<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.</p>

<p>A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.</p>

<p>Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]</p>

<p>“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.</p>

<p>From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.</p>

<p>The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]</p>

<p>Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.</p>

<p>A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.</p>

<p>Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]</p>

<p>Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.</p>

<p>“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.</p>

<p>Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]</p>

<p>Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.</p>

<p data-end="8307" data-start="8063">The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.</p>

<p data-end="8543" data-start="8312">“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”</p>

<p data-end="8915" data-start="8548">The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.</p>

<p>The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]</p>


Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

<p>A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.</p>

<p>The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.</p>

<p>Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.</p>

<p>The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.</p>

<p>The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" /></p>

<p>Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.</p>

<p>Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.</p>

<p>The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."</p>

<p>The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" /></p>

<p>Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.</p>

<p>The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.</p>


First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

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<p>A 60-apartment building nine storeys tall would be a rarity almost anywhere along this stretch of Moreton Bay, but that's exactly what's been lodged for a modest Deception Bay street better known for its single-storey weatherboard homes.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherlock-construction-homes">Sherlock Construction Homes</a> is seeking to push Deception Bay’s emerging medium-density housing profile higher, lodging plans for a nine-storey apartment building near the suburb’s shopping centre and foreshore.</p>

<p>Dubbed Grosvenor Apartments, the proposal at 14-20 Grosvenor Terrace would replace two detached homes with a new building designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mode">Mode Design</a>&nbsp;which would&nbsp;reach nearly 30 metres, well above the site’s mapped 21-metre building height.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches 9-storey tower for low-rise Deception Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86c21a25-5a97-4ca7-a361-80757137ea5b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Deception%20da%20front.png?VersionId=aXIujfvEhH33sLHOEjHFv9Ii6qxSvAF4" /></p>

<p>The apartment mix is weighted toward larger homes, with 14 three-bedroom apartments, 31 two-bedroom apartments and 15 one-bedroom apartments. Six apartment types are spread across the floors, ranging from 66 sqm one-bedroom units through to three-bedroom apartments of 116 sqm, most with private balconies or terraces.</p>

<p>Levels one through seven follow a consistent layout of six to eight apartments per floor arranged around a central lift and stair core, with the top floor, level eight, trading one apartment for a landscaped community breakout space rather than repeating the standard layout below.</p>

<p>Ground floor is dedicated to arrival and services, with a lobby, mailroom and manager's office, alongside 91 car spaces.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches 9-storey tower for low-rise Deception Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b098bde0-5fe1-4e6c-9601-e5446612e5fc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Deception%20podium.png?VersionId=A0hfENMNxSxkfh9Jl6D4WJ9XIraeOukA" /></p>

<p>Mode Design's brief describes a "serene coastal-inspired design blending soft curves, natural textures and light-filled spaces to reflect the relaxed Deception Bay lifestyle."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The material palette leans on white and grey render, timber-look aluminium screening and stacked-brick-look finishes, with hanging greenery and vine planting proposed across balcony edges and ground-level walls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Balconies feature asymmetrical geometries intended to vary the building's rhythm rather than repeat a single module up the tower, while lush planting is concentrated over the entry and level one balconies to soften the building's base.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches 9-storey tower for low-rise Deception Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c05c5693-3e00-42d0-b075-55c36094f4db" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Deception%20da%201.png?VersionId=cMKJgBsBaaVCd2dA5O22SOT38OT_.BPA" /></p>

<p>The design evolved following an April 2025 prelodgement meeting with council. At that stage, the project was conceived as a seven-storey building containing 45 apartments. The subsequently lodged scheme increases the development to nine storeys and 60 apartments while introducing one-bedroom residences to the mix.</p>

<p>Zone Planning argues the additional scale reflects the site's position within an area earmarked for increased residential intensity. The planning report points to the North Lakes-Redcliffe-Moreton Bay Rail corridor strategy, which identifies Deception Bay as a district-level activity centre and supports greater housing choice within urban neighbourhoods.</p>

<p>Market Square Deception Bay, Deception Bay Sports Centre, Deception Bay State School, public transport, community facilities and the Moreton Bay foreshore are all identified within approximately one kilometre of the site, while the property falls within a 400-metre walking catchment of Market Square.</p>

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

<p data-end="587" data-start="368">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.</p>

<p data-end="778" data-start="589">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.</p>

<p data-end="907" data-start="780"><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.</p>

<p data-end="1052" data-start="909">The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.</p>

<p data-end="1311" data-start="1054">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.</p>

<p data-end="1451" data-start="1313">The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.</p>

<p data-end="1676" data-start="1453">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.</p>

<p data-end="1908" data-start="1678">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.</p>

<p data-end="2142" data-start="1910">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.</p>

<p data-end="2142" data-start="1910"><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" /></p>

<p data-end="2308" data-start="2144">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.</p>

<p data-end="2648" data-start="2310">"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.</p>

<p data-end="2797" data-start="2650">"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."</p>

<p data-end="2938" data-start="2799">The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.</p>

<p data-end="3216" data-start="2940">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.</p>

<p data-end="3325" data-start="3218">Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.</p>

<p data-end="3442" data-start="3327">"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.</p>

<p data-end="3662" data-start="3444">"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."</p>

<p data-end="3818" data-start="3664">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.</p>

<p data-end="4076" data-start="3820">"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.</p>

<p data-end="4375" data-start="4078">"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."</p>

<p data-end="4503" data-start="4377">Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.</p>

<p data-end="4741" data-start="4505">"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."</p>

<p data-end="4910" data-start="4743">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.</p>

<p data-end="4951" data-start="4912">MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.</p>


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

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<p data-end="600" data-start="394">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.</p>

<p data-end="733" data-start="602">But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.</p>

<p data-end="970" data-start="735">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.</p>

<p data-end="970" data-start="735">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]</p>

<p data-end="1159" data-start="972">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.</p>

