending on the context," Ellis wrote in the report's foreword.
"For example, restrictions on building are seen as exacerbating the 1970s cycle in office property in the United Kingdom, but more recently in Ireland, tighter restrictions might have helped to prevent the geographic misallocation of construction activity.
"Similarly, the use of fixed rate loans is regarded as stabilizing in German-speaking countries, whereas in Australia the prevalence of variable rate mortgages is seen as stabilizing because it encourages rapid amortization, beyond what the loan contract requires."
She observed that many of the recent boom-bust episodes were sparked, at least in part, by financial deregulation.
"Freed of past quantitative restrictions, banks eased their lending standards and expanded credit beyond levels that could be reasonably serviced once the market turned down," wrote Ellis.
"But this shift necessarily only happens once.
"It remains to be seen if these episodes could repeat themselves in the same countries.
"Yet memories fade, and the lax lending standards that characterized some of the boom phases described in this collection have re-emerged in some cases.
"The stance of prudential supervision seems to be important here, in that “light touch” regulatory regimes have frequently failed to prevent excessive risk-taking by financial institutions or their customers."
Ellis noted tax systems that encourage leverage and prudential regulatory regimes that do not effectively curtail imprudent behaviour seem to be common factors in many of the episodes analysed in these case studies.
Another common factor relates to the price of credit: where fixed exchange rate regimes or currency union membership result in interest rates being out of line with the needs of the domestic economy, capital flows and credit supply can fuel a speculative boom in domestic asset markets, particularly property.
"The overarching lesson for policy-makers from the collected experiences is that the social costs of the busts can be large enough to justify preventative policy action," Ellis wrote.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

RBA's Luci Ellis tells World Economic Forum boom-bust cycle fueled by financial deregulation

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Low inflation and a still-subdued growth outlook give scope to ease policy, the ANZ Research department thinks.
They now publish The ANZ Heatmap (click to open in new window):
<a href="/images/2015/02/02/anz-feb-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/02/anz-feb-2.jpg" alt=""></a>
Source: ANZ Research
After the decision the ANZ suggested the forward guidance is not strong but with the period of stability reference now gone, we would expect further cuts in the months ahead.
The tone of the Statement is quite dovish with obvious concern for underlying growth in domestic demand. Our initial reading is the RBA could well follow up today’s move in March and it therefore does raise the possibility, at least for market expectations, of a cash rate below 2% this year.
After almost 18 months on the sidelines the shift back to easing is likely to generate more than just one 25bp cut. So March is certainly live.
We will wait for Friday’s Statement to review the RBA’s new forecasts for inflation and growth. This will be the key to gauging the extent of further monetary stimulus the RBA is currently contemplating.
In the Statement there is more emphasis on growth being weak than inflation providing the scope to ease.
The RBA notes that housing remains strong in Sydney and comment: “The Bank is working with other regulators to assess and contain economic risks that may arise from the housing market.”
The final paragraph from the Statement provides no formal guidance.
“For the past year and a half, the cash rate has been stable, as the Board has taken time to assess the effects of the substantial easing in policy that had already been put in place and monitored developments in Australia and abroad. At today's meeting, taking into account the flow of recent information and updated forecasts, the Board judged that, on balance, a further reduction in the cash rate was appropriate. This action is expected to add some further support to demand, so as to foster sustainable growth and inflation outcomes consistent with the target.“
The above is an immediate post number reaction. An economic update will be forthcoming with more detailed analysis, views, charts and tables.
 
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RBA 2% cash rate forecast: The ANZ heatmap

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Marcus Padley, the author of the stock market newsletter Marcus Today, has tipped the housing market will remain supported in 2015 as interest rates stay down and investors continue to prefer property to equities.
"But as the property market plateaus as the economy wilts and unemployment rises, making money in property will mean doing what we did in the 1980s, buying the worst house in the best street and adding value," he told Fairfa Media.
"On that basis renovating/DIY/home improvement suppliers to the housing market will continue to be a strong sector."
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Home improvements set to increase: Marcus Padley

