<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> has lodged plans for a $750 million, three-tower mixed-use precinct that would complete the long-running redevelopment of Carlton's former Carlton United Breweries site.

The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/185-195-queensberry-street-carlton-vic-3053">46-78 Bouverie Street and 185-195 Queensberry Street</a> spans a 6,468 sqm site, the last remaining undeveloped parcels within the former brewery's 2007 masterplan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the development will comprise two purpose-built student accommodation towers and a third build-to-sell apartment tower above a shared commercial podium and basement.

Across the three towers, SP Setia is proposing 606 build-to-sell apartments and 1,499 student accommodation units containing 2,009 beds.

The apartments will sit in the tallest tower, which will rise nearly 200m and 55 storeys. It will become&nbsp;one of the more substantial new build-to-sell apartment projects at the northern edge of Melbourne's CBD.

The apartment mix is weighted toward smaller inner-city product, with 188 studios, 206 one-bedroom apartments, 192 two-bedroom apartments and 20 three-bedroom apartments

<img alt="First look: SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8271bc87-1b0a-41b7-ac73-a425ee375261" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/3_2.png?VersionId=G4lw23o90B1boX4k4dj7rdz2ZEajS9wy" />

Part of the precinct will be a large-scale&nbsp;3,684 sqm supermarket and a further 2,198 sqm of speciality retail, creating close to 5,900 sqm of new commercial space within the precinct.

But one of the biggest components of the proposal is what sits between the buildings.

Around 4,650 sqm, or roughly 72 per cent of the site, will be publicly accessible open space, incorporating plazas, pedestrian connections, landscaped laneways and retail spill-out areas.

The ground plane is intended to finally complete pedestrian connections envisaged when the CUB masterplan was first approved nearly two decades ago, stitching together Victoria Street, Queensberry Street, Bouverie Street and Swanston Street through the former brewery precinct.

Urbis said the development would "complete the CUB precinct", with the public realm providing important north-south and east-west connections through what is currently the final undeveloped portion of the masterplanned site.

SP Setia is also exploring a new linear park within the Bouverie Street road reserve, with the concept to be developed further with the City of Melbourne through the planning process.

The proposal is being pursued through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program under Clause 53.23 for significant residential development with affordable housing.

The planning report acknowledges the proposed heights exceed those contemplated under the original Comprehensive Development Plan and masterplan, but argues the built-form context has changed considerably over the past two decades.

Urbis said the three towers would instead create a stepped transition between Carlton and the Hoddle Grid, rising progressively from the 94.1-metre Tower One along the Queensberry Street edge to the 199.44-metre Tower Three closer to the established CBD-scale buildings to the south.

<img alt="SP Setia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e885a07a-592c-40fc-bf82-e6dbaf32da54" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.52.24%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7s_ErUkSKAdY1mAWp3GRZgMNCGtwhk5m" />

SP Setia plans to deliver the development across three stages.

Stage One would deliver the basement, podium and retail areas for the entire precinct alongside the first student tower. Tower Two would follow in Stage Two, before the 606-apartment Tower Three is delivered as the final stage.

If approved and delivered, the project would close out a redevelopment process that has been underway since the former brewery masterplan was approved in 2007, adding more than 2,600 student beds and apartments to a precinct already home to Swanston Central, the Barak Building, RMIT Design Hub and several large student accommodation developments.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct

Melbourne developer Lowe Living is seeking to add to its growing bayside apartment pipeline, filing plans for a boutique eight-residence development in tightly held Middle Park.

Lowe Living, which has built much of its development portfolio across Melbourne's affluent bayside and south-east suburbs, is behind the plans for the 730 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/123-125-erskine-street-middle-park-vic-3206">123-125 Erskine Street</a>, just off Armstrong Street and within the Armstrong Street Neighbourhood Activity Centre.

The developer is seeking approval for a five-storey residential building above two basement levels, with just eight large-format apartments and 18 car spaces.

“This is a deliberately very different proposition for us,"&nbsp;Tim Lowe, Co-Founder of Lowe Living, said.

"Eight residences is exceptionally boutique, but that's precisely what this site calls for.

“There is a strong community in Middle Park and the surrounding suburbs who have spent decades building a life here. They no longer want the maintenance of a large period home, but they aren't prepared to compromise on space, quality or location. We think there is a real opportunity to capture that hyper local market. A site like this rarely comes to market.”

<img alt="Lowe " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="875fe572-0f14-4d90-9e11-55b28dd07731" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.42.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GDNQRv9BfpR9r1zkZ5UDyUM4ZvpIksut" />

The low-density proposal has been designed by Cera Stribley and is being progressed through the Victorian Government's Great Design Fast Track pathway, having already secured eligibility from the Minister for Planning.

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect supported its eligibility after finding the proposal demonstrated consistency with the program's seven design principles, while the project's financial feasibility has also been independently confirmed by Invest Victoria.

The project is targeting the downsizer market, with the planning documents describing the homes as larger-format residences and noting the two penthouses could otherwise have been configured as four separate apartments.

<img alt="Lowe 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60ab0987-2da6-4175-adac-315dcf6053c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.15%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=bOCPH0B2MFwlmaRW.TTCF9TzyifgVoQI" />

The site has dual frontage to Erskine Street and Canterbury Place and currently comprises a collection of commercial buildings used as offices, including a former heritage bakehouse, a former stable, a later gabled addition and a central courtyard.

It sits within the Commercial 1 Zone and the Armstrong Street Commercial Precinct heritage overlay, with the existing property classified as a contributory heritage place.

Heritage has subsequently played a significant role in Cera Stribley's design.

The front section of the former bakehouse facing Erskine Street will be retained, including its return walls, street-facing hipped roof and chimneys, while the Erskine Street façade and part of the western return wall of the former stable will also be incorporated into the new development.

