Apartment buyers in New South Wales are set to gain a decade of insurance-backed protection against major building defects, after the NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.&nbsp;

The Bill establishes decennial defect insurance, known in the market as Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), as an alternative to the existing two-year strata building bond. It cleared the Legislative Council with amendments on Tuesday evening (August 4, 2026), with the Legislative Assembly agreeing to those amendments shortly after.

Under the reform, eligible developers can satisfy their statutory bond obligation by taking out an approved decennial-style policy that gives owners 10 years of cover for major structural defects from completion, claimable directly, without first having to pursue developers or builders through costly legal action.&nbsp;

The change forms the final tranche of amendments arising from the 2021 statutory review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and related legislation.

Resilience Insurance, which originated the cover in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022, welcomed the passage and credited the NSW Government for delivering it.

“This is protection apartment buyers have needed for a long time, and the credit for delivering it belongs to the NSW Government,”&nbsp;said Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into. Reform like this is what good, evidence-based regulation looks like.”

Resilience has delivered LDI in NSW since 2022, protecting thousands of apartments, giving the State, and now the country, real-world evidence of how decade-long, no-fault protection works in practice.

The reform also places NSW within a wider national shift.

NSW is the third jurisdiction to put decennial cover into law. The ACT legislated for it in 2024, with the scheme taking effect in late 2025, and Victoria passed its own framework on 17 June. Between them, the three cover the majority of Australia's apartment market.

The reform commences once the legislation is proclaimed, which is expected in the coming weeks. From that point, developers of Class 2 residential apartment buildings can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial policy in place of the bond.

Buyers who purchased into projects that took out the cover early are among the first in the country to take keys to apartments carrying decade-long structural protection.

“With the legislation passed, the focus now turns to making it work for buyers,”&nbsp;Nugent said.

“There are already thousands of apartments in NSW covered by this insurance, bought by developers who moved early. The question every buyer should be asking in a display suite is a simple one: does this building come with 10-year defect cover, and who stands behind it?&nbsp;

“We look forward to working with the Government and the Building Commission in coming weeks as the framework moves to implementation, and to sharing what we have learned over the past four years so the protection reaches owners as smoothly and quickly as possible.”

Other states are working through their own reform programs. Western Australia has indicated that decennial cover is within consideration a later stage of its reform sequence, and Queensland has been examining the settings as it looks at the development pipeline ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Resilience Insurance acknowledges the NSW Government’s continued focus on strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing delivery across the State.

Fast Facts: What the reform means

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Proven at scale:&nbsp;Decennial cover has operated in NSW since 2022, protecting thousand of apartments.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">10 years of cover:&nbsp;Protection for major structural defects runs for a decade from completion, claimable directly and with no legal action required.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">An alternative to the bond:&nbsp;Eligible developers can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial-style policy in place of the 2% strata building bond.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Part of a national shift:&nbsp;The ACT has had decennial provisions in force since 2025 and Victoria passed its framework in June. NSW now joins them.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">No-fault, first resort:&nbsp;Owners corporations claim directly from the insurer without first having to establish who is liable for the defect.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost-competitive:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the 2% bond while offering broader, longer protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market position:&nbsp;Resilience originated LDI in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022.</li>
</ul>

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI):&nbsp;Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Consumer-first:&nbsp;Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost advantage:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market leader:&nbsp;&nbsp;Resilience Insurance originated LDI in Australia and is the national market leader.</li>
</ul>

Joel Robinson

NSW parliament passes 10-year defect insurance laws for new apartment buyers

Builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mcnab-developments">McNab</a> has wasted little time reshaping one of South Brisbane's most significant undeveloped apartment sites after acquiring the property earlier this year.&nbsp;

McNab has lodged plans to scrap an existing approval for two 30-storey towers and instead deliver a single 28-storey residential building, preserving part of the site for a future development opportunity.

The proposal, lodged over <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-peel-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">64 Peel Street and 9 Cordelia Street</a>, is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising 124 apartments above a landscaped podium, alongside a boundary realignment that preserves part of the land for a future residential project.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="743bf564-3f8f-45fc-b8d3-bbf18f5b628f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20Peel%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=EhCxGrVn_VFH3qTbKnI4WppGwaMnOn0t" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, the development will deliver 119 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments across 23 residential levels. A five-level podium will accommodate 135 car spaces, while the ground floor will include a 66 sqm commercial tenancy, an activated residential lobby with work-from-home spaces, and a publicly accessible landscaped plaza linking Cordelia and Peel streets.&nbsp;

Communal amenities will span Level 6 and the rooftop, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, kitchen and dining areas, lawn space, sauna, steam room and yoga facilities.

The application also proposes a boundary realignment to create a standalone 1,290 sqm development lot while retaining an adjacent parcel for future redevelopment, allowing the balance of the site to contribute additional housing over time.

Hayball said the architecture has been shaped by the site's elevated corner position at the intersection of Peel and Cordelia streets and Brisbane's subtropical climate.

