Avant Townhomes is adding to Ivanhoe’s family-sized housing options with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/three-82-ivanhoe-382-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Three 82</a>, a collection of just 16 four-bedroom townhomes on Upper Heidelberg Road.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/intrapac-property">Intrapac Property</a> townhome division has taken a contemporary approach to the traditional family home, pairing larger floorplans with the lower-maintenance format of a townhouse.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374394]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/arcadia-studio">Arcadia</a>, with landscaping by Landsite, the homes feature generous open-plan living and dining areas that connect directly to outdoor spaces, with layouts also designed to maximise natural light and privacy.

Natural stone is used throughout the interiors, including in kitchens that pair stone surfaces with bespoke cabinetry, considered storage and SMEG appliances.

The four-bedroom layouts include built-in wardrobes and a main bedroom with its own ensuite, while family bathrooms service the additional bedrooms. Each home also includes a lock-up double garage and intercom entry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374399]

Energy efficiency has been incorporated into the design through solar panels, double glazing and reverse-cycle heating and cooling, with the homes targeting 7-star energy ratings.

Rather than incorporating extensive communal facilities, Three 82 has been conceived around private residential amenity, with the 16-home scale keeping the focus on individual homes and their own indoor and outdoor spaces.

The development is located at 382 Upper Heidelberg Road, around one kilometre from Ivanhoe Village's cafés and retail and a short drive from Eaglemont Station and Ivanhoe Station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152069 project_image_fid=374393]

Several of Ivanhoe's established schools are also nearby, including Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar and Ivanhoe Grammar School. The address also provides access to the suburb's parklands and the wider Yarra River corridor.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/nelson-alexander">Nelson Alexander</a> has been appointed to handle sales.

Construction is underway and progressing well, with Three 82 currently tracking toward completion in Q2 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152069]

Joel Robinson

Three 82 brings boutique four-bedroom townhome collection to Ivanhoe

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">Graya</a> has secured a prime Newstead site from fellow developer Fraser, subsequently lodging plans for The Silo, a major mixed-use residential project in Newstead designed around a new public laneway linking the James Street precinct with the wider Gasworks and Newstead neighbourhood.

Proposed for the corner of Chester and Morse streets, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">Bureau^Proberts</a>-designed project places its strongest emphasis at ground level, where retail, landscaping and a new cobblestone pedestrian connection would open the site to the surrounding neighbourhood. The design team describes The Silo as “more than a residential building”, positioning the development as an extension of Newstead’s public realm rather than a standalone apartment tower.

“A new cobblestone laneway and landscaped connection between James Street and Gasworks unlock a missing pedestrian link, improving walkability and stitching together two of Brisbane’s significant urban destinations,” Bureau Proberts said in its Urban Design Report.

<img alt="First look: Graya plans The Silo as new pedestrian link between James Street and Gasworks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0ea1b06a-75f5-40a5-b2c5-33c97bc86052" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/silo%20bldg.png?VersionId=KmjsAtNePu57_B31EM_DJ5T6KPJHtcmo" />

The Silo is planned as a mixed-use development incorporating apartments alongside a bar and centre activities including food and drink outlets, indoor sport and recreation, office and retail uses.

Architecturally, Bureau Proberts has conceived the building as a collection of vertically expressed, stepping forms rather than a single uniform tower. The composition rises from an articulated podium before being broken by a triple-height landscaped recreation level, with the upper section becoming more compact before terminating in a landscaped rooftop garden.

The project's name and architectural language draw directly from Newstead's industrial history. Patterned off-form concrete is proposed as the principal façade material, complemented by slender metal rod balustrades and extensive planting. The cylindrical and vertically ribbed elements give the building its silo-like expression, while curved balconies and planted edges introduce a softer subtropical layer.

“The Silo reinterprets its robust forms, scale and materiality through a contemporary subtropical architectural expression, creating a building that acknowledges its industrial legacy, while responding to the way the precinct is occupied today,” Bureau^Proberts said.

The recreation level is one of the defining breaks in the tower. Plans include a lap pool, mature subtropical planting and shared resident facilities within an elevated communal garden. Landscaping continues through the podium and onto the rooftop, where a further garden forms what the architects describe as a “subtropical crown” to the building.

<img alt="First look: Graya plans The Silo as new pedestrian link between James Street and Gasworks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8451036-35a4-49a9-8d88-2ef4438eba3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Silo%20Lane.png?VersionId=h8N31_rYmCEqoNrpt4kbYVQhJGZn60LH" />

At street level, the development has been designed to establish a more permeable block. Retail and hospitality tenancies address the public realm, while landscaped pedestrian spaces lead into the new laneway connection. Renders in the design report show the proposed “Silo Lane” as a substantial opening through the podium, framed by cylindrical concrete forms with cascading planting above.

The Silo continues Graya's move into larger apartment developments after building its reputation across high-end residential projects in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Graya buys Frasers Newstead site, plans The Silo between James Street and Gasworks precincts

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wickton">Wickton</a>’s completed Linacre Rise development in Hampton is giving Bayside downsizers the opportunity to move into a spacious apartment near the beach, with the developer covering stamp duty for a limited time.

The 27-residence development has been designed for buyers who want to simplify their living arrangements without giving up the space, warmth and quality associated with a long-term family home. Most apartments have already been secured by Bayside locals, leaving a select collection of two and three-bedroom residences and penthouses available.

Two-bedroom apartments are priced from $1.275 million, three-bedroom residences from $2.25 million and penthouses from $3.375 million, with the completed homes available to inspect and move into now.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366760]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/linacre-rise-hampton-8-10-linacre-road-hampton-vic-3188">Linacre Rise</a> occupies an elevated position on one of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hampton-vic-3188">Hampton</a>’s quiet, tree-lined streets, around 250 metres from the bay and 500 metres from Hampton’s village centre. Its setting gives residents access to the beach, local cafés, shops and Hampton Train Station while retaining the feel of an established residential neighbourhood.

