ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Joel Robinson

Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site

An 1880s timber cottage that has survived Kangaroo Point's transformation from riverside suburb to high-density apartment precinct is set to become the centrepiece of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/zephyr">Zephyr Group</a>'s proposed Banksia development.

Rather than see the locally heritage-listed Alpha Cottage as an obstacle to navigate, plans integrate the landmark home into a new 18-storey residential tower, giving one of the suburb's oldest surviving residences a new role as the project's communal hub.

The development application covers a 1,177 sqm amalgamated site at 127-133 Lambert Street and 30 Shafston Avenue, where Zephyr Group plans to deliver 64 apartments above three basement levels. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/joe-adsett-architects">Joe Adsett Architects</a>, the proposal carefully weaves the retained heritage cottage into a contemporary residential scheme, with the tower elevated above the historic building to preserve its presence within the Lambert Street streetscape.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9dc5bdb-d691-4c60-bf2b-c3ed405a3e75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Banksia.png?VersionId=Jh4bjlewU.o8HXWt0V4KaFA_lPcF7KWM" />

Named after the native Australian Banksia flower, the project draws inspiration from its distinctive form through curved balconies, sculpted planter boxes and cascading subtropical landscaping that soften the building's profile.

As the design report explains: "The tower's identity is defined by its feature facade, drawing direct inspiration from the Banksia wildflower. The building departs from traditional rigidity through the use of elegant, GRC-moulded planter boxes that appear as if shaped by the breeze."

Plans propose 64 apartments, comprising 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom residences, across an 18-storey tower. Residents would have access to rooftop amenities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, private cinema, dining spaces and landscaped recreation areas, while more than half the site is dedicated to planting and open space.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16041b5f-033e-47fa-8fbe-9886e072c1f2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pool.png?VersionId=kpx5w4EbLx0_TdWfDoD1vrSs0_cZ5Ao1" />

The heritage component is the defining feature of the proposal. Constructed in the early 1880s and occupied from at least 1883, Alpha Cottage is recognised by Brisbane City Council as an important surviving example of Kangaroo Point's nineteenth-century residential development and as a representative transverse-gable timber cottage. Despite extensive redevelopment across the peninsula, the building has retained a high degree of its original form and internal fabric.

As part of the redevelopment, the cottage will be carefully relocated a short distance within its original allotment to facilitate construction before being returned to a prominent position along Lambert Street. Original verandah elements will be dismantled, catalogued and reinstated, while significant internal features, including timber flooring, wall linings, joinery, doors, windows and hardware, will be retained. Later additions, including the enclosed rear verandah, will be removed to better reveal the building's original form.

Once restored, Alpha Cottage will accommodate the building manager's office, mail room and parcel facilities, providing an active everyday use that supports its long-term conservation rather than preserving it as a static display. The heritage strategy also maintains landscaped space around the building, allowing it to remain visually distinct beneath the new tower.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43b027e1-576e-4624-a66c-7cc54ea8b7be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/banksia%20tower.png?VersionId=2W6E2yfkj2AQlWlLeV986grA5zB9f817" />

The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that "the proposal secures the ongoing occupation, maintenance and conservation of Alpha Cottage," finding the development would result in "no more than a minor impact on the cultural heritage significance" of the building while ensuring its long-term future.

Joe Adsett Architects have designed the tower to sit above the heritage building rather than overwhelm it, creating a clear visual separation between old and new. The development's flowing balconies, integrated planting and organic façade respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate while complementing the restored cottage below.

Banksia occupies a prominent corner in Kangaroo Point within walking distance of the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Brisbane River, ferry services, QUT, the CBD and the Woolloongabba precinct. The site also benefits from direct access to active transport infrastructure and sits within an area earmarked for continued higher-density residential growth.

Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

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Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351027]

The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351031]

For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351024]

As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149637]

Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362566] 
&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362564] 
&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291195] 
&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

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

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

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

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

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

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

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

Staff Writer

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

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

alisonwarters@gmail.com

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

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

Ellen Walker

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

For the first time in a long time, Australia's inflation story is starting to look more like a landing than a fight.

The latest Consumer Price Index figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed annual inflation eased to four per cent in May, down from 4.2 per cent in April. On the surface, that might not seem like a major move. Inflation remains above the Reserve Bank's target range and some categories continue to record stubborn price growth.

But the significance of this result lies less in where inflation sits today and more in what it means for where interest rates are likely heading next.

The biggest takeaway is that inflation continues to move in the right direction.

Markets had been bracing for another sticky result after a period where progress appeared to stall. Instead, headline inflation came in softer than expected, helped by falling fuel prices and easing transport costs. Annual transport inflation halved from 6.6 per cent in April to 3.3 per cent in May, while automotive fuel prices fell 11.9 per cent during the month following lower oil prices and the impact of reduced fuel excise measures.

While petrol prices don't solve Australia's affordability challenges, they are one of the most visible and immediate costs for consumers. Falling fuel costs feed through the economy quickly, helping ease pressure on household budgets and business operating expenses.

