For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

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?

The demand for luxury apartments in the Sydney CBD has never been stronger in a trend that is driving increased sales in the $10 million-plus bracket.

Despite extended lockdowns impacting the CBD over the past two years, Colliers National Director of Project Marketing Residential, Blake Schulze, said he had witnessed the strongest demand ever experienced over the past six months, with this high level expected to continue into 2022.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a trend that strengthened at a time when a lot of attention was being focussed away from the CBD towards trophy homes and regional activity,&rdquo; Schulze said.

&ldquo;It really affirms how parts of the Sydney CBD have successfully evolved into a high quality and desirable world-class apartment market.&rdquo;

The demand for high-end apartments has been clearly demonstrated across a range of new projects including 111 Castlereagh Street, One Sydney Harbour, Crown Residences Barangaroo and the Sirius Building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94354 project_image_fid=170431]

Stand out transactions include all of the available penthouses (sold off-the-plan) at 111 Castlereagh Street, as well as the penthouse collection consisting of The Jones, The MacKellar and The Cambridge Residences, which have sold for a combined total of $66 million.

&ldquo;Sales are running ahead of any familiar or traditional trends, with demand concentrated out of Sydney&rsquo;s East and North Shore, and not necessarily driven by down-sizers.&rdquo; Schulze added.

&ldquo;This pattern also further distinguishes Sydney&rsquo;s CBD apartment market as distinct from trends we see in Melbourne and Brisbane.

&ldquo;Current high-end buyers often own multiple homes and are those who have &lsquo;fallen in love&rsquo; with a new generation of projects, attracted by the appeal of Sydney&rsquo;s CBD. Values clearly indicate that it&rsquo;s smart to be back in the city, and price is not an issue.&rdquo;

However, Schulze says apartment size, design, quality of finishes, location, and lifestyle, must&nbsp;all be spot-on.

Amenities generally expected include a pool, equipped gym, resort level resident&rsquo;s lounge, dining room and gardens, private climate-controlled cellar, and concierge.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94354 project_image_fid=170428]

Strong high-end demand has also extended to the lower north-shore and select re-sales in the CBD.

These include the soon-to-be completed 440sqm $14 million &ldquo;Grand Luna&rdquo; apartment in The Landmark, St Leonards, which is one the most expensive outside of the Sydney CBD.

A 223sqm $11 million listing at the Greenland Centre and a new listing of an &ldquo;Aqualuna&rdquo; Milsons Point penthouse, consisting of 275sqm internally and 50sqm externally, are both also going to market in early 2022.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8832 project_image_fid=192889]

&ldquo;High-end-luxury demand is being locally driven, but all elements, including car parking must be available. Buyers understand quality, even to the point where they will, and do commit to a multi- million dollar purchase often only after a video tour. This means the quality must be instantly authenticated.&rdquo;

While the current level of demand for apartments in the $10 million-plus bracket is unprecedented, it remains to be seen what impact the full re-opening of international borders will have.

According to Colliers, there are reasonable expectations for even stronger demand as other high-end developments continue to boost Sydney&rsquo;s appeal.

The demand for high-end apartments has been clearly demonstrated across a range of new projects including 111 Castlereagh Street, One Sydney Harbour, Crown Residences Barangaroo and the Sirius Building

Demand for luxury Sydney CBD apartments has never been stronger

The Sydney-based developer, Third.i, are continually trying to break new ground in what type of product they are bringing to&nbsp;the off the pl​an apartment market.

It&#39;s been a pillar of Third.i since it was founded by Luke Berry, Robert Huxley and&nbsp;Ron Dadd in 2005, so much so it forms a key part of the company name.

I recently got to catch up with Luke Berry, who also handles Third.i&#39;s sales and marketing, to discuss the company&#39;s current direction and how they like to develop.

&quot;The name Third.i was very much formed with the two most critical elements&nbsp;to development; investment and infrastructure,&quot; Berry said.

&quot;We follow planning, jobs growth, and the inevitable need for housing in those areas.

&quot;Infrastructure is key; where the government are spending, where there&#39;s private spending on infrastructure, new transport hubs etc. Always invest where infrastructure is and is planned to be.&quot;

The third I was more in the spiritual sense, Berry added.

&quot;We are always trying to think ahead, constantly challenging both ourselves and pushing the boundary as to what&#39;s conceivable in apartment development.

&quot;We try and create apartments and a style of housing that people don&#39;t even know they want yet. We think of the projects people are going to need, rather than what they necessarily need right now.&quot;

Their latest innovative venture however isn&#39;t about what they&#39;re offering a buyer in terms of the product they are creating. It&nbsp;goes well beyond that.

