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

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

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

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

Staff Writer

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

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

alisonwarters@gmail.com

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

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

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The six-level Austar building in the Robina CBD on the Gold Coast has been listed for sale by owner BlackRock, following an unsuccessful attempt to sell the building in June 2008. 
The 6,760-square-metre site is located 35 Robina Town Centre Drive, with CBRE’s Gold Coast managing director Mark Witheriff appointed as the exclusive selling agent. 
Austar’s lease over the building extends to October 2016, with two options of five-year terms thereafter. 
It offers a net lettable area of 9, 814 square metres and incorporates 157 undercover car parks and 111 podium-level car parks. It is adjacent to the recently refurbished Robina Town Centre in the heart of the Robina CBD. 
It is the fourth-largest office building on the Gold Coast. 
In 2008, the Waterside West tower at Holden Place Bundall, west of Surfers Paradise, which has a net letable area of 7,170 square metres, sold for $33.5 million to a local investor. 
The Austar building is held through a property trust managed by BlackRock Investment Management (Australia), formerly Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) – a subsidiary of US fund management group BlackRock.
MLIM acquired the site from QIC Robina in 2000 for $1.27 million ahead of the building's construction in 2001. 
It will be sold by expression of interest on September 1 at noon. 
News of the sale comes as Foxtel’s proposed acquisition of Austar awaits ACCC approval. A decision on the takeover will be made on September 8. 
Witheriff says the strength of the building’s tenancy profile and the property’s central Robina location will be significant draw cards for prospective purchasers. 
“The Austar building represents one of a handful of institutional grade investment properties available on the Gold Coast,” he says. 
While the Gold Coast office sector as a whole has suffered through the GFC, Witheriff says the Robina CBD currently boasts the lowest vacancy rate on the Gold Coast of approximately 10%.” 
Tenants of redeveloped Robina Town Centre include Coles, Woolworths, Myer and David Jones, Apple and JB Hi-Fi. 
The Queensland government’s Department of Public Works (QBuild) is among state and federal government departments that have committed to new office leases over the past three years in Robina. 
Engineering company GHD and Gold Coast-based accountancy group WMS have also signed lease agreements recently.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Austar's Gold Coast headquarters back on the market

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International retailers are poised to snap up the vacancies left by the collapse of Borders, Angus &amp; Robertson and the Colorado Group, according to its retail report for the second quarter of 2011.
Jones Lang LaSalle director of national retail research Leigh Warner says overseas retailers who have been scoping out Australia would have been buoyed by the recent success of European fashion giant Zara opening stores in Sydney, Melbourne with Brisbane and Adelaide next in line.
Previously, Warner says overseas retailers’ ambitions in Australia had been “somewhat constrained by a lack of quality space options in CBD and regional centre locations”.
According to SmartCompany.com.au, Apple is set to spend more than $10 million on its first retail site in Brisbane’s CBD and British clothing operator Topshop is tipped to take over some vacated Borders sites for its Australian entry later this year including those on Chapel Street and Chadstone shopping centre in Melbourne as well as setting up in the Chatswood shopping centre in Sydney.
David Gordon, partner in charge of national retail advisory practice at WHK Group, says Topshop potentially filling the 2,800-square-metre Borders site on Chapel Street would help in the revival of the strip.
“And if Topshop got into the major shopping centres that should be seen as a positive because it would reintroduce foot traffic,” he told <a target="_blank" title="SmartCompany" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au">SmartCompany.com.au</a>.
Jones Lang LaSalle data for the first half of 2011 reveals that average specialty store vacancy rates rose across all retail sub-categories over the first half of 2011 in line with the generally soft retail environment, buts still remain low.
The biggest increase in vacancies occurred in regional shopping centres, where average vacancy rose from 0.6% at the end of 2010 to be 1.4% at the end of June 2011.
<div>
According to Warner this figure is slightly misleading because this un-weighted average was heavily influenced by the smaller markets of Canberra and Adelaide. 
</div>
“Regional shopping centre vacancy remains below 1% in Sydney, Melbourne, South East Queensland and Perth, which is still low any way you look at it,” he says. 
A total of 762,700 square metres of retail space is under construction nationally, compares with 466,000 square metres at the end of 2009, when the impact of the GFC was at its greatest, suggesting improved conditions for developers. 
However, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s Australian head of retail management, Tony Doherty, the majority of the pick construction is being driven by specific retailers with conditions for speculative development remaining “very challenging”. 
This is particularly the case in the hardware bulky goods space, where Woolworths is taking on Bunnings with its new Masters stores.
A glance at the list of major retail centres under construction in Melbourne reveals that 11 of the 21 centres due to be completed up until March 2014 are for specific retailers with six masters stores, two IKEAs and one Bunnings store.
In Sydney four out of the 13 centres under construction are being built by Bunnings, with Costco soon to open a 16,000 square metre store in Auburn and IKEA a 39,000-square-metre store in Tempe.
Other sectors looking strong are core regional and CBD shopping centres with major centre owners looking to “capitalise on an inevitable recovery in retail turnover over the next few years”.
In May, Westfield reported it was undertaking pre-development activity on eight of their centres across Australia beyond their current three projects
The four largest retail transactions this year to 30 June have been: 
<ul>
<li>The $455 million sale of a 50% interest in Northland Shopping Centre, a 92,380-square-metre super regional centre 11 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD. The asset was purchased by CPPIB from the Gandel Group, reflecting an initial yield of 6.25%;</li>
<li>Charter Hall Retail REIT and Telstra Super acquired six neighbourhood and two sub-regional New South Wales and Victorian based shopping centres in a one-line transaction from Woolworths Limited for $266 million, reflecting an initial yield of 7.94%;</li>
<li>Bunnings Group Limited (BGL) transferred to Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust (BWP) 10 operational Bunnings Warehouses and three properties on which BGL will develop Bunnings Warehouses in Victoria and New South Wales, for a total price of $241.71 million on an initial yield of 7.71%; and</li>
<li>LaSalle Investment Management acquired the Novotel on Collins hotel and Australia on Collins shopping centre for a total of $ 204 million from Thakral Holdings on a yield of 8.20%</li>
</ul>
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International retailers look to fill vacancies left by big chain collapses