Architecture and interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a> draw on the warmth and permanence of traditional brickwork, with the building integrated into terraced landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick</a>. Ground-floor apartments are elevated above the street and include private garden courtyards, while several upper-level residences have generous balconies and outlooks toward the bay.

Inside, the residences favour natural materials and generous proportions. Herringbone-pattern European oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, premium joinery and Swiss V-ZUG appliances are among the key inclusions, while integrated storage has been incorporated across kitchens, bathrooms, studies and living areas.

The kitchens have been planned as practical spaces for both everyday use and entertaining, with substantial island benches, detailed cabinetry and adjoining dining and living zones. Full-height wardrobes, plush bedroom carpeting and carefully considered lighting reinforce the residential character Wickton sought to retain for buyers moving from larger homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366769]

A Linacre Rise purchaser said the completed apartment had delivered the space, outlook and construction quality they had been seeking.

“The unit is very light, has views to die for over the bay, all construction materials and fittings are premium quality, we have secure parking for three cars, EV charging at very competitive rates, the neighbours are friendly and there is just a lovely ambiance about the place,” the purchaser said.

Environmental features include solar panels, shared electric vehicle charging stations, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation, double-glazed windows and water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95289 project_image_fid=366762]

The development was built by Balmain &amp; Co, with Wickton managing the broader development process through its in-house team.

For downsizers, the project’s completed status removes much of the uncertainty associated with buying off the plan. Purchasers can inspect the finished apartments, understand their outlook and proportions, and move in without waiting for construction to conclude.

The remaining selection includes north-oriented balconies, corner configurations and penthouses with elevated bay views. The developer-paid stamp duty initiative is available for a limited time, with potential savings of up to $200,000 depending on the residence purchased.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=95289]

Limited-time stamp duty offer at completed Linacre Rise apartments in Hampton

Luxury apartment buyers have long prioritised design, space and finishes, but increasingly they're placing equal importance on something less tangible: how easily they can live without relying on a car.

At <a>Richmond Square</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis">Fortis</a> believes that convenience begins beyond the apartment itself, with the mixed-use precinct earning a near-perfect Walk Score of 99.

The development has been planned around the idea that some of the most valuable amenities aren't contained within a building, they're the restaurants, cafés, parks, transport connections and daily conveniences that can all be reached on foot.

Located just behind Swan Street and Church Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/richmond-square-1-wiltshire-street-richmond-vic-3121">Richmond Square</a> places residents within one of Melbo​u​rne's most established lifestyle precincts while offering a quieter residential setting removed from the busiest thoroughfares. East Richmond Station is moments away, trams run along both Swan and Church Streets, and the MCG, Melb​​ourne Park, Yarra River trails and the CBD are all within walking distance. At the same time, the precinct itself will introduce a curated mix of dining, retail, hospitality and wellness offerings, creating a destination that extends well beyond its residential buildings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348530]

For Fortis, that combination of location and scale was what made the site unique.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/richmond-vic-3121">Richmond</a> is one of Melb​o​urne's most established and distinctive inner-city neighbourhoods, with a rare combination of dining, culture, recreation, public transport and proximity to the CBD," the developer said.

"The opportunity at Wiltshire Street was particularly compelling because the site sits slightly removed from the activity of Swan and Church Streets while remaining only moments from everything that makes the area desirable."

Rather than developing a standalone apartment building, Fortis consolidated 15 individual properties to create one of the larger development parcels assembled on Mel​b​ourne's city fringe in recent years. That allowed the team to deliver a genuine mixed-use precinct comprising 107 residences across Wiltshire House and Carmine House, premium office space, hospitality venues, retail, wellness offerings and a future 57-room hotel.

"The scale of the site allowed Fortis to think beyond a standalone apartment building," the developer said.

"Richmond Square could be planned as a complete lifestyle precinct, bringing homes, workplaces, dining, retail, hospitality and wellness together around a series of activated public spaces. The aim was to create a destination that feels connected to Richmond rather than separate from it."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348533]

The emphasis on walkability has also resonated with buyers.

Interest has been strongest from established owner-occupiers, particularly downsizers from Richmond and Melb​ourne's inner east who want to remain close to familiar restaurants, workplaces, family and social networks while moving into a more secure, lower-maintenance home. The project is also attracting Mornington Peninsula and interstate buyers seeking a Melb​ourne residence they can lock up and leave between visits.

Many are looking for generous living spaces, room to entertain, quality finishes and confidence in the project team, but location remains one of the biggest deciding factors.

"For many buyers, Richmond Square provides a way to simplify the practical side of home ownership without reducing the quality of their lifestyle," the sales team said.

"Location is also a major driver of interest. Buyers can remain connected to the CBD, major sporting events, the arts centres, local restaurants, cafes and bars and their family while living in a private and secure residence that is easy to lock up and leave for weekends or longer periods away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348549]

The residences themselves have been designed with that buyer in mind. Award-winning architecture practice SJB and interior designers Hecker Guthrie have created spacious two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses that prioritise generous living areas, natural light, bespoke joinery and private terraces. Above, a rooftop sanctuary by Acre includes landscaped lawns, bookable dining rooms, barbecue facilities, wellness spaces and panoramic views across the CBD, the MCG and Port Phillip Bay.

Fortis believes Richmond Square reflects a broader evolution in apartment living, where the surrounding neighbourhood becomes just as important as the residence itself.

"Richmond Square introduces a different proposition: generously proportioned residences within a genuinely mixed-use, hospitality-led destination," the developer said.