The design incorporates generous landscaped setbacks, a masonry podium wrapped with planting, large north-facing balconies, and a slender tower profile intended to maximise natural light, cross ventilation and long-range views. The rooftop has been conceived as a wellness-focused retreat overlooking Brisbane, with amenities positioned to capture views towards Mount Coot-tha and the CBD.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5f99e84-6ad8-4a87-82d1-869685b754d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20tower%20perspective.png?VersionId=Gw0IuJaSAlk.tvGBxInhZOcQAdIB..2b" />

The planning submission positions the proposal as a response to both changing market conditions and Brisbane's Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning reforms.

McNab acquired the site after the previous approval was granted, with the existing scheme no longer reflecting current residential market demands, economic conditions, construction challenges, construction efficiencies or the quality of development outcome now being pursued, the planning report noted.

McNab continues to expand its residential development pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The developer recently launched The Tannery in West End, securing more than 60 per cent of apartments before the project's public release. It is also delivering Elements Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise and Lucia Highgate Hill, an eight-apartment boutique development overlooking the Brisbane River.

McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower

A steeply sloping Bellevue Hill site is set to accommodate a new mid-rise apartment development, with plans lodged for 20 homes that respond to the site's dramatic topography.

The proposal for the consolidated land at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/138a-140-bellevue-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">138A-140 Bellevue Road</a> has been designed by Sydney architecture practice Common Office, which has used the site’s substantial fall to distribute the building’s scale and unlock 20 apartments without presenting the full height to the street.&nbsp;

“The unique design strategy leverages the site’s substantial topographical fall to facilitate increased density, presenting a seven-storey profile to Bellevue Road while rising to 10 storeys at the rear,” Common Office said in its architectural design report.

The apartment mix spans one, two, three- and four-bedroom residences. Four two-bedroom apartments are designated as affordable housing, while the plans also include two adaptable dwellings. The mix is majority three-beds, with the typical three-bed apartment offering around 144 sqm internally, with balconies of around 15 sqm.

The affordable housing component represents 15 per cent of the residential floor area and allows the project to access additional height and floor space under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions. The site also falls within the inner area of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy because it is within 400 metres walking distance of Double Bay Town Centre.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1230d0f-3bfa-4a11-abaf-0928c66ef345" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da.png?VersionId=dZeMK3P.OutGjN8ycjsxm8uNsj_QFWQv" />

Common Office has arranged the building around a masonry podium and a lighter upper volume, drawing on two recurring elements of Bellevue Hill’s established architecture: sandstone bases and the vertical proportions of local Inter-war Art Deco apartment buildings.

“The proposal is governed by a holistic design language that reconciles the solid horizontal masonry of the neighbourhood’s podiums with the elegant verticality of its Art Deco heritage,” the architect said.

“The building maintains a consistent rhythmic logic utilising deep recesses and a sophisticated material transition to break down the 10-storey scale into a series of articulated, human-scale volumes.”

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0147f503-1af1-4d51-97fb-c2f1cba63a9d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20bldg.png?VersionId=GoW7q3NlK67OpnePXhk7zvklrlKb72Qc" />

Large-format sandstone tiles will define the lower levels, establishing a robust base that negotiates the change in elevation from Bellevue Road. Above, red-tinted precast concrete frames, recessed balconies, anodised aluminium screens and expanded metal details will create a more vertically expressed façade. Integrated planter beds will introduce greenery across balcony edges and recessed sections of the building.

The elongated northern façade has been divided into three recessed vertical masses to reduce its perceived length. Triangular window elements and metal privacy screens reference the geometry of nearby Art Deco buildings while controlling overlooking toward surrounding homes. The southern elevation will incorporate further privacy screening, landscaped edges and deep balconies to maintain light and ventilation.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8679cf1-18bc-4447-8a0f-0052b94ab83c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da%20rooftop.png?VersionId=5SQqQqRFf76rvE2p1TbxJSweMN70AIbc" />

Private and communal landscaping is distributed throughout the development. A landscaped garden apartment is positioned within the lower portion of the site, while a communal terrace on Level 5 will include a central timber deck, barbecue facilities, resident planting plots and areas for outdoor dining and informal gatherings.

Common Office described the terrace as an elevated sanctuary designed to capture district views and sunlight. Its planting strategy incorporates endemic species associated with the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, extending the landscape vertically through the building and providing habitat for local flora and fauna.

A second communal outdoor area is proposed at roof level, with built-in seating, paved gathering areas and perimeter planting.

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction. Positive Investment Enterprise is delivering the 16-apartment Kew Palm House on Birriga Road, while Chanine Developments is also under construction at Florian, a 36-apartment project on Banksia Road.

&nbsp;

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction.

First Look: Apartment development pitched for Bellevue Hill, Double Bay fringe

South Brisbane's apartment pipeline continues to build momentum, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a> lodging plans for a 161-apartment tower on Montague Road as developers accelerate investment across the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

The proposal for 176–186 Montague Road would replace an existing office building with a 20-storey residential tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, adding to a growing pipeline of high-density projects reshaping one of Brisbane's fastest-evolving inner-city precincts.

The project has been conceived as a "living building", featuring a flowing tower form, extensive vertical landscaping, and generous communal spaces that respond to the evolving Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

TRK Property Group Development Director Matt Kan said the project reflected the confidence developers have in South Brisbane's long-term future.

