Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

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?

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a> is preparing to commence construction on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> this October, marking the next milestone for the Melbourne CBD development and its higher-end Eliza Collection.

Spanning levels 44 to 68 of the 68-storey <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed tower, the Eliza Collection has been conceived as a lower-density offering within the broader development, with only five apartments on each floor, dedicated lift access and a collection of resident spaces reserved exclusively for Eliza Collection residents.

The Eliza Collection forms part of Far East Consortium's broader move toward larger-format residences at 640 Bourke Street, where the number of apartments was reduced from earlier plans as apartment sizes increased.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365685]

"What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Far East Consortium Director of Sales and Marketing Lauren Sheldon said.

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang said the design process provided an opportunity to create more generous floorplans.

"We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=368869]

That thinking carries through to the Eliza Collection, where the residences have been designed around the space and functionality associated with a larger home, but positioned high above the centre of Melbourne.

Kitchens are equipped with Gaggenau appliances, a butler's pantry, temperature-controlled wine cabinet and sculptural pendant lighting, while engineered timber flooring, stone and porcelain finishes and custom cabinetry feature throughout the broader interiors.

Privacy and security are another point of distinction. Eliza Collection residents have dedicated lift access, while 640 Bourke Street will provide concierge services and secure resident parking. Short-stay accommodation, including Airbnb, will not be permitted within the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

Eliza Collection residents will also have exclusive access to selected amenity spaces across levels one and three of the restored Eliza Tinsley building. These include the Salon with grand piano, an art therapy room, private dining rooms and treatment rooms.

They sit within more than 3,000 sqm of amenity planned across 640 Bourke Street, alongside facilities including a pool, gym, whisky lounge and further social and wellness spaces.

The Eliza Tinsley building itself is central to the wider project's identity. Rather than treating the existing Eliza Tinsley façade as a separate element, Rothelowman used it as a starting point for the architecture of the new tower, with the historic building to accommodate the project's gallery and lobby.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=368872]

The tower will rise behind the retained heritage building at 640 Bourke Street, placing residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market and the Docklands waterfront.

With construction scheduled to begin in October, Far East Consortium has established an onsite display gallery at 640 Bourke Street, including fully built apartments that allow the project's layouts, materials and finishes to be inspected at full scale.

A fully built Eliza Collection apartment is also available to view at the display suite by appointment ahead of the planned October construction commencement.

Eligible purchasers who buy before construction commences can secure the full available off-the-plan stamp duty savings, subject to eligibility and applicable conditions.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Far East Consortium brings Eliza Collection to 640 Bourke Street ahead of October construction start

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A Flinders, Mornington Peninsula rural offering - last sold in 1845 - remains listed having been offered with $7.5 million hopes.
The property, known as The Windmill Paddocks, is at 4407 Frankston-Flinders Road.
It is listed through Blane Paton at Paton Estate Agents Balnarring.
It is 5.6 hectares of vacant land with foreshore frontage.
<div id="description">
The Tuck farming family has owned its <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/4407-frankston-flinders-road-shoreham/Property-Details-buy-residential-6578217" target="_blank">since 1845</a>.
Flinder's latest listing, <a href="/news/clifftop-flinders-rural-icon-pinnacle-park-listed">Pinnacle Park</a> has been listed with offers due 15 June <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/flinders/Property-Details-buy-residential-8683288" target="_blank">with Kay &amp; Burton</a>. More than $15 million is likely.
</div>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Flinders Windmill Paddocks offering for first time since 1845

