Article summary

<ul data-end="785" data-start="311">
	<li data-end="459" data-section-id="5hbcyr" data-start="311">Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at Skye Kangaroo Point, headlined by a two-storey sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm.</li>
	<li data-end="561" data-section-id="1p7lq8n" data-start="460">Early buyer interest suggests the residences could set a new Queensland apartment price record.</li>
	<li data-end="667" data-section-id="1y70z0l" data-start="562">The collection includes four move-in ready penthouses and the highly customised Skye One residence.</li>
	<li data-end="785" data-section-id="yvm0y1" data-start="668">The release caps one of Bri​sbane's most ambitious luxury apartment developments overlooking the Brisbane River.</li>
</ul>

<hr data-end="790" data-start="787" />
Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye by Pikos</a> development in Kangaroo Point, with early buyer interest indicating the flagship residences could eclipse every apartment sale previously recorded in Queensland.

The collection crowns the luxury riverfront development with five residences, including four completed penthouses and Skye One, a two-level sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm that will be tailored to its eventual owner.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374075]

Wanting to offer a fully customisable home, Pikos is offering Skye One as a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to work alongside the developer's design team to customise the home's layout, finishes and internal spaces.

The residence will feature a 247 sqm private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor kitchen and multiple entertaining areas overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

The remaining four penthouses have been completed and are ready for immediate occupation, each offering four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas, soaring ceilings and private lift access.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374059]

One of the defining features throughout the project is its use of Roman Classic Travertine, with more than 20,000 sqm of the natural stone imported from Italy after being personally selected by Pikos Group Founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos, interior designer Julie Williamson and third-generation stone specialist Mario Caucci.

Pikos said the penthouse collection represented the culmination of the company's long-term vision for Skye.

"True legacy isn't measured by what we build today, but by what endures tomorrow," Pikos said.

"Our ambition is to create places that become more valuable with time, enrich the lives of generations, and stand as timeless landmarks long after we've stepped away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374060]

Williamson said the interiors were inspired by the natural character of Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane River rather than international design trends.

"Materiality tells the story of a place," Williamson said.

"We looked to the movement of the Brisbane River, the texture of the cliff face and the warmth of the surrounding landscape to create interiors that feel understated, enduring and unmistakably Brisbane."

Positioned above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye places residents within walking distance of Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank and James Street while offering uninterrupted river and city views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=90059]

Joel Robinson

Brisbane's next apartment price record? Pikos unveils Skye's exclusive penthouse collection

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

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

A proposal to redevelop one of North Sydney's ageing commercial buildings has taken another step forward, with plans for a 38-storey mixed-use tower adding momentum to the long-awaited transformation of the Alfred Street precinct.

Now on public exhibition through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority-led State Significant Development pathway, the proposal for 271-273 Alfred Street would replace an underutilised commercial building with 95 apartments, ground-floor retail, commercial space and affordable housing. The proposal was submitted by&nbsp;Tara Shore Pty Ltd, acting for the John Taylor Family Trust.

While the project will deliver much-needed housing on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, it also represents another piece of a broader precinct that has spent years in planning limbo.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e1ce1b4-38df-48ab-992f-386814d86308" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20podium.png?VersionId=sC_h6w.A9VEoB98qsqowPlIoz__sBZBt" />

Despite its proximity to both North Sydney Station and the Victoria Cross Metro, redevelopment of Alfred Street has progressed slowly over the past decade as broader planning controls, zoning and building heights remained unresolved. The introduction of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway has provided a new avenue for projects to progress, allowing rezoning and development assessment to occur concurrently and unlocking sites that have long been earmarked for renewal.

Designed by Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder, the proposal seeks to do more than replace an ageing office building. The architects have positioned the project as the first stage of a wider public domain vision that would improve pedestrian connectivity and create a more cohesive mixed-use precinct as neighbouring sites are redeveloped over time.

The proposal includes a widened Alfred Street setback, new street trees, landscaping and outdoor seating, along with a landscaped through-site pedestrian link connecting Alfred Street with Little Alfred Street. The connection is intended to become the first section of a future east-west pedestrian network extending across the precinct.

