Avant Townhomes is adding to Ivanhoe’s family-sized housing options with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/three-82-ivanhoe-382-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Three 82</a>, a collection of just 16 four-bedroom townhomes on Upper Heidelberg Road.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/intrapac-property">Intrapac Property</a> townhome division has taken a contemporary approach to the traditional family home, pairing larger floorplans with the lower-maintenance format of a townhouse.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374394]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/arcadia-studio">Arcadia</a>, with landscaping by Landsite, the homes feature generous open-plan living and dining areas that connect directly to outdoor spaces, with layouts also designed to maximise natural light and privacy.

Natural stone is used throughout the interiors, including in kitchens that pair stone surfaces with bespoke cabinetry, considered storage and SMEG appliances.

The four-bedroom layouts include built-in wardrobes and a main bedroom with its own ensuite, while family bathrooms service the additional bedrooms. Each home also includes a lock-up double garage and intercom entry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374399]

Energy efficiency has been incorporated into the design through solar panels, double glazing and reverse-cycle heating and cooling, with the homes targeting 7-star energy ratings.

Rather than incorporating extensive communal facilities, Three 82 has been conceived around private residential amenity, with the 16-home scale keeping the focus on individual homes and their own indoor and outdoor spaces.

The development is located at 382 Upper Heidelberg Road, around one kilometre from Ivanhoe Village's cafés and retail and a short drive from Eaglemont Station and Ivanhoe Station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374393]

Several of Ivanhoe's established schools are also nearby, including Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar and Ivanhoe Grammar School. The address also provides access to the suburb's parklands and the wider Yarra River corridor.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/nelson-alexander">Nelson Alexander</a> has been appointed to handle sales.

Construction is underway and progressing well, with Three 82 currently tracking toward completion in Q2 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152069]

Joel Robinson

Three 82 brings boutique four-bedroom townhome collection to Ivanhoe

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">Graya</a> has secured a prime Newstead site from fellow developer Fraser, subsequently lodging plans for The Silo, a major mixed-use residential project in Newstead designed around a new public laneway linking the James Street precinct with the wider Gasworks and Newstead neighbourhood.

Proposed for the corner of Chester and Morse streets, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">Bureau^Proberts</a>-designed project places its strongest emphasis at ground level, where retail, landscaping and a new cobblestone pedestrian connection would open the site to the surrounding neighbourhood. The design team describes The Silo as “more than a residential building”, positioning the development as an extension of Newstead’s public realm rather than a standalone apartment tower.

“A new cobblestone laneway and landscaped connection between James Street and Gasworks unlock a missing pedestrian link, improving walkability and stitching together two of Brisbane’s significant urban destinations,” Bureau Proberts said in its Urban Design Report.

<img alt="First look: Graya plans The Silo as new pedestrian link between James Street and Gasworks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0ea1b06a-75f5-40a5-b2c5-33c97bc86052" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/silo%20bldg.png?VersionId=KmjsAtNePu57_B31EM_DJ5T6KPJHtcmo" />

The Silo is planned as a mixed-use development incorporating apartments alongside a bar and centre activities including food and drink outlets, indoor sport and recreation, office and retail uses.

Architecturally, Bureau Proberts has conceived the building as a collection of vertically expressed, stepping forms rather than a single uniform tower. The composition rises from an articulated podium before being broken by a triple-height landscaped recreation level, with the upper section becoming more compact before terminating in a landscaped rooftop garden.

The project's name and architectural language draw directly from Newstead's industrial history. Patterned off-form concrete is proposed as the principal façade material, complemented by slender metal rod balustrades and extensive planting. The cylindrical and vertically ribbed elements give the building its silo-like expression, while curved balconies and planted edges introduce a softer subtropical layer.

“The Silo reinterprets its robust forms, scale and materiality through a contemporary subtropical architectural expression, creating a building that acknowledges its industrial legacy, while responding to the way the precinct is occupied today,” Bureau^Proberts said.

The recreation level is one of the defining breaks in the tower. Plans include a lap pool, mature subtropical planting and shared resident facilities within an elevated communal garden. Landscaping continues through the podium and onto the rooftop, where a further garden forms what the architects describe as a “subtropical crown” to the building.

<img alt="First look: Graya plans The Silo as new pedestrian link between James Street and Gasworks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8451036-35a4-49a9-8d88-2ef4438eba3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Silo%20Lane.png?VersionId=h8N31_rYmCEqoNrpt4kbYVQhJGZn60LH" />

At street level, the development has been designed to establish a more permeable block. Retail and hospitality tenancies address the public realm, while landscaped pedestrian spaces lead into the new laneway connection. Renders in the design report show the proposed “Silo Lane” as a substantial opening through the podium, framed by cylindrical concrete forms with cascading planting above.

The Silo continues Graya's move into larger apartment developments after building its reputation across high-end residential projects in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Graya buys Frasers Newstead site, plans The Silo between James Street and Gasworks precincts

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wickton">Wickton</a>’s completed Linacre Rise development in Hampton is giving Bayside downsizers the opportunity to move into a spacious apartment near the beach, with the developer covering stamp duty for a limited time.

The 27-residence development has been designed for buyers who want to simplify their living arrangements without giving up the space, warmth and quality associated with a long-term family home. Most apartments have already been secured by Bayside locals, leaving a select collection of two and three-bedroom residences and penthouses available.

Two-bedroom apartments are priced from $1.275 million, three-bedroom residences from $2.25 million and penthouses from $3.375 million, with the completed homes available to inspect and move into now.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366760]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/linacre-rise-hampton-8-10-linacre-road-hampton-vic-3188">Linacre Rise</a> occupies an elevated position on one of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-vic-3188">Hampton</a>’s quiet, tree-lined streets, around 250 metres from the bay and 500 metres from Hampton’s village centre. Its setting gives residents access to the beach, local cafés, shops and Hampton Train Station while retaining the feel of an established residential neighbourhood.

Architecture and interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a> draw on the warmth and permanence of traditional brickwork, with the building integrated into terraced landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick</a>. Ground-floor apartments are elevated above the street and include private garden courtyards, while several upper-level residences have generous balconies and outlooks toward the bay.

Inside, the residences favour natural materials and generous proportions. Herringbone-pattern European oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, premium joinery and Swiss V-ZUG appliances are among the key inclusions, while integrated storage has been incorporated across kitchens, bathrooms, studies and living areas.

The kitchens have been planned as practical spaces for both everyday use and entertaining, with substantial island benches, detailed cabinetry and adjoining dining and living zones. Full-height wardrobes, plush bedroom carpeting and carefully considered lighting reinforce the residential character Wickton sought to retain for buyers moving from larger homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366769]

A Linacre Rise purchaser said the completed apartment had delivered the space, outlook and construction quality they had been seeking.

“The unit is very light, has views to die for over the bay, all construction materials and fittings are premium quality, we have secure parking for three cars, EV charging at very competitive rates, the neighbours are friendly and there is just a lovely ambiance about the place,” the purchaser said.

Environmental features include solar panels, shared electric vehicle charging stations, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation, double-glazed windows and water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366762]

The development was built by Balmain &amp; Co, with Wickton managing the broader development process through its in-house team.

For downsizers, the project’s completed status removes much of the uncertainty associated with buying off the plan. Purchasers can inspect the finished apartments, understand their outlook and proportions, and move in without waiting for construction to conclude.