The ABS data also showed headline inflation is now sitting at its lowest annual level in several months, reinforcing the broader trend that price growth is gradually moderating.

That trend is important because it aligns with what many economists and lenders have been saying for the last month.

Prior to this week's inflation data, ANZ, NAB and Commonwealth Bank had all shifted their forecasts, now believing the Reserve Bank had likely reached the peak of the interest rate cycle. Following the May inflation release, ANZ reaffirmed that view.

In its latest economic update, ANZ said it expects quarterly trimmed mean inflation to come in at 3.7 per cent for the June quarter, slightly below the Reserve Bank's forecast of 3.8 per cent. Importantly, the bank said that outcome, when combined with slowing economic activity, "supports our view that the cash rate has peaked".

The Reserve Bank has spent the better part of three years attempting to bring inflation under control through higher interest rates. If Australia's major banks are correct and rates have now peaked, the conversation shifts from how much higher rates could go to when they might begin coming down.

Westpac's caution comes from underlying inflation. The trimmed mean, the measure most closely watched by the Reserve Bank, increased from 3.4 per cent to 3.6 per cent annually. Housing inflation remains elevated at 6.5 per cent, reflecting ongoing increases in rents, electricity costs and new dwelling construction.

Electricity prices remain particularly problematic, rising 21.1 per cent over the past year following the removal of government rebates.

Housing construction costs are also showing signs of renewed pressure. ANZ noted new dwelling costs rose 0.9 per cent in May and are now running at an annualised pace of 8.6 per cent over the past three months. Builders continue to face higher labour, fuel and material costs, a reminder that inflationary pressures have not completely disappeared.

Housing affordability has deteriorated largely because of higher interest rates rather than higher property prices alone. Even modest reductions in mortgage rates would improve borrowing capacity, increase buyer confidence and reduce repayment pressure on existing homeowners.

While August is far from a certainty, the latest inflation result has strengthened the view that the next move in rates is more likely to be down than up. For borrowers, buyers and the development sector, that alone represents a significant shift from the conversation that dominated much of the past two years.

The inflation result the property market was waiting for

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The Gold coast showed continued weakness with a clearance rate of just 35 percent at auction last weekend, a drop of more than seven percent then their performance last week.
Of the 58 residential properties taken to auction only 20 were successfully sold indicating a clearance rate more than 20 percent worse than the combined capital city average, according CoreLogic. 
A clearance rate of 55.5 percent across the combined capital cities was recorded this week, increasing from last week’s final clearance rate of 51.8 percent while over the same week last year the final clearance rate was recorded at 66.2 percent.
There were 2,404 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities this week, an increase of over 20 percent from 1,983 over the previous week.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/24/Gold%20Coast%204.JPG" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/24/Gold%20Coast%204.JPG" alt="">
A property listed for auction on the Gold Coast last weekend was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-upper+coomera-129165570" target="_blank">44 Yarrayne Valley Drive</a>, Upper Coomera (pictured above).
The home which in 2015 underwent a rebuild worth $250,000 is set on a holding of 1.39 hectares.
It is a 5 bedroom three bathroom home which last sold for $360,000 in mid 2014.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/24/Gold%20Coast%202.JPG" alt="">
Another house listed for auction last weekend on the Gold Coast was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-coolangatta-129182514" target="_blank">97 Dutton Street</a>, Coolangatta (pictured above).
The three bedroom one bathroom home is now listed at $695,000.
Set on 465 sqm, the home has never been traded before.
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/24/Gold%20Coast%203.JPG" alt="">
A Gold Coast home listed for auction after being sold just over a year ago was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-palm+beach-129043190" target="_blank">1360 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach</a> (pictured above).
The home sold for $740,000 in June 2017, zoned medium density residential and Code Assessable (potentially permitting up to a 9 storey or 29 metres building height).
It is a two bedroom one bathroom house set on 412 sqm.
It remains for sale.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Gold Coast auction market weakest in the country: CoreLogic