The team has recently launched CoPosit, which allows potential buyers secure a&nbsp;property with just $10,000 in savings, with the remainder of the deposit paid over weekly instalments until the apartment is ready.

That&#39;s available for buyers at the Dairy Farmers project in Newcastle&#39;s West End, where already 100 of the 184 apartments have been sold. Around 10 per cent of those buyers have used CoPosit.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109979 project_image_fid=187054]

&quot;Developers usually need five or 10 per cent deposit minimum as a bank needs a qualifying presale to provide funding for the project,&quot; Berry said.

&quot;But we&#39;ve managed to crack open the door for first home buyers, who, if they can&#39;t stump up a deposit, can still secure an apartment and take advantage of the price growth of that apartment during the construction phase.

&quot;Traditionally, those buyers would maybe have to wait a year, or wait until completion, before they can buy the apartment. With the way the property market has gone in recent years, that&#39;s a lot of growth they&#39;ve missed out on. They&#39;re potentially paying $50,000 more for that same apartment they couldn&#39;t get a few years earlier when it wasn&#39;t complete.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109979 project_image_fid=187061]

Berry says he believes the scheme will completely revolutionize off the plan sales.

The Dairy Farmers project will&nbsp;comprise a separate five story-building that will house the very first residents&rsquo; shared work hub coupled with 1600 sqm of commercial and retail space.

The development will also include a range of exclusive amenities featuring communal green spaces, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, cabana pool areas with a lap pool, a wine bar and cellar, as well as multiple function rooms.

The Newcastle West site was once home to Dairy Farmers - one of Australia&rsquo;s largest dairy producers. In a nod to the history of the site, Third.i will re-imagine the heritage-listed, iconic glass milk bottle and clock towers as part of a pedestrianized, broader public art installation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=109979 project_image_fid=187069]

&ldquo;We feel like the West End is our second home and we are excited to be part of its revitalisation,&quot; Berry said.

&quot;We want Dairy Farmers Towers to be a West End icon, a landmark that will be reborn to create a new chapter in the West End&rsquo;s growth as a great place in which to live, work and play.

&ldquo;Residents will have some of the best views in town, as well as the harbour, great dining and entertainment options, and the transport interchange at their doorstep. To create a true sense of community for residents, we&rsquo;ve really focused on incorporating communal green spaces andcommercial and retail spaces to add diversity of housing options for locals.&rdquo;

A large number of locals have made up part of the buyers so far,&nbsp;a mix of downsizers wanting to live in an urban apartments and first home buyers who see the entry level apartments as good value for money.

There&#39;s also been a number of investors, both from Newcastle and Sydney.

Third.I, has always been forward thinking - and is one of the largest providers of SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) apartments along the East Coast of Australia.&nbsp;They have a partnership with Aruma (formerly House with no steps) and many other SIL&rsquo;s (Specials Independent Living Advisors) to provide suitable accommodation in their medium and large scale developments.

&quot;ESG (environmental, social and governance)&nbsp;has always been important to us, and the commitment we have in creating SDA Housing is a cornerstone of our business policies in providing social housing&quot; Berry added.

It was at the forefront of their efforts in London. Both of their London projects, the completed Battersea apartment building currently under construction,&nbsp;and the upcoming Vauxhall development, has around a third of its development set aside for&nbsp;people who couldn&#39;t traditionally afford them.

&quot;We have around 30, 35 per cent of our developments in the UK reserved for people like nurses, school teachers, train drivers, single parents who struggle to afford to get in to the property market,&quot; Berry says.

The expansion in to the UK has seen Third.i&#39;s global footprint expand, with meaningful conversations with huge REITS and investment firms.

&quot;What London has done has cracked open the door for Third.i to forge international business relationships with funders, agents, based in Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, all which wouldn&#39;t have happened if it wasn&#39;t for the investment in to the UK market.&quot;

&quot;We have a big vision, big dreams, and now we&#39;re in a position to chase them,&quot; Berry said.

"The name Third.i was very much formed with the two most critical elements to development; investment and infrastructure," Berry said.

How the Sydney apartment developer, Third.i, always puts the buyer first: Five minutes with Luke Berry

Sydney-based integrated property group, Top Spring Australia, has received official approval&nbsp;for a&nbsp;masterplanned community in St Leonards, on Sydney’s upper North Shore.

The project will be known as The Newlands, across 1.26 hectares&nbsp;at 21-41 Canberra Avenue and 18-32 Holdsworth Avenue, and will see&nbsp;330&nbsp;new residences built across five buildings, one for each of the site’s five ‘superlots’.