The remaining selection includes north-oriented balconies, corner configurations and penthouses with elevated bay views. The developer-paid stamp duty initiative is available for a limited time, with potential savings of up to $200,000 depending on the residence purchased.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=95289]

Limited-time stamp duty offer at completed Linacre Rise apartments in Hampton

Luxury apartment buyers have long prioritised design, space and finishes, but increasingly they're placing equal importance on something less tangible: how easily they can live without relying on a car.

At <a>Richmond Square</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis">Fortis</a> believes that convenience begins beyond the apartment itself, with the mixed-use precinct earning a near-perfect Walk Score of 99.

The development has been planned around the idea that some of the most valuable amenities aren't contained within a building, they're the restaurants, cafés, parks, transport connections and daily conveniences that can all be reached on foot.

Located just behind Swan Street and Church Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/richmond-square-1-wiltshire-street-richmond-vic-3121">Richmond Square</a> places residents within one of Melbo​u​rne's most established lifestyle precincts while offering a quieter residential setting removed from the busiest thoroughfares. East Richmond Station is moments away, trams run along both Swan and Church Streets, and the MCG, Melb​​ourne Park, Yarra River trails and the CBD are all within walking distance. At the same time, the precinct itself will introduce a curated mix of dining, retail, hospitality and wellness offerings, creating a destination that extends well beyond its residential buildings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348530]

For Fortis, that combination of location and scale was what made the site unique.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/richmond-vic-3121">Richmond</a> is one of Melb​o​urne's most established and distinctive inner-city neighbourhoods, with a rare combination of dining, culture, recreation, public transport and proximity to the CBD," the developer said.

"The opportunity at Wiltshire Street was particularly compelling because the site sits slightly removed from the activity of Swan and Church Streets while remaining only moments from everything that makes the area desirable."

Rather than developing a standalone apartment building, Fortis consolidated 15 individual properties to create one of the larger development parcels assembled on Mel​b​ourne's city fringe in recent years. That allowed the team to deliver a genuine mixed-use precinct comprising 107 residences across Wiltshire House and Carmine House, premium office space, hospitality venues, retail, wellness offerings and a future 57-room hotel.

"The scale of the site allowed Fortis to think beyond a standalone apartment building," the developer said.

"Richmond Square could be planned as a complete lifestyle precinct, bringing homes, workplaces, dining, retail, hospitality and wellness together around a series of activated public spaces. The aim was to create a destination that feels connected to Richmond rather than separate from it."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348533]

The emphasis on walkability has also resonated with buyers.

Interest has been strongest from established owner-occupiers, particularly downsizers from Richmond and Melb​ourne's inner east who want to remain close to familiar restaurants, workplaces, family and social networks while moving into a more secure, lower-maintenance home. The project is also attracting Mornington Peninsula and interstate buyers seeking a Melb​ourne residence they can lock up and leave between visits.

Many are looking for generous living spaces, room to entertain, quality finishes and confidence in the project team, but location remains one of the biggest deciding factors.

"For many buyers, Richmond Square provides a way to simplify the practical side of home ownership without reducing the quality of their lifestyle," the sales team said.

"Location is also a major driver of interest. Buyers can remain connected to the CBD, major sporting events, the arts centres, local restaurants, cafes and bars and their family while living in a private and secure residence that is easy to lock up and leave for weekends or longer periods away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348549]

The residences themselves have been designed with that buyer in mind. Award-winning architecture practice SJB and interior designers Hecker Guthrie have created spacious two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses that prioritise generous living areas, natural light, bespoke joinery and private terraces. Above, a rooftop sanctuary by Acre includes landscaped lawns, bookable dining rooms, barbecue facilities, wellness spaces and panoramic views across the CBD, the MCG and Port Phillip Bay.

Fortis believes Richmond Square reflects a broader evolution in apartment living, where the surrounding neighbourhood becomes just as important as the residence itself.

"Richmond Square introduces a different proposition: generously proportioned residences within a genuinely mixed-use, hospitality-led destination," the developer said.

"The project's location and Walk Score of 99 further support a lifestyle where residents can complete many everyday journeys without relying on a car."

Fortis has assembled an experienced team that includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/hecker-guthrie">Hecker Guthrie</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a> and builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hacer-group">Hacer Group</a>, reflecting the developer's commitment to creating projects with enduring design quality and meaningful connections to the communities in which they sit.&nbsp;

Richmond Square is an expression of that philosophy, bringing together homes, workplaces, hospitality and wellness within one of Me​lb​ourne's most walkable neighbourhoods.&nbsp;

Construction is now almost complete, providing purchasers with growing confidence ahead of its expected September 2026 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13181]

Walk Score of 99 places Richmond Square at the heart of Melbourne's most connected lifestyle

<h3 data-end="19" data-section-id="1dvgwoe" data-start="0">Summary</h3>

<ul data-end="634" data-start="21">
	<li data-end="170" data-section-id="1o77v31" data-start="21">Walker Corporation has lodged plans for a second major residential development in the Maroochydore City Centre, a 29-storey tower known as Celeste.</li>
	<li data-end="327" data-section-id="1lb0y6t" data-start="171">The Plus Studio-designed proposal at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade would deliver 208 apartments, including four four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.</li>
	<li data-end="487" data-section-id="za720" data-start="328">The application comes as Walker doubles down on Maroochydore following the strong sales campaign at SOL by Walker, where the first tower is nearing sell-out.</li>
	<li data-end="634" data-section-id="5sovec" data-start="488">Walker is a key partner in the transformation of the Maroochydore City Centre, which is expected to ultimately deliver at least 4,000 new homes.</li>
</ul>

Walker Corporation is doubling down on Maroochydore following the successful sales campaign at its first residential project in the emerging CBD.

The national developer has filed plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celeste-30-sunshine-coast-parade-maroochydore-qld-4558">Celeste</a>, a new 29-storey apartment tower at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade, just metres from its under-construction SOL by Walker development.

The plans, prepared by Plus Studio, would see 208 apartments delivered across a 100-metre tower on the 2,376 sqm site, which fronts Sunshine Coast Parade, First Avenue and Future Way within the Maroochydore Priority Development Area.

<img alt="Walker" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="17038209-6fea-4ed2-855d-fd4df65b3d02" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=iZD.oVXcQn.aLpUytDAW.CWjxP4puWMy" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 36 one-bedroom apartments, 48 two-bedroom apartments, 72 two-bedroom apartments with an additional multipurpose space, and 48 three-bedroom apartments.

The upper levels would be capped by two four-bedroom sub-penthouses and two four-bedroom penthouses, taking the total apartment count to 208. The preliminary yield study also provides 262 car spaces, 114 resident bicycle spaces and storage for each apartment.

It represents Walker's next major residential move in the new Maroochydore CBD after the success of SOL by Walker, its $220 million two-tower project nearby.

SOL launched to market in early 2025 and has since seen strong demand, particularly from local owner-occupiers. By February this year, Walker said the first SOL tower was nearing sell-out, with a strong waitlist also emerging for its recently released penthouse collection.

Construction is already underway on SOL, with the first tower expected to be completed in late 2027 and the second to follow in early 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147777 project_image_fid=319846]

<h2 data-end="2518" data-section-id="1b2dyo5" data-start="2459">Celeste to rise 100 metres over Maroochydore City Centre</h2>

Celeste would take a different form to the twin 19-storey buildings at SOL.