"The project's location and Walk Score of 99 further support a lifestyle where residents can complete many everyday journeys without relying on a car."

Fortis has assembled an experienced team that includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/hecker-guthrie">Hecker Guthrie</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a> and builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hacer-group">Hacer Group</a>, reflecting the developer's commitment to creating projects with enduring design quality and meaningful connections to the communities in which they sit.&nbsp;

Richmond Square is an expression of that philosophy, bringing together homes, workplaces, hospitality and wellness within one of Me​lb​ourne's most walkable neighbourhoods.&nbsp;

Construction is now almost complete, providing purchasers with growing confidence ahead of its expected September 2026 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13181]

Walk Score of 99 places Richmond Square at the heart of Melbourne's most connected lifestyle

<h3 data-end="19" data-section-id="1dvgwoe" data-start="0">Summary</h3>

<ul data-end="634" data-start="21">
	<li data-end="170" data-section-id="1o77v31" data-start="21">Walker Corporation has lodged plans for a second major residential development in the Maroochydore City Centre, a 29-storey tower known as Celeste.</li>
	<li data-end="327" data-section-id="1lb0y6t" data-start="171">The Plus Studio-designed proposal at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade would deliver 208 apartments, including four four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.</li>
	<li data-end="487" data-section-id="za720" data-start="328">The application comes as Walker doubles down on Maroochydore following the strong sales campaign at SOL by Walker, where the first tower is nearing sell-out.</li>
	<li data-end="634" data-section-id="5sovec" data-start="488">Walker is a key partner in the transformation of the Maroochydore City Centre, which is expected to ultimately deliver at least 4,000 new homes.</li>
</ul>

Walker Corporation is doubling down on Maroochydore following the successful sales campaign at its first residential project in the emerging CBD.

The national developer has filed plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celeste-30-sunshine-coast-parade-maroochydore-qld-4558">Celeste</a>, a new 29-storey apartment tower at Lot 30 Sunshine Coast Parade, just metres from its under-construction SOL by Walker development.

The plans, prepared by Plus Studio, would see 208 apartments delivered across a 100-metre tower on the 2,376 sqm site, which fronts Sunshine Coast Parade, First Avenue and Future Way within the Maroochydore Priority Development Area.

<img alt="Walker" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="17038209-6fea-4ed2-855d-fd4df65b3d02" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=iZD.oVXcQn.aLpUytDAW.CWjxP4puWMy" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 36 one-bedroom apartments, 48 two-bedroom apartments, 72 two-bedroom apartments with an additional multipurpose space, and 48 three-bedroom apartments.

The upper levels would be capped by two four-bedroom sub-penthouses and two four-bedroom penthouses, taking the total apartment count to 208. The preliminary yield study also provides 262 car spaces, 114 resident bicycle spaces and storage for each apartment.

It represents Walker's next major residential move in the new Maroochydore CBD after the success of SOL by Walker, its $220 million two-tower project nearby.

SOL launched to market in early 2025 and has since seen strong demand, particularly from local owner-occupiers. By February this year, Walker said the first SOL tower was nearing sell-out, with a strong waitlist also emerging for its recently released penthouse collection.

Construction is already underway on SOL, with the first tower expected to be completed in late 2027 and the second to follow in early 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147777 project_image_fid=319846]

<h2 data-end="2518" data-section-id="1b2dyo5" data-start="2459">Celeste to rise 100 metres over Maroochydore City Centre</h2>

Celeste would take a different form to the twin 19-storey buildings at SOL.

Plus Studio has designed a single 100-metre tower above an activated podium, with the architecture responding to the site's prominent position and three street frontages.

The podium would incorporate commercial tenancies and public art, with sweeping façade elements wrapping the street edges. The scalloped concrete podium has been inspired by the patterns created in sand at low tide, while extensive landscaping would continue vertically through the tower.

The ground level plans show three commercial tenancies addressing Sunshine Coast Parade alongside the residential lobby and landscaped public realm. The podium would then accommodate several levels of car parking before the residential tower rises above.

<img alt="Celeste" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="121f77b1-71c5-46d7-9b36-0a7d474211ca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-10%20at%2010.24.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=MGrg9Hb7HgzLN0Lelq_xrXNAruVl77ia" />

Plus Studio said the tower had been designed to maximise views from each apartment, taking in the Maroochy River, Sunshine Coast hinterland, Cotton Tree and Maroochydore Beach and ocean.

Those views have also shaped one of the project's key features, with Walker proposing to put the primary resident amenity on Level 29 rather than lower within the building.

The rooftop would feature a 284.9 sqm pool area with an infinity edge, along with a cold pool, spa, sauna, 93.2 sqm gym, sunset lounge, BBQ and dining areas, pool deck and private dining space. Cabanas and day beds are also shown across the recreation level.

The two penthouses would extend across the upper levels and each feature private terraces and plunge pools.

<h2 data-end="4202" data-section-id="v5f4ix" data-start="4160">Walker's growing Maroochydore footprint</h2>

Celeste further reinforces Walker's commitment to the transformation of Maroochydore City Centre.

Walker is one of the key partners delivering the new CBD alongside Sunshine Coast Council and SunCentral Maroochydore, with the broader 62-hectare Priority Development Area occupying the former Horton Park Golf Course and surrounding land.

The precinct is ultimately expected to accommodate at least 4,000 new homes as Maroochydore evolves into the Sunshine Coast's principal commercial and residential centre.

When SOL secured approval in February 2025, Walker Managing Director and CEO David Gallant described it as the "first of many residential projects" the company planned for the Maroochydore City Centre.

Celeste now provides the clearest indication yet of what comes next.

The site sits immediately within the new CBD, with the design report identifying Sunshine Plaza and surrounding parkland within walking distance and Maroochydore Beach around a five-minute drive away.