<p data-end="1357" data-start="1161">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.</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.</p>

<p data-end="1664" data-start="1517">Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.</p>

<p data-end="1826" data-start="1666">Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.</p>

<p data-end="1826" data-start="1666">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]</p>

<p data-end="2045" data-start="1828">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.</p>

<p data-end="2269" data-start="2047">"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.</p>

<p data-end="2430" data-start="2271">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.</p>

<p data-end="2606" data-start="2432">It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.</p>

<p data-end="2724" data-start="2608">At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.</p>

<p data-end="2892" data-start="2726">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.</p>

<p data-end="2892" data-start="2726">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]</p>

<p data-end="3004" data-start="2894">Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.</p>

<p data-end="3214" data-start="3006">"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.</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">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.</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.</p>

<p data-end="3670" data-start="3538">&nbsp;</p>

<p data-end="3670" data-start="3538">[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]</p>

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

<p>Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.</p>

<p>That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.</p>

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

<p>The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVG5ChLHf7E?si=D9hQRGCBuzlSQBqK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.</p>

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

<p>The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.</p>

<p>Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.</p>

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

<p>This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.</p>

<p>Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.</p>

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

<p>A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.</p>

<p>Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.</p>

<p>While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.</p>

<p>For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.</p>

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

<p>Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.</p>

<p>Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.</p>

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

<p>Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.</p>

<p>As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.</p>


How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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<p>The initial stages of the COVID-19 crisis caused many sellers to shut up shop and batten down the hatches, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
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<p>The valuation firm suggests in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</p>
<p><span>"First up – let’s address the current state of play under COVID," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes some buyers believed they were about to snatch up outrageously good deals.</span></p>
<p><span>The market then settled quickly into a standoff where potential purchasers came up against a lack of stock. As such, transaction numbers dropped dramatically, but prices didn’t.</span></p>
<p><span>Now, three and half months in, the state of play is established. There is a still a wait-and-see approach being taken by owners, so buyers don’t have a heap to choose from. Prices are softer across many markets but they didn’t plummet like some may have predicted.</span></p>
<p><span>"Of course, this is an evolving situation. As we move through the machinations of the economy over the next six months - with politics, employment, finance, immigration and trade all playing their parts - thing could be turned on their head. It’s a case of wait, watch and see.</span></p>
<p><span>"Of course, the crisis has delivered us something that was in short supply for the average Aussie family – time," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Requests from leadership that we stay in and keep each other safe had many running to Netflix and home offices, but there was also a fair proportion of the population who used the opportunity to tackle odd jobs around the house.</span></p>
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<p><span>"Skip bins and Bunnings lines revealed that when presented with the chance to do nothing, many of us actually want to do something productive.</span></p>
<p><span>"That said, most of what we’ve seen around the suburbs was maintenance," the </span>valuation firm said. </p>
<p><span>In Brisbane at least, demand for more extensive building and renovation work looks to have slowed, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>Many households stepped through the uncertainty of March and April making plans to ensure that, over the foreseeable future, food would be on the table and a roof would stay overhead. Being frivolous with available cash could be hazardous with unemployment on the rise.</span></p>
<p><span>"As such, we generally observed a slowdown in substantive renovation and construction projects – particularly any ventures that involved signing a contract with a builder or tradesperson.</span></p>
<p><span>"But, as has been said many times before, you need to dig below these broad market generalisations and understand the nuances, because opportunity can be found at certain price points, property types and locations," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>For example, prestige property is seeing relatively more renovation upgrades than homes in the affordable price sector.</span></p>
<p><span>The report notes renos of inner-city holdings at the upper-price </span>level have been mostly unaffected by the current environment. Owners are comparatively cashed up and willing to keep spending.</p>
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<p><span>"There’s plenty of reasons why. For starters, the lowest interest rates in living memory are enabling those with good financial standing to get access to cheap money," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>In addition, the building industry has become relatively competitive under the COVID regime. Tradespeople are hungry for work and head contractors are willing to compete on price so as to secure a pipeline of projects.</span></p>
<p><span>"The flipside in Brisbane is the investor market. We aren’t seeing landlords looking to spend sums upgrading homes beyond what’s necessary at this stage," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>There’s an expectation the rental market will continue to fall in favour of tenants with rising vacancies and falling rents, so investors are wanting to ensure they don’t spend too big too early.</span></p>
<p><span>"One thing that may well stimulate the desire for upgrades among homeowners is the work-from- home phenomena.</span></p>
<p><span>"It’s become evident many of us can operate productively from a home office. It’s also entirely possible on the other side of this event, employers will look for ways to reduce their office footprint, hoping to cut lease costs and improve the bottom </span>line," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>The outcome may well be property owners seeking ways to adapt their current living space in order to improve their work environment.</p>
<p>Creating a work area that can be shut off from the family space will become an essential element of any home. Even if existing owners don’t look to create that for their own use, a good home office will be a feature in future real estate listings.</p>
<p>If there’s an efficient, cost-effective way to establish an office, then vendors will want to do this prior to selling.</p>
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<p><span>"And so on to locations if you do have a hankering for a renovation project. We’ve looked at a couple of options that might fit the bill," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p>For example this one at 17 Hockings Street, Clayfield (pictured below) sold mid-2019 for $660,000 as a renovation project that required a heap of TLC.</p>
<p><span>"No doubt the original features will come up a treat," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/22/clayfield.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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<p><span>The inner-west suburbs of Paddington, Auchenflower, Bardon and Toowong have been rife with renovation opportunities for decades.</span></p>
<p><span> In fact, there have been a few Brisbane builders who’ve grown their fortunes by concentrating solely on these locations and completing beautiful, multi- million dollar do-ups.</span></p>
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<p><span>For example, this house at 12 Carey Street, Bardon (pictured below) was sold way back in October 2017 for $770,000.</span></p>
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<p><span>It received an extensive upgrade to become an ultra-modern four-bed, three-bath, two car home (pictured below) that was purchased in March 2020 for $1.552 million.</span></p>
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<p><span>Family friendly addresses such as The Gap: provide opportunity for those with a tighter budget. </span>Renovatable home are available at the high-$500,000s price point.</p>
<p><span>"For those with a little more to spend, an address such as Ashgrove will set you back closer to $700,000-plus for a home with potential," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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<p><span>A perennial favourite for fixer-uppers is Petrie Terrace and Spring Hill. There are some raw homes on tiny lots for over $600,000, but it’s all about location here. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes these suburbs are literally walking distance to the centre of town as well as entertainment and retail precincts. </span>And the results can be spectacular.</p>
<p>For example, a renovated home at 35 Sheriff Street, Petrie Terrace (pictured below) sold in November 2019 for $1,193,888. It’s on 228 square metres of land and provides four-bed, three-bath, three-car accommodation.</p>
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<p><span>"Looking a bit further out and Wavell Heights has good options with very basic renovators in average positions fetching between $550,000 and $600,000 – but you need to be fast as they sell quickly," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span> Other homes in Wavell Heights that’re in quieter positions with ready access to facilities are fetching between $600,000 and $700,000 for a renovation prospect. </span></p>
<p><span>In these instances, smart renovation work will yield an end value above $1 million.</span></p>
<p><span>For more budget conscious renovation prospects, head a bit further up Gympie Road and check out Aspley and Bracken Ridge where a renovatable </span>home can be purchased in the $500,000s. This area appeals to first home buyers and project- oriented builders.</p>
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<p><span>"A quick tip – make sure you check the town planning guidelines and building codes before proceeding. </span></p>
<p><span>"The renovation options for Brisbane property can be limited by heritage and traditional-character overlays, building heights, setbacks, noise and flooding issues and other designations... and they can be property specific. Just because a neighbour is able to get certain works approved doesn’t necessarily mean you can," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"Finally, while the level of future renovation activity remains generally uncertain, falling sale numbers under current market conditions in the wake of COVID may well fuel a rise in renos, however this will be dependent on indicators such as general confidence in the market, affordability, unemployment and economic conditions." </span></p>
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Brisbane prestige property renovation least affected by COVID-19: HTW residential 