Plus Studio has designed a single 100-metre tower above an activated podium, with the architecture responding to the site's prominent position and three street frontages.

The podium would incorporate commercial tenancies and public art, with sweeping façade elements wrapping the street edges. The scalloped concrete podium has been inspired by the patterns created in sand at low tide, while extensive landscaping would continue vertically through the tower.

The ground level plans show three commercial tenancies addressing Sunshine Coast Parade alongside the residential lobby and landscaped public realm. The podium would then accommodate several levels of car parking before the residential tower rises above.

<img alt="Celeste" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="121f77b1-71c5-46d7-9b36-0a7d474211ca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=MGrg9Hb7HgzLN0Lelq_xrXNAruVl77ia" />

Plus Studio said the tower had been designed to maximise views from each apartment, taking in the Maroochy River, Sunshine Coast hinterland, Cotton Tree and Maroochydore Beach and ocean.

Those views have also shaped one of the project's key features, with Walker proposing to put the primary resident amenity on Level 29 rather than lower within the building.

The rooftop would feature a 284.9 sqm pool area with an infinity edge, along with a cold pool, spa, sauna, 93.2 sqm gym, sunset lounge, BBQ and dining areas, pool deck and private dining space. Cabanas and day beds are also shown across the recreation level.

The two penthouses would extend across the upper levels and each feature private terraces and plunge pools.

<h2 data-end="4202" data-section-id="v5f4ix" data-start="4160">Walker's growing Maroochydore footprint</h2>

Celeste further reinforces Walker's commitment to the transformation of Maroochydore City Centre.

Walker is one of the key partners delivering the new CBD alongside Sunshine Coast Council and SunCentral Maroochydore, with the broader 62-hectare Priority Development Area occupying the former Horton Park Golf Course and surrounding land.

The precinct is ultimately expected to accommodate at least 4,000 new homes as Maroochydore evolves into the Sunshine Coast's principal commercial and residential centre.

When SOL secured approval in February 2025, Walker Managing Director and CEO David Gallant described it as the "first of many residential projects" the company planned for the Maroochydore City Centre.

Celeste now provides the clearest indication yet of what comes next.

The site sits immediately within the new CBD, with the design report identifying Sunshine Plaza and surrounding parkland within walking distance and Maroochydore Beach around a five-minute drive away.

For Walker, the timing of the application comes as its first residential bet on the new CBD appears to have been vindicated.

SOL has progressed from planning approval to construction while its first release has approached sell-out, giving Walker confidence to push ahead with another 208 apartments and take its residential pipeline in the Maroochydore City Centre to around 450 dwellings across the two projects.

Celeste remains subject to planning approval, with the architectural material describing the scheme as a preliminary yield study that may change through the assessment process.

Walker doubles down on Maroochydore with 29-storey Celeste apartment tower

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?

For most Australians, buying an apartment is one of the biggest financial decisions they'll ever make

The location, floorplan and price are often the first considerations, but in recent years another question has become increasingly important: who is actually delivering the project?

A series of high-profile builder collapses, construction delays and defect concerns have fundamentally changed how many Victorians approach buying off the plan. The collapse of Porter Davis in 2023, which reportedly left around 1,700 homes unfinished, became one of the most visible examples of the risks that can emerge when a construction company fails. <a href="https://www.equifax.com.au/sites/default/files/lpassets/pdf/Final-Business-Market-Pulse-June-Sector-Deep-Dive-Report-2.pdf">Similar challenges across the broader construction sector</a> have left buyers asking more questions before signing a contract.

As Victoria continues encouraging higher-density housing to address supply shortages, transparency is becoming just as important as location or price.

One tool increasingly entering the conversation is the <a href="https://icirt.com/">Independent Construction Industry Rating Tool (iCIRT)</a>, an independent assessment framework designed to help buyers better understand the developer or builder behind a project. Originally developed by Equifax in consultation with government and industry as part of NSW's Construct NSW reforms, the system has since expanded nationally.

<h2 data-end="1519" data-section-id="7nmx3" data-start="1492">What is an iCIRT rating?</h2>

Most Australians are familiar with independent ratings in everyday life.

We compare ANCAP safety ratings before buying a car. We look at Health Star Ratings in supermarkets. Banks rely on credit assessments when lending money.

Until recently, however, there has been very little independent information available to help apartment buyers assess the business responsible for delivering a residential project.

That gap is what iCIRT was designed to address.

Builders, developers and other construction professionals with an iCIRT rating have demonstrated high-trust characteristics through an independent, evidence-based assessment across six criteria: Character, Capability, Conduct, Capacity, Capital and Counterparties. This involves a rigorous review of financial health, past project track record, and ethical conduct. Crucially, an iCIRT rating could help provide property buyers with confidence that they are working with a professional who has demonstrated the capability, capacity, and willingness to return and rectify issues.

Importantly, iCIRT is not a recommendation to purchase a particular property, nor is it a traditional credit rating. It is an independent assessment framework designed to provide objective information about a construction business using a <a href="https://icirt.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/iCIRT-Methodology-Issue1-May-2021.pdf">published methodology</a>.

The system has been widely adopted in New South Wales, where more than one-third of medium and large residential builders and developers now hold an iCIRT rating, representing over two-thirds of the state's residential building market by value as of 2025/26.

<h2 data-end="3126" data-section-id="h6ohtj" data-start="3084">Why buyers are doing more due diligence</h2>

For many buyers, particularly those purchasing off the plan, the biggest risk isn't whether they'll like the kitchen finishes.

It's whether the project will be delivered on time, to the expected quality, and by a company capable of completing the development.

<a href="https://icirt.com/sites/default/files/2026-07/iCIRT%202025%20Consumer%20Survey%20Report%20v05.pdf">Consumer research commissioned by iCIRT</a> found more than half of respondents believed current protections do not adequately safeguard buyers from builder insolvencies or defective projects. Other research found 88 per cent of prospective buyers would seek independent ratings or due diligence before purchasing, while 90 per cent said trust in construction professionals is essential.

That doesn't mean buyers should rely on a single rating alone.

Independent legal advice, understanding the contract, and seeking financial advice all remain important parts of the due diligence process.

However, an independent assessment can provide another source of information alongside those traditional checks.

<h2 data-end="4138" data-section-id="pquzxc" data-start="4094">Trust is becoming a competitive advantage</h2>

The conversation isn't only changing for buyers.

Developers are also recognising that trust has become an increasingly important part of the sales process.

Five years ago, purchasers typically asked about floorplans, finishes and settlement dates.

Today, sales teams are increasingly being asked about the developer's experience, financial stability, previous projects and construction partners.

For companies with strong governance and established delivery records, an independent iCIRT rating provides another way to demonstrate those credentials before buyers even visit a display suite.

According to Equifax, the assessment can also help businesses drive sales and <a href="https://icirt.com/resources-for-business/icirt-rating-helps-scion-secure-high-value-projects">secure high-value projects</a>, as well as identify operational improvements and <a href="https://icirt.com/resources-for-business/mirvac-reinforces-brand-trust-and-quality-independent-icirt-rating">attract top talent</a>.

<h2 data-end="4962" data-section-id="1j54ng5" data-start="4912">Beyond buyers: lenders are paying attention too</h2>

The influence of independent construction ratings is also extending beyond consumers.

According to Stamford Capital's Real Estate Debt Capital Markets Survey, an increasing number of lenders now incorporate iCIRT ratings into their due diligence processes when assessing residential development finance applications.