For Walker, the timing of the application comes as its first residential bet on the new CBD appears to have been vindicated.

SOL has progressed from planning approval to construction while its first release has approached sell-out, giving Walker confidence to push ahead with another 208 apartments and take its residential pipeline in the Maroochydore City Centre to around 450 dwellings across the two projects.

Celeste remains subject to planning approval, with the architectural material describing the scheme as a preliminary yield study that may change through the assessment process.

Walker doubles down on Maroochydore with 29-storey Celeste apartment tower

Prominent New Zealand apartment and hotel operator, <a href="/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>, is offering up a prime investment opportunity for Australians to purchase off the plan in one of the world’s most popular ski destinations.

They recently took to market Mountain Oak Queenstown Apartments, in the growing precinct of Remarkables Park in Frankton, near the airport and at the foot of The Remarkables - the mountain range the locals like to call “The Remarks”.&nbsp;

Sydney investors have shown interest in the one, two and three-bedroom apartments that secure high-season occupancy six months over the year, primarily over summer and winter months.

They average 90 per cent occupancy across their portfolio over January, February, March, August, November and December, while shoulder season months of April, July, September and October are still occupied 70 per cent of the time, with the growing appeal of Queenstown becoming not just a hotspot for the snow, but a lifestyle destination.

Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Safari’s Safari Hotels arm can also manage the holiday letting for an investor, from the listing on holiday accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com to the cleaning and maintenance of the investment. They’ve been in the short stay management business for 15 years and offer 24/7 support for investors, an important convenience benefit for any overseas investor

Another major drawcard for Australians is that New Zealand doesn’t have a stamp duty policy - so the entry price of NZ$639,000 (AU$586,000), is all that is payable on completion.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Safari is starting construction of the 141 apartments in Q2 this year, with a two-year build estimated to complete in mid-to-late 2027.<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="15" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczFpFAb7WuA6f4f9TtKWcqXyNwR8qqtakWv352ERkpqNlP3KwIo8YKxw67jZNHfpjEGIZGv5MQTbnvLZwNt8iu9IVdOrswOjCvBZ4zhSoOOLrpt6etVEZTN1gkBho0r_R72zdHNA?key=yq3daOanqHSb88QFd8jGYKdb" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" />​

The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;

Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.

With its strategic location near Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as key retail and dining precincts such as Market Street, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and Remarkables Market, Mountain Oak offers a strong proposition for investors seeking high rental yields and capital appreciation in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations.&nbsp;

Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

<html><body>
One in every 10 men living in a same-sex relationship in Australia in 2011 lived within two kilometres of Taylor Square in Sydney.
This statistic emerges from an <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features10July+2013" target="_blank">Australian Bureau of Statistics study</a> which found that Darlinghurst, Potts Point and Surry Hills historically have the highest proportions of male same-sex couples.
The study also found that, generally, same sex couples earn higher incomes, have more discretionary spending power, are less religious, are better educated and are more likely to be managers or professionals than mixed gender couples.
This makes them more likely to have money to invest in property.
The study found they are very likely – 51% as opposed to 15% of opposite-sex couples – to live in a unit, apartment or terrace house.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the study found that while NSW had just under a third (32%) of Australia's total population, it had 41% of Australia's male same-sex couples, and 34% of Australia's female same-sex couples.
The study acknowledged that many Sydney suburbs with high numbers of same-sex couples have historically been the social centre of Australia's gay community – hence the strong support for the Gay Pride March along Oxford Street.
While same-sex couples are more likely to live in the inner suburbs of large cities or towns than in rural and regional areas, the top 10 suburbs for male and female same-sex couples are all in inner Sydney.
CAPITAL CITY SUBURBS (a) WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SAME-SEX COUPLES (b) - 2011
<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="5" width="100%">
 
<hr align="left" width="100%" size="2">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="49%">
Male same-sex couples
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="47%">
Female same-sex couples
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="49%">
 
<hr align="left" width="100%" size="2">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="47%">
 
<hr align="left" width="100%" size="2">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
% of couples
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
% of couples
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="49%">
 
<hr align="left" width="100%" size="2">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" colspan="2" width="47%">
 
<hr align="left" width="100%" size="2">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Darlinghurst, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
17.9
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
St Peters, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
6.0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Potts Point, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
17.8
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Newtown, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
5.7
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Surry Hills, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
17.3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Erskineville, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
5.4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Elizabeth Bay, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
16.3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Enmore, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
5.3
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Redfern, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
14.5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Lewisham, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
4.2
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Erskineville, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
11.0
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Alexandria, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
3.6
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Alexandria, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
10.4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Tempe, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
3.5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Chippendale, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
10.3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Chippendale, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
3.4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Darlington, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
10.3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Marrickville, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
3.2
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="34%">
Rushcutters Bay, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="16%">
10.1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"></td>
<td valign="top" width="29%">
Stanmore, NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
3.0
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
While male same-sex couples make up less than 0.4% of all couples across Australia the chart shows they make up 10%-18% of all couples in the 10 suburbs with the highest proportion of people in male same-sex couples.
NSW and Victoria have high rates of male same-sex couples in their capital cities - Sydney 0.7% and Melbourne 0.5%.  
The highest proportions of female same-sex couples tend to be in the inner west of Sydney, such as St Peters, Newtown, Erskineville, and Enmore.  
Female same-sex couples tend to be more geographically dispersed than male same-sex couples. In St Peters female same-sex couples make up 6% of all couples.
 