The project is consistent with the Lane Cove Council’s St Leonards South Masterplan, gazetted in 2020, which allows for increased residential densities in the area south of the Pacific Highway and west of the North Shore rail line.

The project’s Bates Smart-designed scheme integrates with the topography of this part of St Leonards, and sees the five buildings graduated in height to allow for the site’s significant gradient, while also providing residents with outlooks over the adjacent Newlands Park.

The Newlands’ three parkland facing buildings will be eight, nine and ten storeys in height, with some storeys part levels, due to the site’s steep incline, while the two rear buildings will reach eight and eleven storeys in height.

<a href="/new-apartments/the-newlands-st-leonards-21-41-canberra-avenue-st-leonards"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1108" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-03-07_at_12.56.04_pm.png" width="1586" /></a>

Residences will come in a range of configurations, including one, two and three-bedroom apartments, two-storey townhouses, as well as several penthouses, with all residences designed to maximise a combination of parkland views, natural light and ventilation.

The project will create a highly connected ground plane that includes a 6-metre-wide, east-west site link, connecting Holdsworth and Canberra Avenues, as well as to a proposal by council to extend the pocket park at the end of Holdsworth Avenue.

In addition to the pocket park, the proposal will deliver a central 2,500sqm green spine that celebrates the transition from St. Leonards’ urban centre along Berry Creek and down to Sydney Harbour’s shore. The green spine plays on the dense forest planting of the gullies along Berry Creek, giving The Newlands community an immersive landscape journey and a new type of backyard for apartment dwellers.

Meanwhile, rooftop terraces with large entertaining spaces and lushly landscaped frontages will grace all buildings.

<a href="/new-apartments/the-newlands-st-leonards-21-41-canberra-avenue-st-leonards"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1106" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-03-07_at_12.56.16_pm.png" width="1630" /></a>

Sydney Ma, Managing Director of Top Spring Australia, confirmed his company’s exciting vision for the site.

“At Top Spring Australia we insist on enhancing the local environment of the areas in which we develop, and at The Newlands, we really want to improve the local community’s use of the site by providing access to enticing green spaces that can become an integral place for locals to gather, socialise, exercise and relax,”&nbsp;Ma said.

“Working closely with Lane Cove Council and our architects Bates Smart, we have envisioned a design that successfully negotiates the sloping site by ‘stepping’ the buildings down the hill so that everyone can benefit from the views of Newlands Park.

“Meanwhile, we have also included landscaped platforms that will enhance views towards and from the park, ensuring The Newlands really does have a feeling of being situated within its own private green space.”

&nbsp;

Launch of The Newlands through Colliers will be in mid-2022, with construction commencing in late 2022.

<a href="/new-apartments/the-newlands-st-leonards-21-41-canberra-avenue-st-leonards"><img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="1102" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2022-03-07_at_12.56.45_pm.png" width="1502" /></a>

“We have established a reputation founded on the creation of exceptional living spaces that combine the latest trends in art, architecture and design, and our plans for The Newlands are certainly no different,” Ma added.

“We are working with some of Australia’s best designers to create homes that speak to the bushland quality of the surrounding area, with material palettes utilising a natural, robust and earthy selection of materials and finishes.

“Health and wellbeing is also a strong consideration, with the scheme designed to maximise the number of dwellings that are naturally cross-ventilated, while more than 7 in 10 dwellings will have more than one aspect.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=24509]

&nbsp;

The project will see 330 new residences built across five buildings, one for each of the site’s five ‘superlots’.



Top Spring secure The Newlands, St Leonards masterplan approval

Joint venture partners Third.i and Phoenix Property Investors are preparing to launch&nbsp;Balfour Place, a new residential development in North Sydney&#39;s Lindfield.

In conjunction with Coles Group, the&nbsp;mixed-use development will be built on the existing Coles Lindfield supermarket.

The $180 million project, which will be marketed by CBRE Residential Projects, adds to Third.i&rsquo;s growing portfolio of developments, which include the Diary Farmers Towers in Newcastle. Their $2.5 billion pipeline also includes projects in London.

Local buyers have shown interest ahead of its launch next month, with demand increasing for larger apartments in Sydney&#39;s lower north shore.

<a href="/new-apartments/balfour-place-1-balfour-street-lindfield-nsw-2070"><img alt="" height="3376" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/balfour_view16f_side_on_balfour_st_final.jpg" width="6000" /></a>

Balfour Place will comprise a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments with private courtyards and rooftop gardens, to be built on top of a brand-new large format Coles supermarket, Liqourland, and heritage commercial space fronting the Pacific Highway and overlooking the Blue Mountains.