"South Brisbane is entering an incredibly exciting period, and we see Montague Road sitting right at the heart of that evolution," Kan said.

"With the former Visy site directly opposite us and significant investment planned throughout the broader Kurilpa precinct, there is a real sense of momentum around this part of the city and what it will become over the coming years.

"For TRK, this is an opportunity to be part of that next chapter and deliver a project that responds to where the precinct is heading, while contributing to the continued evolution of Brisbane's river edge."

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="590fe1ad-f892-4446-a679-80e33a16d029" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20tower%20facade.png?VersionId=uOJStrcKpyHFcPE1w6_9SMAFzVMCcZll" />

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, incorporating multi-purpose rooms in selected residences to provide additional flexibility for home offices or expanded living areas. The proposed mix comprises 15 one-bedroom, 13 one-bedroom plus MPR, 73 two-bedroom, 26 two-bedroom plus MPR, 30 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom apartments.

Rather than adopting a conventional rectilinear tower, COX Architecture has developed a sculpted form inspired by the movement of the Brisbane River.

"The proposal has been designed by COX Architecture as a 'living building' that responds to the site's riverine setting, floodplain history and evolving urban context within the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct," the planning report states.

"The architectural form draws from the fluid nature of the Brisbane River, with a curved and undulating tower form that creates a varied architectural edge and avoids a conventional rectilinear tower expression."

The podium has also been designed as an architectural feature rather than a conventional parking structure, with cascading planting, screening and natural-toned materials softening its appearance. Resident parking is elevated above ground level to address the site's flood constraints, while habitable apartments sit above flood planning levels. Upper-level communal facilities are designed to accommodate shelter-in-place arrangements during major flood events.

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01fa15d0-90df-46c7-9555-7941fc45373c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20podium.png?VersionId=mHyua.w1pHGBt9qEdWzrlsv.leztUCwO" />

Communal amenity is a major focus of the proposal. Around 1,815 sqm of shared resident space is proposed across the ground floor, level 19 and the rooftop, including co-working areas, indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, wellness facilities, dining and gathering areas, lawn spaces, a rooftop pool and spa, and extensive landscaping. At street level, a landscaped forecourt and approximately 345 sqm of publicly accessible open space along Montague Road are intended to improve the pedestrian experience while activating the building's frontage.

The development will provide 163 car spaces, including 152 resident bays and 11 visitor spaces, together with 144 bicycle spaces incorporating resident storage, visitor parking, bicycle maintenance facilities and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The site sits within one of Brisbane's fastest-changing inner-city precincts, less than two kilometres from the CBD and within easy reach of South Bank, West End, the Queensland Cultural Centre and extensive public transport connections. The Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning framework is encouraging higher-density residential development to help meet Brisbane's housing supply targets while supporting walkable, transit-oriented neighbourhoods.

TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans

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]

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

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

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Be ready for a surge in new dwelling starts lead by New South Wales, Victoria and, of course, mining-boosted Western Australia. This revival will boost Australian economic numbers, which may delay further interest rate cuts.
When the figures are calculated we are going to see a big improvement in Australian housing affordability, which will underpin the housing resurgence. And in both NSW and Victoria state government actions will drive sales.
NSW is doubling its first-home buyers’ grant from October 1 and then dropping it 14 months later. It is also providing a grant for the purchase of properties under $650,000. From October these actions will boost the market – which means it will be wobbly for four months.
NSW is also taking steps to try and break the bureaucratic obstacles that curb development. My builder friends tell me the politicians are doing their best but currently there are too many bureaucrats standing in the way. Eventually the politicians will win, particularly as the size of the public service is being reduced.
Victoria is going the other way and will boost figures for the next six months. Victoria is going to end its first-home buyers’ grant on June 30 (the federal grant remains). That action is currently bringing forward a volley of new home buyers anxious to sign up by June 30. Victoria is also releasing new areas of land and it hopes the extra supply will keep land prices down to offset the withdrawal of the grant. I suspect that in 2013 the grant may need to be restored, but that’s down the track.
These grants come at a time when there has been a fall in land values, which increases affordability, and builders are presenting house-and-land packages with much smaller and cheaper houses than was the case a few years ago.
Add to these developments lower interest rates, and there is a big rise in affordability. Whereas the Australian mining and large construction industries have seen big rises in the cost of building, partly a result of bad management and union action, in home building the efficient independent contracting system has been very effective in maintaining and improving productivity rates so prices have not exploded. In some cases prices have fallen.
The non-mining Australia depends on both retail and housing activity. Retail is tough, but at least for the next year there will be a boost in housing.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.businessspectator.com.au/" target="_blank">Business Spectator.</a>
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rgottliebsen-VjLFh9nsD4