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The 2011 Census found there were around 33,700 same-sex couples in Australia, with 17,600 male and 16,100 female.  
Same-sex couples represent about 1% of all couples in Australia. The pattern of more male than female same-sex couples has been consistent since 1996, when data first became available, although the degree of difference has decreased in each Census.  
Although the overwhelming majority of same-sex couples described themselves on the Census form as de facto partners, in 1300 same-sex relationships one person was described as the husband or wife of the other.
PERCENTAGE OF ALL COUPLES THAT WERE SAME-SEX, BY POPULATION OF CITY OR TOWN - 2011
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/samesaexjuly25graph11.gif" width="470" height="274" alt="samesaexjuly25graph11">
Source: 2011 Census of Population and Housing
Consistent with its predominant urban character and more highly educated population, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest rates of both male (0.5%) and female (0.6%) same-sex couples of any state or territory.
PERCENTAGE OF ALL COUPLES THAT WERE SAME-SEX, BY STATE OR TERRITORY - 2011
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/samesaexjuly25graph22.gif" width="470" height="274" alt="samesaexjuly25graph22">
Source: 2011 Census of Population and Housing
While there are more male same-sex couples than female overall, there are more female same-sex couples in all states other than NSW and Victoria (which have high rates of male same-sex couples in their capital cities). In Sydney, 0.7% of all couples are male same-sex, and in Melbourne 0.5%.
MALE SAME-SEX COUPLES AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL COUPLES, INNER SYDNEY - 2011
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/samesaexjuly25graph3.jpg" width="470" height="369" alt="samesaexjuly25graph3">
FEMALE SAME-SEX COUPLES AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL COUPLES, INNER SYDNEY - 2011
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/samesaexjuly25graph4.jpg" width="470" height="368" alt="samesaexjuly25graph4">
While smaller towns and cities tended to have lower proportions of same-sex couples, certain towns have high rates, particularly of female same-sex couples. These include Daylesford-Hepburn Springs in Victoria (where female same-sex couples 4.5% of all couples), and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory (female same-sex couples 1.2% of all couples).
</body></html>

staylor-63KgDrKwoY

Inner city suburbs popular with same sex couples: ABS

<html><body>
Listed commercial property trust Dexus has acquired a 14.9% investment in the Commonwealth Office Property Fund.
The fund holds prime-grade office assets worth $3.7 billion, including a 50% share of  the premium grade 5 Martin Place office tower in Sydney, due for completion in 2015, with law firm Ashurst to occupy 44% of the 31,000 square metres of office space.
Dexus says the investment is consistent with its investment in high quality Australian office properties.
The investment comes <a target="_blank" href="/news">one day after the Commonwealth Bank</a> announced that it had submitted non-binding proposals to internalise the management rights of the Commonwealth Office Property Fund, the CFS Retail Property Trust and the Kiwi Income Property Trust.
All three are managed by the banks’ wealth management arm, Colonial First State Global Asset Management.
This is believed to be as part of plans by the bank to exit the real estate funds management business.
The Australian Financial Review reports that Dexus and GPT are mulling a possible takeover bid for the office fund. They may also bid for the management rights.
Both have strong ties to the funds management business - Dexus chief executive Darren Steinberg was previously managing director of property for Colonial First State Global Asset Management while Carmel Hourigan, head of investment management at GPT, is a former fund manager of the Commonwealth Property Office Fund.
The AFR also names Mirvac, Investa Property, Brookfield and Blackstone as possible bidders for the office fund.
</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Dexus acquires 14.9% of Commonwealth Office Property Fund as big players circle

<html><body>
The activist lawyer <a href="https://twitter.com/chrismurphys" target="_blank">Chris Murphy</a> is a big Twitter user. He has fired off 36,000 plus tweets. He follows just the five, and has 8150 followers.
Today he tweeted about Sydney eastern suburb prestige real estate.
<a href="https://twitter.com/chrismurphys" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2013/07/tweetofthedayjuly25two.jpg" alt="tweetofthedayjuly25two" width="470" height="74"></a>
Property Observer wonders which listing or sale has prompted Murphy's tweet.
 
</body></html>

po-LsXgBTHBmX

Houses of the bourgeois aren't worth that much anymore: Chris Murphy

<html><body>
Melbourne was the strongest performing capital city housing market over the June quarter with house prices rising 5% to $553,447 to sit just 1.4% below their previous peak recorded in June 2010, according to figures compiled by Australian Property Monitors (APM).
Sydney, Perth and Canberra all recorded record-high median house prices over June.
However, the results suggest a two-speed housing market. with little momentum in house prices recorded for Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.
The “volatile” Darwin housing market fell by 2.1% in the June quarter – the only capital city housing market to record a fall in its median house price over this period.
The overall result was a 2.8% rise in the national house price over the June quarter - the best result since March 2010.
It was also the third consecutive quarterly rise in the national house price, which at $564,325 is now at an all-time high and according to APM, and has "clearly fully recovered from the correction phase of 2011".
<img alt="APM_june_quarter" src="/images/stories/2013/APM_june_quarter.jpg" width="470" height="275">
APM has Melbourne house prices up 5% to a median of $553,447 from $527,245 in the March quarter and up 6.1% year-on-year.
This follows substantial downward revisions of the previous March quarter Melbourne median house price of $538,922.
Had the figure not been revised, Melbourne house prices would have gained around 2.6% over the quarter.
It follows the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) recording a much more modest 2.4% rise in Melbourne house over the same time frame, but also only possible due to a preliminary March median house price being revised down sharply from $561,500 to $549,000.
However, the REIV has a stronger annual gain of 8.4% for Melbourne house prices compared with 6.1% rise recorded by APM.
Perth was the next strongest performer over the quarter with its median house price rising 3.2% to $584,487 andis  also the strongest performer over the year with a 7.5% gain.
There was a small upward revision in the Perth March quarter median from $565,152 to $566,601.
APM has Sydney house prices up 2.7% over the quarter and 6.1% over the year to a median of $694,064 from $672,209 in the March quarter, slightly down on an earlier March figure of $673,681.
Canberra was the only other capital city to record a noteworthy rise in its median house price – up 1.8% from $565,969 in March to $576,248 in June. APM had advised a previous March quarter median of $567,768.
“Australian housing markets have recorded significant rises in house prices over the June quarter, propelled by the lowest interest rates in decades, rising confidence and continued generally solid economic performances,” says Andrew Wilson, senior economist at APM.
“Buyer activity in most capital city housing markets is now charging towards record levels with the fastest prices growth since the government-stimulated house price boom of 2009 and 2010.”
He notes that buyer activity in Melbourne is “consistently solid through most price brackets, buyer types and suburban regions”.
“The results in Sydney and Melbourne are not surprising and are in line with previous forecasts and analysis, particularly with reference to price growth correlation with auction clearance rate data which has proven to be an accurate guide to the general level of house and unit prices growth in those markets.
“Other indicators including ABS housing loan data also provided solid guides to the June quarter house price outcomes,” he says.
“The Brisbane market continues to consistently record quarterly house price growth albeit at a slow pace with buyer activity impeded by a still underperforming local economy.
Wilson says Perth’s housing market continues to surge on the back of “high levels of immigration and a still strong local economy”.
</body></html>

