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

Joel Robinson

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

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

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

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

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

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

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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

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

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

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

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

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

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

Staff Writer

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

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

alisonwarters@gmail.com

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

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

Ellen Walker

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

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

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

<html><body>
As we look back on 2011, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of the year.
From our experience on Hot Property, the TV cameras are no hindrance at all. We tell everyone up front we’ll blur them out if they don’t want to be seen. Most observers don’t mind being a face in the crowd, and there can be benefits for the vendors. Agents sometimes promote the fact we’re going to be there with cameras and that draws extras who might not otherwise attend. If they turn up and like the property, they might even bid.
Our results generally mirror the current clearance rates. It’s hit or miss, but that’s auctions for you!
The average punter can learn a lot about the property market from shows like Hot Property. Viewers get the latest in renovation trends, they hear from experts about what works and what does not work, and they pick up strategic auction tips all from their couch.
All the properties we feature are memorable in one way or another, but we’re equally as interested in the people who are buying and selling. We cover the full gamut of property from cheap and cheerful to waterfront mansions. We once covered a story about a lady who lived in a shoe. Well, actually it was a house that looked like a shoe. Terrific visual!
Hot Property was the first show on Australian television to mine our obsession with real estate.
Michael Caton is an awesome host, and that’s partly because he’s the Aussie bloke who plays himself. There’s nothing false or misleading about him or the show, people know when they turn on Hot Property they are going to get interesting stories about real people buying and selling, and sometimes renovating property.
The charm of the show is that we catch people at a particular time in their lives when they are shaping up for massive life changes. We go on the journey with them in a positive, humorous way. Our job is to make the narrative engaging, and clearly we’ve done that, as we’re now producing series 12.
The success of Hot Property has spawned a range of other property shows – but none quite as good as ours.
There’s always a percentage of people who think you are somehow out to get them. You only have to watch Hot Property to realise that’s not the case. In the beginning it was difficult to get buyers sellers and renovators on board with an unproven show, but now the brand is recognised so well that some people come to us, and others make return visits, which is wonderful. We also have great relationships with realtors across Australia.
Rob Wallace is executive producer of Hot Property, produced by Beyond Productions.
For more expert commentary and analysis on lessons to be learnt from property reality TV, <a target="_blank" href="https://register.propertyobserver.com.au/lights-camera-auction/">download our e-book Lights, Camera, Auction!</a> 
</body></html>

rwallace-T4nUHC97Ko

Property reality television has important lessons for viewers

<html><body>
Gold Coast property developer Sunland has ditched its trophy Dubai projects and swapped its equity in the troubled UAE projects for full ownership of the Gold Coast resort the Palazzo Versace.
The group had previously co-owned The Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast, which was the world's first fashion branded hotel when it opened in 2000.
Sunland Group Limited told the stock exchange this afternoon it was “pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to exchange its development projects in Dubai, Palazzo Versace Dubai and D1 residential tower, for 100% ownership of Palazzo Versace Gold Coast”.
The transaction has been concluded with the group's joint UAE venture partner, Enshaa PSC/Emirates Investment Holdings Limited.
The joint venture partners have agreed that Sunland will transfer to Enshaa all its interests and obligations in the Dubai joint venture projects, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/overseas/sunland-s-troubled-dubai-projects-progressing-slowly-amid-defaults/2011101051870">which includes 51% interest in Palazzo Versace Dubai and 50% interest in D1 Residential Tower Dubai</a>.
Enshaa, through its subsidiary Emirates Investment Group Australia Pty Limited, will transfer all its interests and obligations in its 49% interest in Palazzo Versace Gold Coast Hotel.
There is no corresponding cash amount required to settle the transaction.
“There will be no material impact on Sunland's financial position,” the shareholders were told.
The transaction will have no effect on Sunland's other Dubai interests, Nur, Waterfront 1 and Waterfront 2.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Sunland swaps Palazzo Versace Dubai for Gold Coast counterpart