Luke Berry, Director of Sales and Marketing and Co-Founder of Third.i, said that his company and PPI were thrilled to be working alongside Coles Group community stakeholders to launch the project in the coming months.

&ldquo;When Third.i Group began working with Coles Group, we immediately highlighted there was an opportunity to improve the residential elements of development application, so in a partnership with and award-winning architects Rothelowman, we re-imagined the apartment layouts and created a mix of larger apartments, perfect for the down-sizer and young families we see as the likely purchasers of our apartments and we couldn&rsquo;t be happier to finally launch this project to the market next month,&rdquo; Berry said.

&ldquo;With Balfour Place, you will have everything you need at your doorstep. To be just a lift ride away from fresh food and produce, a barista brewed coffee and your favourite bottle of wine is the epitome of apartment living and that&rsquo;s exactly what we will be delivering with this project.&quot;

<a href="/new-apartments/balfour-place-1-balfour-street-lindfield-nsw-2070"><img alt="" height="3376" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/balfour_view05a_l313_balcony_looking_in_final.jpg" width="6000" /></a>The DA approved site, which spans over 7091 sqm, is set to start the second stage of construction in the first quarter of 2022.

CBRE&#39;s&nbsp;Ben Stewart said that the proximity and convenience offered at the project is one of the top selling points for the project.

&ldquo;The latest offering by Third.i and PPI has it all in terms of proximity to a train station and quality schools, as well as being positioned in a highly coveted north shore suburb where new apartment developments are scarce, particularly for down-sizers,&rdquo; Stewart said.

&ldquo;Our market research has indicated that demand for high-end living and conveniently located new apartments in the area is solid, with almost all initial inquiries coming from local residents.&rdquo;

&ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t seen anything like this on the market for a while and I anticipate the level of liveability coupled with the convenience of essential goods and services at your doorstep will really resonate with our buyers and product on the market won&rsquo;t last for long.&quot;

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=112016]

The $180 million project, which will be marketed by CBRE Residential Projects, is set to bring a new era of relaxed, contemporary sophistication to a landmark spot and adds to Third.i’s growing portfolio of developments.

$180 million Lindfield apartment development, Balfour Place, to launch

Continuing the expansion of its Sydney footprint, the property developer Fortis has acquired two sites in Double Bay for around $82 million.

The sites, at 2-10 Bay Street and 294-298 New South Head Road, will be the sixth project by Fortis in the city-fringe harbour suburb. The transaction was negotiated by Ben Stewart from CBRE.&nbsp;

The prominent corner site comprises four independent properties, and boasts three street frontages on New South Head Road, Bay Street and Brooklyn Lane.

The 1,863 sqm site has development approvals for a residential project comprising boutique apartments across four levels, with basement parking for each residence and ground floor retail. Construction&nbsp;is expected to commence in July 2022, with the demolition of the existing buildings on the site completed. Pallas Capital will fund the acquisition and construction of the project.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Fortis has acquired multiple sites in Double Bay over the last few years for a mix of residential and commercial projects. 2-10 Bay Street is our newest acquisition and we are thrilled to add it to our portfolio. The residential project on this centrally-located site has an expected end value of $185 million,&rdquo; says Charles Mellick, Director at&nbsp;Fortis.

&ldquo;Our broader vision for Double Bay is to revitalise it. We are creating a vibrant town centre that appeals to residents and businesses alike, complemented by an enviable selection of dining, retail and entertainment options. 2-10 Bay Street and 294-298 New South Head Road will be the sixth project by Fortis in Double Bay, and we are excited to transform this city-fringe location into the most sought after neighbourhood in Sydney.&quot;

One of Sydney&#39;s most affluent harbourside suburb&#39;s, Double Bay is located four kilometres from Sydney CBD and known for its thriving, dynamic social scene. The suburb boasts of excellent amenities and transport options, offering easy access to the Double Bay ferry wharf, while Edgecliff train station lies a 10-minute walk away.

Double Bay is also known for maintaining a unique village feel, surrounded by high end boutiques and retailers.

Pallas Group is the parent company of structured real estate debt and equity manager Pallas Capital and developer Fortis. The expected end value of Fortis&rsquo; Sydney projects currently under construction or under a planning proposal is $1.5 billion, with a further $1.15 billion pipeline of work in Melbourne.