Revisions help Melbourne house prices rise 5% in June quarter as Sydney, Perth and Canberra record new peaks: APM

<html><body>
The capital city unit market rose 2% over the June quarter with the median price of an apartment rising from $419,090 in March to $427,573.
The results reveal a patchy, fragmented unit market with four cities – Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide - recording gains over June, but three – Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart - recording falls with no change in Darwin, according to Australian Property Monitors (APM) data.
There was a small upward revision to the March quarter median from a previously reported $417,723.
A notably weak market over the quarter was Brisbane with unit prices falling 2.4% over the quarter from $355,589 to $346,964 to be down 4.4% year-on-year.
<img height="276" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/larry_uploads/apm_units.jpg" alt="apm_units">
It is the third successive quarter that Brisbane unit prices have fallen.
APM senior economist Andrew Wilson says the “significant” fall in the June quarter in Brisbane “may indicate an emerging oversupply of new inner-city apartments”.
The weakest unit market was Hobart with prices falling 7.3% over the quarter from $271,776 in March to $252,050 in June.
Canberra unit prices fell by 1.3%.
In line with its strong detached housing market performance, Melbourne was also the strongest unit market over the quarter with APM recording Melbourne unit prices up 3.7% over the quarter to a median of $411,714 from $395,015 to be up 4.2% year-on-year.
This follows the previous March quarter median being strongly upwardly revised from $402,197.
Year-on-year, Darwin has been the strongest performer with a 10.3% rise in its median unit price to $425,949 followed by Perth (up 9.3% to $387,798) , Sydney (up 4.9% to $491,845) and Melbourne (up 4.2% to $411,714).
</body></html>

Possible oversupply of inner Brisbane units push prices down 2.4% in June quarter: APM

<html><body>
My paternal grandfather fought for Britain in the War, and on his return he took up business as a shopkeeper. He always seemed like a fairly rational fellow.