<html><body>
Six mostly inner-ring Sydney suburbs – <a target="_blank" href="/news">Edgecliff</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Randwick</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Ryde</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Newtown</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Surry Hills</a> and <a target="_blank" href="/news">Neutral Bay</a> – recorded annual rent increases topping 10% for new tenancies during the September quarter.
The average rent increase for new tenancies in the RUN Property Sydney data base was 7.7%.
It took new rentals $38 higher a week to $540 a week.
The figures are the average rent for new tenancies, not existing tenants who renew their leases.
The figures come from the latest quarterly rent report by RUN Property, Australia’s largest metropolitan property manager, which manages properties valued at more than $10 billion.
The solid rental returns for property owners in the September quarter compared with the same period last year follow similar results in each quarter over the past year, RUN Property chief executive Rob Farmer notes.
“The smart money is starting to flow back into investment property, especially now that the sales market is off the boil and there are buying opportunities out there,” Farmer suggests.
“Past experience proves that investor confidence slowly grows in the wake of improving rental yields, so there is a small window of opportunity for good buying in the next few months before the world wakes up to what is starting to evolve.
Edgecliff recorded the highest percentage growth up 13% – or $46 a week – to $403 a week.
In Sydney’s Paddington the typical new rental was $62 a week higher at $764 a week.
Ryde was the biggest performer outside the inner-ring suburbs, with an 11% jump to $473 a week.
 
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="121"></td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
Sept 2010 Weekly Rent Average $ 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Sept 2011 Weekly Rent Average $
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="120">
Average Weekly Rent Difference 
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="120">
Average Weekly Rent Difference % 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
NEW SOUTH WALES 
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$501.45 
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$540.28 
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$38.83 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
7.7% 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
EDGECLIFF
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$357.02
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$403.69
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$46.67
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
13.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
RANDWICK
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$508.34
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$568.72
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$60.38
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
11.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
RYDE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$334.81
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$373.80
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$38.99
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
11.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
NEWTOWN
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$526.78
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$587.78
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$61.00
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
11.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
SURRY HILLS
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$507.61
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$562.48
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$54.86
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
10.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
NEUTRAL BAY
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$446.11
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$492.51
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$46.40
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
10.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
WOOLLOOMOOLOO
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$528.84
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$580.61
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$51.77
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
9.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
WOLLSTONECRAFT
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$495.76
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$543.75
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$48.00
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
9.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
GLEBE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$495.41
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$541.99
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$46.59
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
9.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
KOGARAH
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$330.48
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$360.00
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$29.53
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
8.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
PADDINGTON
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$701.99
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$764.36
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$62.36
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
8.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
DARLINGHURST
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$482.15
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$522.88
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$40.74
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
8.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
CHIPPENDALE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$513.43
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$556.13
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$42.70
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
8.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
BONDI
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$523.67
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$567.13
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$43.46
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
8.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
POTTS POINT
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$377.83
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$407.92
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$30.09
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
8.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
CREMORNE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$500.83
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$538.19
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$37.36
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
7.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
BRONTE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$518.10
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$555.49
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$37.38
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
7.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
LEICHHARDT
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$583.11
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$624.99
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$41.88
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
7.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
BONDI BEACH
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$509.13
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$545.57
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$36.44
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
7.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
PYRMONT
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$578.14
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$618.86
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$40.72
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
7.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
ARTARMON
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$494.98
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$529.68
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$34.70
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
7.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
LANE COVE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$418.33
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$446.33
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$28.00
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
6.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
COOGEE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$540.33
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$575.61
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$35.28
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
ST LEONARDS
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$499.54
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$531.88
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$32.35
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
HURSTVILLE
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$359.48
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$381.47
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$21.99
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
6.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
NORTH BONDI
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$553.20
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$586.26
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$33.06
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
6.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
ROSE BAY
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$442.79
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$468.73
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$25.94
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
5.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
CHATSWOOD
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$593.33
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$627.42
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$34.09
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
5.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
BONDI JUNCTION
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$601.62
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$634.95
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$33.33
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
5.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">
SYDNEY
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="115">
$616.08
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="124">
$648.78
</td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="119">
$32.71
</td>
<td valign="top" width="119">
5.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr height="0">
<td width="138"></td>
<td width="1"></td>
<td width="113"></td>
<td width="123"></td>
<td width="1"></td>
<td width="119"></td>
<td width="0"></td>
<td width="119"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 Source: RUN Property
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Sydney's six strong rental suburbs - mostly inner city, but Ryde gets aboard