Levels four and five will be set back five metres from the retained stable façade, while bricks removed through demolition are proposed to be salvaged and reused within the new building where possible.

<img alt="Lowe 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e97927a9-a2de-4a0f-83b6-65451238abfa" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=VR44AChLrX9q1XPB9GvVQV.ALXXbe4gC" />

Rather than presenting as a single five-storey building to Erskine Street, Cera Stribley has broken the development into a series of distinct forms.

A three-storey infill element will sit between the retained bakehouse and stable façades, with the upper levels recessed behind the heritage fabric. Canterbury Place will similarly feature two three-storey podium forms, separated by a central pedestrian accessway, before the upper two levels step back from the street.

A pedestrian through-link will run through the centre of the project between Erskine Street and Canterbury Place, creating entrances from both sides of the site and introducing landscaping and communal areas through the ground plane.

Landscape architect Acre has designed planting across the ground level, private terraces and upper levels, including a feature canopy tree at level three and integrated planting and arbours across the level four terraces. Five existing Erskine Street trees are proposed to be retained.

Sustainability is also a significant component of the Great Design Fast Track application. The apartments are targeting an average eight-star NatHERS rating, with no residence below 6.5 stars, while the project has achieved a 75 per cent BESS score. Seven of the eight apartments are designed for cross-ventilation, with the remaining residence using mechanically assisted natural ventilation.

The plans also incorporate an 8kWp rooftop solar system, a 5,000-litre rainwater tank and infrastructure allowing future electric vehicle charging for every residence.

Lowe has a strong portfolio across Melbourne's blue-chip suburbs. They recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House by Lowe Living</a> in Camberwell, their first development in the Stonnington LGA.

Lowe Living unveils Middle Park apartment development

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

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

<a data-end="327" data-is-only-node="" data-start="250" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/norus-projects" rel="noopener" target="_new">Norus Developments</a> has lodged plans for a new apartment development in Clayton that would add further momentum to the suburb's emerging Green Street corridor.

Plans have been lodged for the consolidated site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1359-1365-centre-road-clayton-vic-3168">1359-1365 Centre Road</a>, where Norus is seeking approval for 218 apartments across a 12-storey apartment building designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/life-architecture-and-urban-design">Life Architecture</a>.

The proposal sits within the Clayton Major Activity Centre at the threshold of the planned Green Street corridor, a landscaped pedestrian connection intended to improve links through the precinct towards Clayton Railway Station.

The development would replace the site's existing collection of low-scale residential and commercial buildings with a single consolidated building, introducing significantly greater housing density to this part of Centre Road.

A retail tenancy is proposed at ground level to activate the Centre Road frontage, accompanied by transparent street interfaces and landscaping intended to create a more pedestrian-focused edge to the development.

<img alt="First look: Norus Developments plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a5a763a-d9e9-4253-af2f-88008de27ebf" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Clayton%20a.png?VersionId=S2WJJbat1XVkZwB9SnYtygirXgWHiklX" />

The building has been designed with stepped massing and upper-level setbacks to manage its transition towards surrounding residential properties. The planning report describes the approach as one that integrates the building into the landscape rather than treating landscaping as a secondary element.

"A strong landscape and public realm strategy underpins the proposal," Urbis states in the planning report.

"Public benefits include an affordable housing contribution, a new pocket park, generous landscaped setbacks, deep soil planting and integrated Water Sensitive Urban Design."

The report adds that these elements are intended to create "a permeable, pedestrian-focused ground plane that enhances walkability, supports urban cooling and reinforces the emerging Green Street character."

Biophilic and passive design principles extend through the residential levels, with planting, daylight, natural ventilation and views towards landscaped areas forming part of the amenity strategy.

Parking would be concentrated away from the public realm, with 145 car spaces proposed from the rear laneway rather than dominating the Centre Road frontage.

The proposal follows an extensive pre-application process with the City of Monash. Three formal meetings were held between the project team and Council from December 2025 to March 2026, with the scheme evolving through several concept iterations before the current design was lodged.

The project arrives as Clayton prepares for substantial change around its established activity centre and the wider Suburban Rail Loop precinct. Its position on Centre Road places the development within an existing concentration of shops, services and public transport, while the Green Street connection is intended to strengthen pedestrian access towards Clayton Railway Station.

First look: Norus plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a> has officially commenced construction on Bronze on Chevron, celebrating the sod turning of its first-ever Gold Coast development and marking a significant milestone in the company's continued expansion across South East Queensland.&nbsp;

Following the successful delivery of premium residential developments throughout Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-chevron-island-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> represents Gardner Vaughan Group's entry into the Gold Coast market. Bronze will deliver 119 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments above two ground-level retail tenancies.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367193]

The recent sod turning ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel, President of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, Cassandra Sedgman, project consultants, purchasers, project partners and invited guests to celebrate the commencement of construction.&nbsp;

Gardner Vaughan Group Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge said Bronze on Chevron represented an exciting new chapter for the business.&nbsp;

"We've spent almost four decades building homes that respond to the way people want to live, and we're excited to bring that experience to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>," Betteridge said.

"Bronze on Chevron is particularly significant because it marks Gardner Vaughan Group's first development on the Gold Coast following many successful projects across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367183]

Betteridge said the ground breaking is a proud moment for the&nbsp;team and their purchasers, who can now see their future homes beginning to take shape.&nbsp;

"As both developer and builder, we're able to oversee every aspect of the project from design through to construction, ensuring the quality and attention to detail Gardner Vaughan Group has become renowned for."&nbsp;

Designed by acclaimed architectural practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, Bronze on Chevron has been thoughtfully designed to complement Chevron Island's evolving streetscape while embracing its relaxed coastal lifestyle.