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Melbourne inner city vendors lost a total of $4.5 million in the December quarter.
The local government area had the highest rate of loss-making sales of any Melbourne region in the three month period. According to CoreLogic RP Data's latest Pain and Gain report, 17.3% of Melbourne City resales in the final quarter of 2014 made a loss.
The Melbourne local government area includes Melbourne's CBD, Carlton, parts of Carlton North, Docklands, East Melbourne, some parts of Flemington, Jolimont, Kensington, Parkville, Southbank and West Melbourne.
It also includes parts of North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, South Wharf and South Yarra.
The median loss for Melbourne City resales in the December quarter was $27,350. With a total of $4,527,759 lost by vendors, the region also recorded the highest total loss of any Melbourne area.
Vendors who made a gross loss on Melbourne inner city sales in the December quarter in general held their properties for a shorter time than their profiteering counterparts. A loss-making vendor held their property for an average 5.6 years, while the 82.7% of profit-making sellers in the same region sold their properties after an average of 10 years of ownership.
Those who did profit made a median of $152,000 on their sale, with total gains over the quarter of $108,107,048.
It wasn't just inner city vendors who were saddled with losses in the December quarter.
In the newly-developing rural-fringe region of Melton, 11.8% of all resales resulted in a loss in that period. The loss-making properties were held for an average of 3.6 years, with a median loss of $12,000. In total, vendors lost $1,453,850 on Melton sales in the December quarter.
The Melton properties which did turn a profit were held on average for 8.5 years, and made a median profit of $85,000.
The only Melbourne local government area to have a 100% success rate in the December quarter was Murrindindi, although many would not count the area as part of Melbourne. Located in the Hume region, it includes Kinglake, Marysville, Alexandra, Buxton, Eildon, Flowerdale, Molesworth, Strath Creek, Taggerty, Yarck and Yea.
December quarter sales in Murrindindi had an average hold period of 13 years, with a median profit of $91,000.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Almost one in five of Melbourne City resales making a loss: CoreLogic RP Data

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Inner Melbourne apartment rents appear to be on the rise, according to the latest Corelogic RP Data analysis which showed a 2.4% quarterly increase.
There had been typically a 1.5% annual rise over the past five years in the inner Melbourne.
Click charts to open in a new window:
<a href="/images/2015/04/10/melbourne-april-13-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/04/10/melbourne-april-13-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="/images/2015/04/10/melbourne-april-13-two.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/04/10/melbourne-april-13-two.jpg" alt=""></a>
Source: CoreLogic RP Data
{mijopolls 105} 
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Inner Melbourne apartment rents on the rise: Corelogic RP Data