The survey found lender adoption has continued to rise, with many respondents saying independent assessments provide additional insight into governance, counterparties and delivery capability beyond traditional financial analysis. Some lenders also reported declining funding applications where businesses had poor or no ratings.

As construction costs remain elevated and access to development finance becomes more selective, demonstrating credibility is becoming increasingly valuable.

<h2 data-end="5801" data-section-id="1qazuxs" data-start="5772">What it means for Victoria</h2>

Victoria's apartment market is entering a new phase.

The state is seeking to accelerate higher-density housing while simultaneously introducing reforms aimed at improving confidence in residential construction.

For buyers, that means there are more tools available than ever before to research the businesses behind a project.

For developers, it signals that transparency is becoming another point of differentiation in an increasingly competitive market.

Buyers are asking more questions than ever before and increasingly expecting independent information, not just marketing material, before making one of the biggest financial commitments of their lives.

Find out how to get iCIRT rated <a href="https://www.icirt.com/sites/default/files/2025-08/iCIRT-Infographic-Assessment-Process-Final.pdf">here</a>.

<hr data-end="6469" data-start="6466" />
The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personal, financial, legal or tax advice. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstances before acting on it and, where appropriate, seek independent professional advice.

This article contains links to third-party websites. These links are provided for convenience only. Equifax Australia does not control and is not responsible for the content, accuracy or privacy practices of external sites.

Copyright © 2026 Equifax Australia Information Services and Solutions Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Buying off-the-plan in Melbourne? How independent iCIRT ratings are set to change Victorian property

<html><body>
The RBA left the cash rate at 2.5% for the ninth month in a row, which is good news for property owners. 
However it always surprises me how people focus on the short-term movement in interest rates when deciding if they should transact in the property market. The reality is if a 2% increase in interest rates forces a property owner into a position where they have to sell then maybe they should not buy at all.
The main requirement of investing in property is to be in a position where you can hold the property for the long-term and to buy something that grows in value.
I’ve said it time and again that the residential investment property is a long-term proposition. The property market takes around seven to 10 years to move through a full cycle; from low capital growth/high rental yield, to high growth/low yield and back again.
Despite this, many property investors choose locations and property styles with little potential to survive and thrive throughout market fluctuations. Some investors choose locations that lack the long-term underlying demand to drive capital growth, whilst others choose property styles that don’t reflect trends in the way people want to live.
In other words, the property investment decisions that look good today may not prove so attractive in five, 10 or 20 years’ time. It’s essential to understand the nature of long-term economic and demographic trends, then select assets accordingly.
Interest rates rise and fall, but in the long-term, dwindling oil reserves and rising petrol prices will be a key economic trend influencing the property market. In the coming years, rising prices at the pump will make outer suburban living and commuting less feasible and less appealing. This will curtail the urban sprawl and increase demand amongst homebuyers for property in the middle suburbs close to public transport corridors, shops and schools.
At the same time, rising property prices in the inner and middle suburbs will put homeownership beyond the reach of more Australians, or at the very least, delay it significantly. Figures from the Bureau of Statistics tell us that the proportion of households renting from private landlords in Melbourne has increased from 22.8% in 2001 to 27.2% in 2011. Sydney is trending a similar way with almost 32% of its market inhabited by tenants.
The increase in tenant demand is not unique to Australian cities. Major global cities such as London and New York have 50% or more of their property tenanted. I am not suggesting we are a London or New York just yet but we are following a similar path and there’s every reason to expect that this trend will continue.
Because many tenants want to maintain the trappings of an urban lifestyle, the trend away from homeownership will increase demand for rental properties within walking or short driving distance from trams, trains, shops, cafes and entertainment precincts. For those that can afford to buy in these areas will also be their preferred choice. This two pronged demand from home buyers and investors will further boost capital growth prospects in the inner and middle suburbs.
Delaying having children is another trend set to influence the residential market well into the future. The median age for parents is 28.9 for women and 33.1 for men and women currently have an average of 1.9 children, compared with 2.8 in 1981.
This trend has resulted in the average number of people per house almost halving over the last 100 years from 4.5 in people to 2.6. In addition single person households have jumped from 22.9% to 24.4% over the last 10 years.
The shrinking size of the family unit means that demand for low maintenance, compact dwellings will increase, whilst demand for the conventional sprawling home on a quarter-acre outer suburban block will soften.
When you look at all these trends in their entirety, it’s clear that pockets of the middle suburbs close to public transport, shops and schools will provide feasible long-term opportunities for residential property investment, particularly for investors who have been priced out of the tightly held inner suburbs.
Mark Armstrong is a director of <a href="https://www.ipropertyplan.com.au/">iProperty Plan</a>, which provides independent analysis and tailored advice to investors and home buyers.
</body></html>

marmstrong-sd3emVLPPb

Future-focused investing

<html><body>
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ residential building approvals are suggestive of a healthy 2014, according to the Housing Industry Association’s chief economist Harley Dale.
Noting that the March 2014 approvals have seen healthy growth, Dale noted that the approvals cycle itself may well have peaked.
“New home building has a large reach into the wider domestic economy and the sector is very much Australia's economic barometer in 2014,” he said.
“If you're searching for highlights to the Australian economy, new housing is the best shot you can take,” he continued.
“Leading indicators such as building approvals are clearly a positive for the economic outlook. How many of these approvals are converted into dwelling commencements and over what timeframe will exert a considerable influence over wider domestic economic activity.”
Over March, the total seasonally adjusted building approvals actually fell 3.5% to 15,598, the second consecutive monthly decline, while detached house approvals remained flat, down 0.5%. Over the March quarter, detached housing approvals grew 7.7%.
The approvals for ‘other dwellings’ fell by 7.5% over the month, down 7.2% over the quarter.
“The momentum in approvals has slowly shifted from multi-units to detached houses and that is evident in the March quarter results,” he said.
This comes after multi-unit dwelling approvals hit a record high in last year’s December quarter.
Seasonally adjusted, approval increases were seen in New South Wales (8%) and Tasmania (33.1%). Approvals were flat in South Australia. They fell in Victoria (12.5%), Queensland (3.3%) and Western Australia (9.1%). The Northern Territory saw a 25% decline in trend terms, with the ACT increasing 0.7%.
New South Wales Minister for Planning, Pru Goward, was jubilant over the state’s result.
“Over the 12 months to March 2014 nearly 51,000 new homes were approved in NSW, the highest in almost eleven years,” said Goward.
“Today’s figures also show more than 4,700 new homes were approved in March this year, compared to just less than 3,100 last March,” she said.
</body></html>

jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Healthy building approvals, but cycle may have peaked: HIA

<html><body>
An article in the weekend Financial Review opened with:"Macquarrie Group, a bellwether for the strength of the office leasing market, is expanding."
And this clearly accords with a recent report released by BIS Shrapnel, which confirmed the office recovery would be stronger in "service and trade exposed markets like Sydney and Melbourne, but weaker in the mining-based markets such as Perth and Brisbane".
<img src="/images/2014/05/06/lang%20may%207%20one.png" alt="">
Source: Knight Frank/Australian Financial Review.
For Melbourne, you are now seeing strong demand in and around the city fringe — mainly within Southbank and the Docklands precinct.
Developers in these areas enjoying obvious cost advantages, which are then reflected in a lower rent profile for their prospective tenants.
And this is what led the likes of ANZ and NAB to relocate to Docklands, over a decade ago.
A growing number of major corporate tenants are progressively realising they no longer need be located within the heart of Australia's CBDs.
Instead, they can pre-commit to prime-grade Offices at very competitive rentals — and have that accommodation designed and fitted out, to meet their specific needs.
And this demand appears to be flowing through to established suburban markets as well.
With most of these new developments having significant pre-commitment from major tenants … this should curb the tendency for speculative development, over the next 3 to 5 years.
And this will help safeguard against an oversupply of space, within the Sydney and Melbourne office markets.
 