The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]

The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029

Gardner Vaughan Group breaks ground on first Gold Coast development, Bronze on Chevron

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?

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The property at 121 Treasure Island Avenue, Karragarra Island, tops SQM Research's list of the most discounted properties in Queensland. Its neighbour 700 metres down the road, 60 Treasure Island Avenue, still appears on realestate.com.au for sale but does not appear on SQM's list.
"At the moment there are a number of forces out there which could have either a positive or negative influence on the Queensland property market," says SQM director Louis Christopher.
"They include factors such as the recent change of government (which could have a positive impact on the housing market) or issues such as the fact that there is still an elevated supply of real estate on the market, particularly in north Queensland and south-east Queensland, which has already had a negative impact on house prices and will most likely continue to unless stock levels decrease."
1
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-karragarra+island-106914618">121 Treasure Island Avenue, Karragarra Island, Queensland, 4184</a>
On the market since: October 23, 2010
Initial asking price: $335,000
Current asking price: $200,000
Reduction: 40%
Days on market: 511
 
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">2</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2009242341">102 Bancroft Terrace, Deception Bay, Queensland, 4508</a>
On the market since: September 26, 2011
Initial asking price: $645,000
Current asking price: $419,000
Reduction: 35%
Days on market: 175
 
 
3
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2009417474" target="_blank">320 Redbank Plains Road, Bellbird Park, Queensland, 4300</a>
On the market since: December 19, 2011
Initial asking price: $1,499,000
Current asking price: $975,000
Reduction: 35%
Days on market: 91
 
4
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D105609896">40 Courageous Court, Newport, Queensland, 4020</a> (pictured)
On the market since: March 29, 2003
Initial asking price: $1.75 million
Current asking price: $1.15 million
Reduction: 34%
Days on market: 1,084
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">5</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008986804">64 Beckwith Street, Ormiston, Queensland, 4160</a>
On the market since: May 15, 2011
Initial asking price: $779,000
Current asking price: $525,000
Reduction: 33%
Days on market: 308
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">6</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D107475501">65 Brentford Road, Richlands, Queensland, 4077</a>
On the market since: June 18, 2011
Initial asking price: $525,000
Current asking price: $359,000
Reduction: 32%
Days on market: 273
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">7</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D107603313" target="_blank">34 Seraya Court, Closeburn, Queensland, 4520</a>
On the market since: August 13, 2011
Initial asking price: $1,450,000
Current asking price: $995,000
Reduction: 31%
Days on market: 217
 
8
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106322479" target="_blank">1255 Gympie Road, Aspley, Queensland, 4034</a>
On the market since: February 20, 2010
Initial asking price: $510,000
Current asking price: $350,000
Reduction: 31%
Days on market: 756
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">9</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D107227469" target="_blank">36 First Avenue, Beachmere, Queensland, 4510</a>
On the market since: March 5, 2011
Initial asking price: $450,000
Current asking price: $310,000
Days on market: 378
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">10</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106826848" target="_blank">226-228 West Mount Cotton Road, Cornubia, Queensland, 4130</a>
On the market since: October 2, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.2 million
Current asking price: $860,000
Reduction: 28%
Days on market: 532
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
SQM Research also offers a list of the <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/top100bargains.php" title="SQM Research" target="_blank">Top 100 Biggest Bargains in Australia </a>for sale.
 
 
 
 
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cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

Treasure Island Avenue home heads list of most discounted properties in Queensland: SQM Research

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Boothville House, the stately six-bedroom mansion in the Brisbane suburb of Windsor, remains listed for sale. It has a $4.5 million asking price.
It was built in 1887 for the Queensland National Bank to provide residential accommodation for managers, starting with Henry Wallis Glenny. It took its name after its purchase by William Booth, the son of the founder of the Salvation Army, in 1923. It was The Salvation Army-run Boothville Maternity Hospital for 70 years before it was closed in 1994. Some 80,000 babies were born at Boothville.
It was the transformed into a large family home after its restoration by Carbone Developments, which built villas in its then extended grounds. It has sweeping views across Brisbane, plus glass chandeliers, bay windows, fireplaces and crafted timberwork, and its listing agent Gabrielle Trickey of Ray White Paddington says there’s been much buyer interest. Boothville boasts 29 rooms including six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a gym and a home theatre.
It retains many historical features, from the servants’ bell in the formal dining area to the oxygen panel in the gym, formerly the hospital operating theatre. It was bought by Melita and Drew Mattsson for $2.05 million in 2004. It sold in 2008 for $3.65 million and again in late 2008 to the current vendor, Queensland gas mining magnate Richard Cottee and his wife, Shauna, who paid $4.1 million. The couple divide their time between the UK and a farm outside Lorne on Victoria’s surf coast, where Shauna raises llamas and sheep.
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Stately Brisbane mansion Boothville House, formerly Boothville Maternity Hospital, listed for sale