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Question: Which suburb in Melbourne is having the greatest influence on land values across all of Melbourne?
Is it Toorak, Brighton, Hawthorn or is it Albert Park?
These are very influential suburbs and more expensive than the suburb we think is Melbourne’s most influential land value suburb. But it is not any of these.
No, Melbourne’s most influential land suburb is (drum roll please) Balwyn; and it has been since 2008 and possibly since the late 1990s. What happens in Balwyn has been driving Melbourne land prices.
A-grade land in Balwyn at Easter 2015 is now firmly at $3000 per square metre. This is evidenced by multiple sales, including the auction we were at over the long weekend at 58 Metung Avenue, Balwyn.
Quick little auction report on 58 Metung:
The block is a marginally undersized block, in a ‘name’ street, in the Balwyn High school zone; but other than that, it is most unremarkable. West-facing with an average frontage and a “no value” bulldozer home on it. There were 80 people who felt compelled to rock up to participate in or watch this outcome. After a solid opening start at $1.8 million from ourselves, we saw only four more bids from the three bidders. It was all over in a flash at $1,950,000 under the hammer. At 650 square metres in size, our maths says that it sold for exactly $3,000 per square metre.
Supporting evidence of this is 5 Winmalee, Balwyn (Richard Winneke) which sold the week before at $3001 per square metre for a bulldozer 781 square metre home.
Both these addresses are almost North-Balwyn, not Canterbury-Balwyn.
In the last seven years, Balwyn has been both the saviour and the devil for many Melburnian home buyers.
Question: Why is Balwyn all powerful in terms of land value influences?
Answer: Overseas buyers value homes higher than local buyers and this has put pressure on overall prices. Overseas buyers have the wealth in numbers to back their valuations.
Yes, but why Balwyn?
<ol>
<li>Schools</li>
<li>History – it’s close to earlier established Chinese communities in Box Hill and Doncaster</li>
<li>Chinese people like new-build homes and Balwyn has fewer council restrictions to bulldoze than, say, Hawthorn</li>
</ol>
Balwyn (and Kew) saved Melbourne property from the GFC in 2008.
Balwyn and Kew were the leaders in GFC times, when the FIRB law changes opened the floodgates on the previously steady interest from Overseas Buyers. This massive increase in interest turned the struggling Melbourne GFC housing market into a hotbed of excitement. Read Our 2009 James Market News Archives.
Now in 2015, Balwyn is seen as a negative by local Australian buyers. The once welcome bidding from overseas, is still welcome by downsizing sellers; but it’s certainly no longer welcome by local buyers, as many have been forced out of the market.
Balwyn is affecting markets far wider than Balwyn itself.
Balwyn is now consistently more expensive than most of Bayside. Yep that’s right, Balwyn is now more expensive than a lot of Hampton, almost all of Sandringham and its line ball with a fair part of Brighton and Elwood.
Remember when Balwyn North and Beaumaris were comparable in dollar terms? There is now a vast chasm.
Below is part of our new updated land value data which is now current (Easter 2015).
<a href="https://marketnews.com.au/2015/03/wow-50-of-the-auctions-we-covered-today-were-volcanoes/easter-land-bayside/" rel="attachment wp-att-49307"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-49307" src="https://marketnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Easter-Land-Bayside-597x448.jpg" alt="Easter Land Bayside" width="597" height="448"></a>
<a href="https://marketnews.com.au/2015/03/wow-50-of-the-auctions-we-covered-today-were-volcanoes/easter-land-inner-east/" rel="attachment wp-att-49306"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-49306" src="https://marketnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Easter-Land-Inner-East-597x448.jpg" alt="Easter Land Inner East" width="597" height="448"></a>
Source: James Buyer Advocates
About James Land Values Above:
<ul>
<li>Please note these values represent an overview. They are guides.</li>
<li>We have done a fair bit of rounding, so as to simplify the different and changing values in Melbourne land.</li>
<li>Values change dramatically with:</li>
</ul>
+ Views + “Name streets” + Wide frontages + Auction iinterest
- Main road - Irregular block - Weaker precincts - High vendors
<ul>
<li>There are some auction results that we consider are outliers, in that they appear to us to be under or over the market</li>
<li>Some houses, eg ones that cannot be bulldozed are, in 2015, actually discounting the land value; such is the insatiable appetite by overseas buyers for land you can build on.</li>
<li>These values, vary from street to street and in this market can change in a month or so eg before Christmas 2014 and after New Year 2015.  The above are guides only to show comparisons and should not be relied on in specific instances without further professional due diligence.</li>
</ul>
Land Price Acceleration: Volcano Auction Prices (4+ Bidders) have risen 10% on bigger land – November 2014 to February 2015!
That’s right 10% or $200,000 on a $2 million block of land. Of course there are exceptions higher and lower.
This will have major flow on effects on new home prices in these areas in the months to come.
But really it’s no surprise to experienced and longer term market watchers. 
With a herd mentality and ‘panic’ comes opportunity
<a href="https://marketnews.com.au/2015/03/easter-2015-james-land-value-guides-for-inner-melbourne/5km/" rel="attachment wp-att-49345"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-49345" src="https://marketnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/5km-597x448.jpg" alt="5km" width="597" height="448"></a>
Opportunity One:
Really this is true. Hands up who can name one suburb in Melbourne where you can buy 600 square metres plus blocks within 5 kilometres of the CBD – with all the infrastructure you could want and a gentrifying attitude and it’s still around $2,000 per square metre? We’ve deliberately left it off the land maps above.
Yes the game has changed, but there are still opportunities.
<a href="https://marketnews.com.au/2015/03/wow-50-of-the-auctions-we-covered-today-were-volcanoes/opportunity-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-49322"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-49322" src="https://marketnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Opportunity1-597x448.jpg" alt="Opportunity" width="597" height="448"></a>
Opportunity Two:
Bayside may have been undervalued for years and we have been buying for many clients for many years. But the genie is leaking out.
We recently bought Brickwood Street, Brighton (David Hart) for an investor client. It was a smart buy on their behalf. It is getting harder and will continue to do so for investors and home buyers alike, if the tsunami of overseas interest continues to hit Bayside over the next few years. See above graphic from our James Client Land Guides for comparable kilometre distances.
<a href="https://marketnews.com.au/2015/03/easter-2015-james-land-value-guides-for-inner-melbourne/kew-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-49347"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-49347" src="https://marketnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/kew1-597x448.jpg" alt="kew" width="597" height="448"></a>
Opportunity Three:
In Melbourne right now land values “drop per square metre” when certain types of homes are attached.
So yes, you can bid against overseas buyers on land only buys at auction time. But if you think laterally, you may find a better deal. We are recommending those opportunities to our clients.
In 15 years time a brand new home will look the same and probably be valued the same as a 90s home is now. Buildings can go up in value for the first few years, eg seven to ten years. After that they tend to fall in value.
 