</body></html>

chrislang-EQKojcgJPV

Demand for office space on the improve

<html><body>
Rayjon Group has been given full council approval for a $200 million apartment project in the Gold Coast suburb of Benowa yesterday, readying themselves to start building.
The 357 apartment, six-building development site is called Vantage Royal Pines, or more familiarly as Vantage, and sits on a 2.4 hectare site, near Ross Street and Ashmore Road junction.
Along with Coles, Rayjon has been contributing 3,500 square metres of land to assist the state government with upgrading this section of the roads. Coles received a DA for a supermarket on the parcel of land adjoining this site. Coles has been a presence previously in Rayjon developments.
According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, the development saw 600 objections, which saw some discussion around traffic and the extra burden.
The apartments will include two- and three-bedroom properties, an extensive central green space and a recreation hub for residents – including pool, gym, media rooms and barbecue facilities.
Vantage Royal Pines will include a range of two and three-bedroom apartments as well as an extensive central green space and recreation hub for residents including pool, gym, community/media rooms and barbecue facilities.
Golf course and hinterland views will be available from some of the apartments.
However, this site is just part of the land parcel that the development company owns, having bought in 2006, explains managing director of Rayjon Group, John Hembrow.
 “We are delighted with the approval and as a company we are in a position to push ahead with Vantage immediately,” Hembrow said.
“We intend to undertake site works and commence marketing this year to create what we believe will be a wonderful asset for the area.”
The development will be staged and constructed in relation to market demand, he explained.
The Royal Pines precinct is also seeing RACV transforming the Royal Pines Resort Hotel and Spa, and the Royal Pines Golf Course is undergoing an extensive upgrade, as well as Metricon Stadium.
Much of this is being driven by the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Currently, <a href="/news">Benowa</a>'s median unit price is $490,000 with a median advertised weekly rent at $470. Days on market have been steadily falling.
</body></html>

Gold Coast Council approves $200 million apartment development

<html><body>
The Reserve Bank has kept the cash rate at a record low of 2.5% for another month. 
Today’s decision marks another month of historic lows for Australia’s interest rates, while many speculate that the Reserve Bank will move to increase rates by the end of the year as price growth stabilises and housing construction expands.
Reserve Bank governer <a href="/expert-insights/finance/strong-expansion-in-housing-construction-expected-rba-governor-glenn-stevens">Glenn Stevens said of today's decision</a>, "financial conditions overall remain very accommodative. Long-term interest rates and most risk spreads remain low. Equity and credit markets are well placed to provide adequate funding."
"In Australia, the economy grew at a below-trend pace in 2013. Recent information suggests moderate growth is occurring in consumer demand and foreshadows a strong expansion in housing construction. Some indicators of business conditions and confidence have improved from a year ago and exports are rising. But at the same time, resources sector investment spending is set to decline significantly and, at this stage, signs of improvement in investment intentions in other sectors are only tentative, as firms wait for more evidence of improved conditions before committing to expansion plans. Public spending is scheduled to be subdued," he said.
Australians can expect interest rate stability in the current inflationary climate.
"Looking ahead, continued accommodative monetary policy should provide support to demand, and help growth to strengthen over time. Inflation is expected to be consistent with the 2–3 per cent target over the next two years," said Stevens.
"In the Board's judgement, monetary policy is appropriately configured to foster sustainable growth in demand and inflation outcomes consistent with the target. On present indications, the most prudent course is likely to be a period of stability in interest rates." 
Michelle Hutchinson, money expert at comparison website finder.com.au, says that a drop in the cash rate is unlikely in the near future.
"While the <a href="https://finder.com.au">finder.com.au</a> Monthly Reserve Bank Survey found all 12 leading economists and money experts were correct with their prediction of no rate change today, most are expecting to see the cash rate rise by the end of the year or next year,” she said. According to Hutchinson, the current interest rate climate has seen some lenders fail to pass on rate cuts to borrowers.
"With no more rate drops on the cards, we found that lenders have kept on average 0.24 percentage points since rates began to fall in November 2011 by not always passing on the full cuts to their customers,” said Hutchinson.
LJ Hooker deputy chairman L Janusz Hooker predicts that a rate increase by the Reserve Bank could be as far away as December.
“There is still a chronic shortage of housing in areas such as Sydney and with this simple supply and demand imbalance continuing, it’s hard to see how the bottom can drop out of the market,” said Hooker.
Low interest rates have seen housing construction approvals pick up in many markets, while residential sales are strengthening in Hobart and even Adelaide, despite concerns about unemployment.
“Sensible buyers are factoring in future rate increases when doing their calculations but I also think there is an acceptance that the rate of growth the market has been enjoying will slow down,” he said.
According to RP Data national research director Tim Lawless, the latest housing market results showed that capital gains across the nation’s housing markets were slowing to more sustainable levels, which would have provided the RBA with some comfort.
“The April results showed a slowdown in dwelling value appreciation, up just 0.3% over the month, which is likely to be a welcome result after such previously strong conditions,” said Lawless.
“The ongoing low interest rate environment is likely to encourage higher levels of housing market activity which provides a fantastic multiplier for the Australian economy; however we anticipate that natural affordability barriers and low rental yields will continue to dampen the exuberance that has been very much evident in Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.
<img src="/images/2014/05/06/quotes-may-6-on.jpg" alt="">
 Source: Finder.com.au
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

RBA leaves interest rates on hold as housing price growth slows

<html><body>
RBA Governor Glenn Stevens' May statement:
At its meeting today, the <a href="/expert-insights/finance/rba-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold-as-housing-price-growth-slows">Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2.5 per cent</a>. Growth in the global economy was a bit below trend in 2013, but there are reasonable prospects of a better outcome this year, helped by firmer conditions in the advanced countries. China's growth appears to have slowed a little in early 2014 but remains generally in line with policymakers' objectives. Commodity prices in historical terms remain high, though some of those important to Australia have softened further of late. Financial conditions overall remain very accommodative. Long-term interest rates and most risk spreads remain low. Equity and credit markets are well placed to provide adequate funding. In Australia, the economy grew at a below-trend pace in 2013. Recent information suggests moderate growth is occurring in consumer demand and foreshadows a strong expansion in housing construction. Some indicators of business conditions and confidence have improved from a year ago and exports are rising. But at the same time, resources sector investment spending is set to decline significantly and, at this stage, signs of improvement in investment intentions in other sectors are only tentative, as firms wait for more evidence of improved conditions before committing to expansion plans. Public spending is scheduled to be subdued. The demand for labour has been weak over the past year and, as a result, the rate of unemployment has risen somewhat. More recently, there has been some improvement in indicators for the labour market, but it will probably be some time yet before unemployment declines consistently. Growth in wages has declined noticeably and this has been reflected more clearly in the latest price data, which show a moderation in growth in prices for non-traded goods and services. As a result, inflation is consistent with the target. If domestic costs remain contained, that should continue to be the case over the next one to two years, even with lower levels of the exchange rate. Monetary policy remains accommodative. Interest rates are very low and savers continue to look for higher returns in response to low rates on safe instruments. Credit growth has picked up a little, while dwelling prices have increased significantly over the past year. The decline in the exchange rate from its highs a year ago will assist in achieving balanced growth in the economy, but less so than previously as a result of the rise over the past few months. The exchange rate remains high by historical standards. Looking ahead, continued accommodative monetary policy should provide support to demand, and help growth to strengthen over time. Inflation is expected to be consistent with the 2–3 per cent target over the next two years. In the Board's judgement, monetary policy is appropriately configured to foster sustainable growth in demand and inflation outcomes consistent with the target. On present indications, the most prudent course is likely to be a period of stability in interest rates.
</body></html>