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<p>Sunshine Coast's stock levels continued to remain extremely low with no significant increase in property listings in April and May, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
<p>The valuation firm suggests in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</p>
<p>The HTW report first provided an update on COVID. </p>
<p>"When we try to break down the COVID-19 world and market place, the overarching theme is that we appear to be in a in a state of flux," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p><span>Pressure on owners to sell remains limited but this may be delayed until the various support and stimulus packages come to an end (government’s Job Keeper allowance and bank mortgage holidays).</span></p>
<p><span>"When reviewing valuations of sales completed by </span>our office and specifically properties contracted during April and into May, in excess of 95 per cent of the sales show a discount of five per cent or less from the list price," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Also, 98 per cent of the sales occurred within 90 days. As previously stated, it remains extremely important to understand the circumstances of any sales that transact in this period.</p>
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<p><span>"As COVID-19 infection rate results improve and the restrictions start to ease, there is a feeling that there is some light at the end of the tunnel," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes subsequently there have been reports that overall enquiry has increased and open homes are resuming.</span></p>
<p><span>◗ </span><span>Some of the demand has been in the pipeline for some time from a combination of potential purchasers who were in the market prior to the restrictions and upgraders and investors who sold in the first quarter of 2020.</span></p>
<p><span>◗ </span><span>Interest continues to flow with both capital city and ex-pat international purchasers looking to secure property on the Sunshine Coast.Some of this is being fast tracked.</span></p>
<p><span>◗ </span><span>Should this demand be absorbed and if there is an increase in supply in the coming months, it will be interesting to see if there is an increase in new demand to fill the void.</span></p>
<p><span>◗ </span><span>Some new purchasers are wanting to find a bargain, although this is not apparent in the market to date, especially in highly sought after areas.</span></p>
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<p><strong>Now, on to renovation</strong></p>
<p><span>"They say 'idle hands are the devil’s tools', but when the pubs and clubs are shut, there are not too many other options.</span></p>
<p><span>"It appears they pick up a shovel, hammer or a paint brush. During the COVID-19 restrictions, it seems that one valuable commodity has been created....TIME. At the moment, there is plenty going on in the home improvement and maintenance space," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"As we have previously mentioned, stock levels are extremely low. With the combination of these stock levels and the uncertainty of the market, the thought of selling and upgrading the house has slowly been losing some of its appetite, especially if you really like the area you live in," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The feedback from local tradies, hardware shops and garden centres is that business has been pretty good as people look to upgrade their existing property.</span></p>
<p><span>"We have also received feedback that a local swimming pool building franchise has 21 new projects halfway through the month of May compared to seven for all of April. This appears to be occurring right throughout all the established areas of the coast, with older homes being transformed to little gems," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Sure, some of this home improvement activity has been completed to add value to the home so that when they do go to sell, it is presented in the best possible condition, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>If the property has a reasonable floor plan, the recent results of these renovated properties have shown good returns. </span></p>
<p><span>"We note that some feedback from agents is that a number of builders have been looking for some little side projects just in case there is a bit of a slowdown in the future." </span></p>
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<p><span>A fully renovated two bedroom apartment in Coolum Beach has recently been sold for $645,000.</span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-coolum+beach-133275090" target="_blank">9/1682 David Low Way </a>home (pictured below) comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, PAC kitchen and two balconies. </p>
<p><span>It is located within walking distance to cafes, shops and restaurants. </span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/22/coolum%20beach%201.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p>A current listing is a renovated townhouse in Caloundra priced at $559,000.</p>
<p>The three bedroom, two bathroom home is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-qld-caloundra-133625798" target="_blank">1/29 North Street </a>(pictured below).</p>
<p>It features open plan kitchen, dining and living, outdoor patios and double lock up garage. </p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/22/caloundra.jpg" alt=""></p>
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Sunshine Coast's stock levels remain extremely low: HTW residential 