Fortis, in a joint venture with Dare Property Group, recently launched Piper, their high-end Point Piper collection of just 15 apartments

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6126 project_image_fid=191995]

But&nbsp;Fortis, alongside Dare Property Group, are set to finally bring something new for&nbsp;new high-end apartment seekers, on the&nbsp;2,392 sqm Wunulla Road site which they joint acquired for around $40 million last year.

The development, at&nbsp;2A Wunulla Road,&nbsp;will have interiors by MIM Design and sit in landscaping by Dangar Barin Smith.

There will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments across the boutique four-level building. Each apartment will feature&nbsp;soaring ceilings, open layouts and large living, entertaining, and outdoor areas. Some of the apartments will even have their own private pools.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=6126]

The 1,863 sqm site has development approvals for a residential project comprising boutique apartments across four levels

Fortis secure sixth Double Bay site

It&#39;s taken just three months for the newly completed Croydon apartment development, L1ON Croydon, to nearly sell all of its apartment.

The boutique development at 1 Lion Street, Croydon, in Sydney&#39;s inner-west, has just 35 apartments in the two buildings designed by Benson McCormack Architects.

The one, two and three-bedroom apartments have primarily been a hit with local first home buyers, as well as local&nbsp;owner-occupiers who took advantage of the dual-level apartments.

The project has been&nbsp;built and developed by construction veterans and property developers Hone Constructions, who have&nbsp;over 15 years&#39; experience in the property industry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95518 project_image_fid=191784]

&nbsp;

Alexander Vrisakis, director at HAUS Agency who has been handling the sales process, said the location of&nbsp;L1ON Croydon was a strong driver in purchasing.

&ldquo;We know that Croydon is a wonderful location, just 20 minutes from the CBD, and buyers that have been eager to secure their first home somewhere that makes commuting to work easy,&rdquo; Vrisakis said.

L1ON&nbsp;Croydon is close to both Ashfield and Croydon train stations, and is also well connected to the CBD by the extensive bus network. It sits within close proximity to&nbsp;parks, sports and aquatic centres, as well as public and private schools like PLC Sydney and De La Salle College Ashfield.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95518 project_image_fid=191818]

Residents are also close to shopping centres like Westfield Burwood and Ashfield Mall, plus all the eateries, cafes and bars of nearby Haberfield and Burwood.

L1ON&nbsp;Croydon apartments are kitted out with&nbsp;Fisher &amp; Paykel appliances, engineered European oak flooring, Caesarstone kitchen benchtops and bespoke blinds and LED lighting throughout.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95518 project_image_fid=191816]

HAUS Agency Director Sean Dowling said it&#39;s rare to find such high-quality apartments that are untouched and available to purchase now.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen solid results, with a big draw card being the fact that the development completed on 1st&nbsp;February *and is ready to move in now,&quot; Dowling said.

&nbsp;

One-bedroom apartments at L1ON&nbsp;Croydon&nbsp;are priced from $730,000.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=95518]

The one, two and three-bedroom apartments have primarily been a hit with local first home buyers, as well as local owner-occupiers who took advantage of the dual-level apartments

L1ON Croydon apartments snatch local first home buyers as sell-out approaches

The combination of substantial forecasted population growth, an existing and expanding retail hub, and the newly established North West rail link connecting swiftly with surrounding areas and the CBD, are all major drawcards for people moving from outer suburbs to Castle Hill, the epicentre of the Hills District.

The booming Castle Hill apartment market is set to welcome several developments in the near future, with developers continuing to put faith in the area given the strong pipeline of planned infrastructure.

Urban has taken a look at the top apartment projects&nbsp;currently selling in Castle Hill.

<h2>1. Astrid&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>Developer: CBD Core</h2>

Regulars to the Hill’s District, CBD Core have notched up a rather impressive portfolio over the last two decades in the area.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22748 project_image_fid=204929]

Taking up a prime spot behind the group’s Oriel project - the first new apartment building in the Showground Precinct - and a stone’s throw from the Hills Showground Metro, the group's latest project, Astrid is pitched to satisfy even the most discerning of buyers.

Comprising 94 apartments, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences are on offer, with completion on the project slated for February 2024.

Designed by Zhinar Architects, prices begin from $605,000 in the development, with CBD focusing on the needs of homebuyers post pandemic.&nbsp;

Not merely settling for a study nook in the apartments, Astrid will feature both indoor and outdoor communal spaces, outside of the apartments so those working from home have the option to still be away from where they reside.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22748 project_image_fid=204930]

Residents will also have access to a state-of-the-art gym, a resort-style heated swimming pool, and a rooftop with barbecues and seating spaces and a solar-powered cabana.