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maljames-vHwm28JUAa

The suburb that is most influential on Melbourne's land values: Mal James

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The number of homes transacting across the Latrobe-Gippsland region has fallen over the 12 months to November 2014, down 7% compared to November 2013, according to recent CoreLogic RP Date research.
Despite the fact that less properties have transacted over the year, property values across the region continue to climb, up 5.1% for houses and 5.5% for units over the year to December 2014.
Latrobe-Gippsland homes are taking a long time to sell currently, 118 days for houses and 122 days for units, however it is noted that this is an improvement when compared to the same time last year when homes were taking 121 days and 130 days to sell for houses and units respectively. 
Click to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2015/03/16/latrobe-mar-16-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/03/16/latrobe-mar-16-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
Source: CoreLogic RP Data
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House transactions decline in Latrobe-Gippsland region: CoreLogic RP Data

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Abercromby's have a house on Lake Eildon in central Victoria listed for sale.
Lakewood was featured in the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.amazon.com/100-Dream-Houses-Down-Under/dp/1864703016" target="_blank">100 Dream Houses from Downunder</a>.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/lakewood-360-campagnolos-road-mansfield/Property-Details-buy-residential-8303160" target="_blank">360 Campagnolos Road, Mansfield</a> has $2.5 million hopes through Abercromby's agent Tim Bennetts.
Designed by architects BBP with views across Lake Eildon's Delatite Arm, it is primarily constructed from glass and steel.
It has eight bedrooms, multiple living areas, state of the art kitchen and boat shed on its 18 acres.
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Lake Eildon home worthy of the 100 Dream Houses from Downunder

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In 2014 a total of $53.7 billion, over one billion dollars a week, was spent on Melbourne residential real estate.
This is an increase from the $52.9 billion in 2013 and $43.8 billion in 2012, reflecting the overall growth in the market over the last few years. It is worth noting that last year was still slightly below the all time record of $54 billion in 2010.
The citywide changes are also reflected at a suburban level.
Whilst the top 10 Melbourne suburbs ranked by the total spent on residential real estate did not show a lot of change between 2013 and 2014, the amount spent did.
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Highest-spend-by-suburb-2014.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g4422]"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4423 size-full" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Highest-spend-by-suburb-2014.jpg" alt="Highest spend by suburb 2014" width="652" height="282"></a>
Top of the list was Brighton. Last year an average of $2.3 million was spent every day in Brighton property purchases and $378,213 more every day than the previous year.
This pushed the entire value of sales from $700 million to $841 million. Brighton may have a higher value of sales than any other suburb, however the increase was dwarfed by the rises recorded in Melbourne, Glen Waverley, Kew and Toorak.
In 2013 for instance, $1.49 million was spent on units in the suburb of Melbourne and this rose by half a million dollars a day to $2.05 million. This rise is partly due to the increased prices being paid and partly the increased construction.
Glen Waverley recorded the most significant difference.. Over the course of the year $233 million more was spent on houses which in turn pushed the median house price up from $807,000 to $970,000. Neighbouring Mount Waverley also saw a significant rise of $311,747 on a daily basis.
Key points:
<ul>
<li>Over one billion dollars a day was spent of residential real estate last year 
</li>
<li>Brighton recorded the highest spend, $842 million 
</li>
<li>Glen Waverley recorded a $233 million rise</li>
</ul>
WEEKEND AUCTION PREVIEW
There are 1,459 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 1,414 for the same time last year. The highest volume of auctions in a single suburb will be found in Reservoir where 29 are expected. There are 26 scheduled in St Kilda and 24 in Brighton.
The compressed autumn auction market, the three weeks between Labour Day and Easter, are delivering excellent results to vendors with clearance rates tracking nearly 10 points above the same time last year while simultaneously showing high volumes.
At the end of last year the market appeared to have a slowing trend but the interest rate cut has clearly reversed that.
Citywide across the private sale market over the past week the time on market results for houses sold at private sale fell to 31 days, down from 32 days in the previous week. Overall vendor discounting contracted to -5.2% from -5.4%.
Key data:
<ul>
<li>Clearance rate week ending 22 March: 77.1% 
</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 29 March: 1,459 
</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 22 March: 31 days (houses) 
</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 22 March: -5.2% (houses) 
</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 11.2% higher in the month ending 22 March (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
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More than a billion dollars a week spent on Melbourne property in 2014: Robert Larocca