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<p class="legacy">GUEST OBSERVATION</p>
<p>The government’s <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/homebuilder">HomeBuilder</a> scheme allows <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/homebuilder-renovations-where-are-most-owner-occupied-dwellings-below-15-million">certain</a> home owners to apply for a tax-free grant of A$25,000 if they are spending between $150,000 and $750,000 renovating a home or building a new home. Eligibility criteria are strict.</p>
<p>The scheme has boosted renovation talk in some circles (although, as CoreLogic has <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/vacuum-effect-and-its-implications-homebuilder-scheme">pointed</a> out, it may merely bring forward works that were already planned).</p>
<p>Here are some questions to ask yourself when trying to decide between renovating and moving – and how to add value to your existing home.</p>
<p><strong>What adds value to a house?</strong></p>
<p>Property market observers <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/advice/how-to-make-your-home-stand-out-when-selling-932031/">advise</a> updating or renewing bathrooms or kitchens – even small fixes such as replacing a cracked or dated splashback, replacing a bath or adding skylights can go a long way.</p>
<p>Think about easy repairs that create an invaluable good first impression – a fixed-up fence, a new carpet or resurfaced flooring or even good old decluttering.</p>
<p>But remember you’ll only qualify for HomeBuilder if you plan to spend at least $150,000 on an owner-occupied home worth no more than A$1.5 million (CoreLogic has <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/homebuilder-renovations-where-are-most-owner-occupied-dwellings-below-15-million">listed</a> which suburbs have the most owner-occupied properties under A$1.5 million).</p>
<p><strong>Factors to consider if you’re thinking of renovating</strong></p>
<p>How long till you retire? How secure is your employment? Thinking carefully about your earning potential between now and retirement will help you understand how what you can borrow and afford. If you are planning to stay, you will get the benefit and enjoyment of the renovations.</p>
<p>Do you need to stay close to school or work? If that’s a consideration, renovating may be worth more to you than buying further out.</p>
<p>Look closely at what your property is worth (there are plenty of online calculators) and keep track of how much similar local properties with one extra bedroom or bathroom sell for. That will give you a sense of the value-add to your home equity that a renovation might represent.</p>
<p>Be honest with yourself about the total cost of renovation. There are myriad expenses not always initially apparent. These may include:</p>
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<p>Consider the possible long-term savings of retrofitting your home to be more energy-efficient. Proper insulation, secondary glazing, draught excluders and solar PV energy are expensive upfront but will save on long term running costs. It’s likely, as energy costs increase, homes that are at least partially off grid will be more attractive and valuable over time.</p>
<p>And remember that for some, even with help from HomeBuilder, renovation won’t stack up economically.</p>
<p>Some older people may eschew home renovation to put money aside to help children get a foot on the property ladder.</p>
<p>Others may decide potentially expensive renovation is worth it to hold onto a family home to which children return as they get older. It might sound sentimental but the idea of Christmas in the family homestead is worth it, for some.</p>
<p><strong>Tax considerations</strong></p>
<p>Find out what tax breaks, if any, you might be eligible for if you renovate to divide the family home into a smaller space (if you’re keen to downsize, or enhance the accessibility of your home, for example) and adding a self-contained granny flat.</p>
<p>However, if the granny flat is leased out, this section of the home would be considered income-producing. Your “main residence” is generally <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Capital-gains-tax/Your-home-and-other-real-estate/Your-main-residence/">exempt</a> from capital gains tax when it comes time to sell, but you may not qualify entirely for this exemption if a section of the property is income-producing.</p>
<p>You may also consider remodelling the family home into a duplex and, depending on council planning laws, convert the title into dual occupancy. However, these suggestions may complicate eligibility for the HomeBuilder grant (which seems to exclude property investors, although there’s no mention of partly converting the main place into a dual occupancy).</p>
<p>The best option here is to seek advice from a tax specialist.</p>
<p><strong>Factors to consider if you’re thinking of selling up and buying elsewhere</strong></p>
<p>Use a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/home-loans/stamp-duty-calculator">stamp-duty calculator</a> and <a href="https://www.localagentfinder.com.au/selling-costs-calculator">cost-of-selling calculator</a> to get a rough idea of those costs.</p>
<p>How important is proximity to work? Particularly if the coronavirus pandemic has opened your (or your employer’s) eyes to working remotely, would you consider a move to a more remote area where you can afford a bigger house?</p>
<p>Chat with a range of real estate agents and get into the habit of reading market media coverage. Have a sense of what houses sell for that featured your desired attributes (such as more bedrooms or off-street parking).</p>
<p>As a chartered building surveyor, I’d advise would-be downsizers to be cautious when buying a brand new high-rise apartment, due to risks of potentially costly defects that might become apparent over time.</p>
<p>And remember, even if you do sell and buy a new place, very few are able to find the perfect home. You may decide to make renovations anyway.</p>
<p>There are no easy answers. It comes down to your individual circumstances, your attitude to risk and ensuring you have a good grasp of the relative costs of each option.</p>
<p>Talk to a financial adviser, tax accountant, real estate agents, builders, architects and others who have been through each process about what they’d do differently next time.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sara-wilkinson-14186">Sara Wilkinson</a>, Professor, School of the Built Environment, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hera-antoniades-229521">Hera Antoniades</a>, Associate Professor, School of the Built Environment, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a></em></p>
<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-adds-value-to-your-house-how-to-decide-between-renovating-and-selling-140627">original article</a>.</em></p>
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What adds value to your house? How to decide between renovating and selling