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There was little consensus on what the next move for interest rates in Australia was.
Several economists have changed their predictions from flat or rising rates through 2015 to forecasts of declines, while others maintain that the next shift will be up.
A key financial market indicator, <a href="https://www.sfe.com.au/content/prices/rtp15SFIB" target="_blank">the ASX 30 Day Interbank Cash Rate Futures</a> February 2015 contract, on 27 January revealed a 38% expectation of an interest rate cut to 2.25% at the RBA’s board meeting on 3 February. But, with the release of higher than anticipated inflation data for the final quarter of 2014 on 28 January, the indicator dropped sharply to 16%, suggesting much lower expectations of a rate cut in February.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2015/01/30/zoe-jan-30-onem.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/01/30/zoe-jan-30-onem.jpg" alt=""></a>
Source: global-rates.com, Property Observer research.
Some economists, including HSBC Bank’s chief economist for Australia and New Zealand Paul Bloxham, say the latest inflation figure means interest rates are now more likely to remain on hold through 2015 than be cut.
The RBA bases its interest rate decisions on a wide range of economic drivers. Local inflation figures are a critical component. But global economic factors such as falling oil prices and uncertainty in the economic outlook for Australia’s trading partners and other countries also have an influence.
Property Observer had a look at what central banks in other countries are doing with their official interest rates.
The RBA bases its interest rate decisions on a wide range of economic drivers. Local inflation figures are a critical component. But global economic factors such as falling oil prices and uncertainty in the economic outlook for Australia’s trading partners and other countries also have an influence.
Trading partners
China is Australia’s biggest two-way trading partner so its economic health is vital to Australia. China’s economy has been slowing and in November 2014 its central bank cut interest rates for the first time in two years in move to improve the situation. Its official interest rate is now at 5.6%, down from 6% in November.
Australia’s second largest trading partner is Japan. The Japanese economy has been in a poor state for years. Its official interest rate is just 0.1%.
The Federal Reserve, the central bank of Australia’s next biggest trading partner, the USA, has been vocal about its intentions to keep rates low for the near term. Its interest rate has been at 0.25% since December 2008, when the Fed slashed rates from 1%.
The table below shows the current interest rates of several major countries, the previous interest rate and the date of the most recent change.
As the table shows, many countries have been lowering interest rates. Most recently, at the end of January, Canada surprised markets by cutting rates, while Switzerland further lowered its negative interest rate, so customers must pay more to the central bank for holding their money.
Only a handful of countries have boosted rates in recent months, one being New Zealand, which is another of Australia’s top 10 trading partners. New Zealand lifted its interest rate in July last year to 3.5%.
While many countries manage monetary policy through interest rates, Singapore, another of Australia’s most important trading partners, manages its foreign exchange rate instead. On 28 January, the Monetary Authority of Singapore surprised the market by saying it would take measures to slow the rise of its dollar. This could be considered its version of cutting interest rates.
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zfielding-GvX3Uq9KTa