<html><body>
A new report into the property market that takes issue with a traditional metric used to define affordability has found families earning more than $100,000 are less able to buy a house compared with couples earning only $60,000 to $70,000. 
The new Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has also revealed workers earning less than $40,000 a year are becoming less able to buy property at all.
Report author Terry Burke says traditional metrics use a "30% rule", which states no person should spend more than 30% on housing.
"The problem with that measure is that it assumes every family has equal ability to afford housing, but more household types of have far different and higher expenditures," Burke says.
"For certain families, after meeting necessary expenditures their discretionary income is far less. So what we are proposing the residual market method, you look at the different housing types, different families, and then after expenditures, see what they have left."
Once this measure is applied, the issue of affordability becomes much more dire, the report argues.
"For the households examined, representing about 75% of all Australian households, the residual income method for the lowest 40% of income earners shows a much higher incidence of affordability problems," it argues.
"33.6% use a low-cost-budget-standard, compared to 23.9% by the 30/40 method."
The report also argues that renters have it worst off, particularly aged renters, while families are "problematic, particularly if they have younger children".
"Among households with children, 34.3% were below the low-cost-budget standard, but if the children were under five it was 68%. Why this is the case is probably a combination of the additional costs of the second children being less, and more importantly, a parent may have to drop out of the workforce for some time to undertake child-rearing functions."
Overall, the report found the usefulness of the residual income method is questionable.
"What this is showing," Burke says, "is that singles and couples have much greater capacity to afford housing than suggested by the 30% rule, and that larger households have less capacity to afford."
"You can imagine if you're a single person earning $100,000, then you have a lot to spend on housing, but if you're a family on the same amount, you have much less."
Analysing housing in Melbourne, the report found that families are gradually being pushed into the outer fringe of the city and that more singles are heading into the inner suburbs, resulting in a greater number of smaller apartments being built.
"You don't see a lot of affordable three bedroom apartments being built. It's all one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments," Burke says.
However, the report stops short at putting forward a detailed proposal for solving the crisis. In the end, Burke says, it's up to the government.
"There is nothing new and radical in what we can suggest. It's a problem of land use, high policies around land, zoning permits, negative gearing, and so on."
"It's a problem of supply. We can't come up with any new solutions, because they're pretty well known. The government just has to do them."
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/property/20111017-housing-affordability-measures-attacked-as-new-report-says-families-are-being-forced-to-fringe-suburbs">SmartCompany</a>.
</body></html>

cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

Housing affordability measures attacked as new report says families are being forced to fringe suburbs

<html><body>
<h1>Mortgage broking group Refund Home Loans has been placed into voluntary administration, but several buyers are considering acquiring the business, which has more than 350 franchisees and a substantial stake in the growing alternative home loan market.</h1>
The announcement comes just 18 months after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission slammed the company and Ormond, after he admitted making false and misleading statements to franchisees about an agreement with the ACCC itself.
It also comes just two weeks after BRW again named Ormond as one of the wealthiest people under 40 in Australia, with his fortune rising $5 million to $33 million.
Ormond declined to comment.
However, a company spokesperson said the company had endured "a difficult 12 to 18 months".
"Banks have been tightening up their lending to small business, and that's just the reality of the situation. They've made it particularly hard," the spokesperson says.
"The company is effectively under-funded, and we have director responsibilities. So there, the banks had no choice but to put in a voluntary administration."
Refund has suffered since the beginning of the year, especially in Queensland, where the property sector has suffered due to the January floods.
However, the spokesperson confirmed that four buyers are current involved and franchisees – who are still operating – are also looking at purchasing the business.
The company hopes to use the company's strong brand as leverage, along with its scope – the company has a loan book worth $2 billion.
While the company does have $2.5 million in debt, the spokesperson says this is "a small amount of debt considering the company's valuation".
It is understood the administration does not affect either the real estate or financial planning divisions of the business. A sale process is currently underway, led by administrators SV Partners.
It is unknown whether competitors are eyeing a stake in the company, although the company's substantial franchisee footprint would be very attractive to a number of existing players.
Two other businesses operated by Ormond, Refund Real Estate or Refund Financial Planning, are not in administration and are unaffected.
Ormond launched Refund back in 2003, after working in the banking finance industry. The company's model is based on providing a refund of any commission it receives from lenders.
The business has experienced substantial growth over the past few years, with its franchisees growing to more than 350, carving out a significant portion of the growing market for mortgage products sourced from outside the big four banks.
Refund appeared in the SmartCompany Smart50 list of Australia's fastest-growing small and medium enterprises during both 2008 and 2009, ranked as sixth and 43rd, respectively.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/20111017-refund-home-loans-falls-in-administration-but-buyers-waiting-in-the-wings" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
</body></html>