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EXPERT OBSERVER
We’ve just entered what is traditionally the busiest time of the year for selling and it’s going to be a tough season. Property markets are cooling causing an increasingly tight and competitive market for those looking to sell. To achieve the best possible price in the current environment it is essential that sellers have greater control and visibility over the entire sales process – but how do you do this when you’re not actually in control?
Doing it yourself (DIY), is the best way to position yourself at the centre of a sale, and achieve the best outcome for you. You are actually the best person to sell your home as only you have your best interests at heart.
The benefits of selling, yourself
I’ve often heard that vendors believe they need a professional to facilitate the sale of their largest asset. My response to that is with that much at stake, shouldn’t you, the seller, maintain control? It’s a level of transparency that is very difficult to achieve with an agent, though can be achieved by taking the property to market yourself.
North America and Europe boast a significant portion of the market as DIY sales, with 23% of homes sold privately in Canada, 9% in the USA, and 44% in France. This sees vendors successfully transacting directly with the buyer market, realising the significant benefits of control, visibility and savings on commission. Whether selling yourself or engaging an agent, information is power.
Dedicated service
As the vendor, you are selling one property – your property. You have only one motivator; to sell your property at the best possible price. This means you can choose when you have open for inspections whether it’s during the week, after work, on weekends – it is completely up to you. You won’t need to limit potential buyers to a quick 30 minutes on a Saturday afternoon or the middle of the day when everyone is working.
Property knowledge
Agents will tell you no one knows local real estate like they do, and when it comes time to market the property, vendors are asked to leave their property so as not to “scare off” any potential purchasers. However, no one knows your property and your street like you do. You will always have a knowledge advantage over any agent, whether it be electricity costs, sunniest spot in the garden, or Joe across the road who keeps an eye on the place when you go on holidays – buyers love to hear these insider details from you.
Further, sellers are reliant on agents to tell them how many people attended, how many are interested and how many requested a copy of the sec. 32 etc. You never actually get the chance to engage with interested parties as they’re the property of the agents – agents who are not only responsible for the sale of your home, but the raft of other properties on their books.
Open for inspections continue and interest builds, still, the vendor has no contact with these ‘interested’ parties. The entire sales process is in the hands of the agent, a person who hasn’t slept a single night in the home and doesn’t know the unique benefits and quirks of both the property and the surrounding environment which make for outstanding sales attributes.
Money, money, money
The costs you will need to pay an agent upon the successful sale of your property can vary – often between 1.8 and 3 percent of the sale price. On a $600,000 home, that’s almost $20,000 you need to pay out of the sale of your home, out of your pocket. That’s a lot of money that could go to better use.
Immediate response to buyers
Provided you give them the privacy to look around, buyers appreciate the opportunity to ask questions of the owner directly, rather than filtering through an agent which draws out the process. You can manage open for inspections well by giving a quick outline of the house layout and advising buyers to come to you should they have any questions. Invariably the buyers have queries, whether it’s about recent renovations or a tree in the backyard so best to deal with these efficiently, and honestly.
Negotiation
Negotiation is often the major hurdle between choosing an agent or the DIY path due to the fear factor. However, it isn’t as complicated as it seems. By choosing to DIY you are able to be honest about your needs, and buyers can be honest about their own. In my experience, vendors who have elected to DIY report the process is less combative than it is using agents as the go-between. And when a rapport has been established between buyer and seller, it can make negotiation a pleasant and friendly experience.
If this isn’t for you, then there are services that can be offered where a professional can handle the negotiation component of the sale for you.
Overall, many first time DIY sellers advocate the experience as being a lot of fun. Being complimented on your home as well as achieving an agreement on price provides a huge sense of accomplishment and joy. Not to mention what can be done with the thousands of dollars saved in agent commissions.
Colin Keating is the CEO buyMyplace
 
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Why you are the best person to sell your home: buyMyplace Colin Keating 