Improved affordability will underpin housing market resurgence: Gottliebsen

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The NSW state budget takes two steps forward and one step back on housing affordability.
Abolishing the first-home owners’ grant for existing properties is a positive move, because we know it simply helps to push up prices when supply is restricted. That $7,000 just goes straight into the pocket of the seller, not the home buyer.
Sydney clearly needs more new homes built, but unless the community can reach a consensus about how and where new development can take place, increased grants for new homes might not have any effect, or worse, simply push up prices for new homes as well.
It’s disappointing that there is no new money for affordable rental housing.
This budget does little for the 180,000 renters in New South Wales struggling with high housing costs, and actually cuts the number of people who will be assisted in the private rental market.
With some of the highest housing costs in the country, and more than 300,000 households in New South Wales under housing stress, the New South Wales budget falls well short of fixing this problem.
While it’s not quite shifting deck chairs on the Titanic, it’s awfully close to sewing cushions for the lifeboat.
Sarah Toohey is campaign manager of <a href="https://housingstressed.org.au/" target="_blank">Australians for Affordable Housing</a>.
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stoohey-Wf4skQJiAL

NSW state budget takes two steps forward and one step back

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So how can you tell if a market has turned the corner?
Market watchers will have their own theories on milestones that signal a change in the fortunes of the real estate market.  I, for one, think that Brisbane has turned a corner and is well-positioned on the property clock.
But why do I think this?  What measures am I using?  Well, here are my 10 market turn milestones.
<ol>
<li>Offers are made before a property goes “public”</li>
<li>Multiple offers are made – by different buyers – on the same property after listing</li>
<li>Properties start to sell above listed or reserve price</li>
<li>New properties start to sell above their resale value</li>
<li>Tightening vacancy rate and rising rents</li>
<li>The amount of established stock on the market falls</li>
<li>New housing supply falls below its long-term underlying demand</li>
<li>Job growth starts to accelerate</li>
<li>Sales volumes start to increase</li>
<li>The time resales remain on the market fall</li>
</ol>
Brisbane has nine out of 10.  Too early to call an upturn?  Maybe, but the signs are definitely there.  Of course, the proof in the pudding is a sustained rise in generic property prices.
Now, depending on which data set you believe, recent REIQ figures suggest that the Brisbane property market has turned that corner.  The median price in Brisbane rose 1.2% to $505,000 over the March quarter, according to the REIQ.
I have been helping a tradie mate to find a renovator’s delight somewhere across Brisbane’s inner- to middle-ring suburbs in recent weeks.  I am amazed at how quickly offers are being thrown at well-priced stock.  Many are received before the property hits the internet, the print media or even an agent’s window.  Properties are starting to sell before they even get officially listed.
This trend is also starting to happen in well-placed, well-designed and well-marketed new investment projects.  In inner Brisbane think Binary, Vivid and more recently Vine, to name a few.
According to Place advisory, there were 450 unconditional transactions during the first three months of this year – a historically quiet selling period – and this March quarter’s result was the strongest first quarter in over a decade.
And it appears to be going from strength to strength with Belise, in Bowen Hills, converting four out of every five walk-ins in recent months, with four sales alone last week, with another couple pending. Over 60 apartments have now sold in this proposed apartment complex since the beginning of the year.
According to Bees Nees City Realty, four out of their last five sales have had multiple offers submitted.  Other trusted realtors across the city are starting to report similar trends.
Also as I tweeted a few weeks back, I attended an auction run by Doug Disher Real Estate of a two-bedroom, unrenovated, post-war cottage in Brisbane’s St Lucia.  There were 17 registered bidders.  I mentioned to people present at the auction that it would sell for more than $725,000.  Many thought I was smoking something.  It sold under the hammer and in about ten minutes for $775,000, which was well above the reserve.
The timing of John McGrath’s arrival in Brisbane is no accident.  And Johnno is certainly no fool.
Brisbane’s vacancy rate now is just 1.5%, and rents rose by close to $20 across most residential rental properties across the city over the past 12 months.
The amount of resale stock on the Brisbane market has fallen by 8% since this time last year. And the city is undersupplied when it comes to new housing stock.  We are currently building about 90% of what we really need.
Of late, there has been much press about a pending oversupply of new apartments across inner Brisbane.  Now, while we have lots of new mooted apartment development, the fact remains that not enough new product is actually being built.  Over the last five years, for example, 13,000 new dwellings were required to accommodate the population growth, yet – based on the official statistics – just 8,017 new dwellings were approved.  Last year, just 1,902 new dwellings were approved.  At present there is a serious shortfall.
In addition, the latest ABS figures show that 22,000 full-time jobs were created across Queensland last year, and about half of them are in Brisbane.
Sales are now starting to improve, especially for apartment and townhouse stock, with sales up about 11% on last quarter.  Affordable apartment sales have lifted even further, up 22% in during the first part of this year.
What’s missing is a reduction in the time resale property remains on the market.
The average Brisbane resale property now takes 132 days (just over four months) to sell.  This is up from 105 days this time last year, or about a month longer (27 days).  However, this increase is in line with the Australian capital city average.
Now, why aren’t sales picking up or the time needed to sell falling?
For mine, most home buyers aren’t that confident.  While many that we speak to believe that the Brisbane market has bottomed, they can’t help being tempted to wait just in case prices fall a bit more.  On one hand, they want <a href="https://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/" target="_blank">Steve Keen</a> to be kinda right, but on the other they believe in Michael Matusik, Terry Ryder, Michael Yardney et al.  So they are waiting in the wings, so to speak.
Also, another truism is that low offers are rare.  Yes, APM reports that the average private treaty discount for Brisbane is 8.5%, but experienced agents report that agreed contract prices average under 3% for well-priced property across Brisbane.
Buyers are reluctant to invest themselves emotionally (nor will they spend their time) on a property that is (in their minds) not realistically priced.  If a property is listed too high, buyers will simply move on to the next listing.  The internet allows this to happen with ease.
One of the real issues facing the Brisbane residential market (and elsewhere, too) is that too many sellers are unrealistic and also aren’t prepared to market their property properly.  Many should take their homes off the market or reduce their asking price.
Dropping the price can open up a strong market response, especially when the “market turned” signals are getting stronger.  Even in a buyer’s market, buyers will compete for a property they want, and price these days is a major part of that “want”.
And yet, in spite of an excellent position, good value for money and redevelopment potential, certain properties just aren’t selling. Curious, indeed.
Michael Matusik is the director of independent property advisory Matusik Property Insights. Michael is a 25-year veteran in the industry and his firm has helped over 550 new residential developments come to fruition. Michael has launched a new initiative, called<a href="https://www.matusik.com.au/" target="_blank"> Think Matusik</a>. Think Matusik brings together expert opinion and select property opportunities.
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michaelmatusik-49YzLvdmNv