What central banks around the world are doing with interest rates

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
As a financial planner my role is to always be thinking about what is the best strategy and path for my client to take. Since I have been working very closely with mortgage brokers for many years, I have realised the vast majority of brokers and to a greater extent bank employees do not take the same strategic view.
Being a somewhat transactional role, most mortgage brokers take the line of least resistance to get the deal done. Whether they understand structuring strategies or not, very few take the time to educate their clients on the pros and cons of different decisions and how to make the most of their situation. In reality, they are also limited by compliance standards in some cases.
As a warning upfront, this can become very confusing and challenging for new clients to get their head around. If you end up feeling a little unsure, I’m not surprised as it does go against everything you may believe.
Moving forward, whether you should choose to go interest only or principal and interest is a question that every borrower needs to consider and answer when taking out a home loan.  Naturally we rush to find an answer, but before you make that decision, it’s important to truly understand it.
Our natural response is “principal and interest”. Our parents, grandparents and society all tell us that debt is bad and we need to repay it and that is true to a certain extent.
So why would I go interest only when I want to pay my debt down?
Well the truth is you can pay your debt down and a whole lot more by choosing to take an interest only loan with offset account.
Before I get marching in to why, I recommend nearly all my clients to go interest only, though there are ones from time to time that it is better to go principal and interest. These are generally borrowers who do not have their cash flow under control and feel like they need to be forced to save. This is purely the only benefit of going principal and interest – the bank forcing you to save.
I know I would prefer to choose what I do with my money each month and if I want to pay my debt down I will. If I need to just pay interest this month or use this money to cover short-term additional expenses I will.
So how does it work?
Firstly it’s important that when you setup the interest only loan, you also open an offset account linked to your loan. These are usually included for free with any package loan from a bank. An offset account does exactly that, offset your loan account. For example, if you had a loan of $500,000 and you had $20,000 in your offset account, you in reality only owe the bank $480,000. When they calculate your interest due for that day, you will only be charged interest on $480,000 owing, not $500,000. Without trying to drum the point home further but if you happened to put another $20,000 in your offset account, you would only pay interest on $460,000.
The offset account I believe is the best invention and tool in the financial planning world. I absolutely love them. They give my clients complete flexibility in what they would like to do with their cash flow and savings. We use this as a  “savings account” that will always be getting a greater return than any other savings account. It is completely assessable and can moved wherever needed. So if you do not have an offset account, I suggest you get one and secondly, understand how to best use it.
So if the key to paying down your debt each month is not by principal and interest each month, how do I do it?
I ask all my clients to reassess their lifestyle expenditure every year. This allows them to see what income they are likely to earn and what expenses are going to be this year. On the back of this we choose an affordable amount and my clients commit to this amount for 12 months straight.
Each month this amount goes in to the offset account and when interest is due, the bank takes it out of the offset account. Whatever is left over is build up in that offset account and means they pay less interest the following month.
By growing the offset account as much as possible, we are reducing the interest due and that means they can grow the offset account even further. Each year my clients goal is not to pay down their debt by $50,000 but it would be to increase their offset account by $50,000 for example.
The key benefit to understand is that interest is calculated daily and you would be in the exact same position financially if you decided to save the same amount each month and pay via principal and interest.
For example, If you took two routes over 10 years and saved the exact same amount on a debt of $500,000. One route the debt may now be paid down to $300,000. The other route the debt would still be at $500,000 but you now have $200,000 in an offset account.
At this stage, you may be asking so what is the benefit?
There is no obvious benefit, but I can assure you, you would always want to take the debt of $500,000 and $200,000 in the offset account and I’ll explain.
To make sure we are both on the same page, the key takeaway here is that you can still repay your debt via interest only but the different is, it’s your choice to do so, not the bank forcing you to.  Instead of reducing your loan every month, you are aiming to build your offset account up.
Chris' six reasons are on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Why I do not like principal and interest loans
<ol>
<li>
Separating Debt By going interest only on all loans, you keep the original debt at that level forever. You then put any left over savings in an offset account against any debt that is not tax deductible. This flexibility means you can move your savings around to whatever debt is not tax deductible at the present time and it also clearly separates your debt. If you decide to move to another property you own, you transfer your offset account to a different loan and this will save you a lot of tax. 
</li>
<li>
Lower Commitment On a P&amp;I loan the minimum payment due to the bank each month is roughly 20% higher on a 30 year loan. In reality if you cannot afford that 20%, you have probably got too much debt but why would you force yourself to a higher commitment. Personally, I would prefer to have a minimum payment 20% lower and choose to save more regardless in to my offset account. 
</li>
<li>
False Pretenses  I also believe that paying the minimum payment each month gives clients false pretenses that that is the amount they should pay per month. The bank want you to take as long as possible to pay this debt down. That’s why they give you loans for 30 or 40 years. Do you really want to have a loan for 40 years? T he best way to pay your debt down is to pay as much as you can afford each month by undergoing a detailed lifestyle questionnaire each 12 months. Disregard what the bank minimum payment says as that is not what matters. Just save as much as you can above your interest only amount per month. 
</li>
<li>
Flexibility    The negative with paying the extra 20% and more every month, is that this begins to add up to a lot of money over time. There may be times in your life when you cannot afford your minimum repayment each month and you do not have any buffer built up as you have paid it all in to the loan. By paying this amount in to an offset account instead you are building your buffer every month and if you cannot pay this month, that’s ok you have money in the offset account to cover it. 
</li>
<li>
Home becoming an investment property = tax savings  The ATO states that once you pay down your debt you cannot redraw on that debt and get a tax deduction unless it is for investing purposes. In the example above, because the debt has never been paid down, if you moved out of this house and decided to use as an investment property. The tax deductible will be at $300,000 and not at the original loan of  $500,000 not $300,000. A big difference and at current interest rates that you would be $4,000 a year better off in tax. 
</li>
<li>
Home Purchase in Future  It is very common that we are going to purchase a new home in the future and this debt will not be tax deductible as it is your principal place of residence. What you need at this point in time is cash or equity to cover the 20% deposit and costs. But what you would also like is to put every single dollar you have saved over the many years before hand and put this in to an offset account against this new debt. If you pay down your loans via principal and interest, you cannot get this money back to put in to the new offset account. If you have it sitting in an offset account, you can move it straight away and get the tax benefit.</li>
</ol>
As you can see above these are just six points, why I challenge you to rethink how you structure your loans. This is a mental mind shift and that is all that it is. Once you understand it; you still pay down your loans just as you were and just as fast but do this by having a focus to increase your offset account.
I cannot stress the benefit of going interest only and using an offset account. By not doing this, I’ve had many clients who have been forced to sell their homes that they would have kept if they went interest only. 
I’ve seen clients been able to keep their homes through financial tragedies due to having a buffer and I’ve seen clients pay down their debt faster by staying disciplined to the amount they can afford not what the bank tells them to repay.
Chris Bates is a director at boutique financial advisors <a href="https://www.canopyprivate.com.au/" target="_blank">Canopy Private</a>.
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ChrisBates-qgpJqFG5wJ