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Perth has experienced its fifth consecutive quarter of falls in its median house price.
Prices fell by about 2% in the June quarter, notching up 15 months of successive decline.
The average number of selling days has increased to 82, more than double the 36 days in 2006 in the midst of the 2004 to 2007 boom.
"Buyers must be patient and realistic about price,” Real Estate Institute of Western Australia president Alan Bourke says.
The price retraction was longer than during the 2008 downturn, when prices pulled back for one year only.
“The big difference is that in 2008 the median fell by 12%, whereas the last 12 months of decline has been half that rate at 6%,” Bourke says.
“So, although the fall in median price has been over a longer period the actual fall in price has been more gradual since the median peaked at $505,000 in March 2010.”
Bourke says he expects the median to settle around $475,000, which places Perth’s median at December 2007 levels, before the big market correction and following GFC.
“Our preliminary data and that of Landgate, which together represents around 80% of the market, suggest there has been an increased proportion of sales in the $350,000 to $500,000 range, whereas sales in other price segments have decline,” Bourke says.
"It’s notable, though, that sales over $1 million remain quite stable and that premium property is holding up.”
REIWA data show that property listings in Perth have been running at around 17,000 for much of the June quarter after peaking at 18,200 during April.
In the rental market the overall median rent is steady at $380 per week, although the vacancy rate has lifted by 9% from 3.2% in March to 3.5% in the June quarter.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Perth median house price in gradual fall for 15 months