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Tucked away in a special little corner of Queensland is a luxurious utopia with beautiful houses, native animals roaming freely and a prized level of environmental sustainability.
It is a rich man’s hideaway where strict design codes and by-laws ensure it remains an Australian paradise by the sea.
Sunrise at 1770 is near the exclusive Agnes Water between Bundaberg and Gladstone. It takes more than five hours to drive from Brisbane.
Remote by design, the project aimed to become the nation’s premier ecologically sustainable community.
In 2007 and 2008 the UDIA voted it the Best Sustainable Development in Queensland and then Australia. In 2009 at FIABCI’s Prix d’Excellence World Awards it was the first runner-up in the environmental category.
Twenty-five houses have been built in the community, which will allow a maximum of 172 homes on the site, which is surrounded by protected wetlands, beaches and reserves. One of its finest houses has been listed for sale with $2.95 million hopes.
The contemporary Springs Road house, which is owned by property investors Mark and Janene Hulst, was named both Queensland Home of the Year (2002) and Custom Home of the Year.
Noosa designer Steven Kidd of Kidd+co Designers designed this and several other glamorous houses at Sunrise.
“We had a great brief and we did a few houses in a row, which makes a nice vision. Mark’s house has a beautiful internal garden in a wonderfully unique environment. We decided to keep the existing vegetation and turn the house inside out,” Kidd says.
‘The balconies hang off the house. The design concept works with circulation areas plus breakout spaces. It is a timber-framed house with exceptional timberwork inside that was crafted by the builder Mike Murray.”
Given the house is positioned at a 45-degree angle, two faces take in views of the Coral Sea and the famous Springs Beach surf break.
Clean lines create a tree house style of living where sections of space with cantilevered balconies act as a floating canvass with a pristine bushland or the sea as a frame. It is minimalism without forsaking any cosy comforts, since the house is technically savvy and equipped with rain sensors on the atrium windows, an external rooftop sprinkler system for fire control, under-garage water tanks, auto sensor bathroom lighting and in a nod to summertime necessities, climate-controlled wine storage behind the kitchen.
“We built it together and love living at Sunrise. It was a great challenge so we are looking to buy another block of land here and do it all again,” says Mark Hulst.
Sunrise at 1770 has raised boardwalks to two beach clubs with three pools, barbecue pavilions and tennis courts.
To buy into Sunrise, where the Smorgan family owns property alongside bankers, a film producer and a couple surfing identities, is to buy into a body corporate with a green future. The primary water supply comes from rainwater tanks and wastewater is used to supply toilets, a communal car wash and firefighting.
A “dark sky” policy prevails so turtles use their rookeries. Non-native pets are verboten, so local wildlife and Godzilla, the resident two-metre-long goanna, can roam unmolested.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom Hulst house is listed for sale through Gordon Christian at Harcourts Agnes Water.
 
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andreadixon-oif3j7eKne

Sustainable Agnes Water award winner listed on Queensland’s Discovery Coast

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I like David Koch. I must confess I like Mel, Natalie and Fifi more, but David, by my standards, is a cut above the rest when it comes to daytime television.
But, and this is a big BUT, I like David far less <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/kochie-sets-his-sights-on-estate-agents-and-journalists-in-queensland-property-catastrophe-stoush/2012013053183">when he delivers blanket statements</a> such as a “property catastrophe is underway in places like the Sunshine and Gold coasts”. I was going to stay out of this, but the negative impact of David’s comments has been substantial. The power of celebrity these days cannot be underestimated, and with it should come much more care.
Yes, both coasts have experienced a sustained property downturn. And for generic lifestyle-orientated property in both locations, the decline in value might not yet be over. For well- understood reasons, the current situation is warranted.
But there are always markets within markets and available advice beyond “just don’t go there”. As I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/seven-positive-signs-for-australias-property-markets/2012021453387">wrote a few weeks back</a>, a property’s value is only partially dependent on the broader market conditions. Studies show that about 40% of growth (or otherwise) can be explained by trends in the overall market. The all-important 60% comes down to more individual factors such as location, the style of housing, its design and inclusions, and the income/demographics of the area.
A major driver behind this 60% is new infrastructure. I have googled David Koch and discovered that on many occasions, he supported such claims. David and Libby’s investment advisory columns frequently advocate such.
So why, David, is a place like Kawana (which is on the Sunshine Coast) up shite creek, when one of the largest infrastructure projects in Australia –the sixth largest teaching hospital in the world – is about to start construction? And in support, there is a hell of a lot more going on in the Kawana area on the Sunshine Coast than most know about. It is, after all, about a kilometre away from the beach, so maybe the Sunrise cameras couldn’t find it.
The statistics are somewhat mind blowing. Let me bore you for a minute or two while I recite some of them:
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/matus.jpg"><img src="/images/stories/matusthumb.jpg"></a>
<ul>
<li>The Sunshine Coast University Hospital or SCUH for short will be a private-public partnership with Queensland Health. The short-listed partnership consortiums are Lend Lease, Thiess/AbiGroup and Lang O’Rourke. Construction is planned to start in 2013, with stage one of 450 beds completed in 2016, expanding to 738 beds in 2021. The hospital will create 2,000 construction jobs and 3,500 permanent jobs once complete. It is expected that more than 15,000 people will visit the hospital each and every day.</li>
<li>
Ramsay Private Hospital Co-located with SCUH. Construction is now underway and in late 2013 this 200-bed private hospital will house 700 permanent employees and create 360 jobs during construction.</li>
<li>
SARC or the Skills, Academic and Research Centre, will provide teaching and research within the hospital campus. A $61 million capital investment, with 150 academic and support staff catering for 1,300 students each year.</li>
<li>
KHIP (don’t you love all these acronyms), or Kawana Health Innovation Park, will be a commercial precinct distributed across a number of sites across the hospital campus.</li>
<li>
Kawana Town Centre and medical precinct. The town centre – adjacent to the SCUH, will commence in 2013 too. The town centre incorporates 80,000 square metres of retail, commercial, community and entertainment facilities as well a medium-density residential sites. The town centre is expected to generate about 5,000 jobs during construction and similar in permanent positions upon completion.</li>
</ul>
The “Kawana Health Hub” – for the sake of calling it something – is a very big regional initiative, comparable with a major resources project. Yet few know about it. It is a game changer, a recovery catalyst, a smart job generator, which the likes of David Koch should be spruiking rather than carpet bombing.
For those who are a little poor at maths, the Kawana Health Hub will employ around 2,000 construction workers at any one time between now and at least 2016. In addition, it is projected – yet international case studies of similar major infrastructure projects suggest a higher multiplier – that 10,000 permanent jobs with be created in the locality. The vast majority will be new jobs.
The back-of-an-envelope demand analysis – relax, I have been doing them for close to 25 years and rarely get this stuff wrong – suggests that 10,000 new jobs will create the demand for between 5,500 and 6,000 new dwellings. Yet the approved residential offerings in the region suggests that 3,500 new dwellings can be supplied in the adjacent Birtinya neighbourhood and a further 1,000 new residents on the beachfront parcel known locally as “Bokarina”.
The projected 10,000 permanent jobs, by the way, exclude those generated from new housing construction, which most readers know can also be substantial.
The average daily spend in the Kawana area over the next five years will be $1.5 million. I repeat – $1.5 million per day.
The Sunshine Coast University Hospital alone is valued at $2 billion and represents almost a quarter of the current Sunshine Coast regional economy. It is estimated that it will inject about $700 million into the Sunshine Coast economy every year and will be the coast’s single largest employer.
Now for the life of me, I don’t see how this part of the Sunshine Coast can be labelled “catastrophic”. Oh, and by the way, three-quarters of the Sunshine Coast’s permanent population of 340,000 actually live within the Kawana catchment area.
So, David, instead of labelling the Gold and Sunshine coasts as “property catastrophes” maybe a more subtle message is needed. May I suggest something like:
“There is little doubt that both the Gold and Sunshine coast residential property markets are doing it tough. Buyers do have a lot of choice and for generic lifestyle-orientated stock; asking prices are still under pressure.
“Astute buyers of older second-hand stock, however, can now buy below replacement cost. Investors should always focus on property adjacent to existing and especially new infrastructure. The most successful residential investors also hold for the long term.
“There are buying opportunities on both coasts. You just need to do your homework first.”
Now, I wonder if this column will get me a gig on Sunrise?
Michael Matusik is the director of independent property advisory Matusik Property Insights. Matusik has helped over 500 new residential developments come to fruition and writes the weekly  <a href="https://matusikmissive.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" title="Matusik's Missive">Matusik's Missive</a>.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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michaelmatusik-49YzLvdmNv