<img alt="First look: New public domain vision underpins 95-apartment North Sydney tower on Alfred Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ea39ac3-46ad-4562-b4a0-b862e91c2dda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Alfred%20St%20da%20site.png?VersionId=K7umCd21KpetEFuVfsPlnJKhUOsmTTdV" />

The mixed-use tower would comprise retail space at ground level, commercial uses on level two and apartments from level three upwards.

In total, the development would deliver 95 apartments, including nine one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom, 56 three-bedroom and two four-bedroom residences. Twenty-one apartments, representing 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area, would be secured as affordable housing and managed by a registered community housing provider for at least 15 years.

Nine basement levels would provide 133 resident car spaces, seven motorcycle spaces and 111 bicycle spaces.

According to the Architecture and Urban Design Report, the public domain strategy is designed to transform what is currently an inward-facing commercial edge into a more active and connected pedestrian environment, creating a stronger relationship between the commercial core and surrounding residential neighbourhoods.

Office of Cortese &amp; Gilder has also prepared a broader public domain framework spanning neighbouring properties between 263 and 283 Alfred Street, arguing that a coordinated approach to redevelopment will deliver better public spaces, improved tower separation and a more connected streetscape as the precinct evolves.

The proposal comes at a time where North Sydney is slated for future residential growth. Commercial developer FiveX has residential plans for the neighbouring site at 275 Alfred Street. They've proposed a 39-storey mixed-use tower with 184 apartments, while Freecity was recently approved for nearly 300 apartments across a 51-storey building on Walker Street.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-freecity-gets-green-light-for-mixed-use-apartment-and-hotel-tower-in-north-sydney">First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-plans-39-storey-residential-tower-in-booming-north-sydney">First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney</a>

&nbsp;

Alfred Street the latest North Sydney pocket to be transformed by residential development

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

&nbsp;

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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>
For those predicting housing values to start dropping in the near future you should start rethinking that analysis.
Of course, the newly created investment market is facing severe headwinds and yes, it would be fair to assume that there will be a correction should a large number default on their respective acquisitions.
The mistake many continue to make is that housing affordability is actually about the established markets of households not the investment market.
If you were asked a simple question for those residing in NSW, do you want a second Sydney Airport or high-speed rail connecting Newcastle to Sydney, the Hunter Valley to Sydney and Wollongong/Southern Highlands to Sydney I am pretty sure what the answer would be.
With the second Sydney Airport estimated to cost between $6 and $8 billion it is comical that a second airport is prioritised over high-speed rail networks.
Everybody aside from politicians can see that high-speed rail networks would have an instant effect on housing affordability in NSW.
For those who disagree NSW is facing major problems over the upcoming decade that require immediate attention.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/02/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-02%20at%2010.59.17%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/06/02/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-02%20at%2010.59.17%20am.jpg" alt="">
As a direct result of what is happening to Sydney rental markets and housing markets we are now starting to see the exodus of NSW residents to the more affordable Victorian markets.
This is happening to such an extent that Melbourne will surpass Sydney in terms of population to seize the title as Australia’s biggest and number one city.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/02/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-02%20at%2010.59.40%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/06/02/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-02%20at%2010.59.40%20am.jpg" alt="">
It has been well documented that since that Sydney 2000 Olympics there has been next to no forward planning which explains exactly why Sydney is now overcrowded with our transport infrastructure at breaking point.
What makes this even worse is that there are no viable solutions – no drawing boards.
This then leads to the population considering alternate solutions to relocate simply because the financial pressures have become untenable.
NSW has had no succession planning where vision has simply been ignored, and now it is starting to pay the price for that ignorance.
In the established property markets we are now at levels never seen before.
Only last week, a garden apartment that was sold in Cremorne in September 2016 for $1,582,000 sold again less than eight months later for $1,970,000.
At a federal level, we are now witnessing the lowest annual growth rates in terms of government spending since the 1960’s.
Federal government overheads keep increasing so we are now witnessing cutbacks that will seriously damage growth as infrastructure continues to be ignored.
There is no collaboration between the states and territories with Canberra and this is fracturing growth given population growth continues to climb to record highs.
If elected politicians started displaying signs that Sydney was full 17 years ago then what do you think they should be displaying now?
With the federal government tightening the spending belts then the states and territories will start cancelling future projects simply because there is no available funding.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal that approximately 2.3 million Australians earn the lowest legal rate of pay for what they perform.
Recently the Reserve Bank of Australia commented that “wage growth is low.
Although it seems unlikely that wage growth will slow much further, wage pressures are expected to pick up only gradually.”
There has been next to no political commentary about wage growth where one would think that elected politicians would make this a priority to find out exactly why Australia has such weak wage growth?
With record low wage growth how is it possible that we can have record high property rentals?
The Property Council of Australia recently released a five-point plan to assist the NSW government with housing affordability.
<ul>
<li>Turbocharging housing supply through increased land supply and planning reform.</li>
<li>Reforming state property taxes and reducing fees, charges, and red tape.</li>
<li>Better co-operation between all levels of government.</li>
<li>Bridging the deposit gap and supporting first home buyers better.</li>
<li>Supporting the rental market and fostering innovative, affordable rental product.</li>
<li>Whilst fine in principle – this simply won’t happen.</li>
</ul>
Sydney has a massive problem with no clear solutions in the short-term.
Common sense needs to prevail so put the second Sydney Airport on immediate hold and start building fast-train networks.
I am yet to see a better solution to tackle housing affordability. Have you?
MOSMAN – 2088
Number of houses on the market this time last year – 51
Number of houses on the market last week –56
Number of houses on the market this week –57
Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 41
Number of apartments on the market last week – 40
Number of apartments on the market this week –38
CREMORNE
Number of houses on the market this time last year – 10
Number of houses on the market last week – 6
Number of houses on the market this week – 9
Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 18
Number of apartments on the market last week – 16
Number of apartments on the market this week – 18
NEUTRAL BAY – 2089
Number of houses on the market this time last year – 8
Number of houses on the market last week – 2
Number of houses on the market this week – 3
Number of apartments on the market this time last year –23
Number of apartments on the market last week –21
Number of apartments on the market this week – 19
ROBERT SIMEON is a director of <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/">Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</a> and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985. He has also been writing real estate blog<a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/"> </a><a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/">Virtual Realty News</a> since 2000.
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robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