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<p>Feedback from agents in and around the Hunter Valley has largely been the same as pre-COVID-19-a lack of stock for sale, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
<p>The valuation firm suggest in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</p>
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<p><span>"It’s becoming increasingly evident at the time of writing that we simply don’t know what is going to happen to the property market.</span></p>
<p><span>"We are at that uncomfortable point in the cycle where we have to rely too much on gut-feel and anecdotal evidence, hardly the best basis for making rock solid decisions. </span>Until we get to a stage where we have more transactions completed entirely in a post-COVID-19 world, anecdote is the best we can hope for," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p><span>The report suggests agents in Newcastle have had </span>their movements severely curtailed over the past several months and a lack of face to face encounters has resulted in a noted lack of listing activity.</p>
<p>It appears as though potential vendors have decided to wait out the lockdown before deciding to list. Whether this is because other events have taken over their focus or they have surmised that current restrictions are not conducive to a favourable sale is unknown.</p>
<p>"Given that interest rates are still low, the government has put in place significant stimulus packages and there is a lack of stock presently on the market, it’s not inconceivable to expect the market to remain relatively stable in the short term," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Required elements are in place for this, but as always the market can change overnight with every news update. A surge in second wave cases could change everything.</p>
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<p><span>In COVID-19 times an alternative to buying and selling your property is the trusty renovation, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>There were rumours going about that Bunnings was running out of its paint supply simply in anticipation of lockdown, the assumption being that plenty of people would have a lot of spare time on their hands and renovation would come to the fore.</span></p>
<p><span>In reality, that spare time seems to have morphed into TikTok videos and accessorising bookshelves to appear in Zoom meetings. </span>No Zoom meeting is complete without a cerebral biography or two by someone inspirational or Russell Brand.</p>
<p><span>"If you have been skillful enough </span>to write a book, you should also heavily consider having it over your left shoulder, cover out. We’re looking at you, Malcolm Turnbull," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>Renovation in times of uncertainty is often the popular option to flipping property.</span></p>
<p><span>The financial cost to buy and sell a property can be quite expensive and if we keep in mind what was discussed in the first few paragraphs, choice in the marketplace is limited at present.</span></p>
<p><span>"You may not find what you are looking for in a ready-made package or the cost may be prohibitive. Presumably your current property had enough features about it that made you invest and move in.</span></p>
<p><span>"Sometimes it makes financial sense to improve what you currently have without suffering the significant transactional costs of buying and selling," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"Given the uncertainty in the marketplace at present and the underlying macro-economic conditions, we would expect to see minor renovations continuing. We are aware of larger more significant renovations that would have occurred previously, being placed on hold </span>in the short term," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>The report suggests this is in part due to many homeowners facing different economic pressures than they did pre-COVID-19. Many people have seen their salaries either reduced or deferred while the present crisis works its way through the system.</p>
<p>Some will have found that their jobs and therefore income are suspended whilst businesses are closed. Many have lost employment and are in no position to do large-scale works to properties.</p>
<p>It may be that with reduced demand, building contracts and contractor’s quotes can be reworked within the new market climate due to a shortage of work.</p>
<p>A three bedroom cottage in New Lambton with potential for renovation has recently been sold for $777,000.</p>
<p>The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-new+lambton-133584362" target="_blank">51 Orchardtwon Road</a> (pictured below) comprises three bedrooms, central lounge room, well-kept kitchen and alfresco area. </p>
<p>It is located within close proximity to Blackout Village and schools. </p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/new%20lambton.jpg" alt=""></p>
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<p><span>A current listing is a recently renovated house in Adamstown priced at $495,000 -$540,000.</span></p>
<p>The three bedroom, one bathroom home is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-adamstown-133599358" target="_blank">2/5A Brown Street </a>(pictured below). </p>
<p><span>It comes with renovated kitchen, open plan living and dining and covered alfresco. </span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/adamstonw.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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Large renovations placed on hold in Newcastle due to COVID-19: HTW residential 