Refund Home Loans in voluntary administration but buyers waiting in the wings

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/philpottflicker.jpg">
A redundant electricity substation on a 77-square-metre block at Marrickville<a href="/news"> </a>suitable for conversion into residential use has been sold for $515,000. 
It’s one of the 1,000 substations that were built across Sydney from the late 1870s as the demand for electricity grew throughout the city.
There are approved plans by Tanner Architects to convert the <a href="/news">Marrickville </a>property into a 159-square-metre, three-bedroom, two-bathroom abode with roof terrace with louvered pergola. It sold to a family who plan to build.
Its BresicWhitney listing agent Matt Carvalho had expected $500,000 plus for the Philpott Street listing. There were six registered parties and four bidders after bidding began at $400,000. 
It’s been subdivided off the neighbouring Globe Mills apartment development.
While many are simple designs, the Marrickville substation was built to fit into the architecture of its factory surroundings. It comes with three high steel roller shutter doors.
Substations were camouflaged as everything from Federation homes and Californian bungalows to castle-like structures.
<img src="/images/stories/philpottplans.gif">
</body></html>

No shocks as redundant Sydney substation fetches $515,000

<html><body>
As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/fender-katsilidis-ever-changing-place-in-melbourne-s-skyline/2011101351927?source=flicker4" target="_blank">With the success of the Melbourne Terrace Apartments</a>, a newly established firm and several landmark buildings under its belt, the big-ticket commissions began rolling in for Fender Katsalidis.
<img src="/images/stories/richmondsilos.jpg">
There was the Richmond Silos (pictured above), converted from old grain silos and built in 1996, the Ian Potter centre (1998), the Republic Tower, HM@S Tower (pictured below) and Bendigo Art Gallery (1999), and New Quay at Docklands (2004).
<img src="/images/stories/hmas.jpg">
But one building would say more about the ambition of Fender Katsalidis than any other – a gleaming, gold-tipped pillar called the Eureka Tower, which at 92 storeys Nonda Katsalidis insists is “still the tallest building in the country”, despite that title officially belonging to Q1 on the Gold Coast. (To set the record straight, Katsalidis says the roof height of Q1 is 275 metres, Eureka’s is 297, he reckons Q1 cheated by adding a 45-metre spire on top, “but let’s not start that argument again!”.)
<img src="/images/stories/eurekafka.jpg">
Katsalidis says designing the Eureka Tower (pictured above), which turns five years old this month, was always about creating “an iconic, huge thing”, and the firm certainly achieved that.
When awarding Eureka Tower the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture in 2007, the jury said it “clearly demonstrates that commercial architecture can be about more than the ‘bottom line’ – it can contribute a broader value to the life and character of the city”.
And Eureka Tower’s bottom line is still doing just fine. According to end-of-financial-year reports for 2010 compiled by Harcourts City Residential, the average selling price for apartments in the Eureka Tower in 2010 was just under $1.047 million, up from $707,685 the previous year. The median sale price for Southbank apartments in 2010 was $602,900.
Katsalidis is coy about Eureka’s financial success. “It’s still the slickest-looking building in Melbourne,” he says. “It’s a very striking building; it’s used as the backdrop in the news and is a symbol for <city><place>Melbourne</place></city>.”
With Eureka under its belt and its stamp firmly placed on Melbourne, Fender Katsalidis set about looking for opportunities outside the city where the firm made their name.
<img src="/images/stories/monafka.jpg">