Wait a minute, Kochie, there are bright spots for property investment on the Gold and Sunshine coasts

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Experienced property developer Jack Ray has become the latest Mermaid Beach millionaire’s row sales victim.
His two-bedroom Hedges Avenue beachfront cottage has been sold after being listed with $4.2 million-plus hopes through Michael Kollosche at Ray White Broadbeach.
No sale price has been revealed.
He had paid $5.85 million for the property in September 2008, buying from a company linked to another high-profile developer, Mike Moorhead.
Moorhead had done a full renovation on the house, so Ray’s only additions were to enclose the garage.
The home is on a 405-square-metre block opposite the Republic Café.
The cottage’s peak sale was $6.75 million in 2007 when sold by hypnotherapist Carolyn Balanda, having previously traded at $5.97 million in 2006.
Moorhead and Balanda had also been involved in a 2007 sale when she sold to Moorhead on Albatross Avenue for $8.45 million.
Moorhead then sold it for $7 million in 2008, and Kollosche had the 782-square-metre vacant block recently listed at $5.9 million plus until its withdrawal earlier this month.
When he listed last October Ray indicated the likelihood that he would buy again in Mermaid Beach possibly on nearby Albatross Avenue with rebuilding intentions with his partner, high-profile television personality Natalie Gruzlewski, the host of The Farmer Wants a Wife.
 
 
 
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Property developer Jack Ray and Natalie Gruzlewski looking elsewhere on Mermaid Beach despite copping loss