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Melbourne investor David Marriner has revealed development plans for the iconic Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, which he bought in April this year for $35 million.
Stage one of the development will include the refurbishment of the resort’s central areas and rooms, construction of a 1,450-square-metre Great Barrier Reef arts and exposition forum and an adjacent outdoor covered amphitheatre seating 500.
The amphitheatre will replace the 850-seat Glade Pavilion, which Marriner referred to as an “out-dated tent” that was never meant to be a permanent structure.
During stage two the Mirage Country Club will be redeveloped into a prestigious harbour-style Westin resort with luxury yacht moorings, a boutique retail centre and redesigned golf course, Cairns.com.au reported.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/portdouglas1.jpg">
The redevelopment is expected to take two years to complete, with a planning application to be submitted shortly.
The new plans have been developed by DBI architect Stuart Shakespeare, the original designer of the resort.
The Sheraton Mirage was one of two Mirage resorts in Port Douglas developed by the late, disgraced Australian businessman Christopher Skase in the late 1980s. The hotel effectively put the tropical north Queensland town on the map.
At the helm of Qintex Corporation, Skase spent $100 million building the hotel, which launched in 1987.
On the eve of the 1990 economic recession, his two Mirage resorts in Port Douglas, Queensland were among the largest in the country.
In 1989 Skase was forced to sell 49% of the Mirage resorts, with Japanese investors Mitsui and Nippon Shinpan paying $151 million for the Port Douglas resort.
Facing ASIC charges of improperly using his position to obtain management fees as well as personal debts of $170 million and corporate debts of $1.7 billion, Skase fled to the Spanish island of Majorca in 1991, where he died in August 2001.
Former guests of the Sheraton Mirage include former US president Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and John Travolta, opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, model Claudia Schiffer, and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger.
"What we're really doing is capitalising on a lot of the infrastructure that's here, we're modernising it, refurbishing it, and adding it to a new journey,” Marriner says.
The focus of the redevelopment will be what Marriner describes as the “artistic, cultural, arts fabric” that is prevalent in Port Douglas. "It's our view that there's a level of sophistication within the fabric of this community that lends itself to be capitalised in a little more sophisticated way than perhaps you would tackle other markets,” he says. The Mirage has 294 rooms, six bars, an 18-hole golf course and beach frontage via a tropical forest. The property also includes 41 hectares of vacant land with residential redevelopment potential.
Presenting his vision for the Sheraton Mirage, Marriner described it as a resort that had grown tired over the years due to a lack of reinvestment.
The development requires $18 million from each of the Queensland and federal governments over five years for infrastructure development.
The presentation was attended by opposition spokesman Joe Hockey, who said if the numbers and ambition stacked up he would try to get the government to commit some funding to the project.
Also in attendance was Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, who had lobbied Federal Regional Development Minister Simon Crean and Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson for support.
Marriner says public money will go towards the infrastructure development, not the hotel refurbishment.
As security for the governments’ investment, he is offering a $10 million performance bond and the reassurance public money will be the last into the project.
Marriner says private investment of $120 million is needed just to “keep the lights on” and redevelop the asset. Investors are said to include mining magnate Clive Palmer and property entrepreneur Lloyd Williams.
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Five-star facelift planned for Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas

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Fashion giant Zara has ended months of speculation with confirmation it will launch into Adelaide this year, taking up occupancy in the Burnside Village complex.
It is among a number of fashion retail openings scheduled for the shopping centre, which has undergone a $100 million redevelopment by the Cohen Group.
The majority of stores are scheduled to open in October, followed by Zara in November.
Sass &amp; Bide, Oroton, Saba, Karen Millen, Sportscraft Signature and Charlie Brown will be among the high-profile fashion occupants at Burnside, which is a middle class eastern suburb about four kilometres from the Adelaide CBD.
The Zara site will be among the largest in Australia, spanning 2300 square metres. The leasing deal was negotiated by Colliers International agent Ben Laycock.
The two-level store will be based on the design of Zara's recently opened Fifth Avenue, New York store.
Zara successfully launched into the Australian market earlier this year, with concept sites in Westfield Sydney and on Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Laycock says Zara had not ruled out taking space at the Rundle Mall in Adelaide at a later date.
Zara has 1,700 stores worldwide with sales of about $10 billion last year.
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Zara to launch in Adelaide in November