The 10 signs investors should watch for of property market recovery

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The top-end market was again somewhat subdued this week, with the exception of six-bedroom house in Bulimba, Queensland, that sold for $5.1 million. The Queen’s birthday long weekend may have deterred vendors of top-end property, as auction volumes and clearance rates were down across the country this week.
The 850-square-metre house at the top of the list last sold in 2007 for $2.85 million. Agent Sarah Hackett from Place Estate Agents says the house “exudes elegant simplicity in every aspect of its stunning design”. The riverfront home has 3.5-metre ceilings and, in good Queensland fashion, outdoor living has been catered for with outdoor heating and a built-in barbecue.
The next highest price achieved this week was $2,355,000 for a four-bedroom house in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. Only three of the top 10 sales of the week cracked $2 million.
Nine of the top 10 highest sales of the week were in New South Wales, with no Melbourne sales above $1,425,000.
1. 23 Waterline Crescent, Bulimba, Queensland, 4171, six-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 7 by Place Estate Agents-Bulimba for $5.1 million
2. 22 Virginia Street, Kensington, NSW, 2033, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 5 by Bradfield Cleary Real Estate for $2,355,000
3. 22 Beresford Road, Rose Bay, NSW, 2029, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 9 by McGrath Estate Agents for $2.21 million
4. 12 Chuter Street, McMahons Point, NSW, 2060, four-bedroom house, sold on June 5 by McGrath Estate Agents for $1.8 million
5. 3 Lentara Road, Bayview, NSW, 2104, four-bedroom house, sold before auction on June 9 by McGrath Estate Agents for $1.76 million
6. 5/412 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra, NSW, 2025, three-bedroom unit, sold at auction on June 9 by McGrath Estate Agents for $1,625,000
7. 61 Stafford Street, Paddington, NSW, 2021, three-bedroom house, sold on June 6 by Di Jones Real Estate for $1,550,000
8. 36 Langlee Avenue, Waverley, NSW, 2024, four-bedroom house, sold before auction on June 6 by Di Jones Real Estate for $1.53 million
9. 16/3 Wulumay Close, Rozelle, NSW, 2039, three-bedroom unit, sold on June 7 by Realty International Balmain for $1,465,000
10. 3 Leonard Avenue, Kingsford, NSW, 2032, three-bedroom house, sold at auction on June 9 by N G Farah for $1,425,000
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With exception of $5.1 million Queensland property, no other $3 million-plus sales this week: RP Data 

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The NSW budget failed to respond to the real challenges facing the market, according to the Real Estate Institute of NSW president Christian Payne, as it left the bulk of the property market “out in the cold”.
“The absence of stamp duty reform, the lack of incentives for purchasers and sellers of existing property and the failure to kick start the investment sector are real failings of today’s budget,” Payne says.
“While the first-home buyer is an important part of the market, the fact is that the vast bulk of all residential property transactions are for existing dwellings.
“Purchasers and vendors of those [existing] properties have simply been left out in the cold,” he says noting the $7000 First Home Owner Grant - in operation since 2000 and available for both new and exisiting purchases - will soon cease to exist to be replaced by a $5000 grant for new homes only.
“The budget has failed to respond to the real challenges facing the market,” Payne says.
“What we needed to see today was the state government doing its part to back up the Reserve Bank’s heavy lifting in cutting interest rates to reinvigorate a flagging market.
“Unfortunately that did not occur,” he says.
“Given the growing storm clouds over the international economy and an already underperforming property sector, today’s budget was the opportunity for the government to take decisive steps to stimulate the market.”
"Think new," was the response of the Treasurer Mike Baird when asked what he would say to those who could soon miss out on any government assistance.
"This is a fantastic day for you - there is an opportunity to get into a housing market like never before," he told the post-budget press conference.
"The generosity we're providing in terms of the first home buyers grant together with the stamp duty concessions, says to the first home buyers 'Think new'," 7 News reported.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Most NSW home buyers and sellers ‘out in the cold’ after budget: REINSW