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Toowoomba is one of just <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/queensland-towns-dominate-list-of-hotspot-kings-for-three-years/2012030553676">nine locations</a> that has been listed as an investment hotspot three years running (2010-2012) by Australian Property Investor magazine in its annual Hot 100 list.
As Australia's second-largest inland city (after Canberra), Toowoomba could benefit from providing services to the Surat Basin about 160 kilometres to the north west, Australia’s largest coal seam gas (CSG) mine.
However, the town is still recovering from the devastating effects of the 2011 inland tsunami that claimed 22 local lives and caused $7 billion worth of damage to homes and infrastructure in the town and neighbouring Lockyer Valley. Residents complain that the pace of reconstruction remains slow while some home owners continue to battle with insurers to rebuild their homes.
Location and demographics
Toowoomba is located 127 kilometres west of Brisbane. It is bounded by the South Burnett region in the north, the Somerset region and the Lockyer Valley region in the east, the Southern Downs region and the Goondiwindi region in the south, and the Dalby region in the west.
It has an estimated district population of about 150,000, which is expected to reach 231,000 by 2031 and possibly as high as 250,000 under a high-growth scenario (Canberra has a current population of 358,000).
The Queensland government forecasts Highfields, 14 kilometres north of Toowoomba, along with Toowoomba south-east, Toowoomba west and Westbrook, 12 kilometres south of Toowoomba, to grow the fastest over the next four years.
According to ABS statistics, the Toowoomba municipality’s unemployment rate dropped from 3.5% to 1.6% between 2005 and 2009, and its population grew by 7%.
 Key property data
According to RP Data, Toowoomba is more affordable than nearby Chinchilla (also a mining hotspot) and significantly more affordable than hotspot king Gladstone, though returns are lower.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Median house price
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Yield
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Median unit prices
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Yield
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Moranbah
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$510,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
12%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
SNR
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
SNR
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Rockhampton
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$217,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
6%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$447,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Gladstone
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$437,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
5%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$350,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Toowoomba
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$275,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
5%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$233,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Chinchilla
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$320,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
5%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$252,500
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
8%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
About a third (31%) of residents in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley rent.
Hotspotting.com.au director Terry Ryder warns against investing in locations solely reliant on the resources boom.
In this respect, Toowoomba is more than just a base for mining companies. It has a diverse economy with major industries including manufacturing, agriculture and education. Toowoomba has more than 23 private schools and a technical college, as well as being home to a campus of the University of Southern Queensland.
Ryder describes Toowoomba as a “prime example of a strong regional economy that benefits from the resources boom but doesn’t rely on it – making it a safe long-term bet for investors.
“Toowoomba has a diverse economy, a secure water supply … and an exciting future given everything that is happening in the neighbouring Surat Basin, Australia’s new resources boom province,” Ryder explains as part of his reason for selecting Toowoomba in Smart Property Investment magazine’s 2012 list of 50 locations with the most price growth potential.
Toowoomba was also one of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/australian-capital-territory/of-15000-suburbs-21-rise-to-the-top-as-worth-a-look-for-investors/2011072750933" target="_blank">only 21 locations to be included on hotspot lists</a> of both Your Investment Property magazine and Australian Property Investor last year.
Toowoomba is the top pick of RP Data’s David Williams, who says “Toowoomba is quickly becoming a base town for [CSG] mining companies”.
Current state of the market
According to the January 2012 ANZ Australian Housing Chart book, Toowoomba was one of the better-performing regional locations in Queensland, with price growth of around 3%. This is well below that of hotspot king Gladstone, but it is higher than the overall regional Queensland market and Brisbane.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/qldgrowth.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/qldgrowththumb.gif"></a>
Source: ANZ January 2012 Housing Chart Book
Demand for property in Toowoomba will likely be underpinned by strong population growth in the neighbouring Lockyer Valley, which is one of Australia’s fastest-growing regional areas:
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/fastregional.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/fastregionalthumb.gif"></a>
Source: ANZ January 2012 Housing Chart Book
What local estate agents say
Lynn McLean, owner of Realpoint Property owner, reports an increase in sales in January. "It's all starting to finally happen for the Surat Basin," she told the Toowoomba Chronicle. "Last week I sold five other blocks of land specifically to cater for the mining industry.”
McLean says she has “a waiting list of people looking for blocks of units and duplexes” and has been taking delegations of interstate and overseas investors on tour of the city's real estate.
She is currently marketing a two-bedroom house on Jellicoe Street (pictured below) on a 1,400-square metre-lot for $315,000 as a development opportunity suited for mine workers.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/toow1.jpg">
“At the very western end of Jellicoe Street, so is perfectly situated for accommodation units for the mining workers,” she writes.
It is currently rented at $205 per week, reflecting a yield of 3.38%
“You could divide it into two lots, both lots would have good street frontage or you could remove the house and build five units,” she says.
A pick-up in activity has also been noted by Collier International's Dominic Ryan, after a slow 2011.
According to Ryan there has been a lot of interest of late from investors in towns near the Surat Basin. Ryan expects rents to start rising.
Another agent, Daniel Steinberg from Ray White Toowoomba is selling this four-bedroom house on Winning Street currently rented at $355 per week at an asking price of $345,000.
This equates to a yield of 5.35%.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/toow2.jpg">
“Act now before the mining rental boom hits the west side of Toowoomba,” he writes.
Reasons to buy:
<ul>
<li>Growing reputation as gateway to Surat Basin driving up residential sales</li>
<li>More affordable than other regional locations near mining activity</li>
<li>Growing population </li>
<li>Not just reliant on mining but a thriving multi-sector regional town</li>
<li>Investors in new homes in Toowoomba can take advantage of the $10,000 building boost until April</li>
</ul>
Reasons not to buy:
<ul>
<li>Physical scars still remain from the devastating inland tsunami </li>
<li>Reports that buyers remain “spooked” about buying in flood-affected towns.</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Hotspots: Toowoomba could be headed for recovery

<html><body>
Remote north Queensland mining towns dominate a list of the state’s top-performing suburbs in 2011, according to RP Data’s list of top 100 house price growth suburbs.
Reflecting the underperformance of the Queensland housing market in 2011, there are only 12 sunshine state locations on the list, with nine of these having strong ties to mining and natural resources activity.
All nine mining towns rank inside the top 50 with four inside the top 10 suburbs <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/hotspot-high-yields-and-price-growth-in-moranbah-but-best-time-to-buy-may-have-passed/2012022753563" target="_blank">led by top placed Moranbah</a> in the Isaac region coal belt as well as nearby Clermont, which ranked 22nd.
Moranbah is followed by a cluster of towns around Gladstone, the epicentre of $75 billion worth of liquefied natural gas, rail and port projects. These include New Auckland (third), Clinton (sixth) and West Gladstone (eighth).
Ray White Gladstone principal Andrew Allen says investors make up 60% of buyers in the region, with vacancies in 2011 below 1% despite a record number of dwellings approved by the council.
About 10,000 new workers are expected in Gladstone over the next 12 months, with mining companies building 4,000 accommodation units and the Queensland government developing about 1,000 blocks.
“Demand outweighs supply two to one,” Allen tells The Australian.
The mining outlier is Roma, 515 kilometres west of Brisbane in the Darling Downs, a town swept up in the coal seam gas (CSG) boom and the home of Origin Energy's Spring Gully Coal Seam Gas Development and the outer end point of the 434-kilometres Roma-to-Brisbane gas pipeline.
The three remaining locations are the Brisbane suburbs of Red Hill (17th), Indooroopilly (70th) and Coorparoo (77th).
Red Hill, just three kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, recorded impressive house price growth of 12% to a median house price of $705,000 and is the only one of the tree Brisbane suburbs to rank higher than some of the remote mining locations.
Queensland locations in the RP Data Top 100 
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Rank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Location
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Median value in 2010
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Median value in 2011
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
% change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
1st
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Moranbah
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$474,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$612,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
29%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
3rd
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
New Auckland
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$379,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$459,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
21.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
6th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Clinton
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$385,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$452,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
17.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
8th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
West Gladstone
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$353,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$412,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
16.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
11th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Roma
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$274,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$317,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
15.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
12th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Blackwater
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$310,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$357,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
14.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
18th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Red Hill
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$629,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$705,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
12%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
21st
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Boyne Island
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$421,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$470,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
11.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
22nd
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Clermont
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$317,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$353,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
11.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
35th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Emerald
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$354,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$385,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
8.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
70th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Indooroopilly
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$653,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$692,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="123">
76th
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Coorparoo
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$602,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
$634,000
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
5.4%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RP Data
Photo courtsey of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.flickr.com/">Flickr.</a>
 