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<p><span>Rental enquires as well as sales have been strong according to many local agents, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The valuation firm suggest in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</span></p>
<p><span>The report notes most agents are reporting that the private inspection only approach to viewings is working very well for agents and prospective purchasers, as it allows for both parties to feel a bit more relaxed rather than experience the typical madness of an open home.</span></p>
<p><span>"Overall we are seeing consistently good sale prices across the board, particularly within the rural residential space.The standard sub-million residential markets are still moving, just at a much slower pace.</span></p>
<p><span>"This is possibly due to purchasers </span>in this price range being the most likely to be impacted by the ongoing and uncharted economic waters in which we currently find ourselves," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p><span>"Given the lockdown guidelines that have been in place over the past six weeks, many people have taken the opportunity to start those little jobs around the house they haven’t had time to begin.... or finish for quite a while. So are we seeing a rise in the amount of home renovation in the local area?</span></p>
<p><span>"The short answer is that it appears to be fairly steady as far as major renovations such as kitchens, bathrooms, decks, etc however we are certainly noticing a rise in smaller cosmetic works including paint jobs, landscaping works and general tidying up," the valuation firm continued. </span></p>
<p><span>"As far as major renovations within the local economy, we haven’t seen the bottom to middle range of the market achieve outstanding capital gains from buying and renovating since the market peaked in mid 2017.</span></p>
<p><span>"We do note that as always we </span>have seen good scope for capital gains on good quality homes in good suburbs and streets that are being renovated to an extremely high level of finish." </p>
<p>These properties tend to appeal to local or Sydney based downsizers looking for high quality product in blue ribbon locations on sub 1000 square metre blocks that are easier to manage than the larger traditional homes, the report noted. </p>
<p>A family retreat set upon two hectares in Bundanoon has recently been sold for $1.675 million. </p>
<p>The house at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bundanoon-133501166" target="_blank"> 639 Old Argyle Road</a> (pictured below) comprises four bedrooms, updated kitchen, renovated bathroom, and two car garage. </p>
<p>It also features study, fireplace, established gardens and fended paddocks. </p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/bundanoon%201.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>A current listing is a four bedroom house in Burradoo with newly refreshed interiors. </p>
<p>The home at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-burradoo-133665234" target="_blank"> 12A Phillip Street</a> (pictured below) has been listed for sale with $1.45 million hopes.</p>
<p>It features new kitchen, formal and informal living zones, gardens and double garage. </p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/burradoo.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>"We also notice a strong market for rural residential properties that have also been renovated to an excellent standard as well as the addition of good equine site improvements which appeals to the Sydney market looking for a hobby farm with good access to the city," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>"As affordability goes, we consistently hear the phrase Highlands tax from home owners and investors alike when talking about the cost of local tradespeople.</span></p>
<p><span>"Due to this, we are seeing owners bring trades in from Sydney or up from Goulburn in the hope of getting a more cost effective job done, but remember you get what you pay for and as always the importance of seeing a tradesperson’s work before hiring them based on price is as important as ever," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"Going forward we believe it’s likely that the renovation market will retain the trend of seeing good quality renovation achieving the price point it deserves." </span></p>
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Southern Highlands sees capital gains on high quality renovated homes: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The month of May progressed steadily for the residential property market in the Illawarra, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The valuation firm suggest in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</span></p>
<p><span>The HTW report notes sale prices appear to be holding with no obvious signs of any discounting happening.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/thirroul%20.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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<p>Notable sales include a $3.1 million sale in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-thirroul-133480182" target="_blank">Surfers Parade, Thirroul</a> (pictured above) and a duplex in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-austinmer-133320946" target="_blank">Toxteth Avenue, Austinmer </a>(pictured below)that sold for $2.35 million.</p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/austinmer.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p><span>The number of transactions has decreased slightly with realestate.com.au recording 88 residential sales in the Wollongong LGA in the first 20 days of the month (4.4 sales </span>per day).</p>
<p>This is in comparison to 102 sales in the first 20 days of April (5.1 sales per day). For a point of reference, RP Data recorded 585 sales for the two month period of April and May 2019 (9.6 sales per day).</p>
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<p><span>"Open homes have recommenced and local agents are reporting that while there is </span>less activity, it has not disappeared completely and all levels of the market have purchasers ready to complete sales," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>Home renovations are a big part of owning a property.Reasons for renovating can be wide ranging. </span>Flippers look to purchase an older, run down property, complete a full renovation and on sell the property, hopefully at a profit.</p>
<p><span>They have experience with a trade themselves and have other local contacts they can call on to get the renovation completed as quickly as possible. </span></p>
<p><span>Time is important as the longer they take to renovate </span>the property, the longer they have to pay holding costs, therefore most flippers will not undertake any renovations that require DA approval, such as an extension. A quick internal and external facelift and the property goes back on the market.</p>
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<p><span>The report suggests owner occupiers tend to renovate their properties at varying stages of their ownership of the property.</span></p>
<p><span>"First home buyers may not have a lot of spare cash to make too many updates initially but as the years go by they will look to spend their savings on renovations projects.</span></p>
<p><span>"Most upgraders tend to look to purchase a family home where </span>all the work is already done. It might be a new house or one that has been recently renovated," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Alternatively there are a few who will look to complete the renovation themselves and can therefore fit their own specific requirements into the project.</p>
<p><span>Full renovations or knock down and rebuilds are appearing in popular suburbs in the north or around the CBD which typically have older stock built during the migration boom of the 1960s.</span></p>
<p><span> These areas are transitioning and it is common to drive down a street such as O’Brien Street in Bulli or Storey and Donald Street in Fairy Meadow and see a real mix of new, modern homes next door to older original houses.</span></p>
<p><span>"The key to completing renovations of any scale during the current period is to find a builder who has proven experience and also availability.</span></p>
<p><span>"Most builders have been reporting a decent pipeline of work with new quotes still being prepared. Recent economic issues seemingly have not put a dampener on renovation dreams," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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Illawarra builders report decent pipeline of renovation work: HTW residential 