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NSW investors have a deadline, which includes an interesting long-term punt on the price direction of property over the next year or two.
For the next 18 days they have a zero stamp duty option – and the potential saving of $22,490 through the NSW home builders' bonus.
It’s available if investor buyers put a deposit down for an off-the-plan purchase or new house costing less than $600,000.
But from July 1, 2012, the best deal for government grants will be a fixed $5,000 offering in a new scheme for investors of new homes, whether off the plan or newly built.
It's for purchases up to $650,000 and also applies to buyers of vacant land up to $450,000.
Real Estate Institute of New South Wales president Christian Payne says the lack of incentives for investors after July 1, 2012 “will only translate into more bad news down the track for those struggling to find accommodation in the state’s already tight rental market".
“Investors after July 1st will be on average $17,490 worse off on a $600,000 purchase off the plan than if they bought the same property today,” he says.
Over the next 18 days Property Observer will publish forecasts by experts as to the merits of buying now, or delaying one's purchase.
 
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NSW property investors’ condundrum: take the $22,490 housing bonus now or just $5,000 after July 1

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1. What is a<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/tax/nsw-doubles-its-first-home-grant-for-new-homes/2012061255075" target="_blank"> ‘New Home Grant’</a>?
From 1 July 2012 most purchasers of new homes in NSW valued up to $650,000 will be eligible for a $5,000 New Home Grant. 
The Grant will also be available to purchasers of vacant land valued up to $450,000 on which a new home will be built. 
2. Who can apply?
The purchaser can be any entity, including natural persons, a company, or trustee of a trust. 
It applies to investors as well as owner occupiers. 
3. How will the ‘New Home Grant’ be administered?
You can either reduce the duty payable by $5000 on your agreement or transfer or pay the full duty and receive a payment of $5000. This will be paid after completion of your purchase. 
4. What agreements or transfers are eligible?
The following types of agreement or transfer are eligible for the grant: 
(a) A new home purchase. That is an agreement or transfer for the purchase of land that is the site of a new home that is complete and ready for occupation.
(b) An off the plan purchase. That is an agreement or transfer for the purchase of land intended to be used as the site of a new home, which is to be built before completion of the agreement.
(c) A vacant land purchase. That is an agreement or transfer for the purchase of vacant land that is intended to be used as the site of a new home and which is not an off the plan purchase.
5. When does it apply?
It applies to eligible agreements for sale or transfer entered into on or after 1 July 2012 (other than transfers relating to agreements entered into prior to 1 July 2012). 
6. Is there any residency requirement?
No, there is no requirement for the purchaser to live in the home. 
7. What is a new home?
A new home is a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence, and includes a home that is a substantially renovated home. 
8. What is a home?
A home is a building (affixed to land) that: 
(a) may lawfully be used as a place of residence, and
(b) is, in the Chief Commissioner’s opinion, a suitable building for use as a place of residence.
A building suitable for a place of residence includes a house, a unit or flat, a townhouse, a villa home, or any other type of self-contained dwelling affixed to land, (including a manufactured home as defined in the Local Government Act 1993) where evidence can be provided that the local Council is satisfied that the dwelling can be occupied as a place of residence. 
A building is not suitable for occupation as a place of residence, for example, if the building is a shed or a factory. 
9. What is a substantially renovated home?
A substantially renovated home is a renovated home: 
(a) that is new residential premises within the meaning of section 40-75(1)(b) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 of the Commonwealth, and
(b) that, as renovated, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence.
Under that legislation, `substantial renovations’ of a building are defined as renovations in which all, or substantially all, of a building is removed or replaced. The renovations may, but need not, involve the removal or replacement of foundations, external walls, interior supporting walls, floors, roof or staircases. 
10. For a vacant land purchase when must I commence building the home?
The laying of foundations for the home must commence within 26 weeks of completion (settlement) of the purchase, or within any longer period allowed by the Chief Commissioner. 
There is no time limit on how long it takes to complete building the home. 
11. If I am a first home buyer can I apply for the New Home Grant?
If you are eligible for a stamp duty exemption/concession under the First Home – New Home Scheme, you cannot receive the $5000 New Home Grant. 
12. Can I apply for the New Home Grant and the First Home Owner Grant?
If you are eligible for a First Home Owner Grant, you cannot receive the $5000 New Home Grant for the same property. 
13. Can I apply for the New Home Grant and the Regional Relocation Grant?
Yes, if eligible you can apply for the $5000 New Home Grant and the $7000 Regional Relocation Grant. 
Regional Relocation Grant
14. When must applications be made?
Applications must be made within three months of the date of the agreement for sale (or transfer where there is no preceding agreement). This includes off the plan purchases. 
The Chief Commissioner may accept an application after expiry of the three month period if satisfied that the delay in making an application was caused by circumstances beyond the control of the applicant or applicants. 
15. Does the scheme apply to replacement agreements?
An agreement for the sale or transfer is not eligible if: 
(a) it replaces an agreement made before 1 July 2012, and
(b) the replaced agreement was an agreement for the sale or transfer of substantially the same property.
16. Can the home or land be used for other purposes?
An agreement or transfer is not eligible if the new home, or the land on which the new home is located or to be built, is intended to be used for any purpose other than residential (such as commercial, industrial or professional). 
However, eligible for consideration is: 
(a) an agreement for the purchase of a farming property on which there is a new home or on which a new home is to be constructed
(b) an agreement for the purchase of a new home from the developer of a display home that has only been used, or is only going to be used, by the developer as a display home.
17. Must the agreement be for the whole of the land?
The agreement or transfer must be for the whole of the land or, if the land is a parcel of land on which two or more homes are built, or are being built (such as a duplex), for one of those homes. 
18. Can I get the grant more than once?
Yes, as long as the requirements are satisfied. 
19. What if my contract is aggregated with another contract and both are new homes?
Each contract for the purchase of a new home will be eligible for the $5000 New Home Grant. 
20. Can I get the grant if I’m purchasing an existing home to knock down and build a new home on the land?
No, the agreement must be for the purchase of vacant land on which you are going to build a home, or a purchase of a completed new home or a new home off the plan. 
21. Can foreign residents apply for the grant?
Yes, but they would first need to meet the requirements of the Foreign Investment Review Board regarding investment in Australia. 
22. If an off the plan purchase of a new home is on-sold before completion, can the second contract get the grant?
No, only the first sale is eligible for the grant. 
23. Is there an application form?
Yes, a new form and factsheet will be available prior to the commencement of the grant. 
24. How will it work if the duty payable is less than $5000?
You can pay the duty and receive a payment of $5000 or you can pay no duty and receive a payment of the difference between $5000 and the duty payable. 
25. Is there a minimum purchase price that must be paid to receive the $5000 New Home Grant?
No, there is no minimum purchase price.
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/legislation/budget/2012/grant/">New South Wales Office of State Revenue</a>
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