Politicians are doing nothing to fix housing affordability: Robert Simeon

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<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>The ABS released its Characteristics of Recent Migrants survey for November 2016 yesterday, a release which the statistician puts out every three years. </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>The anti-immgration lobby will be trawling through the figures to see whether migrants were taking all our jobs (go home, we're full!) or not working enough (bludgers!), but in the end the three-year change in the figures wasn't all that remarkable.</div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>Most migrants are employed, including 82 percent of skilled migrants, while the unemployment rate for Australian born citizens at 5.4 per cent was comfortably lower than the national average.</div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>The labour force participation rate for recent migrants and temporary residents remained high at 70 per cent, and 84 per cent reported that wages or a salary were the main source of household income. </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>Recent migrants head to capitals</div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>The system is broadly working as it should, then, while the recent increase in permanent settlers is largely accounted for by an increased refugee intake from Iraq and Syria.  </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>One significant trend which stood out to me was the clear acceleration in recent migrants with their usual place of residence in one of the capital cities. </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>Migrants have always preferred the capital cities, of course, but at 88.3 percent the figure has clearly been accelerating higher over the past dozen years to now sit at incredibly high levels.  </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>Given that Australia's rate of immigration has also increased dramatically over the past dozen years this is potentially a hugely significant demographic trend.  </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>About 55 percent of Australia's population growth is presently accounted for by net overseas migration, while the other 45 percent relates to natural growth (being more births than deaths). </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>The trend towards capital cities holds true across all visa classes, but particularly so for those arriving as international students, a means of entry which is set to the most consequential driver of demographic trends.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/14/B1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><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/2017/06/14/B1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>Looking at the geographical figures it becomes clear that since the peak of the resources boom Western Australia is not attracting or retaining recent migrants as successfully as it once was, while the southern states have not been retaining as many migrants as they might wish to. </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>The slack has been instead picked up by Sydney, and to a lesser extent Melbourne.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/14/B2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><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/2017/06/14/B2.jpg" alt=""></h3>
<div>Interestingly Sydney loses a chunk of its population each year interstate or to other parts of regional New South Wales, meaning that the residual population of Greater Sydney is heavily tilted towards overseas born residents. </div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<div>Melbourne and Brisbane on the other hand are attracting migrants internally, and as a result absolute population growth is tracking at record highs in Greater Melbourne, and is picking up speed in Brisbane.</div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/">blogger</a>.
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/migrants-flock-to-capital-cities-stay"> </a></h3>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Migrants flocking to capital cities - and staying there too: Pete Wargent