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<p>The Coffs Harbour rental market appears to have held up relatively well, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
<p>The valuation firm suggest in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</p>
<p>The HTW report notes although some holiday rentals have switched to permanent, there is no dramatic oversupply and no sign that rental values are falling. </p>
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<p><span>"One month on from the start of the COVID-19 restrictions and we are seeing some light at the end of what may prove to be a long tunnel. </span>The market surprisingly has not come to an abrupt halt; more so, it has taken a cautious approach.</p>
<p><span>"We have experienced a distinct lack of supply of properties for sale with the property section of the local weekend paper becoming significantly smaller, although demand has not appeared to have dropped with supply.This has caused values to remain relatively firm with some noticeable good prices being achieved in areas where supply is down," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Given there are no active cases within the area and restrictions are slowly being lifted, the general feel is of positivity with the expectation that once domestic travel is given the green light, the Coffs Coast will be seen as a very attractive place to come for a holiday, giving the local economy a much needed shot in the arm.</span></p>
<p><span>"To renovate or not to renovate is an age old question. We have seen in recent years the modern generation’s appetite for new homes with a significant push towards new estates and building the dream.</span></p>
<p><span>"As land is becoming scarce within the region (with a lack of new estates coming onto the market), we are definitely seeing a move towards renovations and extensions, especially within well-established suburbs where vacant land is </span>no longer available," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Typically, these are the more sought after locations close to the beach and town, however renovation activity is not isolated to one specific location.</p>
<p>"We have seen many DIY home improvements over recent weeks thanks to COVID-19, however these are more your catch up on general maintenance items rather than full blown renovations," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>"We have seen building costs increase significantly over the past four years as increased demand for construction of new products and renovations has seen builders and trades stretched thin within the region.</span></p>
<p><span>"People’s expectations of the cost of renovations or extensions are often well under- cooked and depending on the degree of house improvement proposed, we are regularly seeing renovation costs in excess of the cost to demolish and rebuild a new home.An average renovation cost for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home </span>to upgrade the kitchen and bathrooms, floor coverings and painting would start at $50,000 and up depending on the quality of fit-out.</p>
<p>"If we then start adding internal remodelling of floor plan, additional outdoor living, extensions etc, we are now talking $100,000 plus with major rebuilds often being in excess of $300,000 and if talking prestige homes $700,000 plus may not be out of the question," the valuation firm continued. </p>
<p><span>Examples of an area where renovation works are becoming part of the norm is the popular beachside suburb of Sawtell, dollar for dollar one of the most expensive areas in Coffs Harbour, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>"To compare, </span>we have examined some recent sales in Circular Avenue, a well-positioned street within walking distance of the main village precinct," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-sawtell-132629954" target="_blank">77 Circular Avenue, Sawtell</a> (pictured below) is a very modest original 1970 brick home with three bedrooms, one bathroom and single garage set on 531 square metres.</p>
<p><span>It sold for $700,000 in January 2020 which represents predominantly land value.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/sawtell.jpg" alt=""> </span></p>
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<p>In February 2020, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-sawtell-132637854" target="_blank">88 Circular Avenue, Sawtell</a> (pictured below) sold for $1.04 million (a record street price).</p>
<p><span>This is a fully renovated 1970s rendered brick home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and double garage set on 663 square metres.</span></p>
<p><span> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/15/sawtell%202.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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<p><span>"This property sold at auction with high demand and a price achieved above expectations, however when you compare it to 77 Circular Avenue, it </span>represents good buying.</p>
<p>"To achieve the same product on 77 Circular Avenue (notwithstanding a slightly larger lot size), the cost to renovate and extend the modest 1970 three-bedroom home to a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home would be in excess of $350,000 which would result in a total cost of $1.05 million plus the time and effort undertaken to achieve this.</p>
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<p><span>"In this case, it makes sense to buy the already completed property," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The main rule to renovations is to understand the added value of the cost of renovations and not to overcapitalise for the locality.</span></p>
<p><span>This is easier said than done and all depends on the underlying land value and the purpose and scope of the works, plus factor in whether it’s as a homeowner or investor. </span></p>
<p><span>The homeowner who has decided that their current place of residence is their forever home can afford to over capitalise to achieve the lifestyle benefits they desire within their budget.</span></p>
<p><span>However the investor should be shrewder and consider factors such as cost versus added value and only renovate areas that are required or value add by increasing rental return. </span>This could be in the form of secondary accommodation (granny flat) or reconfiguring the current space to provide additional bedrooms, the report noted. </p>
<p><span>"One point should be made when undertaking remodelling or conversions within the dwelling is to seek council approval before you start the project. </span></p>
<p>"One of the misconceptions with owners is that council approval is not required for conversions or reconfiguring internal walls so long as you stay within the current building footprint (that is no extensions or additions). This is incorrect; any moving of a wall or conversion of a garage etc has to be approved by council," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>"If you undertake any improvements of this nature without approval, for all practical purposes, no one knows so who cares?However, the ramifications come when you wish to sell the property or need a valuation for mortgage security purposes; any works undertaken without approval will not achieve the full value.</p>
<p>"Even more so if you have converted the home into dual accommodation and rent separately for investment purposes or live on one side and receive rent in the other," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>The report suggests this extra income will not be included in a valuation for mortgage security purposes as it is not council approved. This is critical when you require the extra rental to be included in your loan application to prove you can service the repayments, not to mention the insurance implications if an accident occurs.It is difficult to say what people should or shouldn’t do when it comes to renovation.</p>
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<p><span>"Our best advice is to seek the experience of your local Herron Todd White valuer to navigate and guide you through the market in your local area." </span></p>
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Coffs Harbour sees more renovation work due to COVID-19: HTW residential 

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<p>Renovation is a popular option in many parts of Sydney, particularly in inner Sydney and harbour side locations, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
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<p><span>The valuation firm suggests that in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month's HTW residential report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</span></p>
<p><span>The HTW report first provided a short COVID update. </span></p>
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<p><span>"Since last month’s edition, we have seen the number of daily new cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales remain low. We have also seen the first stage of the easing of restrictions and also the lifting of restrictions on live auctions and open homes.</span></p>
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<p><span>"This has at least made the process of selling more straightforward and has seen an instant bounce to auction clearance rates, back up above 70% for Sydney, mainly as a result of the number of auction withdrawals returning to more normal levels," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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<p><span>The last month has still seen prices remain fairly stable overall, however as discussed previously, there are some localities and price points seeing some discounting. This is mainly due to the number of new listings remaining subdued, meaning </span>that supply and demand are staying relatively in balance. </p>
<p>The report notes that the concern is what will happen later in the year when government stimulus and mortgage pauses end.</p>
<p>There potentially could be a significant increase in new listings, some under distressed circumstances, which could have a large impact on prices heading into 2021.</p>
<p><span>"In the rental market we have continued to see an increase in vacancy rates and a fall in asking rents. Houses, somewhat surprisingly, have experienced a quicker fall than units over the past two months. </span></p>
<p><span>"With restrictions around travel within the state and within Australia likely to be eased in the coming weeks and months, short-term holiday rentals </span>that have been transferred to the long-term rental market may start to transfer back to the holiday market, easing vacancy rates," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>The valuation firm suggests renovation is a popular option in many parts of Sydney, particularly in inner Sydney and harbour side locations where extension and renovation of an existing home is a more viable option than a knock- down and rebuild.</span></p>
<p>These areas often have heritage and other planning restrictions that make it difficult to get approval to do a complete rebuild, the report noted. </p>
<p>In addition, it is also desirable to maintain the period features of older dwellings whilst upgrading the fit out and increasing the floor space.</p>
<p><span>A Victorian residence situated in the heart of Marrickville has recently been sold for $1.5 million. </span></p>
<p>The freestanding home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-marrickville-133533598" target="_blank">1 Hastings Street</a> (pictured below) presented a good opportunity for renovation. </p>
<p><span>It consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, large formal and casual areas and front veranda. </span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/6/10/marrickville.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>In the middle and outer rings, there is more of an appetite for knock-down and rebuild, increasingly for duplex and small townhouse style developments to take advantage of larger land parcels.</span></p>
<p><span>Granny </span>flat builds continue to be a popular option in these areas too, either for extended families or for those looking to obtain some additional rental income.</p>
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<p><span>"This doesn’t mean that renovations aren’t an option here, as owners look to enhance their homes by something as minor as a fresh paint or some additional landscaping, through to a full blown second floor addition and full renovation," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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<p>A two bedroom granny flat in Bass Hill is currently on the rental market with a price guide of $400 a week.</p>
<p>The well maintained home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bass+hill-429296034" target="_blank">15A Handle Street </a>features large covered entertaining area, gas cooking and split system air conditioning. </p>
<p>It is situated close to local schools, transport and shops. </p>
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Renovation remains a popular option in Sydney: HTW residential 