The 25 things investors need to know about the July NSW $5,000 new home grant scheme

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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/tax/nsw-doubles-its-first-home-grant-for-new-homes/2012061255075">1. What is the First Home Owner Grant (New Home) scheme?</a>
The First Home Owner Grant (New Home) Scheme provides a grant of $15,000 to help eligible first home buyers to purchase or build a new home.
It will replace the current $7000 First Home Owner Grant from 1 October 2012.
2. When does it apply?
The grant of $15,000 applies to eligible transactions entered into on or after 1 October 2012 and before 1 January 2014.
The grant will then be reduced to $10,000 from 1 January 2014 with no end date set.
3. What is an eligible transaction?
An eligible transaction is:
(a) a contract made on or after 1 October 2012 for the purchase of a new home in New South Wales, or
(b) a comprehensive home building contract made on or after 1 October 2012 by the owner of the land in New South Wales or a person who will on completion of the contract be the owner of land in New South Wales, to have a home built on it, or the building of a home in New South Wales by the owner builder if the building work commences on or after 1 October 2012.
4. What is a new home?
A new home is a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence, and includes a home that is a substantially renovated home and a home built to replace demolished premises.
5. What is a substantially renovated home?
A substantially renovated home is a renovated home:
(a) that is new residential premises within the meaning of section 40-75(1)(b) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 of the Commonwealth, and
(b) that, as renovated, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence.
Under that legislation, `substantial renovations’ of a building are defined as renovations in which all, or substantially all, of a building is removed or replaced. The renovations may, but need not, involve the removal or replacement of foundations, external walls, interior supporting walls, floors, roof or staircases.
6. What is a home built to replace demolished premises?
A home is a home built to replace demolished premises if:
(a) the home is a new residential premises within the meaning of section 40-75(1)(b) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 of the Commonwealth, and
(b) the home, as built to replace the demolished premises, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence, and
(c) the owner of the home did not occupy the demolished premises as a place of residence before they were demolished.
7. Does the price of the home need to be under a limit to receive the First Home Owner Grant (New Home)?
Yes, effective from 1 October 2012 the First Home Owner Grant (New Home) Scheme is capped to $650,000. The grant will only be available for properties with a total value not exceeding that amount.
8. How is the Total Value of the home calculated?
For a contract of sale of a home, the total value is based on the greater of the following:
<ul>
<li>the consideration for the eligible transaction</li>
<li>the unencumbered value, as at the commencement date of the eligible transaction.</li>
</ul>
For a comprehensive home building contract, the total value is calculated by adding together:
<ul>
<li>the consideration for the eligible transaction, and</li>
<li>the value, at the commencement date, of the relevant interest of the land on which the home is to be built.</li>
</ul>
For a building of a home by an owner builder, the total value is calculated by adding together:
<ul>
<li>the unencumbered value of the home, at the date the transaction is completed and the value, at the date the transaction is completed, of the relevant interest in the land on which the home is built.</li>
<li>The value of the relevant interest in the land on which the home is to be built is the greater of the following:</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>the consideration paid or payable for the interest</li>
<li>the unencumbered value of the interest.</li>
</ol>
9. From October 2012 do I get a grant if I buy an existing home?
No, from 1 October 2012, the First Home Owner Grant will only be payable on the purchase of new homes.
The $7000 First Home owner Grant is still available for purchases of existing homes entered into before 1 October 2012.
10. Does the First Home Owner Grant ( New Home) apply to replacement contracts entered into on or after 1 October 2012?
A contract for the sale or transfer is not eligible if:
(a) it replaces an agreement made before 1 October 2012, and
(b) the replaced contract is for the sale or transfer of substantially the same property.
11. Can I get the First Home Owner Grant and the $5000 New Home Grant?
If you receive the First Home Owner Grant, you cannot receive the $5 000 New Home Grant for the same property.
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/legislation/budget/2012/newhome_faq/">NSW Office of State Revenue</a>
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The 11 things you need to know to secure the $35,240 saving under the October NSW first-home owners' grant scheme