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It will come as no surprise that there are very few three or four bedroom apartments in the CBD, Docklands or Southbank.
Developers frequently cite market demand as the reason why they don’t build larger high-density dwellings.
A review of data from the apartments advertised for sale in the past two years shows that the size of dwellings does vary between the three inner city suburbs of Melbourne, Docklands and Southbank.
Across those three suburbs, 43 of the 3,966 homes had four or more bedrooms.
Three bedroom apartments where rare but slightly more plentiful with 434 advertised for sale. They were mostly found in Southbank and Docklands.
Almost one in two apartments in the suburb of Melbourne were one bedroom but they are far less plentiful in Docklands and Southbank, accounting for around 25% of the housing.
It is interesting to see the differences in the type of apartments between Melbourne and Docklands/Southbank.
From the perspective of the number of bedrooms Docklands and Southbank are the home to larger apartments than Melbourne. One-bedroom apartments accounted for 23% of apartments in Docklands and 28% in Southbank. In the suburb of Melbourne the comparable number is 47%.
Clearly, developers are providing different dwellings in different suburbs. This is also obvious when a comparison is made to a very different apartment market such as bayside Brighton where 9% had one bedroom, three bedroom apartments comprised 34% of the market, and two bedroom apartments were the majority at 53%.
What is also clear is that if you are looking for a four bedroom unit then it will take a very long time.
Key points
<ul>
<li>Across 2013 and 2014 only 1% of apartments advertised for sale in Melbourne had four bedrooms</li>
<li>Two bedroom apartments are more likely to be found in Southbank and Docklands than Melbourne</li>
<li>In Brighton only 9% of apartments had one bedroom</li>
</ul>
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Only one out of 100 apartments has four bedrooms in Melbourne’s CBD: Robert Larocca

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Bathing Box 6 at Dendy Street Beach in the beachside suburb of Brighton will be auctioned on 28 March.
The beach box on the well known strip is located near the Brighton Lifesaving Club.
John Clarkson of hockingstuart is marketing <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/bathing-box-6-dendy-street-beach-brighton/Property-Details-buy-residential-8489600" target="_blank">the blue and yellow bathing box</a>, with $150,000 plus price expectations.
Last year, he sold a new Brighton bathing box, 57a, <a href="/news/vic/200-000-plus-hopes-for-bright-new-bathing-box-on-brighton-beach">for $215,000</a>.
The agent has lengthy history with the suburbs' bathing boxes, being the first to auction one in 1999, for $58,000.
The highest known price for a Brighton bathing box was set in 2011 at $260,000.
While bathing boxes may be Brighton icons, they are known to fetch much more elsewhere in Victoria. In Portsea, the record for a boatshed sale was set in 2011 at $585,000. At an <a href="/expert-insights/buying/no-record-as-portsea-boatshed-fetches-553-000-at-australia-day-2015-weekend-auction">Australia Day auction this year</a>, one sold for $553,000.
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Brighton Bathing Box listed with $150,000 guide