Katsalidis says his most recent highlight was designing entrepreneur David Walsh’s “adult <place>Disneyland</place>” MONA (the <place><placetype>Museum</placetype> of <placename>Old</placename></place> and New Art) in <city><place>Hobart (pictured above)</place></city>, carved into the sandstone cliffs of the <place><placename>Berriedale</placename><placetype>Peninsula</placetype></place>. Some have called it Katsalidis’ masterwork and it’s even been labelled the “Bilbao of the South” a reference to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim.
MONA aside, the majority of Fender Katsalidis’ work is still focused on creating new residential possibilities, with much of its work being on large planning projects, even designing entire cities.
<img src="/images/stories/fkakl.jpg">
In <city><place>Kuala Lumpur</place></city> the firm has designed luxury apartments near the <place><placename>Petronas</placename><placetype>Towers</placetype></place> and in the millionaire’s precinct of Taman Duta (pictured above). In Thailand the firm designed several luxury resorts in Phuket and on the east coast of Gibraltar, an entire residential estate on the waterfront.
In Dubai, the firm consulted on the much talked-about Palm Jebel Ali, a reclaimed island designed to resemble the fronds of a palm tree, which developer Nakheel still hopes will house more than 250,000 people by 2020 although construction on the development has stalled. The firm was involved in some of <city><place>Dubai</place></city>’s most ambitious projects, but most stalled or were abandoned when in the 2008 property crash, when house prices plummeted 64%.
Karl Fender, quoted in a 2009 article about the Dubai crash in The Age, said “Dubai was a place in a hurry. It was based on a hard-to-define marketplace, and built on a frenzy of speculation.”
Despite Dubai’s well-documented property crash, its initial boom gave Fender Katsalidis architects the chance to push their design skills and imagination to a new level.
Today, the firm hires nearly 100 staff, but Katsalidis says he and Fender are still personally involved in every project and they are still as ambitious as ever. Their reach is now global, but they still call Melbourne home and aren’t done there yet.
<img src="/images/stories/phoenix.jpg">
Not just happy to build the tallest skyscraper in Melbourne, now the pair want to design the slimmest. <city><place>Phoenix</place></city> 82 (pictured above)looks set to make quite an impact on <street><address>Flinders Street</address></street>, with a unique trail of blue light “snaking” down its side. The site is only 6.7 metres wide and 24.3 metres deep. The 28-storey building will rise 88.5 metres, with one apartment on each floor.
Maxx Apartments in St Kilda has just begun construction and will be a mixed-use development incorporating two commercial storeys and 11 residential. Apartment prices range from $387,000 to $640,000.
<img src="/images/stories/bendigoart.jpg">
Fender has also been invited back to the Bendigo Art Gallery (pictured above) to assist with a $7.55 million expansion it hopes will give it more room to host big-name exhibitions.
Fender, who over the years has called the Melbourne Terrace Apartments, the <place><placetype>Republic</placetype><placetype>Tower</placetype></place> and <city><place>Eureka</place></city> home, says he had no trouble believing high-rise living would take off in <city><place>Melbourne</place></city>. As an expat from 1975 to 1995 he lived in high-rise apartments in London, Hong Kong and Rome and his many years as a happy apartment dweller would help shape his strong belief that high-density living is not only the answer to burgeoning population growth, but that it can provide the same sense of community, even more, than the long sprawl of the outer suburbs, which he calls “anonymous” and a place where “every man is an island”.
Fender Katsalidis’ most ambitious, or at least tallest, building is still to come. Katsalidis is tight-lipped on details, but confirms the firm has been commissioned to design a 100-storey, 500-metre skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur in mid-2012. It will be the firm’s tallest yet and just scrape through to be the second tallest building in the world. Further proof perhaps that Fender Katsalidis’ rising ambition is far from satisfied.
</body></html>