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Alster House, the record price setting Paddington terrace, failed to sell at weekend auction, highlighting the emerging buyer hesitation at the top end of the property market.
It had a $15 million guide, but was passed in after just the one $14 million bid. The agents placed a vendor bid of $14.5 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-paddington-129149070" target="_blank">The grand 1880s-era residence</a>, behind ornate 10-metre frontage, is best known as being the first terrace to crack the $2 million mark when bought by Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull in the 1988 boom.
 The Point Piper couple sold it for a loss seven years later for $1.73 million.
Set on a vast 550 square metres, the home (above and below) won a 2001 Australian Institute of Architects award after a redesign by architect Andrew Nolan, with gardens by landscape designer Ken Lamb, including a 25-metre lap pool.
<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/2018/9/24/alster2.jpg" alt="">
It last sold in 2006 for $6.55 million when bought by lawyer Naomi O’Brien, wife of former Macquarie executive Paul O’Brien, who added the loft-style bedroom wing and parents’ en suite. 
Sydney's top sale was when the former Woolworths executive chairman Paul Simons ­secured $9.35 million for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-kurraba+point-129210610" target="_blank">his apartment in Baden House, Neutral Bay</a>.
Simons, who joined Woolworths in 1954 and retired in 1995, was seeking a higher $10 million through local agent And­rew Croll and Sotheby’s Harriet France.
The five-bedroom, 440sqm, two storey residence cost $2.5 million in 1994. (below)
<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/2018/9/24/simons.jpg" alt="">
The eight apartments on Kurraba Point share access to the communal tennis court, pool and jetty.
The underbidder at the auction lived below.
Adelaide, the cheapest mainland capital city, posted the strongest result for the week, with a 63.6 per cent clearance rate from 121 properties listed.
Adelaide's top sale was when $1.4 million was paid for 7 Oxford Terrace, Unley.
<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/2018/9/24/unley1.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-unley-129228810" target="_blank">The 1915 villa</a> got its open plan extension in 2009 and its pool approval in 2008. 
Adelaide's cheapest sale was $475,000 for a five bedroom house at Seacombe Gardens. There have been $495,000 price guidance for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-seacombe+gardens-129177450" target="_blank">365 Diagonal Road</a> which sold at $424,000 in 2008.
Adelaide saw an increase in both auction volumes and the auction clearance rate week-on-week.
There were 2,404 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, increasing from 1,983 over the previous week.
Although auction volumes have been increasing over the month, 378 fewer auctions were held compared to the same week last year, predominantly due to the decline in auction volumes across Sydney and Melbourne, the two largest auction markets.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/9/24/CL%20WMU%201.JPG" alt="">
Preliminary results show a clearance rate of 55.5 per cent across the combined capital cities this week, increasing from last week’s final clearance rate of 51.8 per cent although this will revise lower as the remaining results are collected, CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.
"The finalised clearance rates have held in the low-mid 50 per cent range for the last eight weeks and it’s likely that this week will return a similar result," he said.
 Over the same week last year the final clearance rate was recorded at 66.2 per cent.
In Melbourne, a preliminary auction clearance rate of 55.5 per cent was recorded across 1,158 auctions, while last week there were 988 auctions returning a final clearance rate of 54.1 per cent.
This time last year, 1,361 auctions were held across the city, returning a clearance rate of 70.6 per cent.
Melbourne's top sale was when <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/32-gore-street-fitzroy-vic/property-details-sold-residential-12083423/" target="_blank">32 Gore Street, Fitzroy</a> fetched $3.74 million (below).
<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/2018/9/24/fitz2.jpg" alt="">
The Nelson Alexander agency had $3.2 million to $3.5 million price guidance.
It last sold at $370,000 in 1994.
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There were 850 auctions held in Sydney this week returning a preliminary clearance rate of 57.3 per cent.
There were 669 auctions held over the previous week and the final auction clearance rate was just 48.6 per cent, the lowest result the city has seen since mid-July. 
One year ago, 1,033 Sydney auctions were held and the clearance rate came in at 65.9 per cent.
Canberra had a preliminary rate of 55.9 per cent rate from 118 homes listed.
Canberra and Perth also saw an increase in auction volumes over the week.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Alster House, Paddington attracts $14 million highest offer

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One Wellington, St Kilda, a new project by property developer, LAS Group Developments and capital partner, Qualitas was launched last week.
It comes with 181 apartments in two towers to be constructed at the triangle of Punt Road, Wellington Street and St Kilda Road.
The development will comprise the east tower with 10 levels and the west tower with 25 levels.
<img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b67f167ae4c8a65c807a7fb5a/images/4c4d59bc-4a8b-433b-9ee9-a5168af2bf39.png">
Set at St Kilda Junction, One Wellington will allows purchasers to personalise both the design and space of their apartments.
Stephen Javens, Director at design firm K.P.D.O., said they are providing three very strong schemes and buyers can then select from the extensive range of beautiful finishes.
Les Smith, Managing Director at LAS Group, said he and the team we want purchasers to become far more involved in the design of their apartments.
"We want people to come and tell us what they want, not ask what we have. If you're a family with three teenagers, we can give you a four-bedroom plan with two living areas. If you're a couple who likes to entertain, we can give you indulgent living spaces," he said.
<img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b67f167ae4c8a65c807a7fb5a/images/982c1910-8cf5-4ec8-a10c-221a1c0036bf.png">
Prices for the one-bedroom apartments range from $465,000 to $620,000; two-bed from $695,000 to $1.35 million; three-bed from $1. 9 million to $3.725 million; and the penthouses from $2.45 million to $5.8 million.
 Completion is suggested as mid 2021 through Capital Property Marketing agent Bryce Patterson.
Apartment interiors at One Wellington can be personalised through the flexibility of three different schemes – Minimal (top), Chromatic (above) and Dark (below).
<img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b67f167ae4c8a65c807a7fb5a/images/2c34438c-55d7-4d1e-ac16-f06e2a0c3fdc.png">
"Apartments can easily be amalgamated to produce personalised floor plans that work.
"When a customer wants to put two or more apartments together, it can be done without compromising the floor plan," Mr Smith said.
The project will house 200 apartments and include a pool, spa, sauna and gym with its design overseen by fitness guru and former Bachelor star Sam Wood.
There will also be a cinema, residents’ lounge, a roundthe-clock concierge and dry and coolstorage at ground level for grocery deliveries. 
One Wellington will be next to The Icon, at 6 St Kilda Road, St Kilda, also known as “the Lego tower”, given it resembles stacked cubes. 
Interested parties can <a href="https://onewellington.com/" target="_blank">register online</a>. 
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One Wellington, St Kilda commissions Sam Wood to design its gym