One, two and three-bedders can still be snapped up in the project, with floorplans spanning from 53 sqm.

<h2>2. Chapman Gardens&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>Developer: CG Group</h2>

A landmark development set to redefine apartment living in Castle Hill, Chapman Gardens comprises three low rise buildings in a lush landscaped setting.

Featuring a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and a limited number of duplex style residences, the PTW designed homes Entertaining spaces, high ceilings, gourmet kitchens and expanses of glass filter sunlight through the residences, while features such as ducted zoned air-conditioning and down lighting provide control the internal temperature and ambience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29359 project_image_fid=155217]

Designed by award-winning PTW Architects, the terrace-style apartments feature private courtyards and direct street access.

Two-bedroom plus study and three-bedroom plus study options have been crafted to offer house-like spaces within convenient apartment-living, targeting the family market.

More than half of Chapman Gardens is dedicated to landscaped grounds and alfresco entertaining spaces, which have been designed by Urbis.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29359 project_image_fid=155212]

Rooftop courtyards crown each of the three buildings, with dedicated barbecue and dining areas.

One, two and three bedroom apartments can still be purchased in the final release at Chapman Gardens, with Stage One of the development expected for completion late 2022, and Stage Two in late 2023.

There's also a handful of two and three-bedroom terraces remaining.

<h2>3. Castle Island&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>Developer: KWG Group Holdings</h2>

KWG Property’s $300 million Castle Island, comprises 295 apartments spread across seven buildings near the new Showgrounds town centre. Inspired by nature, Castle Island is the work of local architectural firm, Giles Tribe, and two international architects, Hong Kong’s ARVA Architects and DLN Architects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112005 project_image_fid=191248]

They brought a shared vision of integrating the surrounding landscape into Castle Island’s apartments.

On offer is one, two and three-bedroom apartment, featuring full-height glazed facades designed to offer extensive views so that residents feel connected to nature and their surroundings.

The one and two-bedroom apartments are being pitched at owner-occupiers and investors, while the premium 135 sqm, three-bedroom apartments are expected to generate interest from families, downsizers, and rightsizers.

The communal spaces have been designed by Glyph Studio and&nbsp;include a clubhouse, gym, lobby, library and co-working spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112005 project_image_fid=191249]

There's also private lounging nooks, yoga zones, games and play areas, space for rooftop meals and sunset drinks.

A large garden is central to the project, as well as three elevated sky gardens, which is complete with barbecues, a yoga lawn and twilight outdoor cinema.

Buildings Three and Four are currently selling in Castle Island at 4-6 Sexton Avenue.

<h2>4. Grand Reve</h2>

<h2>Developer: Kassis Homes</h2>

Billed as the most prestigious development ever offered in the Hills area, Grand Reve is a collection of 196 contemporary apartments across two towers.

Featuring studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as split-level townhouse-style dwellings, Grand Reve has been designed by Turner Studio with a particular focus on outdoor spaces. Dwellings feature open-plan layouts, accented with 2.7m high ceilings, allowing natural light to filter through.

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Double-glass sliding doors extend the dining area to private balconies or terrace courtyards, with Wolf appliances featuring in&nbsp;the kitchens.

The two towers of Grand Reve connect at the podium level and offer views across the Hills District and out to the CBD. The landscaped podium gardens include extensive&nbsp;seating pods and resident dining areas.

Altogether, the project will deliver residents three communal garden areas, totalling over 2,000 sqm of open space.

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Grand Reve is conveniently located within a three-minute walk to Castle Hill Metro Station. Construction has commenced on the project with completion expected mid-to-end of 2023.

<h2>5. Chateau Showground </h2>

<h2>Developer: Bridgestone Projects</h2>

Designed by an award-winning team of Bridgestone Projects, PTW Architects, DKO Interiors, RPS Landscape Architects and Westbourne Construction, Chateau is a collection of 296 apartments over nine levels.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13888 project_image_fid=159889]

The building will comprise a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments, along with townhouse and penthouse options.

Crowning Chateau is the rooftop terrace, which features an infinity pool, barbecue area, gym, private cabanas, outdoor cinema and garden spaces.

Residents can choose between two colour schemes, Champagne or Bordeaux, with each of the colour choices defining the ambience and character of the apartment.&nbsp;

The building is secure with an on-site building manager, as well as basement level parking and storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13888 project_image_fid=159883]

It takes on an energy efficient design featuring solar panels and generous landscaped area, achieving 60 per cent canopy cover, providing shade, reducing ambient temperatures and mitigating the heat island effect Chateau is conveniently located within a 200-metre walk to the Hills Showground Metro Station and a four-minute drive to Castle Hill’s shopping centre.