 
 
</body></html>

Remote mining towns dominate RP Data’s list of Queensland top-performing housing markets

<html><body>
Moranbah ranked as the number-one suburb for capital growth over 2011, with house prices rising 29% from a median of $474,000 in 2010 to $612,000, according to RP Data.
Property investors continue to pour funds into the small northern Queensland town close to coal mining activity in the Isaac region with yields still on offer of up to 16%.
Sales activity has soared over the first two months of the year, with 44 houses sold in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Moranbah </a>over January and February, according to realestate.com.au figures.
This is more than double the 21 houses sold in the first two months of 2011.
Top Five suburbs for capital growth over 2011
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="width: 470px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Rank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
State
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Median value in 2010
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Median value in 2011
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
% change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="103">
1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
QLD
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Moranbah
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$474,089
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$611,752
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
29%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="103">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Moss Vale
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$297,060
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$364,407
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
22.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="103">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
QLD
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
New Auckland
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$378,833
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$459,150
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
21.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="103">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
ACT
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Red Hill
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$940,873
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$1,129,919
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
20.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="103">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
QLD
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
Clinton
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$385,118
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
$452,865
</td>
<td valign="top" width="103">
19.7%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RP Data
Hotspotting.com.au director Terry Ryder says there will be further price growth in Moranbah, but believes that the best time to buy was 18 months ago before the growth in prices and rents gathered pace.
“There appears to be long-term sustainable demand from overseas markets for Queensland coal, so towns like Moranbah have a future.
“Investors need to be aware of the risks, however. Mining towns are highly vulnerable to economic cycles and sit at the high-risk end of the investment spectrum. Mining companies are increasingly opting to fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workforces.
“BHP is seeking to run its new mine near Moranbah on a 100% FIFO workforce, so that does not generate accommodation in the town,” says Ryder.
RP Data’s Cameron Kusher also warns that investors must tread carefully when it comes to mining towns like Moranbah
"'We've seen locations where capital prices collapse as soon as the mine is shut down," he told the Sun-Herald earlier this month.
Local agents though continue to report record listings, high yields and strong investor demand for properties.
Sharyn Mackay from Vision Real Estate is seeking $1.25 million – a Moranbah record – for this five-bedroom house (below) on Longman Drive. According to principal Vikki Oldfield, the property would rent for more than $3,000 per week – a yield in excess of 12%.  It last sold in August 2010 for $710,000.
<img src="/images/stories/mora1.jpg" width="470">
This four-bedroom house (below), marketed by Emma Elliott from Ray White Mackay Beaches and Moranbah with swimming pool on Gilbert Court close is currently under offer of $920,000 according to RP Data and renting at $2,800 per week. At this sales price, this equates to a yield of 15.8%. It last sold for just $121,000 in 2002.
<img width="470" src="/images/stories/mora2.jpg">
Another local real estate agent, Craig Aitcheson from LJ Hooker Moranbah, described the market as the “craziest” he'd ever seen and believers there is still room for further price growth.
“I just can't see it slowing down with all the activity that's happening,” he told the Mackay Daily Mercury.
Aitcheson says 95% of inquiries are coming from investors.
The Moranbah region has undergone rapid population growth in recent times, with the population expanding from just over 7,000 according to the 2006 census to over 10,500 in 2009 according to the Isaac Region Council.
The supply of homes has received a small boost in recent months with the launch of a new residential community known as the Bushlark Grove. The project will provide 160 new homes for around 400 people over the next six months at a cost of $20?million, targeted at the more affordable end of the market.
"Bushlark Grove will provide more affordable housing through the improved supply of residential land and a greater range of housing types to cater for the needs of the Moranbah community," says Urban Land Development Authority director of residential development Peter Smith.
However, the creation of new residential communities around Moranbah appears limited.
Following the recently released Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Regional Plan 2012-2031, aimed at easing the housing squeeze and dependence on fly-in, fly-out workers, Queensland Local Government Minister Paul Lucas says Moranbah's urban footprint could not be expanded because it is surrounded by mining leases.
In December, Moranbah’s status as a coal exporting hub was enhanced with the opening of the new $1.1 billion rail link Goonyella to Abbot Point rail link north of the town.
The rail link will increase the capacity of coal exports by a further 50 million tonnes each year.
</body></html>

Hotspots: High yields and price growth in Moranbah, but best time to buy may have passed

<html><body>
The Queensland property at 121 Treasure Island Avenue, Karragarra Island, made its debut on SQM Research's top 10 most discounted properties list last week  – and now its neighbour has appeared in the number-one position on the list.
The property at 60 Treasure Island Avenue has had its price hopes slashed from $295,000 to $185,000 this week. It was initially listed with price hopes of $349,000 in October 2010.
<img src="/images/stories/karragarra.jpg">
Its neighbour 700 metres down the road, 121 Treasure Island Avenue, was also put on the market in October 2010, and both are marketed by T. Barclay Real Estate.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/karragarraisland.jpg" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/karragarraislandthumb.jpg"></a>
"INSANE PRICE! GRAB IT NOW - THIS REALLY IS THE BARGAIN OF A LIFETIME. This is a ridiculous low low price - around $100,000 under what it is worth," says Terri Barclay in 60 Treasure Island Avenue's marketing.
{qtube vid:=54H1z9r5_00}
The agency made a video advertising the property (above) while it was for sale with price hopes of $295,000.
Karragarra Island is adjacent to Macleay Island, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/vendors-of-heavily-discounted-properties-often-misjudge-the-market-sqm/2012020953301">home to the most discounted property in Australia last week, 92 Beelong Street</a>. The Treasure Island properties are within half an hour's drive of 92 Beelong Street.
 