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Overall, it’s hard to see a scenario where Australian housing values could fall off a cliff.
For this to happen we would need to see a material about face in labour market conditions, a global shock or a material rise in interest rates– none of which seems to be a likely outcome at the moment.
Without a doubt, housing risks are heighted relative to a year ago. Dwelling values are slipping lower nationally (down 2% since peaking in September last year), mortgage rates are edging higher (up by around 15 basis points from three of the four major banks announcing a rate rise in September) and mortgage arrears have moved off their record lows (but still only around 0.6% of all mortgages are 90+ days in arrears). All this against a backdrop of record high levels of household debt (the ratio of disposable income to household debt reached 190% in March this year), increasing levels of housing supply and rising domestic and global uncertainty.
It should come as no surprise that some commentators are forecasting a substantial reduction in dwelling values. We saw similar forecasts during previous downturns from the likes of Steven Keen, Harry Dent and Jeremey Grantham as well as many others. The most recent dire prediction to get mainstream airplay was from Martin North predicting a 40-45% fall in dwelling values; albeit with only a 20% chance of this occurring. Since airing on 60Minutes, the segment titled ‘Bricks and Slaughter’ has seen the two primary experts featured, Martin North and Louie Christopher, clarifying their televised comments which were apparently presented in an unbalanced context: a presentation of the worst case scenario with no regard for the most likely outcome.
If we look at the current downturn in Australian housing, the trajectory of decline is actually quite unremarkable.
Australia’s largest housing market, Sydney, has seen values fall by 5.6% sincepeaking in July last year; a trajectory that is straight down the middle of previous downturns. During the GFC, Sydney dwelling values fell by 7.0% in the space of twelve months, and the downturn before that (2003-2006) saw values fall 7.1% over the same number of months.
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Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, has seen values falling since November last year. Since that time the market is down a cumulative 3.5% and the descent has generally been milder relative to previous downturns.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/21/CORELOGIC%201.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/21/CORELOGIC%201.jpg" target="_blank"> <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/2018/9/21/CORELOGIC%201.jpg" alt=""></a>
 
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Even in markets where values have been falling consistently for more than four years on the back of a material weakening in economic and demographicconditions, we haven’t seen values fall by anywhere near 40%. Perth dwellingvalues peaked in 2014 and have fallen by 12.6% and in Darwin where conditions have been even tougher, dwelling values are down 21.8%.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/21/CORELOGIC%202.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Recently released housing value forecasts from Moody’s Analytics certainly paints a less gloomy picture of housing markets over the coming years. While, growth is forecast to be subdued relative to previous years, the forecast is for a relatively mild downturn, with national house and unit values returning to mild positive annual growth by the middle of 2019.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/21/CORELOGIC%203.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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The Moody’s Analytics forecasts are based on an econometric model whichuses CoreLogic’s Hedonic Index data as a base to forecast from. Their upbeat assessment of dwelling values is based on rising business investment, particularly in the non-mining sector, a rise in infrastructure spending, above trend jobs growth, and ongoing low interest rates.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/21/CORELOGIC%204.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Of course the outlook for housing conditions is varied across the regions. Bythe end of 2019, Moody’s is expecting every capital city except Hobart (-2.4%) to record a positive annual change in house values, with year on year rises ranging from 4.5% in Canberra and Adelaide to a 0.9% rise in Perth dwelling values.
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Forecasting the movement in asset values is challenging at the best of times. With so much uncertainty at the moment it’s even harder. Several wildcards remain that could have a negative impact on the direction of housing values.
Households are more sensitive than ever to interest rate movements due to the record level of household debt. Roughly, 70% of household debt is housing related, which implies small changes to mortgage rates could have an amplified impact on household balance sheets. Further out of cycle movements in mortgage interest rates could have a negative impact on the market. On the flipside, if the RBA decides to cut the cash rate further (a possible scenario of economic conditions weakened and housing price falls accelerated), this would likely see a rise in housing activity and help to place a floor under housing prices.
There is also the potential for changes to property taxation policies that could have a further dampening effect on investment demand. Based on the value of new housing finance commitments, investors still comprise around 41% of mortgage demand, down from 55% in mid-2015. Investor concentrations remain well above their long term averages across New South Wales (49% of housing finance commitments) and Victoria (41% of housing finance commitments), implying Sydney and Melbourne would have more to lose if investor activity were to drop more substantially. Investors are already being disincentivised by falling prices, mortgage rate premiums and low rental yields; additional disincentives from tax reform could see demand reduce further, creating some slack in the overall demand composition for Australian housing.
In balance, even with mortgage rates edging higher, we are still in the lowestmortgage rate environment since the 1960’s. Population growth remainsstrong and maintaining a consistent migration policy seems to have support from both sides of politics which will continue to support demand for housing. Labour markets are reasonably healthy with unemployment holding at 5.3% and likely to trend lower, underemployment at the lowest rate since May 2014 and jobs growth above the long term trend.
Overall, it’s hard to see a scenario where Australian housing values could fall off a cliff. For this to happen we would need to see a material about face in labour market conditions, a global shock or a material rise in interest rates –none of which seems to be a likely outcome at the moment.
TIM LAWLESS heads up the CoreLogic RP Data research and analytics team and can be contacted<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/author/timlawless/" target="_blank"> here.</a>
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Is the property market really all that bad? CoreLogic's Tim Lawless