The six reasons why interest only loans are the way to go: Chris Bates

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The rental market in Queensland's Mackay continues to decline, with 10.3% of rental stock vacant, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).
The town has been fuelled in the past by its mining economy, thanks to its location near the Bowen Basin coal mining reserves. However, as coal mining work declines, in part due to falling commodity prices, so too has Mackay's popularity with workers.
There was a 3.1% vacancy rate two years ago.
The struggling rental market has seen some landlords offer rent-free periods to attract tenants.
One investor is advertising a two week free offer on a <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/rental-properties/10-19-23-stevenson-street-mackay/Property-Details-rent-residential-8281018" target="_blank">three bedroom townhouse style South Mackay property</a> that falls under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).
It was available last February at $368 per week, and is now available at $300 a week, from 24 February.
The investor paid $370,000 in 2011. The median sale price of a Mackay unit or townhouse in the September 2014 quarter was $301,000, according to the REIQ. The median house price was $391,000.
It is not just NRAS investors who are seeking tenants. Another landlord is also offering a two week free rental period after lowering their asking rent from $300 per week in May 2013 to $250 per week. The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-mackay-404537165" target="_blank">two bedroom townhouse, pictured below,</a> is available now. 
<img src="/images/2015/02/03/2.jpg" alt="">
5/10 Romeo Street, Mackay
Domain Group senior economist Andrew Wilson says that three to four years ago, Mackay – which <a href="https://propertyobserver.com.au/finding/residential-investment/17995-thursday-observer-matusik" target="_blank">saw vacancy rates as low as 0.9%</a>, by some measures  – was a "classic overheated market".
"It became investor central, with a lot of speculation, and prices moved well beyond their fundamentals, and affordability killed demand" Wilson told Property Observer.
He notes that the mining economy peak saw a lot of housing supply brought to market, with the transient workforce unable to keep up.
"A lot of the mining workers are fly-in, fly-out, and a lot of them are actually drive-in and drive-out as well, so there was no real incentive to be a local resident. And it really was the decline of the mining sector that triggered the drop [in rental demand]."
Wilson says Mackay's market declines aren't over yet.
"There's a real oversupply in Mackay, and no bottom is falling in the market. As long as vacancy rates are that high, you're going to see investors competing for a relatively small pool of tenants.
"That puts more downward pressure on rents, and those with a short term investment view have moved on."
The competition to attract a dwindling supply of tenants has seen the investors who own <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-mackay-412534091" target="_blank">5/9 Stevenson Street</a> in South Mackay advertise the property at $210 per week. In early 2012, they was asking for $490 per week. They paid $206,000 in April 2008.
<img src="/images/2015/02/03/1.jpg" alt="">
5/9 Stevenson Street, Mackay
The current state of Mackay's property market is perhaps not a surprise, given <a href="/news/qld/mackay-market-is-down-and-it-s-still-falling">warnings from experts</a> in the past year about oversupply.
Wilson says it will be a while before the town's market strengthens again.
"It's going to be a long journey back for a stable Mackay housing market," says Wilson.
"It was the curse of the hotspot." 
Property Observer notes the vacancy rate in Mackay was just 0.7% in December 2011.
Picture of Mackay marina courtesy of  Kris C. May/<a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Mackay's property investor woes continue as vacancy rate hits 10% 