And indeed, rationed! – for food and petrol rationing continued for half a decade after the War ended. The wartime generation was fairly conservative and risk averse in its attitude to private debt.
His wife (my grandmother) was a successful dentist (imagine – a dentist in a country of Brits with all those bad teeth!) and when she retired she deposited 75£ in a post office savings account for me and an equivalent amount for each of my brothers.
75£ was a heck of a lot of money back then and it seemed an unthinkably large sum for a child. My brothers and I used to calculate how many lollies we could theoretically buy with it when we were old enough (hmm, what was I saying about bad teeth?).
When we were teenagers my father allowed us to spend the money as we saw fit (libertarian), on the proviso that we bought something of lasting value and not just lollies (paternalism).
He let us do what we wanted with it but just gave us a nudge in the right direction. My older brother went inter-railing around Europe with his windfall. I bought some new cricket gear with mine.  
Economics for many years has suffered from one glaring shortcoming: its underlying assumption that we as humans act rationally.
But we don’t. We all learned at school that fatty foods are bad for us, cigarettes can cause illnesses, alcohol is bad for our livers and so on. We should all exercise daily and eat our five fruit and veg.
In a rational world, if we put on weight, you’d think that we would take immediate corrective action, but as a nation, it seems to be otherwise.
I previously blogged about Adam Smith’s 'invisible hand' theory which was based largely on the assumption that people act as rational profiteers, and neoclassical economics was founded on the principals of rational human behaviour.  
Over recent decades, these failings were gradually realised, and a new field of behavioural economics sprung up in the 1970s, which studied the relationship between mind and body and what drives us to act as we do.
The pioneers of behavioural economics understood that humans do not act rationally and instead frequently use mental shortcuts in order to make decisions, perhaps at various times based upon past experiences, a bias towards favouring the status quo, following a herd mentaility or sometimes based upon how a situation is ‘framed’. We can be influenced by many biases.  
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 Anchoring is a cognitive bias which causes us to rely heavily upon the first piece of information we encounter when making decisions. The first piece of information is known as “the anchor”.  
Those with higher digits on their social security cards indicated that they would pay more, on average, for the bottle of wine. Similar tests continued to yield similar results. For example, in one test a group of people was asked to write the last two digits over their social security numbers. And then they were asked how much they would pay for a bottle of wine.  
The initial price offered for a car tends to have an unnatural bearing on the remainder of the negotiation, regardless of what the seller initially believed a fair market value for the car to be.
The most common anchor in share investment is the price which investors buy a parcel of shares at. Logically, once you own a parcel of shares intended for a long-term investment – tax issues aside – the price you paid for the shares should be irrelevant.
Instead, periodically the investor should consider the future prospects for the company and determine whether the shares held still represent good value by comparing to the market price last traded to the calculated value of the company.
Does this happen? Not often enough. Instead, most amateur investors become transfixed with the price which they paid for the shares.
If the share price has gone down since they bought in, they swear blind that they will not sell until the parcel of shares is showing an investment profit.
Unfortunately this is very often what catches amateur investors out. They allow the market value to fall and fall…and fall, until finally they can take it no more and sell out at the very bottom of the market.
By anchoring themselves to the price paid for the shares, they stop looking at the investment rationally by asking “would I buy shares in this company today?” and instead say “I’ll sell when I’ve made my money back”.
They delude themselves that a loss is not real until it is crystalised and thus jeopardise their entire investment account through this one act.
Think back to the example of the car I referred to earlier. It’s very similar when it comes to property negotiations. The first offer made for the property very often becomes the anchor for the remainder of the negotiation process.  
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The realisation that people do not act rationally is vitally important. It is no good for governments and central banks to set policies which work on assumptions of rational behaviour, such as, for example, allowing individuals to take on as much debt as possible. A rational person would not take on more debt than they could afford to pay back, and yet, people are not rational.
The implication of this is that we can expect policy makers to gently nudge us in a certain direction. Free markets are a great idea in theory, but in reality, policies will be put in place to manage consumer and individual behaviour.
The posh phrase for this is ‘libertarian paternalism’, more commonly known as ‘nudge economics’.
An example? Through the 1980s it was gradually realised that Australia was undergoing a major demographic shift and that our pension system was in need of reform.
In 1992, Keating’s Labor government introduced the Superannuation Guarantee legislation, which made contributions to pensions compulsory. It was considered to be in the best interests of the population to force contributions to be made.
Nudge economics is a delicate balancing act and dangerous in the wrong hands – where should governning bodies stop? Should they tell us how to spend our income and how much to save?
Should they tell us when and where we should buy a house? Should we be allowed to decide whether to give blood or should healthy individuals be compelled to do do? Should organ donation be compulsory? What about our health? Marriage? Our education?  
Our investment markets will be heavily impacted by policy decisions in the coming decades so it will pay to understand the motivations behind and the consequences of policy-making.
Central banks overseas have been engaged in heavy ‘printing’ of money which distorts share and commodity markets.
Australia’s property markets will be manipulated by central bank policies. The RBA will use low interest rates to stimulate dwelling construction, yet the Reserve will not turn a blind eye to asset price bubbles.
Meanwhile, APRA will keep a close eye on deposit growth and bank lending practices and ensure than standards are maintained. At the state level, first home owners grants will be used to ‘help’ buyers into the market.
When markets next weaken once more, rules restricting foreign ownership may be relaxed, and so on.
All of these issues distort the markets and ‘nudge’ vested interests and individuals in the desired direction. Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m off to calculate how many lollies I could buy for $10,000…
Pete Wargent holds a range of finance and property qualifications and is the author of <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get a Financial Grip – a simple plan for financial fr</a><a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eedom.</a> 
 
 
</body></html>

pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Economics has suffered from one glaring shortcoming, its assumption that we act rationally: Pete Wargent

<html><body>
The Australian residential property market has recently been showing signs of improvement.
Investors and changeover buyers are being drawn back to the market following interest rate cuts and the positive outlook for housing.
Unfortunately, first-home buyers are missing out on the favourable environment due to  a number of reasons – stamp duty, the size of deposit required and ability to save for it, unemployment and underemployment concerns.
Recent changes to the first-home owner grant in all states and territories (except for Western Australia and the Northern Territory) have added to the uncertainty and impacted on the activity of first-home buyers in the market.
As part of the inter-governmental agreement (IGA) on the reform of Commonwealth/States financial relations signed in June 1999, all states and territories agreed to provide uniform financial assistance to Australians who are buying their new or established first-home through the introduction of the first-home Owner Grant.
According to the recently released QBE Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance’s (QBE LMI) 2013 Mortgage Barometer Report, 84% of first-home buyers believe property prices are close to reaching or are above what they can afford and 69% worry they will neverbe able to afford their own home (compared to 24% of all respondents).
Unfortunately, governments of most states and territories have made it much harder for first-home buyers to see their dreams realised. Table 1 (below) shows recent changes to the first-home owner grant.
<img alt="hawthornejuly25table1" height="328" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/hawthornejuly25table1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
As a result of the new policies, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ figures for March 2013 show that first-home buyers are becoming an endangered species. 
Figure 1 (below) shows that in Australia, only14.2% of owner-occupier housing finance commitments in March were from first-home buyers – the lowest level seen since May 2004.
<img alt="hawthornechart2" height="226" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/hawthornechart2.jpg">
Housing finance figures for April show that in New South Wales and Queensland (both below), where the grant ended in Octobe rlast year, first-home buyers made uponly 7.3% and 10.3% of the owner occupier market respectively with both states significantly decreasing their share in the total number of first-home buyers in Australia.
<img alt="hawthornechart3" height="212" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/hawthornechart3.jpg">
<img alt="hawthornechart4" height="203" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/hawthornechart4.jpg">
Two out of three first-home buyers in NSW and Queensland surveyed by the QBE LMI’s indicated the new policies made an impact on their purchase intentions.
With new arrangements aiming to stimulate building activity, it is too early to expect substantial positive results on the industry. REIA has been lobbying hard against the breach o fthe IGA, however we are still to hear what the Commonwealth will do.
Evgeniya Hawthorne is Research Officer for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reia.com.au/">Real Estate Institute of Australia</a>.
 