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The NSW Government’s unveiling of its 20-year vision for a thriving regional NSW spells good news for the property market, RiskWise Property Research CEO Doron Peleg said.
Peleg says anyone seeking long-term capital growth would be wise to investigate buying property in the region especially given an extra 185,000 new residents were expected, on top of the population growth already predicted, by 2038. 
The Government’s 20-year vision focuses on connectivity and water security to industry and community leaders in Bathurst in the State’s Central West and sets out a framework for investment that will guide the allocation of resources from the new $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.
The goal is to promote regional development and job creation, unlocking the potential in the region by providing the infrastructure, the services and the support it needs to thrive. 
According to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, at the centre will be “a new generation of nation-building projects enabled by the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund” creating an additional 260,000 new jobs between now and 2038.
The vision also brings together the NSW Government’s long-term planning strategies including the Future Transport Strategy 2056 and the NSW State Infrastructure Strategy, with plans to attract an extra 185,000 new residents. 
Studies and planning works will also be undertaken for an inland port and investment precinct in Parkes, known as The Parkes National Logistics Hub, which is expected to attract major employers, drive local economies and create jobs across the Central West.
Peleg said population growth, job creation, an improved economy and good infrastructure would draw more people to the area and therefore increase demand for property.
"Also regional NSW has become a more attractive property destination," he said.
"While the Sydney market has cooled - and in some areas prices have actually dropped - the city is still ranked 9th in the world when it comes to poor housing affordability of family suitable units.
"The gap between the household income people need to buy a Sydney inner-city unit of just 105sqm, suitable for families, to the income they really have is so huge a household with the median income would really struggle to afford one.
"It comes down to undersupply of suitable dwellings that force the price up and make them completely unaffordable. But that is not the case in regional NSW where house sizes and blocks are more than adequate for a growing family."
For example, in Bathurst the median house price is $422,949 and for a unit $301,644 compared to Greater Sydney which has a median house price of $1,100,355 and a median unit price of $768,142.
Bathurst also enjoys a house price-to-income ratio of 6.2 which is well below that of Greater Sydney (at 12.1) and the rest of Australia (8.4).
In Parkes, the median house price is $251,353 and the unit price $227,832, with a house price-to-income ratio of 4.4.
Peleg said there was also an increasing trend of ‘mobile professionals’ who were prepared to work from home to maximise lifestyle and avoid the daily city commute.
"The bottomline is regional NSW is a great alternative location to Sydney for those looking for affordable housing with the long-term goal of solid capital growth," he concluded.
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Solid capital growth possible for regional NSW property: RiskWise

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Spring fever in the ACT residential housing market is hitting, according to the lastest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report.
The housing market in the ACT is somewhat driven by seasons as the winters are historically harsh. When winter begins, cold temperatures cause buyers to lose inspection motivation and as a result, sellers feel less inclined to list their properties.
The transition from winter to spring always occurs quickly in the ACT, with temperatures going from cold to warm in a short period of time.
"Once spring begins and the weather becomes warmer, buyers are motivated to inspect properties and the cycle picks up. The warm weather and blossoming of plants increases the marketability of properties. Houses generally look more spectacular and inviting to buyers," noted by the valuer. 
The spring cycle is typically short and usually begins in late August and stretches to November/early December. Given the employment profile of the ACT, December and January are quiet in the property market given that many employees choose this as the best time to take time off work, which results in lower market activity.
Overall housing market activity throughout winter 2018 has been steady to strong, which is expected to continue into the spring and summer.
A recent sale was a Forde four bedroom house situated at the base of Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve.
The single level residence at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-forde-129061242" target="_blank"> 99 Blizzard Circuit</a> was sold at $745,000 on September 5 (picture above).
Built in 2012, the house comes with four bedrooms, multiple living areas, kitchen and established gardens.
It is close to Forde local schooling and shops. 
The valuation firm suggests that units in Canberra generally follow a different pattern to the housing market. Units usually don’t have as many marketable features that have an advantage in spring over winter.
The ACT still has an underlying problem with unit supply, so it is hard to judge the market activity increase from winter to spring.
Overall market activity over winter has been on a slight decline owing to the construction of multiple new residential complexes, which is expected to continue into the spring and summer.
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A Franklin two bedroom apartment has been recently sold for $401,000 (pictured above).
Situated opposite parkland, the northeast oriented apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-act-franklin-129048134" target="_blank">93/329 Flemington Road</a> comes with two bedrooms, open plan living and meals area, well-designed kitchen and large secure rear courtyard.
Additional features include the reverse cycle split system, family size laundry and linen cupboard to hallway.
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Canberra market about to be hit by spring fever: HTW residential