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The Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo is among the top 10 fastest selling suburbs across Australia, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property data firm says that the average waiting time for units in Woolloomooloo is 41 days.
<table style="width: 473px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
State
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
Dwelling
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
Days on market
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
Current median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Croydon Park
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2133
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
Unit
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
Studio and 1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
38
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$412,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Kensington
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
VIC
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
3031
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
39
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$775,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Bowden
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
SA
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
5007
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
Unit
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
Studio and 1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
40
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$340,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Annandale
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2038
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
41
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$2,500,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Woolloomooloo
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2011
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
Unit
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
Studio and 1
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
41
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$800,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Beecroft
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2119
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
42
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$1,350,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Fairlight
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2094
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
Unit
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
42
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$900,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Narraweena
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2099
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
43
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$1,250,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Caulfield South
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
VIC
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2162
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
44
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$1,100,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Allambie Heights
</td>
<td valign="top" width="47">
NSW
</td>
<td valign="top" width="64">
2100
</td>
<td valign="top" width="65">
House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="52">
45
</td>
<td valign="top" width="77">
$900,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A recent example is a one bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-woolloomooloo-124812054" target="_blank">564/6 Cowper Wharf Road</a> (above) was listed for two weeks before it sold for $882,000.
Another example is a one bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-woolloomooloo-124910958" target="_blank">15/150-166 Forbes Street</a> (below) that stayed on the market for 19 days before it sold for $950,000.
<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/2017/06/14/15_150-166%20Forbes%20Street.jpg" alt="">
Properties in Woolloomooloo is in high demand with 1600 more website listing visits than most suburbs in NSW.
Independent residents account for 29 percent of the residents in the area.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Woolloomooloo units selling in quick time

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CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless talks the Adelaide's housing market.
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Adelaide's market update for November: CoreLogic

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CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless gives a national property market update.
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

National market update for November: CoreLogic

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<div>Since the introduction of new incentives, the number of dwellings financed by first homebuyers bolted to the <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/record-high-for-housing-finance" target="_blank">highest level in 92 months</a> in August 2017, so households are now being formed apace, especially in the two most populous states. </div>
 
<div class="separator"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VSHlNMkc4A/WeeUsZWsR8I/AAAAAAAAmrk/97SRzapVQb4Xbkaw1Z_a4o5h3Edyuz0MQCEwYBhgL/s1600/FHBs.jpg"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VSHlNMkc4A/WeeUsZWsR8I/AAAAAAAAmrk/97SRzapVQb4Xbkaw1Z_a4o5h3Edyuz0MQCEwYBhgL/s640/FHBs.jpg" width="640" height="390" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1365"></a></div>
<div> </div>
<div>There's much, much more to household formation than just this, though.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Recall I showed from the 2016 Census figures that Australia's migration programme has led to a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/demographic-tsunami-will-keep-sydney-melbourne-property-prices-high-20170629-gx1onj" target="_blank">demographic tsunami</a>, being millions of 25 to 32 year-olds in Australia, about to swamp the housing markets, heavily focused on Sydney and Melbourne. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Separate figures reporting the <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/migrants-flock-to-capital-cities-stay" target="_blank">characteristics of recent migrants</a> showed that it's overwhelmingly now the capital cities that are about to be swamped, because new migrants flock to the capital cities, and end up staying there. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Many first-timers are electing to rent where they live, and are instead buying investment properties as their first step onto the ladder, so the real number of first-time buyers is tracking at close to the long run average. Plus there's the trend towards co-ownership, as <a href="https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/real-estate/victoria/cobuying-a-solution-to-the-biggest-challenge-facing-buyers/news-story/e4fe88a599069d749765595101f2ba80" target="_blank">recently reported</a>. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 'bank of Mum &amp; Dad'</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Perhaps as significantly, there are the parents buying homes for their kids, which is new household formation not reported in the first homebuyer finance numbers. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>We are now seeing this going on practically all the time at auctions in Sydney and Brisbane - to be blunt, it pushes up prices - and evidently it's a big thing down in Melbourne and Geelong too. </div>
 