Building A, B and D are part of the Stage One release, which will feature 181 apartments.

Stage Two will release building C, comprising 115 apartments. Construction on the project commenced in early 2021 with completion expected mid 2023.

The booming Castle Hill apartment market is set to welcome several developments in the near future, with developers continuing to put faith in the area.

Castle Hill's top apartment developments on the market

Following the success of the first release, McGrath Projects has launched the second stage of Grand Reve, the sought-after, design-focused apartment development in Castle Hill.

They&#39;re now marketing Building B, the tallest of the two towers, which are interconnected by an L-shaped, level three podium.

The second stage will feature the remaining 110 apartments of the 196-apartment development, with the first stage now around 65&nbsp;per cent sold.

As part of the final release a penthouse of scale and significance will be offered &ndash; designed to include the ultimate sense of luxury, not yet seen in the Hills area.

McGrath Projects Associate Director Adam Sparkes says he&#39;s seen an increased demand from&nbsp;investors, who are wanting to park their money in a safe asset class and are looking at both the forecasted population growth for Castle Hill and&nbsp;the historically low vacancy rates across Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=196709]

There&#39;s also been&nbsp;significant movement from local owner-occupiers and downsizers recently.

In the last few weeks, McGrath Projects sold four of Grand Reve&#39;s large three-bedroom apartments for between $1.65 million and $1.775 million, all to owner-occupiers, indicating the desirability of both the project and the neighbourhood.

&quot;Some are local downsizers who are wanting to sell their big family home, and recognise our three-bedroom apartments are unusually large when compared to other developments in the area,&quot; Sparkes says.

The highest price McGrath Projects has seen over the campaign was from a downsizer couple who paid $2 million for Grand Reve&#39;s largest three-bedroom, which offers&nbsp;138sqm of internal living area and a further 148 sqm external terrace.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=196710]

Grand Reve is one of Castle Hill&#39;s most impressive developments that has been launched in recent times.

It&#39;s being developed by the&nbsp;award-winning Kassis Homes, led by Sam Kassis who has been in the building industry for over three decades.

One of the buyers of a three-bedroom apartment was an investor who previously had his own home built over a decade ago by Kassis Homes.

Grand Reve&#39;s twin towers have been designed by Turner Studio, who were inspired by the greenery of Castle Hill, as well as the historic&nbsp;Garthowen House, adjacent to the project, which was surrounded by orchards when built.

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&quot;We&#39;re really urbanising the concept of the backyard and integrating that in to an urban housing scheme that sits in a suburban context and therefore I think we&#39;re going to end up with a unique project and a unique product,&quot; Turner design&nbsp;director, Nick Turner, said.

Turner worked in collaboration with Arcadia to&nbsp;deliver three curated communal spaces as well as smaller, intimate spaces, which are nestled amongst tree groves and terraced landscaped areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=196703]

Inside the apartments, interiors feature&nbsp;engineered oak timber flooring, stone bench tops and crafted curved timber joinery throughout.

The open plan living, kitchen and dining area are designed to maximise space, both with the 2.7-metre heigh ceilings and the large&nbsp;double sliding doors that extend the space on to a courtyard or balcony.

Grand Reve residents are set to benefit from the location of the project, in the quiet&nbsp;cul-de-sac&nbsp;Garthowen Crescent.

One of the biggest drawcards of Grand Reve is its location, in the heart of Castle Hill.

Sparkes says there&#39;s considerable interest given the location, close enough to benefit&nbsp;from the infrastructure of the $1 billion redevelopment of the Showground Precinct, but far enough away from where dozens of apartment projects are under construction and in the pipeline.

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The second stage will feature the remaining 110 apartments of the 196-apartment development, with the first stage now around 65 per cent sold

Kassis Homes releases final stage of Grand Reve, Castle Hill

Will 2022 be the year of apartments, the year of investors, or both?

Now that international borders are open, the forecasts of immigration are strong, and rolling lockdowns keeping workers out of offices are a thing of the past, industry commentators and experts believe&nbsp;apartments will be back in fashion, given the affordability constraints due to runaway house prices.

Investors, who have been quiet in the property market for the best part of two years due to the&nbsp;COVID-induced downturn on migration and rental returns, are now starting to creep back in to the market.

Now more than ever, the highest priorities for investors are to buy in an area which has planned local infrastructure, solid&nbsp;population growth forecasts, and strong transport links.