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Each week, CoreLogic RP Data monitors residential properties coming to the market for sale through what is commonly known as ‘listing activity’.
Listings are tracked across three different categories; houses, units and vacant land. Listing counts provide a comprehensive look at stock currently available for sale at a national level and across each state and territory. CoreLogic RP Data also tracks listing volumes across the combined capital cities as well as in each individual Australian capital city.
One of the key benefits of this data set is that it can be used to monitor stock levels over time. The listings volumes are a key indicator of how the property market is tracking at any given time. Paired with the number of transactions, listings volumes help to provide a good indication of how balanced a market is, and what proportion of stock is available for sale or is being turned over.
Similarly, listings can be paired with sales volumes to help us work out the effective supply across the market and how many months of stock are available at any one time.
Over the four weeks ending 25 January 2015 there were 29,107 new listings added to the market and the total number of properties available for sale was 229,453.
While not surprising, off the back of the end of year slow down, new listings are much lower than they were three months ago when over the four weeks ending 21 September 2014, 42,650 new listings were added to the market nationally.
In comparison to the same time last year, we can see that new listings coming onto the market across Australia are currently -8.3% lower, however, total stock levels are just -2.2% lower.
Similarly across the capital city markets, the total number of new listings that were added to the market over the four weeks ending 25 January 2015 (16,352) were -6.6% lower this year, compared to last year and total listings (89,521) are -4.1% lower.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Listings-table.jpg" target="_blank"><img class=" size-full wp-image-4219 aligncenter" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Listings-table.jpg" alt="Listings table" width="1420" height="306"></a>
What is interesting is that across the combined capital cities for the majority of 2014, total listings on a rolling four week basis remained lower than at the same time in 2013. However, new listings numbers were higher in comparison to the previous year for much of the first half of the year and a similar trend was seen in October and November.
The fact that new listings were higher, but total listings were lower suggests that stock was being absorbed faster than it was in 2013. This can be further quantified by looking at sales volumes over the start of 2014.
Between January and May, the total number of houses and units sold was higher on a month-by-month basis than the previous year, while sales volumes began to ease slightly towards the end of the year.
Furthermore, the average time on market trended lower in 2014 further highlighting a more rapid rate of sale.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Number-of-homes-for-sale-combine-capital-cities.jpg" target="_blank"><img class=" size-full wp-image-4220 aligncenter" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Number-of-homes-for-sale-combine-capital-cities.jpg" alt="Number of homes for sale, combine capital cities" width="1273" height="488"></a>
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Number-of-homes-for-sale-national.jpg" target="_blank"><img class=" size-full wp-image-4221 aligncenter" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Number-of-homes-for-sale-national.jpg" alt="Number of homes for sale, national" width="1269" height="482"></a>
As shown in the above graphs, we know from previous years that the number of homes available for sale will start to ramp up over the next few weeks and we will also see more activity begin to resume across the auction market which over the past six weeks has been relatively quiet.
Similarly, we have also seen the CoreLogic RP Data Listings Index pick up after the seasonal slowdown, with the index up 31.6% over the week ending 25 January 2015.
This Index is a lead indicator for residential dwellings being prepared for sale, so the rise in the Index is clearly signifying the conclusion of the quiet end of year period.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Listing-Index.jpg" target="_blank"><img class=" size-full wp-image-4222 aligncenter" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Listing-Index.jpg" alt="Listing Index" width="1171" height="447"></a>
Shana Miller is a research analyst at <a href="https://www.myrp.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CoreLogic RP Data</a>.
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smiller-vwPjRHTkST