<div class="separator"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TU05mCnDD8/WeeUQaGjrcI/AAAAAAAAmrg/5lvbhp9aaCUdEMJKZRwPkCDh-O1Ou3F6wCLcBGAs/s1600/Cate1.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TU05mCnDD8/WeeUQaGjrcI/AAAAAAAAmrg/5lvbhp9aaCUdEMJKZRwPkCDh-O1Ou3F6wCLcBGAs/s400/Cate1.jpg" width="353" height="400" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="612"></a></div>
 
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67or6Unu5Rk/WeeUPngj1KI/AAAAAAAAmrc/51F21V7HrkYCwGL41xWVtdI_zOoDaodZwCLcBGAs/s1600/Cate.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67or6Unu5Rk/WeeUPngj1KI/AAAAAAAAmrc/51F21V7HrkYCwGL41xWVtdI_zOoDaodZwCLcBGAs/s400/Cate.jpg" width="400" height="73" data-original-height="101" data-original-width="547"></a></div>
<div>
 Cate Bakos of <a href="https://www.catebakos.com.au/" target="_blank">Cate Bakos Property</a> in Melbourne notes that it's not only the first homebuyer sector that's being impacted by inherited money: "Parents are impacting competition levels significantly. Firstly in the first homebuyer concession range - which is already screaming along with heightened borrowing capacity - and secondly the upgrader stakes. We are seeing and hearing of parents paying it forward with inheritance money." Affordability has been a drag on household formation to some extent since the financial crisis. However, this is projected to be more than offset by an ageing population - empty-nesters and downsizers - more divorces, more separations, widowhood, and a nascent yet growing trend towards <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3236.0Media%20Release12011%20to%202036?opendocument&amp;tabname=Summary&amp;prodno=3236.0&amp;issue=2011%20to%202036&amp;num=&amp;view=" target="_blank">lone-person households</a> living in apartments. And that's before we mention all the empty dwellings. Over the longer term, the ABS forecasts that the number of households will increase by well over 50 per cent to 12.7 million over the 25 years to 2036.</div>
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First home buyer numbers bolt

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The leading growth markets in Australia are now popping up in unexpected places.
Regional centres like Launceston and Townsville (above), as well as the affordable outer-ring precincts of our capital cities, dominate Hotspotting’s new National Top 10 list for municipalities with the highest number of growth suburbs.
This partly reflects the decrease in the number of rising markets in Sydney and Melbourne, with both the big cities still performing solidly but well past their peaks in terms of sales volumes. The attention is now shifting to other cities.
In the new Spring edition of The Price Predictor Index, the Moreton Bay Region in Brisbane’s north is the No.1 LGA in Australia for growth markets, having overtaken the Sunshine Coast. 
Moreton Bay LGA has 14 suburbs with upwardly-mobile markets, with buyers attracted by affordable prices, infrastructure and jobs nodes. Growth areas include Caboolture, Burpengary, Arana Hills, Bongaree, Deception Bay, Bray Park, Woorim and Warner. 
Morayfield is a key market, with sales around 170 per quarter, compared to 120-130 two years ago.
The Sunshine Coast LGA continues to feature strongly. It has 12 growth suburbs, while the neighbouring Noosa LGA has four. Growth stars include Coolum Beach where quarterly sales are up from around 70 to above 100. Caloundra and nearby Golden Beach are also thriving.
The Adelaide market gets very little national attention but it’s showing considerable resilience and there is growth potential in specific precincts. The Marion LGA in Adelaide’s south-west is the leading market in the South Australia capital, having lifted the number of growth suburbs in each of the past three quarterly surveys.
The Marion LGA, a middle-market area of Adelaide, now has nine rising suburbs, including Oaklands Park (median house price $470,000) which has lifted sales from 18 to 24 to 29 to 30 to 37 to 41 in the past six quarters. Other growth suburbs include Sheidow Park, Clovelly Park, Dover Gardens, Edwardstown and Glengowrie.
The Hobart market has captured national attention as homes sell quickly, rents rise at rates above the national average and price growth challenges the major cities. Within the Hobart metro area, the Clarence LGA is the market leader, although growth suburbs are spread across the city. 
Clarence, on the opposite side of the Derwent from the CBD, includes growth suburbs such as Geilston Bay, Bellerive, Lindisfarne, Rokeby, Risdon Vale and Warrane.
Launceston markets continue to grow in strength, but tend to be overlooked because of growing national focus on results in Hobart. Tasmania’s No.2 city has eight suburbs with growth markets, while the nearby West Tamar LGA has three. Affordable Invermay (median house price $230,000) typifies the growth in this region. Its sales levels have grown from 19 to 22 to 24 to 29 to 34 to 37 in the past six quarters, while sales in South Launceston have risen from 20 to 29 to 34 to 47 to 51.
Townsville in North Queensland is one of the nation’s comeback markets. It is showing increasing signs of recovery from years in which the usually-strong local economy struggled, thanks to the downturn in the resources sector and the closure of the city’s nickel refinery. 
The growing evidence of a revival is likely to gather pace as major events (such as the location of the headquarters for the $20 billion Adani mining project) start to take shape. On the back of improving economic prospects, Townsville now has six suburbs with rising markets. 
Perth too is mounting a comeback after four years in a slump and regions in the north of the metro area are leading the fightback. The Wanneroo LGA is  featuring strongly; it has six suburbs with growing sales activity - remarkable when you consider that the entire Perth metro area had zero growth suburbs only nine months ago. 
The growth markets include Alkimos, Carramar, Clarkson and Hocking. The Wanneroo LGA is the fast-growing municipality in WA and includes several new growth suburbs. As is often the case in such areas, vacancies are high in some postcodes but this will change as demand continues to grow. 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Leading growth markets popping up in unexpected places: Terry Ryder