One of Sydney&#39;s fastest growing suburbs is Castle Hill&nbsp;in Sydney&#39;s Hills District,&nbsp;north-west of the city. The area&nbsp;is undergoing a huge transformation, with the redevelopment of the Castle Towers Shopping Centre, and the new&nbsp;Metro Station connecting residents to the CBD in just&nbsp;40 minutes by train.

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Population forecasts are also solid, with experts forecasting a 20 per cent rise in population in the next 15 years.

McGrath Projects Associate Director&nbsp;Adam Sparkes says he&#39;s seeing investors start to get back in to the market, with a number of investors interested in the potential returns&nbsp;at&nbsp;Grand Reve, the Castle Hill apartment development from builder developer Kassis Homes.

&quot;Many are seeing long-term growth in the area, with the Castle Towers redevelopment the obvious drawcard,&quot; Sparkes says, also suggesting that there are more shrewd&nbsp;buyers in the market than ever before.&nbsp;

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&quot;First home buyers are getting savvier, and are intending to live in the new apartment on completion, with a view of making it an investment in the years after when they&#39;ve moved on,&quot; Sparkes notes.

&quot;Local downsizers are also buying with a view that, upon completion in Q4 2023, they will likely lease the apartment while they put the wheels in motion to sell their family home, and downsize in to the apartment eventually.&quot;

One of the biggest drawcards of Grand Reve is its location, in the heart of Castle Hill. Sparkes says there&#39;s considerable interest given the location, close enough to benefit&nbsp;from the infrastructure of the $1 billion redevelopment of the Showground Precinct, but far enough away from where dozens of apartment projects are under construction and in the pipeline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=152852]

Sparkes advises some of the larger, more owner-occupier friendly apartments in Grand Reve will likely yield around 3.5 per cent on completion,&nbsp;but the more investor friendly one and two-bedroom product should reach a yield of around 4.5 per cent, well above The Hills District average of 3.4 per cent that SQM Research calculate.

The savviest of investors have been buying through their self-managed super funds, with one purchaser, a local couple, spending over $850,000 on a two-bedroom apartment in their SMSF.

There&#39;s also the depreciation benefit&nbsp;of a brand new asset&nbsp;for investors, who can claim yearly depreciation of the investment, an option not available to those investors seeking an already built apartment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=152848]

Castle Hill&nbsp;has a median apartment price of $969,000, up 7.4&nbsp;per cent in the last 12 months, according to CoreLogic data.&nbsp;The gap between the median house and median&nbsp;apartment price in Castle Hill is&nbsp;$1.32 million, with the&nbsp;Castle Hill median house value at $2.292 million in February.

In August last year, McGrath Founder John McGrath noted the growing shift of those seeking out apartments over houses due to affordability, and that gap has only grown since then.

&quot;We&rsquo;re now meeting young people at opens who tell us they&rsquo;ve given up on a house and have switched their search to townhouses and apartments,&quot; McGrath said.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=94147]

Now more than ever, the highest priorities for investors are to buy in an area which has planned local infrastructure, solid population growth forecasts, and strong transport links.

Will investors and outpriced prospective house buyers drive the apartment market in 2022?

A Cronulla development site has sold for $38 million in an off-market deal, setting a new record sale rate for Cronulla and the Sutherland Shire.

The property at 67 Gerrale Street, consisting of a traditional red brick 18-apartment block, Carousel Court on a 1,327sq m site, was purchased by Sammut Group.

They bought from 18 owners in a strata amalgamation, who joined together to sell the property at an average $2.1 million windfall.

The last advised sale of an apartment was $540,000 in 2014.

One buyer had paid $120,000 in 1995, according to CoreLogic.

The deal was negotiated by Knight Frank agents Anthony Pirrottina and Demi Carigliano at a rate of $9,400 per square metre on potential gross floor area.

Sammut Group Director and CEO Allen Sammut said the acquisition paved the way to help create the missing link between the station and the beach, with both residential and retail activation.  

Pirrottina said the site is arguably the best development site in Cronulla, being directly across the road from Cronulla Beach and overlooking parks on two sides. 

“It was an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a residential apartment block with immense development potential in one of Sydney’s most tightly-held beachside precincts.” 

“Cronulla is the premier postcode of the Sutherland Shire, with growing values for off-the-plan apartment sales, and the prime location of this particular site will ensure strong buyer demand for any future residential development,” Carigliano said. 



The property at 67 Gerrale Street, consisting of a traditional red brick 18-apartment block on a 1,327sq m site

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