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St Kilda Road on the fringes of the Melbourne CBD is the most sought-after office strip in Australia, according to the latest leasing figures revealed by Savills.
In the second quarter of 2011, office leases on St Kilda Road topped 24,000 square metres, with eight major deals signed over the three months.
St Kilda Road filled more office space than all other major metropolitan markets, with Sydney CBD coming in a distant second, with 10 transactions totalling 16,746 square metres.
Even excluding Spotless taking up an entire office building of 9,500 square metres at 549 St Kilda Road on July 5 in a deal negotiated by Colliers International’s office leasing director Ben Christie – by far the biggest deal on the street over the quarter – the strip would still have comfortably beaten the 10,500 square metres of office space let in the nearby Melbourne CBD.
<a href="/images/stories/savillsjuly22large.jpg" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/savillsjuly22.jpg"></a>
Other major leases signed on St Kilda Road include energy consultants ServiceWorks taking up 5,500 square metres at 457 St Kilda Road at $235 per square metre, property developer Australand taking up 1,985 square metres at 484 St Kilda Road at $270 per square metre, Newcrest Mining occupying 1,800 square metres at 616 St Kilda Road for $250 per square metre and diet food group Jenny Craig leasing 1,700 square metres at 464 St Kilda Road at $255 per square metre.
The rise of St Kilda Road as a major office destination follows predictions by Colliers International that office tenants would start decentralising from CBDs.
Fringe markets stood up well against their CBD rivals in all the major capital cities.
The Sydney CBD office market had strong competition from both North Sydney (three deals totalling 12,990 square metres) and Parramatta and the suburbs (six deals totalling 11,028 square metres)
Brisbane’s fringe CBD markets attracted eight new tenants, who took a combined 5,053 square metres of office space, compared with eight deals in the Brisbane CBD totalling a slightly higher 6,177 square metres.
West Perth secured four major lease agreements totalling 3,068 square metres, compared with just two in the Perth CBD totalling 4,710 square metres in the second quarter of 2011.
The biggest leasing deal secured for the quarter was signed in May when the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research committed to 10,000 square metres of laboratory and office space at the Precinct Corporate Centre developed by Goodman at 105 Dehli Road, North Ryde. The deal was struck at $350 gross per square metre.
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Office tenants flock to St Kilda Road: Savills

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As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
 
You can no longer smell the yeast, but something sure is brewing at the old CUB site in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Carlton.
Since developer Grocon moved in with its heavy machinery and grand ideas, the birthplace of Carlton Draught has become a mecca for sustainable design.
<img src="/images/stories/delta.jpg">
By 2014 Delta (pictured above), the world’s tallest totally timber and totally sustainable building, will take pride of place next the puzzle-like Pixel building (pictured below), which last month picked up the sustainability prize at last month’s Australian Institute of Architects Awards Victoria.
<img src="/images/stories/pixel.jpg">
Pixel includes a system that uses methane emitted from black (toilet) waste to heat water, has an insulating roof garden with wind turbines, enjoys 100% daylight penetration, and claims to not only be carbon-neutral but able to eventually generate enough power to sell back to the grid.
When US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Australia last November she referred to Pixel as a building “Australians – and frankly Americans and others –will be studying as an example,” and even plans to use it as model for new US embassies around the world.
But arguably the biggest vote of confidence came from the Green Building Council of Australia, which awarded the building a perfect score of 105 under its green star rating tool, making it the most sustainable building in the country, and among the most eco-friendly in the world.
This places Pixel well above what the council requires for a six-star rating – its highest prize, which in industry circles translates to “world leadership in construction and design”.
<img src="/images/stories/conventioncentre.jpg">
Australia currently has 43 six-star projects, including the world’s greenest convention centre, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (pictured above), and Darling Quarter (pictured below) on Sydney Harbour’s revamped foreshore, which is due to open in September.
<img src="/images/stories/darlingquarter.jpg">
Darling Quarter, which will house 6000 Commonwealth Bank employees, owes its six-star rating to a design that will save 2,500 tonnes of carbon and reduce water consumption by 92%.
 