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<p><span>It is not uncommon to see residential properties undergoing renovations throughout the inner suburbs of Sydney, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
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<p><span>The valuation firm suggests in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. </span>This month’s HTW residential report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.</p>
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<p><span>The HTW report notes narrow laneways with skip bins and trucks parked on the kerb is an all too familiar sight for many older heritage style localities in suburbs such as Glebe, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. </span></p>
<p><span>"This trend has been evident for many years now and we expect it to continue into the future, even within this current COVID-19 pandemic," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"One of the reasons we anticipate minor renovations to be evident in the short term is due to people being locked-up at home and looking for constructive projects to complete around the </span>house which will serve many purposes such as increasing the presentation of their homes and also providing much needed stimulation throughout this lockdown period," the valuation firm explained. </p>
<p>The report notes this could partially explain the continued demand and long queues at Bunnings Warehouse over recent weekends.</p>
<p>Even larger renovation projects have continued to be evident as owner-occupiers look to improve the value of their properties and engage builders and tradesmen at potentially reduced costs, at least in comparison to recent years.</p>
<p>A slowing construction sector, low interest rates and lack of supply in many locations and sectors are likely to encourage renovation projects in the near future.</p>
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<p><span>"Investment properties such as older style home units are also likely to see continued renovations as potential tenants are provided with greater choice at reduced asking rents," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>It will be imperative that investment properties are presented in the best possible condition, otherwise tenants will quickly choose a competing property in superior condition or alternatively demand a discounted rental price for any sub-par properties.</span></p>
<p><span>When renovating it is essential to understand the main goals for doing so, whether that be to sell, rent, or purely to renovate to personal taste to live in long term regardless of how this appeals to the local market.</span></p>
<p><span>A few significant aspects to consider when deciding to renovate are in relation to possible heritage restrictions, planning limitations, site access and the scope of works being carried out, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>"We hear of many renovation success stories, however a significant part of this requires understanding the intended personal objectives of renovating a property and if renovating with the aim of selling for a profit, then timing of the market cycle (which can involve some level of luck) is important," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"Some other techniques to ensure </span>renovations are not overcapitalising is by focusing on what the local market desires most, researching recent sales of similar properties (on completion of the renovations) and then ensuring the cost to do the chosen works does not blow out your budget or exceed the market value of the finished product." </p>
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<p>A recent example of a blank canvas property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-glebe-133206994" target="_blank">47 Wigram Road, Glebe</a> (pictured below), which sold for $1.86 million at an online auction on 4 April, almost $200,000 above reserve, indicates that there is still demand for this type of original property that requires a full renovation.</p>
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Renovation trend continues in inner Sydney during COVID-19 pandemic: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The pandemic is not stopping the rooftop urban farm at Burwood Brickworks in Melbourne from producing top quality fruit and vegetables. </span></p>
<p><span>Under a new partnership between the shopping centre, </span><span>acre </span><span>Farm &amp; Eatery and Crossway LifeCare, that produce is now being delivered to local people in need.</span></p>
<p><span><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/5/27/15_Fresh.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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<p>Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BurwoodBrickworksShopping" target="_blank">Burwood Brickworks Shopping Facebook Page</a></p>
<p><span>While the restaurant connected to the urban farm remains closed due to COVID-19, the new partnership ensures </span><span>the farm’s produce </span><span>is regularly delivered </span><span>to Crossway LifeCare’s customer</span><span>s, to find its way into the homes and recipes of people who need it most.</span></p>
<p><span>Crossway LifeCare’s customers include people experiencing hardship such as relationship issues, </span><span>depression and anxiety, domestic violence, addictions and other challenging life situations. The community services organisation aims to help people in tough places flourish.</span></p>
<p><span>Eric Park</span><span>, Burwood Brickworks Centre Manager, says the partnership is about using a community resource to support people and families who may be experiencing food insecurity in these challenging times.</span></p>
<p><span>“</span><span>Part of the principle of the Living Building Challenge® at Burwood Brickworks is to take a different perspective on waste, by viewing and treating waste as a resource. It would be against the spirit of the centre for the quality produce grown in the community farm not to </span><span>be used for the community’s benefit, and </span><span>this partnership ensures that it will</span><span>,” says </span><span>Mr Park.</span></p>
<p><span>“</span><span>We are proud to support </span><span>acre </span><span>Farm &amp; Eatery in the donation of fresh produce to a community group with a real focus on helping people from all wa</span><span>lks of life.”</span></p>
<p><span>As COVID-19 restrictions ease, the retailers at Burwood Brickworks are busy working with centre management and Frasers Property Australia to open their doors to the community at the appropriate, safe time.</span></p>
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