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When the developer Dyldam launched its South Quarter project at Parramatta – on the former Auto Alley – last  month they noted there was especially strong interest from first time buyers amid high local interest.
The average off the plan sale price was $750,000 in what will become a $876 million residential mixed-use project on the former Holden car yard.
It is a sign that after a lengthy absence, first time buyers are emerging across NSW, perhaps lured by the expansion in the available government grants. 
The latest ABS data calculated 2,426 first home buyer commitments in August which represented the biggest monthly number for five years.
Though still below the longterm average, NSW first home buyers accounted for 12.9% of owner occupier commitments over the month, the highest proportion since 2012.
It was up from a recent NSW low of 7.5% in February 2017 when it looked easy to conclude that our higher housing prices had significantly reduced the probability of many ever becoming an FHB.
There's been research recently done by the Reserve Bank of Australia which confirmed that ‘generation rent’ is a reflection of higher housing prices rather than any shift in preferences.
It seems young households still have a desire to become home owners, however, fewer potential FHBs are actually able to enter the housing market.
It particularly noted the underlying desire to become an FHB has not changed since the global financial crisis.
"However, people’s ability to, or comfort with doing so, has been affected," it noted.
The research suggests the decline in home ownership was not as much influenced as previously thought from social and demographic and factors, including key life-cycle events such as exiting the family home, marriage and having children. 
The research paper, comparing FHB loan characteristics in this pre- and post-financial crisis periods, shows the major consequence of the current higher prices is that FHBs have to save a much larger deposit.
That is despite maintaining a similar median loan-to-valuation ratio of around 83%.
The median deposit size increased by around $28,000 to almost $70,000 in the 2008–14 period.
The median purchase price of FHB homes across Australia in the 2008–14 period was $387,000, which was almost $100,000 higher than the price paid by FHBs in the 2001–07 period
The transition from being a renter to a first home buyer is the riskiest of steps in one's fiscal life. And I'd suggest those doing so currently are doing it with heightened risk.
But interestingly despite higher debt levels, households who became FHBs post-2007 appear to be paying down their mortgages and reducing their debt-to-income ratios at the same rate, or slightly faster, than households who took on a mortgage before 2007.
The research noted in the year after taking out a loan, the reduction in the debt-to-income ratio for FHBs in the post-2007 period was around 8%, compared to 5% for the pre-2007 borrowers. No doubt low interest rates being a key factor.
It also noted recent FHBs have been less likely to have ever been behind schedule on their loan.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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FHBs at heightened risk, despite great repayment track record 