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Jeannie loves her apartment. It has a separate bedroom, a small bathroom, and an open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining area. It’s compact, but sliding doors open onto a generous balcony to create a larger living space. Jeannie often takes her meals on the balcony, where she can sit surrounded by pot plants and enjoy a view across houses with leafy backyards.
Jeannie’s three-year-old apartment is one of 57 single-bedroom units in Caggara House, a five-storey affordable housing development. It’s in a quiet street in Brisbane’s Mount Gravatt, within easy reach of shops, a medical centre, cafes and public transport.
Jeannie has spent much of her life in public housing on Brisbane’s south side. She brought up her three children in a three-bedroom commission home in nearby Holland Park.
After they had all flown the nest she downsized to a two-bedroom townhouse in Annerley. “It was more central,” she says, “just five to ten minutes from the city, which was good when I was working on call as a casual.”
Eventually, though, getting up the stairs became a problem, and Jeannie felt a bit unsafe living at ground level. At Caggara House there is a security entrance, a lift to her third-floor apartment, and wide passageways and doorways, so it is both safe and easy to navigate for someone with limited mobility.
Caggara is split into two buildings with a landscaped garden in between to give the complex a “green lung”. There is a shared barbecue area, a communal laundry, and a common room for parties, meetings and exercise classes. The development has won prizes for an energy-efficient design that provides for both privacy and social interaction.
Yet the real innovation is in the concept — it provided well-located, high-quality housing for low-income residents aged 55 and over, while freeing up resources to add to Brisbane’s overall stock of affordable housing. This might sound like a magic pudding, too good to be true, but Caggara’s residents previously lived alone in state-owned houses that were too big for their needs. Those houses were worth about A$500,000 each. It cost a little more than half that much to build each of the units in Mount Gravatt.
In this way, an investment of A$15 million in Caggara freed up A$25 million worth of assets that could be put to better use, either by accommodating families on the waiting list for social housing or by being sold to raise capital for new buildings.
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Caggara House was created for former public housing tenants over the age of 55.
Community housing pioneers around the country
Caggara House is an initiative of the not-for-profit Brisbane Housing Company. It’s a provider of what is often called community housing, to distinguish it from the public housing supplied by state authorities (even though they serve a common client base of low-income tenants). Since it was set up in 2002, BHC has built 1,300 affordable rental dwellings and earned the same AA- credit rating as the Commonwealth Bank.
Housing First (previously the Port Phillip Housing Association) is another innovative community-housing provider. It has 1,200 dwellings scattered around Melbourne. And, like BHC, it forms strategic partnerships with private developers, other community organisations, and all tiers of government to build energy-efficient homes with low running costs.
In Sydney, affordable housing provider BlueCHP has a portfolio of 1,600 properties. In November 2017 it opened Macarthur Gardens, a mix of apartments clustered in three towers close to Macarthur Railway Station, Macarthur Square Shopping Centre, and Western Sydney University. BlueCHP manages 56 of the dwellings as below-market rentals for low-income households and is selling the other 45 to help finance the project.
Macarthur Gardens is the largest residential complex in Australia built from cross-laminated timber. BlueCHP was the first developer in New South Wales to use this cost-effective, environmentally friendly technology.
In theory, state housing authorities could innovate like the Brisbane Housing Company, Housing First and BlueCHP. In practice, this rarely happens. Governments tend to be overly cautious in a sector that is crying out for flexibility. David Cant, who was chief executive of BHC for its first 15 years, says: "Not-for-profits can take risks. They can work quicker and smarter."
Community housing providers also “know their residents and know their geography”, Cant adds.
Australia has a pressing need for more social and affordable housing. More than half of all low-income tenants in the private market spend at least 30% of their disposable income on rent (and often much more than that). This can lead them to skimp on essentials like food, heating, transport, health care and schoolbooks. In the long term this sort of rental stress can damage physical and mental health, stunt educational attainment, and limit opportunity.
Australia can learn from UK housing providers
Cant thinks the best way to reduce rental stress is to build up the community housing sector, even though it currently provides less than 1% of all Australian dwellings. He is confident this can be done, based on 25 years working in Britain.
Before the Thatcher government sold off council houses in the 1980s, local government was the largest and most established provider of low-cost rental dwellings in Britain. Today, housing associations are more significant: 170 individual housing associations own 2.49 million homes – more than 10% of all housing in Britain. Local government now accounts for just 7%.
Oona Goldsworthy, chief executive of the Bristol-based not-for-profit housing association United Communities, says the sector matured relatively quickly. On a visit to Australia to she told me: "Housing associations in the United Kingdom grew out of an ideological and political push that the state is not necessarily the best provider of housing."
The view was that smaller organisations that were closer to the community could do a better job. Goldsworthy says British housing associations were able to borrow proactively, capturing a relatively small amount of public subsidy and matching it with lending from other sources. That’s exactly the sort of agility that gives community housing an edge over public-sector providers in Australia.
In the 2017 federal budget, the then treasurer, Scott Morrison, announced two measures designed to enable not-for-profit associations to build more housing: the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation and an affordable housing bond aggregator. Together, they are designed to make it easier and cheaper for housing providers to borrow money by acting as a bridge between community-housing providers and superannuation funds.
While community organisations can and do borrow from banks, each loan must be separately negotiated. Super funds won’t deal one on one with individual providers in this way, so the NHFIC aims to offer them a standardised, rated investment product.
Since it has the backing of both Labor and the Greens, the NHFIC should survive any change of government. Yet the most important tool for repairing housing in Australia is still missing — a substantial amount of government money.
Cant, who was recently appointed to the NHFIC board, says poor people are generally reliable rent-payers because they know housing underpins the rest of their lives. Offered a deal along the lines of “be a good neighbour, pay your rent and you can stay here as long as you like”, they will grab it with both hands and enjoy a sense of pride and ownership that is indistinguishable from an owner-occupied home. Yet the rent they can afford to pay is not enough to cover the cost of building and maintaining community housing.
Cant says: "If you want to house people on lower incomes then you have to find a bit of a subsidy."
The holy grail of superannuation funds investing in affordable housing will not be achieved unless government tops up the rents paid by low-income households to generate an acceptable rate of return.
Piers Williamson is the chief executive of the Housing Finance Corporation — Britain’s equivalent to NHFIC — and has been advising the Australian government on setting up the NHFIC. He told the tenth National Housing Conference in Sydney that Britain’s affordable housing model was underpinned by £45 billion (A$75 billion) in grant money. “Grants are one of the things missing over here,” he said. “Subsidised housing requires a subsidy.”
Australia badly needs more rental accommodation that does not leave low-income tenants living in stress. The only proven way to increase the supply of social and affordable dwellings is to increase public investment in the sector — in other words, to spend more taxpayers’ dollars.
Why should wealthier Australians agree to subsidise the housing of poorer Australians through the tax system? For David Cant, social justice is reason enough. 
As a nation, we are sleepwalking into inequality. The settings we have got are dividing the community.
As housing inequality worsens it will touch more and more people. One day it could be an old friend, a sibling, a child, or a parent facing housing troubles. One day it could be you or me.
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This is an edited extract from <a href="https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/no-place-like-home-repairing-australia-s-housing-crisis" target="_blank">No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis</a>, published by Text on September 17.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102840/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Peter Mares, Adjunct Fellow, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-community-fix-for-the-affordable-housing-crisis-102840" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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A community fix for the affordable housing crisis: Peter Mares