po-LsXgBTHBmX

Strong expansion in housing construction expected: RBA Governor Glenn Stevens

<html><body>
Many economists are tipping the official cash interest rate will stay on hold for several months to come.
Financial market indicators also suggest there are strong expectations of interest rate stability, with a small chance of further cuts.
As late as Thursday 1 May, just days before the latest RBA cash rate announcement, the ASX 30 Day Interbank Cash Rate Futures May 2014 contract (which shows market expectations of an RBA interest rate change) was trading at 97.505. That indicates financial market participants thought there was a 98% chance that interest rates would be left on hold and a 2% chance of a cut to 2.25% at today’s RBA Board meeting.
For mortgage holders, low interest rates are providing opportunities to save considerable sums on their home loans.
Several lenders have cut mortgage rates since the start of this year, while the RBA has left the cash rate untouched at 2.5% since August 2013.
At least seven lenders have cut mortgage rates on their variable loans, according to Finder.com.au. The comparison website found Yellow Brick Road, ANZ, Bank of Queensland, Citibank, Homeloans, HSBC and Westpac had all cut their variable rates since January 1. At the end of April, <a href="https://loans.com.au/">Loans.com.au</a> was advertising an ongoing variable rate of just 4.49% on its Dream Home Loan, Finder.com.au reported.
However, <a href="https://finder.com.au/" target="_blank">Finder.com.au</a> money expert Michelle Hutchison says three-year fixed rates are still lower on average than variable rate home loans.
The RBA’s indicator rate for a three-year fixed rate mortgage dropped to 5.2% in March from 5.25% in February, the latest RBA statistics show. The average three-year rate available to consumers is a little lower, at 5.11%, according to Finder.com.au.
History shows lenders typically pre-empt movements in the official cash rate with their fixed rate home loans, so by the time the RBA starts lifting rates, the fixed mortgage rates available to borrowers have already reached their bottom and started to trend higher (See chart).
<img src="/images/2014/05/02/zoe-may-2-one.jpg" alt=""> 
Source: RBA
“If you're worried about interest rates rising in the next few years it might be time to consider locking in a fixed rate,” Hutchison says.
Property Observer asked Finder.com.au to crunch the numbers on the cost over the next four years of taking out a fixed rate home loan now, compared with taking out a variable rate loan.
"The average three-year fixed rate is 5.11% while the average variable rate is 5.39%,” Hutchison says. “If variable interest rates increased back to normal levels of around 7% in four years, borrowers could be better off fixing.”
For this example, we assumed that the average variable interest rate available to consumers of 5.39% would remain in place for 12 months. After that time frame, we assumed interest rates would rise by 0.25 basis points every six months for remaining three years.
We compared that variable rate loan to a mortgage with the average three-year fixed rate of 5.11%. At the end of the three years, we assumed the interest rate for the fixed rate mortgage would revert to the same variable rate as the variable loan in the example: so 6.64% after three years, and then lifting to 6.89% for the last six months of the four year period.
Both sets of figures were calculated based on a loan with an initial size of $300,000.
Results
According to Finder.com.au’s sums, the total cost over four years of the variable loan above was $93,246.
The total cost for the three-year fixed loan, reverting to the average variable loan rate at the end of the fixed period, was $88,732.
In this example, the three-year fixed rate loan would cost $4,514 less than the variable rate loan.
Of course, the results will vary if these assumptions on interest rate movements are off the mark.
Plus, there are other considerations when deciding between a fixed and variable rate mortgage, such as the flexibility to make additional repayments with the view of paying off the loan more quickly, which is usually only possible with a variable rate loan.
We’ve also excluded the affect of fees, and have ignored any other features that might be available with one loan but not the other.
In general, if it’s cost alone that you’re looking at, fixing the rate might still make sense. 
</body></html>

zfielding-GvX3Uq9KTa

Analysis: Is it worth fixing your home loan?

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
Over 40% of mortgages in Australia are sold by mortgage brokers, not by their manufacturers - an issue that has the CEO of Australia’s fifth largest bank, Suncorp, <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/suncorp-chief-patrick-snowball-lashes-dominance-of-big-four-banks/story-e6frg8zx-1226881287464" target="_blank">arguing</a> the sector is skewed towards the big four banks.
There are two distinct components of the mortgage market: a retail market with a wide variety of sellers, and a wholesale market.
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/46335/width668/jm9wyrsb-1397454304.jpg" alt="">
Value of housing loans advanced by lender. Australian Securitisation Forum
The four big manufacturers of mortgages in Australia are the big four banks. One of the key issues for the <a href="https://fsi.gov.au/" target="_blank">Murray inquiry</a> into the financial system will relate to competition, or the lack thereof, in the manufacturing of mortgages. Does it matter that some 90% of mortgages are manufactured by four producers?
There are a number of ways of answering this.
Oligopolies reign…
The first is that there are many industries in Australia with fewer than four major manufacturers of goods and services. Telephone services, domestic airlines, energy supplies, postal services, cars, steel etc. all come quickly to mind. In fact, most Australian industries are characterised by a small number of manufacturers. Any industry with economies of scale, like banking, seems likely to be relatively concentrated given the size of the local market.
The second is to ask whether the concentration is temporary or entrenched.
There were a lot more manufacturers of mortgages before the financial crisis. Most of them were funded not from deposits but by securitising their mortgages and obtaining funding from the wholesale markets. During the crisis this market contracted sharply, mainly because of problems in the US market for securitised product, which made the business model unviable. The government stepped in under Treasurer Swan and subsidised securitisation by the smaller banks during the crisis to enable them to stay in the business. This was a subsidy from taxpayers directed exclusively towards the smaller banks.
As the securitisation market returns, as it should because there were no problems with the market in Australia, then this will return to be a secure funding source for the smaller banks. The rebuilding of market sentiment will allow the smaller banks to re-enter the market as manufacturers of mortgages.
<img src="https://62e528761d0685343e1c-f3d1b99a743ffa4142d9d7f1978d9686.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/files/46337/width668/qx6vgx59-1397454478.jpg" alt="">
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities by issuer type. Australian Securitisation Forum
Macquarie Bank too has shown a willingness to depart from the mortgage market when times are difficult but to re-enter aggressively as it has recently. Again this is another indicator that the market concentration is high but the market remains contestable.
Price competition
The third broad concern is whether there is price competition for mortgages at the wholesale level. At the broadest level the Reserve Bank has concluded:
"The available evidence suggests that the average spread to the policy rate on variable-rate mortgages in Australia is within the range of those in other advanced economies" - RBA submission to the Murray inquiry.
So the overall level of mortgage margins does not appear to be out of line with prices in other countries.
The remaining issue is whether there is price competition between the four manufacturers, and whether market share changes when price changes. The normal test used in industrial economics is to ask whether an incumbent would lose significant market share if it raised prices by 10% above the level of its competitors.
With mortgage rates currently around 6%, the question is whether a bank would lose significant market share if it offered a standard variable rate of 6.6%, while the other manufacturers had prices around 6%. There really seems little doubt that the high price would cost an incumbent significant market share, suggesting that no provider really has market power in mortgages. Just by cutting its mortgage list price by 0.10 to 0.15 of 1%, NAB increased its market share significantly during its break-up marketing campaign.
Since the financial crisis the big four banks have become the principal manufacturers of mortgages in Australia. They market some mortgages directly, some through second tier brands, and some through brokers. Their leading position in manufacturing since the crisis is mainly the result of the wind back of second tier banks which were funded through securitisation in the wholesale market, and partly because of the changed status of St George and Bankwest when they were taken over by majors.
Such a high level of concentration is not unusual for an Australian industry. Nor is it clear that prices are out of line. The situation is also likely to prove temporary as re-emergence of the securitisation market will enable alternative manufacturers to fund their lending, and new vigorous competitors like Macquarie have already re-entered the market.
Rodney Maddock is Vice Chancellor's fellow at Victoria University and adjunct professor of economics at Monash University.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/25587/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="line-height: 1.3em;">
Rodney consults to a range of financial sector institutions. Some of his current research on financial regulation is funded by the Centre for International Financial Regulation. 
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
</body></html>