</body></html>

jake-cSmGT7VXVf

First-home buyers left out as residential market improves: Evgeniya Hawthorne

<html><body>
For many years now, I have suspected that I may well suffer from a very modern affliction. In fact, I think it’s so contemporary that no-one – not even drug companies which is highly unusual – have classified it yet. You see, I think I am suffering from OPSA – or Online Property Search Addiction.
Looking back, I think the first signs that I had developed OPSA were about seven years ago which also happened to coincide with a rather major event in my life. It also corresponded with the start of my employment at the REIQ, but I believe that’s just a happy accident rather than a situation that allows me to feed my OPSA and get paid at the same time too, which you have to admit is really a rather fabulous state of affairs to be in.
But the initial stages of OPSA were developed back in early 2007 when I was starting to search for my first home.  As is quite usual for a first-time property hunter, I spent hours trawling online for potential purchases before bothering to actually inspect any in real life.
Back then, though, my budget was very limited and I was also cognisant via working at the REIQ that the Brisbane, actually the majority of the Queensland, market was on cusp of a very serious up-turn. Needless to say I knew that time was of the essence.
Alas, it appears my reading of the market was known by most other buyers as well, because at every open home I turned up too there were queues, yep I said queues, of people waiting for the inspection to begin. Many potential first-homes were sold overnight.  Indeed many were gone before I’d even had a chance to ring the agent.
Given these extreme circumstances, my OPSA grew rapidly as I found myself searching online for more and more properties that might be suitable, let alone still available.
Then a change in circumstances meant my potential budget increased significantly thanks to my brother deciding he wanted in on the first home buyer action as well.
What that meant though was that I was soon exposed to a whole new variety of properties to merrily search through – I must admit my OPSA was very happy about that turn of events indeed.
Within a few weeks, we had finally found our first home but between that time and my next purchase some five years later I must admit my OPSA never really went away.
I would often find myself searching through online listings just for fun – even properties that were far too big or too small and especially those that I could never afford to buy unless I married Bill Gates.
But the reason why today I am admitting so publicly that I have OPSA, after seven long years of kind of hiding it from most people, is that over the last day or two I have noticed that it has reared its head most ferociously and the timing of such a re-emergence is curious to say the very least.
On Tuesday, July 16, my off-the-plan investment property finally settled some 18 months after I signed the contract for its purchase.
I must admit it has been an interesting, sometimes overwhelming, experience and the first I have completed on my own so my stress levels have been very unhelpful especially over the last two or so months.
I have said to all of my friends over recent weeks: “That’s it. I’m not interested in buying another property ever again” but I think I was actually trying to convince myself and not really them. And then, I found myself – almost daze-like – back on <a href="https://www.reiq.com/">reiq.com</a> searching for that elusive cottage, or perhaps even a two-bed apartment overlooking the river and I knew the time had at last arrived to come clean about my affliction.
I’m not too sure how I am supposed to treat OPSA (since it doesn’t actually exist) short of cutting off my access to any type of technology whatsoever and that’s really not an option at all.
No, what I think I’ll do after today’s momentous admission is recognise that OPSA doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing.
In fact, I think it allows us to daydream about the future, and to work steadily towards that Great Australian Dream of home ownership – perhaps just multiplied by two or maybe three.
Nicola McDougall is the <a href="https://reiqblog.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">REIQ</a>’s executive manager of corporate affairs.
Image courtesy of Ronin McR and has been digitally altered.
</body></html>

nmcdougall-hv3JvhUJmd

My name is Nicola, and I am an online property search addict: Nicola McDougall

<html><body>
RP Data has researched the entry point price for the top 1 percent of apartments across the capital cities.
1. Sydney's top 1 percent of units begins at $2.11 million
2. Perth's was $1.63 million.
3. Melbourne's top 1 percent of units was $1.57million.
4. Darwin's top 1 percent of units was $1.5 million.
5. Brisbane's top 1 percent starts at $1.45 million.
5 Canberra's was $1.1 million.
7. Adelaide's was $1.08 million.
8. Hobart's top 1 percent of units kicks off at $1.03 million.
Source: RP Data News Ltd papers
</body></html>

The top 1% of apartment sales across capital cities: RP Data

<html><body>
More than a quarter of space (26%)  in Australand’s flagship Melbourne CBD office development, 357 Collins Street, remains vacant with the property group reporting an overall rise in its $1.1 billion office portfolio vacancy rate from 5.1% in December to 8.4% as of July.
The rise in the office vacancy rate was revealed as part of half-year results to June 30 with Australand after tax profits down 1%.
It is in line with CBD  office vacancy rates rising across Melbourne and othe capital cities with Jones Lang LaSalle recorded negative net absorption of -191,900 square metres in the June quarter and<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/office/national-cbd-office-vacancy-rates-rises-to-109-chart-of-the-week/2013071663287"> a rise in the national CBD office market vacancy rate to 10.9%.</a>
JLL recorded a 10% vacancy rate for Melbourne over the June quarter, the first time the city's CBD office market has moved above 10%  in the current cycle.
357 Collins Street, the redeveloped former stock exchange building, which stood empty for nearly two decades as the tallest vacant building in the city, was completed late last year.
It offers 30,000 square metres of office space plus a retail arcade and makes up 8.4% of Australand total investment assets, and around 17% of the total $1.1 Australand office portfolio.
Its major tenants are the Commonwealth Bank and specialist telecoms construction firm Service Stream, involved in a National Broadband Network joint venture project.
The office tower has a book value of $195 million and is 100% owned by Australand.
Other office building within the  Australand portfolio that have vacant space include the 17,000 square metre A grade building ‘F’ on Homebush Bay Drive in Rhodes, which has more than a third of its office space (37%) available for lease. It was completed earlier this year.
</body></html>

Latest Investing Insights

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Investing Insights

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News