<html><body>
A 9.9 percent yield at Ouyen in Victoria tanked as the highest gross rental yield across Australia this year.
It was based on the Mildura district town's $124,315 median house price.
The three bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-ouyen-117697315" target="_blank">4 Cooper Street Ouyen</a> that is for sale at $195,000 to $210,000 is suggested to have a a $250 to $260 a week rental prospect.
Houses            Median Value Gross Yield
Vic Ouyen Mildura $124,315 9.9% 
NSW Broken Hill Broken Hill $148,084 9.6% 
WA Kambalda East Coolgardie $90,978 9.2% 
Tas Gagebrook Brighton $156,712 9.1% 
SA Coober Pedy Unincorporated SA $130,463 9.1% 
WA South Hedland Port Hedland $203,452 8.9% 
Tas Queenstown West Coast $93,707 8.8% 
NSW South Kempsey Kempsey $228,435 8.7% 
Tas Bridgewater Brighton $186,166 8.6% 
NSW Condobolin Lachlan $207,067 8.6% 
 
Units
Qld Port Douglas Douglas $256,024 9.3%
Qld Manunda Cairns $153,919 9.0%
Qld Bungalow Cairns $160,812 8.9%
Qld Edmonton Cairns $152,917 8.9%
Qld Westcourt Cairns $211,390 8.7%
Qld Manoora Cairns $164,431 8.4%
Qld Edge Hill Cairns $185,089 8.2%
Qld Holloways Beach Cairns $186,552 8.0%
Qld Cairns North Cairns $240,453 7.6%
Qld Parramatta Park Cairns $235,248 7.5%
 
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Victoria's Ouyen has highest house yields of Australia in 2017

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This year we will learn, yet again, the simple truth that Australia is not a single property market.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the nation has just one united market, because most of the commentary in mainstream media discusses “the Australian property market” and what will happen to “Australian property prices”.
But success in 2018 will be achieved by those who understand that we do not have a single property market, but myriad different ones all doing their own thing, dictated by local conditions rather than national ones.
Have a look at the latest figures from the ABS on annual growth in dwelling prices in the eight state and territory capital cities in the past 12 months.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Hobart rising and now the national leader with annual growth of 14 percent.</li>
<li class="li1">Canberra rising but still moderate, with growth at 7 percent.</li>
<li class="li1">Melbourne still strong, with annual growth at 13 percent.</li>
<li class="li1">Sydney fading, with the annual growth rate now in single digits.</li>
<li class="li1">Brisbane and Adelaide going nowhere fast, with growth around 3-4 percent.</li>
<li class="li1">Perth (down 2 percent) and Darwin (down 6 percent) still going backwards.</li>
</ul>
Across regional Australia there were multiple market scenarios, with some growing strongly (like Newcastle, Geelong and the Sunshine Coast), others showing moderate growth, many stagnating with little in the way of price growth, some falling moderately and some (notably resources-related markets) down a lot.
You could argue we have a five-speed property market in Australia.
But you’re still going to see twits standing up on ABC Television making statements like “property price growth will be zero this year” and “the national property boom is over”.
You will also read various members of the chattering economist class discussing Australia as a single market and making meaningless forecasts about the future of Australian house prices. 
These sad bastards just don’t know any better. They’re not real estate specialists and they only occasionally turn their attention to residential property, by calling up a couple of graphs on their computer screens to examine what’s happening in what they see as a single homogenous one-size-fits-all real estate industry.
Forecasting that “Australian property prices” will rise 3 percent in 2018 is a pointless exercise, quite useless for the average consumer. The Reserve Bank governor said as much in a speech late last year.
The coming year will have similar variations to the last, with Canberra behaving very differently to Sydney, and Melbourne moving in an opposite direction to Perth.
Even within a single city, there will be different scenarios paying out in various parts of the metropolitan area. 
In Brisbane, there will be good growth in some of the more affordable areas, not much action in the middle market and price decline in the inner-city apartment markets.
Perth generally is moving into a solid recovery phase, but it won’t be evenly spread across the metropolitan area. Vacancies remain very high in the inner-city apartment suburbs and out in suburbia some precincts are moving forward more strongly than others. 
There are a couple of middle-market areas doing well, the Melville and Stirling local governments areas, while more affordable precincts in the north are leading the fight-back, notably the Joondalup and Wanneroo LGAs.
Such is the reality of our myriad real estate markets. Feel free to ignore anyone who generalises.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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