Onwards and upwards in Kuala Lumpur for Fender Katsalidis after Eureka moment

<html><body>
Melbourne’s median has dropped to $551,000, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria’s September quarter market update, given concerns about the international economy and negative consumer sentiment. The results equated to more than two-thirds of Melbourne's homes having either lost value or stayed flat in price over the past three months, with just 78 of the 272 reported suburbs growing in value over that time.
<img src="/images/stories/reivoct17large.gif">
Prices have come back $50,000, or 8.3%, from their peak last December.
“We are now experiencing a soft housing market,” REIV chief executive Enzo Raimondo says.
The 2.8% reduction was on the revised June quarter median house price of $567,500.
The result was similar in the unit market, where the median dropped by 2.3% from $467,000 to $465,500 on revised numbers.
The REIV had surprised the market when it initially gave Melbourne’s median house price as $590,000 in the June quarter, which represented a 5.4% jump. The REIV initially has Melbourne’s median unit price as $474,000, which represented a 3.2% rise.
“The recent trend of reduced demand in the more expensive segments of the market has continued,” Raimondo notes.
And the effects of the surge in population between 2005 and 2010 were still bolstering demand in the more affordable suburbs.
“Across Melbourne this means that the outer suburbs have recorded an overall better result than the inner ones have.”
With a 10% annual jump to $385,000, Deer Park topped the list of suburbs recording positive growth over the year.
Positive growth over the year has also been recorded in Wyndham Vale, Sunbury, Caroline Springs, Berwick, Hawthorn and Balwyn, which topped the list of suburbs with its September quarter growth.
Demand in regional Victoria has largely mirrored that in Melbourne, with the median price of a house dropping by 3.1% to $310,000 from $320,000 in the June quarter.
Of the main regional centres, Geelong recorded a 5.7% jump to a median house price of $390,000.
In Ballarat prices were stable, with the median of $285,000, and in Bendigo there was a 2.6% reduction to $277,500.
“The lesson from the GFC, when the median fell by 14%, is that the market will remain subdued until confidence improves in the economy or there is stimulus in the form of lower interest rates,” Raimondo suggests.
Top 10 Growth Suburbs, Houses (Annual)
Note: Only suburbs where a minimum of 30 sales recorded in each quarter are included.
<table style="width: 470px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="108"></td>
<td width="133">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="77">
Sept-11 Median
</td>
<td width="77">
Sept-10 Median
</td>
<td width="80">
Annual Change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
1
</td>
<td>
Deer Park
</td>
<td>
$385,000
</td>
<td>
$350,000
</td>
<td>
10.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
2
</td>
<td>
Wyndham Vale
</td>
<td>
$350,000
</td>
<td>
$318,950
</td>
<td>
9.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
3
</td>
<td>
Mount Eliza
</td>
<td>
$770,000
</td>
<td>
$705,000
</td>
<td>
9.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
4
</td>
<td>
Hawthorn
</td>
<td>
$1,300,000
</td>
<td>
$1,205,000
</td>
<td>
7.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
5
</td>
<td>
Frankston South
</td>
<td>
$552,500
</td>
<td>
$515,000
</td>
<td>
7.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
6
</td>
<td>
Balwyn
</td>
<td>
$1,590,000
</td>
<td>
$1,490,000
</td>
<td>
6.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
7
</td>
<td>
Sunbury
</td>
<td>
$373,000
</td>
<td>
$350,000
</td>
<td>
6.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
8
</td>
<td>
Berwick
</td>
<td>
$490,000
</td>
<td>
$460,000
</td>
<td>
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
9
</td>
<td>
Newport
</td>
<td>
$706,750
</td>
<td>
$665,000
</td>
<td>
6.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
10
</td>
<td>
Caroline Springs
</td>
<td>
$443,500
</td>
<td>
$420,000
</td>
<td>
5.6%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Top 10 Growth Suburbs, Houses (Quarterly)
Note: Only suburbs where a minimum of 30 sales recorded in each quarter are included.
<table style="width: 470px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="108"></td>
<td width="133">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="77">
Sept-11 Median
</td>
<td width="77">
Jun-11 Median
</td>
<td width="80">
Quarterly Change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
1
</td>
<td>
Balwyn
</td>
<td>
$1,590,000
</td>
<td>
$1,280,000
</td>
<td>
24.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
2
</td>
<td>
Deer Park
</td>
<td>
$385,000
</td>
<td>
$346,500
</td>
<td>
11.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
3
</td>
<td>
Brighton East
</td>
<td>
$1,156,250
</td>
<td>
$1,050,000
</td>
<td>
10.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
4
</td>
<td>
Newport
</td>
<td>
$706,750
</td>
<td>
$655,000
</td>
<td>
7.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
5
</td>
<td>
Glen Waverley
</td>
<td>
$768,800
</td>
<td>
$722,000
</td>
<td>
6.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
6
</td>
<td>
Wyndham Vale
</td>
<td>
$350,000
</td>
<td>
$330,000
</td>
<td>
6.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
7
</td>
<td>
Boronia
</td>
<td>
$455,000
</td>
<td>
$432,750
</td>
<td>
5.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
8
</td>
<td>
Narre Warren South
</td>
<td>
$410,000
</td>
<td>
$395,000
</td>
<td>
3.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
9
</td>
<td>
Rowville
</td>
<td>
$550,000
</td>
<td>
$530,000
</td>
<td>
3.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
10
</td>
<td>
Carrum Downs
</td>
<td>
$355,000
</td>
<td>
$342,500
</td>
<td>
3.6%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</body></html>