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The world’s housing market decline accelerated during the March quarter, with house price falls in 26 countries and house price gains in only 10.
Over the year house prices had fallen in 24 countries of the 36 countries for which house price statistics are available and rose in only 12 countries during the year to the first quarter of 2012, according to the Global Property Guide's latest house price indices survey.
It noted Australian house prices fell for the fifth straight quarter to be down 6.04% from a year earlier, the longest downturn for a decade.
It also noted the borrowing costs in Australia were the highest of major developed nations.
New Zealand house prices climbed by 0.82% over the year to quarter 2012, after falling 4.79% the previous year, the report noted, suggesting NZ sales activity had been strong for the last few months, with volumes at the highest levels since 2007.
The list of 36 countries was topped by the rapid rise of house prices in India (Delhi) and Brazil (Sao Paulo), although their momentum slowed during the latest quarter.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/houseprices.gif">
Over the year to quarter 1 2012, Delhi house prices skyrocketed by 24%, though during the last quarter, they fell 0.07%. House prices fell in some other Indian cities like Chennai and Kolkata year-on-year, according to NHB Residex.
In Sao Paulo house prices climbed by 18.7% in the year to the first quarter 2012. During the latest quarter there was a more moderate price rise of 2.57%.
The report recorded housing markets in Asia cooled over the year due to government measures implemented last year. House prices in Hong Kong were up 0.19% on the year, after a rise of 19.8% the previous year.
There were house price falls in Indonesia (-0.13%), Singapore (-1.36%), Tokyo, Japan (-2.64%) and Shanghai, China (-3.68%).
Europe has yet to emerge from the downturn, highlighted by Ireland’s price declines, which GPG described as catastrophic.
“It is disheartening to see more agony, yet the picture really is alarming,” GPG said.
“House prices fell 18.95% year-on-year, contrasting with a decline of 'only' 13.12% during the same period last year.
“Furthermore, house prices were down 5.19% during the latest quarter.
“Tough credit conditions, an oversupply of housing, and weak domestic demand have weighed down the Irish residential property market,” the report said.
The Global Property Guide's statistical presentation uses price changes after inflation, giving a more realistic picture than the more upbeat nominal figures usually preferred by real estate agents.
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House prices fall in 26 countries in March quarter, with Australia in longest downturn in a decade: Global Property Guide

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Not everyone was expecting the RBA to further ease the cash rate when its board met last week.
Some felt the board would simply "keep its power dry", and just wait to see how the outcome of the June 17 election in Greece unfolded.
Some economists like Saul Eslake of Merrill Lynch felt that the $2.5 billion of cash payments by way of government compensation for the carbon tax would serve as "enough stimulus" for now.
But maybe, such thinking took too simplistic a view of things.
Despite the RBA's fears of an underlying growth in wages, monthly inflation figures have sunk to zero. Furthermore, the corporate sector confidence had also slumped.
However, the tipping point was probably the trading losses suffered on Monday this week on the stock exchange — wiping off around $26 billion in value.
Maintaining your perspective
While international conditions may have softened, local share investors nonetheless appear to have overreacted with their interpretation of the likely effect for Australia. And what the RBA is desperately trying to do is interrupt the cycle of negative consumer confidence.
As you will recall, one of my recent articles explored in some detail Australia's underlying growth prospects, low unemployment, healthy financial system and solid investment pipeline.
And this would appear to now be validated by the solid GDP figures released last week, confirming the state of our economy.
Bottom line: The RBA's decision last Tuesday should give commercial property investors even more encouragement.
The shrewd money already seems to be viewing the current turn of events as purely a severe dampening of local confidence.
And once the switch clicks across to "positive", the anticipated surge in consumer activity will reward those who have based their plans on the underlying fundamentals , rather than unwarranted fear.
Therefore, as a commercial property investor, you need to fully satisfy yourself that everything is as you are being led to believe.
If not, you're missing out on genuine opportunities by "running with the herd". And last week's decision by the RBA should serve as a wake-up call for all commercial property investors — because rates will now be on hold for the foreseeable future.
Chris Lang is an advisor to commercial property investors and gives keynote speeches and regular seminars on the best way to invest in commercial property. He maintains a blog, <a target="_blank" href="https://bitly.com/IFf40C">his-best.biz</a>, which he updates regularly about the best way to get the most out of your commercial property investment.
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