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The iProsperity Group (iPG) has sold the Park Regis Hotel in Sydney to the Yeh Group for $54.18 million.
The sale price represents a 23% increase on what iPG paid for it less than two years.
The 122-room Hotel stratum makes up 10 floors of the 45 level mixed-use tower at 27 Park Street, Sydney.
Recent refurbishments done through StayWell, are expected to lead to an increase in rates at the Sydney hotel.
In its recent 'Q1 2018 Hotel market analysis report', iPG predicted buoyancy in the hotel sector will continue for the remainder of the year, with Sydney to experience the highest activity levels and strongest ADRs.
Settlement is expected on October 31, 2018. 
The sale was handled by Gus Moors and Karen Wales of Colliers International.
"iPG have combined astute timing and sound business acumen to create substantial uplift in this asset over the period of Its ownership," said Moors.
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Sydney city's Park Regis sold by iPG for $54.18 million

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The former Redfern post office premises has been listed for sale.
The two storey, Victorian Italianate building at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-nsw-redfern-502959542" target="_blank">119 Redfern Street</a> is being sold by international architecture firm DKO, who paid $2.6 million for the property in 2014 when it was sold by Linc Energy founder Peter Bond.
He had paid $2,125,000 three years earlier when buying from celebrity publicist Max Markson.
Since the 2014 trade, the building has undergone a brand new refurbishment from DKO, and is now up for sale for around $5 million.
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Built in 1882 by colonial architect James Barnet, the four and a half storey corner clock tower and post office included a telegraph office, parlour, drawing room, three bedrooms, kitchen, a servant's room, bathroom, scullery, washhouse, fuel shed and two stall stables. 
In 1880, £3000 was provided for the erection of the Redfern post office, and then the Public Works added a clock tower for an estimated extra £700.
The building has 480 square metres of internal space on its 330 square metre Redfern Street block. 
When it sold in 2014, there were some who were looking at possibly turning the landmark building into a home.
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Colliers International are marketing the building that was sold by Australia Post in 2000 for $600,000.
Colliers agent Tony Crane, who sold the building to DKO, said to see a high quality renovation of a heritage building was rare.
"It’s extremely rare to see heritage buildings restored to this level while still retaining the original heritage façade," Crane said.
"Redfern has become a burgeoning hub for creative business and 119 Redfern Street is well suited to the area and for those who are looking beyond traditional, corporate space."
Earlier this year Redfern's popular Alchemy commercial spaces were listed for sale, however none of the five commercial spaces have yet to find a buyer.
The Alchemy, further down Redfern Street, comprises the busy restaurants Bart Jr, Fern St, Isaacs and Juan. Isaacs takes up two commercial spaces.
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