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The green star certainly is rising - and according to GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew, “11% of Australia’s CBD office space currently has some form of green star certification”.
“That’s because tenants and owners know that green buildings outperform non-green buildings in terms of comfort and productivity,” Madew says.
“What’s more, the property and construction industry can expect higher rents because tenants will pay more to secure lower long-term operating costs.
“Because they are built for high energy and water efficiency they are much cheaper to operate – they consume 26% less energy and generate 33% less greenhouse gas emissions.”
Madew supports a price on carbon, but doesn’t believe it will affect the fast-increasing take-up of Green Building Council of Australia accreditation.
“Green star has already transformed the Australian market to such an extent that it is now a standard consideration in the commercial office sector,” Madew says.
Although it is a voluntary scheme, some developers like Grocon have set their own minimum green-star standards.
“Two years ago our CEO, Daniel Grollo, stated that we would never again build a building that has less than five green stars,” says David Waldren, Grocon’s CUB site general manager.
“We have followed through with that vision, for example with the AXA building and Media House in the Docklands, and we are working very hard to establish six stars as our minimum standard,” he says.
<img src="/images/stories/legion.jpg">
That’s the plan at least for two new Grocon projects: Delta, which will use the same design team as Pixel, and Legion House (pictured above) in Sydney’s CBD, which will use Pixel’s engineers.
“Both projects share Pixel thinking in terms of very high energy-efficiency systems, a focus on water conservation and a holistic approach to the design process,” Waldren says.
“Legion House will be delivered as a high-quality office environment that does not draw any energy from the grid.”
Grocon has not been shy with its push for a low-carbon – and indeed carbon-neutral – design and construction industry.
This month CEO Daniel Grollo threw his support behind the Gillard government’s carbon tax by signing Grocon up to the Businesses for a Clean Economy group, which at the time of writing included 217 companies.
Grollo said in statement: “Personally I’m in favour of a cost on carbon. As I look forward in Australia, I see us at the threshold of some fantastic times, and I get disillusioned when I see some critical decisions that need to be made for our future getting bogged down in politics.”
Madew agrees that the carbon tax will be an important driver of innovation in the industry.
“A price on pollution is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways for Australia to meet its international carbon reduction targets, while at the same time boosting investment in green technologies, potentially leading to a global competitive advantage.”
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cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

It's becoming easier to be green, as more embrace sustainable commercial design

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61/67 Carabella Street, Kirribilli, NSW, 2061
<img src="/images/stories/formjuly20nsw.jpg">
<div>
 <div></div>
<div>Within walking distance of Sydney's foreshore and offering harbour views, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment sold at auction on Saturday, July 23 for $930,000. <a target="_blank" title="Sydney Boutique Property" href="https://www.sydneyboutique.com.au/pol/property/search.asp?f_PropertyID=1701015&amp;f_AgentID=4331&amp;xsl=4331&amp;f_st=1">Sydney Boutique Property </a>agents Tom Scarpignato and Chris Delaney marketed the property with $860,000 plus hopes, and the current tenant pays $945 a week and wants to stay. This represents a yield of 5.28%, considerably higher than the indicative gross rental yield for units in Kirribilli of 4.9%, according to RP Data. The light-filled property includes one car space and a sunny balcony.  </div>
For more on rental yields, average prices and other information about this suburb, visit the <a target="_blank" title="Kirribilli" href="/news">suburb page of Kirribilli.</a> 
For other investment possibilities that went to auction at the weekend, see pages 2 and 3.
 
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4 Lancewood Walk, South Morang, VIC, 3752
<img src="/images/stories/lancewood.jpg">
This three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse in the northern Melbourne suburb of South Morang is situated opposite parklands. It went to auction by <a target="_blank" title="Ray White Bundoora" href="https://www.raywhitebundoora.com.au/buying/search/detail.aspx?id=RWB1579&amp;wlid=0a6427b8-ae5c-4152-996f-d0f5768c9b5f">Ray White Bundoora</a> agent Joe Torzillo on Saturday, July 23 at 10.30am and was passed in. It is still on the market, with hopes of $310,000 plus. According to RP Data, median asking rent for houses in South Morang is $360 and indicative gross rental yield is 4.5%.  
For more on rental yields, average prices and other information about this suburb, visit the <a target="_blank" title="South Morang" href="/news">suburb page of South Morang</a>.
 
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32 Boustead Circuit, Kambah, ACT, 2902
<img src="/images/stories/bousted.jpg">
On an 851-square-metre block in the family-friendly suburb of Kambah, this three-bedroom, one-bathroom house will likely appeal to tenants, as it is within walking disatance of shops and transport and is close to prestigious schools. It was sold by <a target="_blank" title="McGrath Gungahlin" href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/131463/?searchID=7735615">McGrath Gungahlin</a> agents Greg Ward and Nathan Harford at auction on Saturday, July 23 for $402,500, above the pre-sale price hopes of $395,000 plus. Median asking rent for houses in Kambah is $460 per week and indicative gross yield is 5% in the area, according to RP Data.  
For more on rental yields, average prices and other information about this suburb, visit the <a target="_blank" title="Kambah" href="/news">suburb page of Kambah</a>.
</div>
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Yields of 5.28% in Kirribilli

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As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
 
With growing evidence that higher green star and National Australian Built Environment Rating System ratings will be reflected in increased asset values – if they aren’t already - the question of where that leaves the market for less sustainable buildings is a crucial one. Owners of buildings with lower ratings could actually use this as a selling point when taking their assets to market.
Recent evidence suggests buildings with higher sustainability ratings show better returns, as consumption costs are generally lower and capital values of green buildings held firmer during the economic downturn.