Melbourne median house prices fall in see-sawing market

<html><body>
Melbourne’s rental vacancy stands at 2.3% of rental homes managed by real estate agents, representing a small contraction since the 2.5% of July.
The vacancy rate has averaged 2% over the past six months, according to the survey of Real Estate Institute member agencies.
The last time the overall Melbourne market was in balance – a vacancy rate of 3% or higher – was back in January 2005.
Within Melbourne the greatest vacancies are in the outer suburbs, although the rate contracted from 3.2% in July to 2.9% in August.
The middle suburbs' vacancy rate was 2.4%, tighter than the 2.6% in July.
Melbourne’s inner suburbs’ vacancy rate contracted from 2.2% to 1.7%.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria chief executive Enzo Raimondo notes the vacancy rate remains lower in regional Victoria than in the capital, with 1.9% of rental homes vacant in regional Victoria, an increase from the tight 1.6% in July.
It was the highest for more than a year in the regions.
The Geelong region has the highest availability of the main regional centres, with 3.7% compared with 2.1% in July.
In Ballarat the rate tightened from 0.8% to 0.6%.
In Bendigo the rate eased slightly from 0.3% to 0.4%.
Warrnambool’s vacancy rate went from 3.3% to 4.6%, REIV figures show.
</body></html>

Melbourne's vacancy rate tightens to 2.3%

<html><body>
Anyone who has ever had to pay off a mortgage will tell you they would love to pay it off before the term, but most people will continue to chip away at their loan on autopilot. A proactive strategy can cut your loan term from 30 years to less than half in some cases.
<ol start="1">
<li>Pay your mortgage as you receive your income, e.g. fortnightly. Doing this cuts down on interest payable and will save you a lot of money over the course of your home loan. If you are super focused, pay your mortgage weekly, which will reduce interest further again.</li>
<li>Set up an automated recurring payment for your mortgage payments. This is usually free of charge and means that you are always on time and can’t overspend on other things, leaving you short to meet your payment obligations.</li>
<li>Park the large lump sum into your mortgage account e.g. if you get $2,000 back from your tax return, receive dividends from other investments or get bonus payments from your job, make a large payment towards your mortgage. These large lump sums can cut years worth of interest off the loan.</li>
<li>List your regular expenses and you will find 1 or 2 items that you can do without. This will make a big difference to either your cash flow, freeing up disposable income to park in your mortgage account.</li>
<li>Make a habit of going only to the ATMs of your bank. The charges (usually $1 to $2.50 per transaction or account enquiry) can easily add up to a nice little amount that can remain in your pocket rather than a banks or ATM provider or go towards your loan. (see #6)</li>
<li>Increase your repayments while rates are stable. You can cut up to two years off the lifespan of your loan by paying an extra $20 to $50 on each payment. This may just mean cutting out an extra cup of coffee here or there or once a week taking lunch to work rather than buying it occasionally.</li>
<li>Have your wages paid directly into your home-loan account - you will need a loan with re-draw or line-of-credit type facility so you can have unlimited access the funds for living expenses etc. This will greatly reduce the interest that you pay as the interest is debited at the end of the month and usually calculated daily.</li>
<li>Offset your loans with a savings account. This is called mortgage offsetting, where as the amount in your savings account (earning interest) is calculated/subtracted against the actual interest charge against the loan amount, then the interest is calculated only on the balance. For example, if your loan is $400 000 and you have $100 000 in savings, this equate to $300 000 on which you actually pay interest. This of course greatly reduces the amount of interest you effectively pay and will save you years on your home loan.</li>
<li>Perform a mortgage health check. Sometimes you just have to admit your loan might not be the best for you anymore. Your loan may have been superseded as a product. Interest rates may have changed drastically, leaving you better off with a variable rate than a fixed one. In that case, look at re-financing whether it is with your existing lender or a different one. Go to a home loan lender or broker to make sure you do get the best deal. Don’t just go to one provider as usually they will only offer you their products. To get a full scope of available options talk to a specialist who has access to various funds and lenders. They are in a competitive market and will try to gain your custom – let them earn it.</li>
<li>When re-financing, consider pooling or consolidating any other loans eg. (car or personal) and credit cards (with a much higher interest rate) into the one loan as the savings often will outweigh the slightly higher loan amount. 
</li>
</ol>
To give your home loan the free ‘home loan heath check-up’ log onto <a href="https://www.amohomeloans.com.au">www.amohomeloans.com.au</a> 
Robert Projeski is the MD of multiple award-winning independent lender <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amo.com.au">Australian Mortgage Options</a>. 
</body></html>

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