rmaddock-AxiRakmDz9

Looking for a home loan? Choose from one of these four options…

<html><body>
Dwelling price-to-income ratio charts in Australia and in certain other developed countries have shown a dramatic run-up which have benefited existing owners tremendously, particularly over the past couple of decades.
<div class="separator"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scVICW5CkIU/U2CL5ASxdmI/AAAAAAAAM2o/HQWNaynN8jg/s1600/Dereg.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scVICW5CkIU/U2CL5ASxdmI/AAAAAAAAM2o/HQWNaynN8jg/s1600/Dereg.jpg" width="400" height="316"></a></div>
Most of the causes are obvious enough and have been well documented: there are now many more dual income households than there were previously, there has been and remains an ongoing colossal boom in Australia's population, there has been a structural shift to much lower inflation and interest rates, and so on.
Ultimately, though, all this new debt had to come from somewhere, so how on earth did that happen? The quick and dirty answer lies in the deregulation of the Aussie financial system which took place in the 1980s, a process often alluded to, but less often explained. A quick look at eight key points... 
Regulation
During the 1980s Australian banking went relatively quickly from being one of the most stringently controlled systems in the world to one of the least controlled, as part of a wider movement which was to some extent reflected in other countries.
Crucially, Australia had previously employed very strict controls on its bank borrowing and lending practices, with few available substitutes to the traditional banks.
Normally such sweeping  industry changes as occurred in that decade would be a pain-inducing and drawn-out exercise, but deregulation was especially swift and effective Down Under because it met with so little resistance from the banks themselves.
This was because the banks saw that although they may have previously benefited from the controls as they carved up housing market loans, they would now stand to benefit more from deregulation since it would allow them to compete more readily with the non-financial institutions.
With the rise of technology and electronic banking, the banks also knew that they had to become more flexible to compete with the non-banks.
The challenges with the pre-existing controls
One of the problems facing the banks was that with there being a ceiling imposed on interest rates they could lend at and on term deposits, in times of high inflation it was exceptionally difficult for them to tempt customers to deposit funds with them (and further, banks offered zero percent interest on current accounts, largely as part of an informal or unspoken cartel agreement between themselves).
With a below market ceiling on lending rates imposed upon the banks, there was in any case little willingness or indeed capability to offer more appealing interest rates on term deposits.
Meanwhile, non-bank financial intermediaries such as building societies began to offer more tempting and competitive deposit rates, which in turn facilitated the ability to lend more. With deregulation, there came too an increase in the velocity of the circulation of funds, which in turn led to an increased focus on the control of monetary aggregates by the central bank.
Government controls over housing finance changed
In the 1980s there was an imposed ceiling on lending rates for housing but this was changed in 1986. From April 1986, while a ceiling remained in place for pre-existing loans (the interest rate cap was set at 13.5% at that time, for the record), new loans written had no such ceiling. 
Since new loans were written at about the same level for some time thereafter, there was initially little effect, but eventually the removal of controls did have an impact.
The traditional distinction between savings banks and trading banks was removed in 1989 and prior to that, in the mid 1980s, 15 foreign banks were given licences to operate in the Australian market. The major change in market was that a number of building societies and credit unions converted to banks.
Becoming a bank allowed these institutions a much greater capacity to expand their capital base, and from the early 1990s forth, a number of factors contributed to the banking system shifting its focus from lending to business towards housing.
Summarily, a lot of bank loans to businesses became impaired during the 1990s recession, so lending for housing got the green light. With <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2010/sp-ag-300310" target="_blank">reduced assets ratios</a> also now required by the banks, it was time for the banks to get lending on homes...and how.
<div><img src="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2010/images/sp-ag-300310-graph1-small.gif" alt="Graph 1: AFI Housing Credit"></div>
Between 1991 and 1995 the share of banks' business loans fell from 63% to 48%, but the share of loans for housing soared from 30% to 46%. Lower inflation, falling interest rates and the strong performance of housing loans saw the percentage of housing loans roar up to nearly 60% by 2010.
Why bother control housing finance at all?
Why would a government even have tried to control housing finance rates in the first place? It's a very valid question!
There is no strong economic argument in favour of such a strategy, but the basic idea I suppose to was to incentivise folk to divert more of there resources towards housing than they may otherwise have been inclined to do.
Personally, I generally prefer free markets all things being equal, but I guess at least part of the underlying notion was that if people invested more heavily in housing, them in turn the housing stock would be of better quality. 
As someone born in a city with some of the worst housing developments imaginable, I can see there is some logic buried deep in there somewhere - slums and infested housing estates can create far deeper social problems than just unsightly dwellings, but what about...
Market distortions?
However, the flaws in the logic of the borrowing rate cap were equally apparent. The government was encouraging people to allocate increasingly disproportionate amounts of their resources towards housing, pushing up prices, squeezing out lower income earners, and so on.
A far better idea, one would have thought, would have been a form of subsidies for the construction of dwellings and for those who rented them - not only a clear benefit for those able to purchase dwellings through borrowing (even cash buyers were excluded from this benefit).
A ceiling or cap on housing finance interest rates generally benefits higher salary earners with clean credit histories and the ability to save deposits, with no such benefit to lower income earners who could only afford to rent. And let's face it, if a bank is forced to lend at a capped interest rate, it's going to do so preferentially to persons with a higher salary and a bigger deposit.
Combining a ceiling on housing loans with a ceiling on deposit rates (which themselves were effectively anyway capped by the below market rates accrued from housing loans) tends to hit up lower income earners with a double whammy: paying them crappy rates of interest on their savings (on average most lower income earners hold a higher percentage of their net worth in savings) and squeezing them out of the housing market.
This leads on to a whole other debate about the most appropriate form of housing subsidies for lower income groups...but that's one for another day.
Impacts of the 1986 deregulation
So in 1986 the control over interest rates was removed for new loans, but the cap remained in place for existing loans. The impact of this was a tad confusing!
Older borrowers now benefited from lower rates since they had arranged loans before 1986, although on average the older they were the lower the outstanding mortgage balance, so perhaps you could argue the outcomes of that came out in the wash a little.
And the deregulation also distorted the market in another way, making the labour market more immobile. There was very little incentive for existing owners to move to a location which might be more convenient for employment, since they would lose their entitlement to an interest rate cap upon inception of any new housing loan.
Other encouragement for housing finance
Therefore, as banks became able to offer more competitive rates on deposits, in turn this allowed them to increase their loan books.
It was expected that there would be another change from deregulation: stability. Why? Because before deregulation, when interest rates were rising banks became less competitive on deposit rates thus throttling their lending capability, yet when rates were falling exactly the opposite was true.
But what actually happened was that this great uncertainty for banks was removed by deregulation, giving them far greater control over their level of competitiveness on deposit rates in order to attract business, and thus this made them equivalently far readier to provide housing finance. 
Indeed, you could argue that it now became a race to allocate as much of the new lending as possible to the housing markets.
Product innovation
Another enduring impact of deregulation was that new products sprang up all over the shop such as variable repayment loans or so-called "low-start" mortgages. Banks became more inclined to focus on the ability of borrowers to repay monthly payments rather than capping loans at a low multiple.
There was  product innovation aplenty in the Aussie mortgage market as lenders sought to cater for a wider range of potential borrowers and found new ways to assess their borrowing capacity - an easing in lending standards played its part of course, increasing loan risk, but the over-arching effect was that households had wider access to credit.
With no ceiling on lending rates, banks were now able to charge higher spreads and require bigger deposits on riskier loans, so in due course became more inclined to take them on.
And then of course lenders introduced what the Americans called HELOCS - home-equity loans,as well as redraw facilities and reverse mortgages, all of which allowed households to borrow against the equity they had built up in their place of residence. Lenders also introduced interest-only loans and shared-equity loans which made it easier for households, particularly first home buyers to purchase their home. When interest rates fell, the net result was a borrowing bonanza, and not only in Australia.
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdhavBa_ogA/U2DO6dvxmkI/AAAAAAAAM28/qgM4akIxrpw/s1600/OCR.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdhavBa_ogA/U2DO6dvxmkI/AAAAAAAAM28/qgM4akIxrpw/s1600/OCR.jpg"></a></div>
Interest rates are now more important
Pundits like to argue that in theory interest rates have little impact on housing markets, but due to the deregulation of the Aussie financial system and higher household debt today, this is incorrect, as partly evidenced by the impact of rate cuts since 2010.
What is explained above should clarify why shifts in interest rates were formerly somewhat limited in their ability to impact housing markets - since both lending and deposit rates were strictly controlled - yet today the availability and expectations around the cost of capital can be a key driver of market sentiment.
Moreover, since household debt levels are so much more elevated today than they were in the 1970s, the scope for monetary policy and adjustments in interest rates to stimulate or clobber housing markets - and indeed other parts of the Aussie economy - is greater than it was before.
Conclusion
This is all worth remembering when the next round of chart packs rolls around dating back to the mid-1800s which apparently prove that dwelling price multiples will inevitably revert to a long-term median.
They prove nothing of the sort, since credit markets have evolved beyond all recognition in the last 30 years. Unless, that is, you are expecting banks willingly to slice their percentage of lending for housing in half back to less than a third their loan books.
It strikes me that if you want to see house prices back at the oft-quoted "three times incomes", you'd need some kind of trigger. One such trigger could be a severe recession with very high unemployment.
It's simply way too easy for employed, dual-income couples in the current environment to service mortgage repayments with rock bottom borrowing rates. If you really want to see a downward reversion in dwelling prices, then we need to see higher interest rates which would quickly remove the speculative heat from the market.
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdhavBa_ogA/U2DO6dvxmkI/AAAAAAAAM28/qgM4akIxrpw/s1600/OCR.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdhavBa_ogA/U2DO6dvxmkI/AAAAAAAAM28/qgM4akIxrpw/s1600/OCR.jpg"></a></div>
You can visit <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) or Pete's <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blog</a>.
His new book '<a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>' is out now.
</body></html>

pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Interest rates are more important than they have ever been

<html><body>
Over the next 40 years, Australians aged over 65 will make up over 25% of the population, according to the Treasury’s 2010 Intergenerational Report.
With baby boomers set to drive demand for retirement housing, specialist property developer Halcyon has launched two new Queensland developments aimed at the over 50s market.
Halcyon engaged Brisbane based design firm DC8Studio to help tailor Halcyon Glades at Caboolture and Vision by Halcyon at Hope Island to the needs of the retirees.
<img src="/images/2014/05/06/Riccardo%20Rizzali%20DC8Studio.jpg" alt="">
According to DC8Studio director Riccardo Rizzalli (pictured above), Halcyon’s target market are retirees who are looking to maintain an active lifestyle.
 “The people who come to live in Halcyon communities are forward thinking in their approach to retirement living,” he said.
“That is to say, they are very active people, who are looking forward to a happy and healthy life post working.
“There is a term that is used often, that these baby boomers aren't retiring they are ‘retreading’.
“This is really a beginning of a new journey for home owners and this was strongly reflected in our design brief.”
A report released in April by housing company Lifestyle Communities showed that although half of those surveyed were reliant on the sale of their family home to sustain their current lifestyle, there was a lack of suitable stock to facilitate post-retirement downsizing.
Halcyon joint managing director Bevan Geissmann said that maintaining a high quality of life post retirement was an important focus for the company.
“The downsizing process involves freeing up capital for retirees to spend on recreational pursuits or general living expenses,” said Geissmann.
“But today’s baby boomers have high expectations of their retirement lifestyle, so location and design of the home are both vitally important.
“As a developer of over 50s communities our focus weighs heavily on these aspects.
“It’s why we invest a lot of time into researching market trends, finding the right sites, developing masterplans and creating homes that respond to the needs of modern seniors.”
Glades at Caboolture (pictured below) is the company’s most affordable development to date. The 178 home community will include a variety of recreational facilities, including a swimming pool and gymnasium, a cinema, library, bowling green, tennis court and recreation centre. Prices range from $335,000 to $467,500.
<img src="/images/2014/05/06/Halcyon%20Galdes%20street%20scape.jpg" alt="">
At the opposite end of the price spectrum, Vision by Halcyon (pictured below) is being marketed as a luxury development, with 88 homes, a 52 berth marina and a lifestyle and aquatic precinct. Homes at Vision are priced from $559,000 with the most expensive property available at $1.25 million.
<img src="/images/2014/05/06/halcyon-may-6-breakout.jpg" alt="">
More on Halcyon: 
<a href="/expert-insights/building/gold-coasts-60-million-vision-by-halcyon-targeting-over-50-downsizers">Gold Coast's $60 million Vision by Halcyon targeting over-50 downsizers</a>
 
 
</body></html>

Latest Expert Insights

Buying off-the-plan in Melbourne? How independent iCIRT ratings are set to change Victorian property

Guides

Editor's Picks

Guides

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Expert Insights

Buying off-the-plan in Melbourne? How independent iCIRT ratings are set to change Victorian property

Guides

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Guides

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News