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Toorak truimphs among the 59 suburbs in Melbourne that currently have a median house price of $1 million or more, according to the REIV.
Of these, 36 suburbs had more than 30 sales in the December 2014 quarter. 
There were eight new entrants to this list over the quarter: East Melbourne, Flinders, Carlton North, Clifton Hill, Richmond, Northcote, Aberfeldie and Strathmore. 
Carlton, North Melbourne, Fairfield, Moonee Ponds and Bentleigh fell off the list in the latest quarter.
Melbourne's $1 million plus suburbs:
<table style="width: 460px;" dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="162">
<col width="100">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"TOORAK"]'>TOORAK</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2850000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,850,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"DEEPDENE*"]'>DEEPDENE*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2250000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,250,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CANTERBURY*"]'>CANTERBURY*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2201000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,201,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"EAST MELBOURNE*"]'>EAST MELBOURNE*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2087500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,087,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"FLINDERS*"]'>FLINDERS*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2070000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,070,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"KEW"]'>KEW</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2035000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,035,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BRIGHTON"]'>BRIGHTON</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2000000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$2,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MALVERN"]'>MALVERN</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1912500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,912,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ARMADALE"]'>ARMADALE</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1900000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,900,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BALWYN"]'>BALWYN</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1800000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,800,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAMBERWELL"]'>CAMBERWELL</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1775000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,775,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HAWTHORN EAST"]'>HAWTHORN EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1725000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,725,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MIDDLE PARK*"]'>MIDDLE PARK*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1717500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,717,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MONT ALBERT*"]'>MONT ALBERT*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1700000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,700,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"GLEN IRIS"]'>GLEN IRIS</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1570000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,570,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"EAGLEMONT*"]'>EAGLEMONT*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1560000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,560,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SURREY HILLS"]'>SURREY HILLS</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1525000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,525,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HAWTHORN"]'>HAWTHORN</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1515000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,515,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"IVANHOE EAST*"]'>IVANHOE EAST*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1503750]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,503,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BALWYN NORTH"]'>BALWYN NORTH</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1503000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,503,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BLACK ROCK*"]'>BLACK ROCK*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1500000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ELWOOD*"]'>ELWOOD*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1500000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ALBERT PARK"]'>ALBERT PARK</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1452000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,452,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"HAMPTON"]'>HAMPTON</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1450000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,450,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MALVERN EAST"]'>MALVERN EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1432500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,432,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAULFIELD NORTH"]'>CAULFIELD NORTH</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1401000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,401,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAULFIELD*"]'>CAULFIELD*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1375000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,375,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BOX HILL*"]'>BOX HILL*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1359000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,359,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BRIGHTON EAST"]'>BRIGHTON EAST</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1350000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,350,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"KEW EAST*"]'>KEW EAST*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1305500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,305,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MCKINNON*"]'>MCKINNON*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1292500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,292,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SOUTH YARRA"]'>SOUTH YARRA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1290000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,290,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SANDRINGHAM"]'>SANDRINGHAM</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1282500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,282,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"FITZROY*"]'>FITZROY*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1279500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,279,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"IVANHOE"]'>IVANHOE</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1270750]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,270,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ELSTERNWICK"]'>ELSTERNWICK</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1255250]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,255,250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CAULFIELD SOUTH"]'>CAULFIELD SOUTH</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1250000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,250,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"SOUTH MELBOURNE*"]'>SOUTH MELBOURNE*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1243000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,243,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PARK ORCHARDS*"]'>PARK ORCHARDS*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1210000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,210,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ASHBURTON"]'>ASHBURTON</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1200000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,200,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PORT MELBOURNE"]'>PORT MELBOURNE</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1180000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,180,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CARLTON NORTH"]'>CARLTON NORTH</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1160000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,160,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"PRAHRAN"]'>PRAHRAN</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1160000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,160,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ALPHINGTON*"]'>ALPHINGTON*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1140000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,140,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"CLIFTON HILL*"]'>CLIFTON HILL*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1140000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,140,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MONT ALBERT NORTH*"]'>MONT ALBERT NORTH*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1140000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,140,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ORMOND*"]'>ORMOND*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1102000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,102,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"BEAUMARIS"]'>BEAUMARIS</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1100000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,100,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"GLEN WAVERLEY"]'>GLEN WAVERLEY</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1095000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,095,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"RICHMOND"]'>RICHMOND</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1071000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,071,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"NORTHCOTE"]'>NORTHCOTE</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1065000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,065,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ST KILDA"]'>ST KILDA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1060000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,060,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ABERFELDIE*"]'>ABERFELDIE*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1050000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,050,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"STRATHMORE"]'>STRATHMORE</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1026000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,026,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"MURRUMBEENA"]'>MURRUMBEENA</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1022500]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,022,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"DONCASTER"]'>DONCASTER</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1020000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,020,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"TEMPLESTOWE"]'>TEMPLESTOWE</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1014000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,014,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"ST KILDA EAST*"]'>ST KILDA EAST*</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1010000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,010,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-sheets-value='[null,2,"FITZROY NORTH"]'>FITZROY NORTH</td>
<td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1010000]" data-sheets-numberformat='[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]'>$1,010,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Source: REIV
* denotes less than 30 sales in the quarter
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