1
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-karragarra+island-106858585">60 Treasure Island Avenue, Karragarra Island, Queensland,4184</a> (pictured)
On the market since: October 3, 2010
Initial asking price: $349,000
Current asking price: $185,000
Reduction: 47%
Days on market: 489
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">2</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106479016">92 Beelong Street, Macleay Island, Queensland, 4184</a>
On the market since: May 23, 2010
Initial asking price: $590,000
Current asking price: $340,000
Reduction: 42%
Days on market: 622
 
 
3
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008940771" target="_blank">102 Fountain Road, Burpengary, Queensland, 4505</a>
On the market since: April 17, 2011
Initial asking price: $1.2 million
Current asking price: $699,000
Reduction: 42%
Days on market: 295
 
  
4
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-karragarra+island-106914618" target="_blank">121 Treasure Island Avenue, Karragarra Island, Queensland, 4184</a> 
On the market since: October 23, 2010
Initial asking price: $335,000
Current asking price: $200,000
Reduction: 40%
Days on market: 469
 
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">5</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008421301" target="_blank">27 Reeve Street, Campania, Tasmania, 7026</a>
On the market since: June 14, 2010
Initial asking price: $330,000
Current asking price: $200,000
Reduction: 39%
Days on market: 603
 
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">6</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106866439" target="_blank">329 Waterford Road, Ellen Grove, Queensland, 4078</a>
On the market since: October 16, 2010
Initial asking price: $1,275,000
Current asking price: $800,000
Reduction: 37%
Days on market: 476
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">7</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106364068">22 Fenton Avenue, Christies Beach, SA, 5165</a>
On the market since: March 6,  2010
Initial asking price: $1,195,000
Current asking price: $750,000
Reduction: 37%
Days on market: 700
 
8
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2008729828">2/18 Campbell Crescent, Terrigal, NSW, 2260</a>
On the market since: December 11, 2010
Initial asking price: $1.99 million
Current asking price: $1.25 million
Reduction: 37%
Days on market: 420
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">9</h2>
<a target="_blank" href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.domain.com.au%2FPublic%2FPropertyDetails.aspx%3Fadid%3D2007193295">290 Viveash Road, Swan View, WA, 6056</a>
On the market since: June 5, 2008
Initial asking price: $2.29 million
Current asking price: $1.45 million
Reduction: 37%
Days on market: 1,341
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">10</h2>
<a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/homediscounts/redir.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fcgi-bin%2Frsearch%3Fa%3Do%26id%3D106211228" target="_blank">15 Gretel, Two Rocks, WA, 6037</a>
On the market since: December 26, 2009
Initial asking price: $1.1 million
Current asking price: $699,000
Reduction: 36%
Days on market: 770
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
 
<h2 style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;"></h2>
SQM Research also offers a list of the <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/top100bargains.php" title="SQM Research" target="_blank">Top 100 Biggest Bargains in Australia </a>for sale.
 
 
 
</body></html>

Two of four most discounted properties in Australia are Treasure Island neighbours

<html><body>
Stockland has recorded an increase in buyer activity for its residential offerings in south-east Queensland since September last year, according to chief executive Matthew Quinn. 
He emphasises this is only the case for the company’s “affordable” offerings and not for the market in general. 
Speaking at a media briefing following the release of interim 2012 results that showed statutory profit down 28% to $307.6 million on the back of a “challenging” last six months, Quinn said there had been a pick-up up in inquiries and deposits in south-east Queensland but that certain pockets of the market such are still doing it very tough. 
Quinn says the south-east Queensland market is still operating well below capacity, with underlying demand not being reflected in actual sales activity. 
“Brisbane and Perth should be our strongest markets, but paradoxically they are our weakest,” he says. 
“One reason for this is the surplus of stock on the market. The market got ahead of itself. But that stock is now clearing and buying activity is increasing for new product. 
“The signs are much more positive for our affordable product type.” 
During the presentation Quinn highlighted the healthy state of its residential division and says Stockland will achieve its full-year earnings guidance due in large part to residential sales. 
“Our residential business is well positioned with 2,488 contracts on hand at 31 December 2011 (equivalent to approximately $530 million of revenue), compared to 2,288 at 30 June 2011,” he says. 
“Deposits and leads are tracking well with both showing two quarters of consecutive growth – a trend that continued in January with deposits for the month higher than the average for the past 12 months.
<img src="/images/stories/leadsgrowth.gif">
According to Quinn, lead volumes, “the ultimate leading indicator” of future demand, are increasing at an even higher rate than deposits. 
“Leads are buyers that come into sales centre and show genuine interest. There has been a substantial increase in this.” 
In addition, first-home buyers are re-emerging, accounting for 40% of all leads compared with a normal ratio of between 20% to 30%. 
“This is a strong signal that the market is moving,” he says. 
Quinn says Stockland is focused on developing residential assets for three specific customer segments: the mass market, middle Australian and those seeking affordable housing. 
“There has been a big shift in buyer behaviour in last three years. 
“If it’s affordable and they need it they will buy it… If it is expensive and they don’t need they will wait,” he says. 
Stockland reported underlying profit of $350.8 million, down 8% on the first half of 2011, and underlying earnings per security of 14.9¢, down 7%. 
This year Stockland is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
 
 
 
 
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