Inevitably, higher ratings will be reflected in increased asset values. But this doesn’t mean good-quality older building stock is irrelevant in the marketplace.


With the introduction of the CBD scheme, there is nowhere for buildings with lower NABERS ratings to hide when seeking to attract a tenant or a buyer. But instead of making these buildings less marketable, savvy agents are turning it around as a positive, be it through offering the prospect of cheaper rents for tenants or potential capital upside opportunities for buyers.
At the end of the day, tenants and owners alike still value location and amenity, and if a lower rating also provides a value-add opportunity through refurbishment or reduced occupancy costs, the asset itself will remain competitive.
It is feasible that owners of one-star NABERS-rated buildings may focus their marketing campaign on this point as a key selling feature.
The key to unlocking genuine financial gains through sustainability is to implement a process of continually upgrading assets to minimise costs, particularly relating to energy and water consumption, to drive net return increases.
This makes particular sense in the current climate for owners looking to future-proof their assets or for those seeking to maximise value from recent commercial purchases.
Those who are undertaking upgrades now should benefit in the medium term, as the current work shortage in the construction sector enables these improvements to be undertaken at lower cost. These owners will also benefit from being able to charge higher rents to tenants whose outgoings are smaller due to the greater efficiency of the building.
David Woolford is managing director of Australian operations of <a target="_blank" title="Cushman &amp; Wakefield" href="https://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/localHome.jsp?Country=2200192">Cushman &amp; Wakefield</a>
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davidwoolford-LDjkguJMkQ

All is not lost for buildings without green-star ratings

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NSW consumers are glass-half-full types when it comes to the housing market, with the ratio of optimists to pessimists higher there than in any other state or territory, according to Westpac’s July Red Book. 
In the July Westpac– Melbourne Institute Consumer House Price Expectations Index, Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan notes that NSW housing market optimists outnumber pessimists by 24%.
However, Hassan warns of the fragility of consumer views on housing: “The consensus [on housing] also seems to have low conviction with opinions very erratic month to month, especially at the state level.”
The most pessimistic states are Queensland and South Australia, with pessimists outnumbering optimists in the Sunshine State.
Nearly half (47%) of Victorian consumers expect house prices to rise. Western Australian consumers are the least worried about the market, with only 13% expecting house prices to fall.
Overall, 42% of Australian consumers expect house prices to rise over the next year, a third expect prices to be steady, and 26% expect declines. This is the weakest mix since May 2009, when a third of consumers expected rises and a third expected price falls.
 Hassan warns that weaker prices and reduced price expectations will reinforce the shift to consumer caution and increased saving.
Released at the same time as Westpac’s Red Book, the NAB July quarter business survey shows that business conditions improved for the construction sector in the second quarter of 2011 but worsened for those in property.
According to NAB, business conditions in mining remain the strongest across all sectors, with the gap between the best- and worst-performing sectors widening to a point last seen during the 2000 recession.
Conditions improved for the construction sector in the July quarter. According to NAB, the increasing gap between weak and strong industries is due to a weakening in the poor performers, rather than strong performers like mining doing better.
Overall, while business conditions improved slightly in the June quarter, they remain soft, with confidence down and further weakness expected in the near term.
In the June 2011 quarter profitability rose, employment eased a little and trading conditions were broadly unchanged. Forward orders remained weak and stocks were unchanged, consistent with softer domestic demand in the near term.
Conditions improved solidly in Queensland over the quarter, but it remains the weakest performing mainland state.
Confidence deteriorated across all mainland states, with the sharpest declines recorded in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Sentiment was weakest in SA and highest in WA.
Consistent with a fall in average hours worked, short- and long-term employment expectations softened, although overall expectations remained above current levels implying that the labour market may continue to tighten.
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