Residential listings trending lower than this time last year: CoreLogic 

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Most of the 30 experts surveyed by comparison website Finder predict that the official cash rate will remain at its record low of 2.5% for February.
However, Bill Evans of Westpac and Nathan McMullan of RAMS believe there will be some move from the Reserve Bank at today's meeting.
According to Finder, this is the first time since August 2013 that any respondents for their Reserve Bank Survey have predicted a rate change.
Of the 30 experts, 18 expect a cash rate change in 2015, with nine anticipating a change in the first quarter of the year. It seems the last month has given the experts much to think about, with only three survey respondents predicting a first quarter change when surveyed last month.
There is no consensus on whether the next cash rate movement will be upwards or downwards. A slight majority – 16 of the 30 respondents – predict the next change will be an increase, while the remainder believe the Reserve Bank will lower rates first.
Falling oil prices, low consumer confidence, labour force uncertainty and the Australian dollar were all raised by the expert panel.
Shane Oliver, head of Investment Strategy and chief economist of AMP Capital, said: "The RBA at its last meeting in December reiterated that a period of stability in interest rates remained prudent and since then strong data for jobs and building approvals has offset softness in economic growth and inflation indicators."
Meanwhile, NAB's Alan Oster said it was "too early to cut" rates.
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Majority of experts still expect no February rate change from RBA: Finder

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Australians with multiple superannuation accounts could be paying thousands in unnecessary fees every year.
<a href="/news">According to new figures released today </a>by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), 45% of working Australians have more than one super account.
The ATO is encouraging those with multiple accounts to consider consolidating their super into one preferred account. Australian Prudential and Regulation Authority (APRA) figures show the median figure for fees and charges paid by Australians for a low cost superannuation account is $532 per year.
“Consolidating your super into one preferred account is easier than ever and the New Year is the perfect opportunity to make a fresh start with your finances.” says ATO Assistant Commissioner of Superannuation, John Shepherd.
“It is not uncommon for people to open a new super account when they start a new job instead of taking their super fund with them when they change jobs.
“People might also have super accounts which they have lost track of, for example, they may not have updated their contact details with their funds when they moved house — there are still $5.8 billion worth of accounts in this category.”
Australians are encouraged to use the improved myGov online portal to check their super accounts and consolidate multiple accounts.
“myGov has made it much easier for people to combine their super accounts in one place,” Shepherd said.
“Users can see all their accounts and consolidate them with a few clicks and having one account minimises fees and can help maximise retirement savings.
“We’ve recently seen a significant increase in Australians merging their super into one preferred account with more than 265,000 accounts with balances totalling $1.13 billion consolidated in the six months to December 2014. In one case, 17 accounts were consolidated.
“This is a rise of 400% from the six months to December 2013 when 52,000 accounts worth more than $270 million were consolidated.
“If you’ve tried to combine your accounts before and found it difficult to do, give it another go. We have simplified the process since our online services were first launched and it’s now easier than ever to consolidate your super.”
Shepherd said that before people consolidate, they should look at any insurance cover with each fund, as it will be cancelled once they close their account.
“People should also make sure their super fund has their tax file number. They'll pay less tax on their super and it will help us to make sure all their super accounts are displayed online,” he said.
The following data provides a breakdown of the lost super by postcode as at 31 December 2014:
<table style="width: 460px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<th>
State
</th>
<th>
Total no. of accounts
</th>
<th>
Value of accounts
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
ACT
</td>
<td>
22,270
</td>
<td>
$248,435,330.45
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
NSW
</td>
<td>
405,079
</td>
<td>
$4,212,608,046.21
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
NT
</td>
<td>
23,819
</td>
<td>
$208,096,039.80
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
QLD
</td>
<td>
274,790
</td>
<td>
$2,722,734,421.04
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
SA
</td>
<td>
72,238
</td>
<td>
$680,425,943.04
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
TAS
</td>
<td>
22,160
</td>
<td>
$198,112,427.52
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
VIC
</td>
<td>
264,330
</td>
<td>
$2,736,093,306.68
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
WA
</td>
<td>
207,075
</td>
<td>
$1,518,250,373.92
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Total
</td>
<td>
1,291,761
</td>
<td>
$12,524,755,888.66*
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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