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“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into.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

<html><body>
Cheaper Paddington property keeps turning over, but it’s too early to suggest any sizzle is returning to the market.
Two kitchen queens and an artist have recently sold their Paddington properties for at or above expectations.
Food writer Loukie Werle settled the $2,235,000 sale of the Bent Street house that cost her $202,500 in 1985. The hopes were around $2.2 million through GoodyerDonnelley.
Artist Michael Johnson’s Duxford Street terrace settled for $1.95 million, which was $50,000 more than the earmarked reserve but a tad less than the $2.01 million he paid for it in 2009.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/feb23donnahay]}
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/donna-hays-paddington-terrace-off-the-burner-as-buyer-takes-a-%2423-million-bite-title-tattle/2012050854619">Kitchenista Donna Hay and husband Bill Wilson pulled $2.3 million for their Windsor Street terrace</a> (pictured above), which had cost them $1.42 million in 2003.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/feb29liverpool]}
A little earlier this year thespian <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/australian-theatre-doyenne-robin-nevin-sells-paddington-terrace-title-tattle/2012022853602">Robyn Nevin sold her Windsor Street house (pictured above) for $1,315,000</a>, having paid $145,000 for it in 1983.
McGrath Partners agent Ben Collier says the $1 million to $2 million market is the most steady in Paddington and a buzz is returning.
“Paddington is a real barometer for all of Sydney, so these recent sales are encouraging,” says Collier.
After a virtual drought of big-ticket buyers, several impressive sales have emerged, with a Flinton Street terrace fetching $3.81 million and a freestanding house on Goodhope Street trading for $5.6 million.
Figures released by Australian Property Monitors (APM) show that just 39 Paddington terraces changed hands in March this year with a median price of $1.35 million, which is down 3.2% on the previous March. However, sales are down on 2010, when 63 terraces traded with a median price of $1.38 million.
“There has been a market correction, but it is less significant in Paddington than in others areas. However, some vendors are not acting on the activity,” says Collier.
The owners of a five-bedroom, six-bathroom Paddington Street terrace rejected $9 million offer late last year, and nothing close to that has reappeared on the table since then.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november8collette]}
Another listing that involved actress <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/fickle-toni-collette-being-sued-over-property-change-of-heart-in-paddington/2012031353824">Toni Collette and husband David Gallafassi</a>, who allegedly agreed to pay about $6.35 million on Stewart Street terrace, highlighted the top-end difficulties given it resold last week at about $5.5 million.
<img src="/images/stories/elizst.jpg" width="470">
Last month Toni Collette’s theatrical agent and friend Ann Churchill-Brown listed her Elizabeth Street property (pictured above) for June 2 auction. Its still available through Ben Collier with $3 million plus expectations.
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Paddington property market warming, but too soon to tell if the sizzle is back

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As an investor it’s important that you safeguard your properties and prepare them for whatever weather conditions may be thrown at them. In summer, that means jobs like mulching the garden to protect plants from drying out. But with winter here, there’s lots to do to make sure you’re prepared for the havoc Mother Nature is about to mount on poorly maintained investment properties. Strong winds and heavy rain can cause the kind of damage that, although often covered by insurance, will inconvenience your tenants and could hike up your premiums.
The importance of proactive maintenance cannot be understated, especially when it comes to winter-proofing your rental properties. I always recommend that my clients assess any potential or existing issues around their properties before the problems have a chance to escalate. To check if your property is ready for winter you should think about the following tasks, which can be completed by you if you’re that way inclined, or by employing a handyman.
Minimise drafts
Gaps under doors and windows can add significantly to a heating bill for your tenants, which they won’t appreciate. Add or replace worn weather stripping around the doors and windows and any other gaps. If doorstops are worn, replace them.
Fences
Fences should be well maintained and secure. Check the footings are stable and that the palings are in good condition. If the fences are particularly bad you might consider replacing them all together. This might mean speaking with your neighbours about sharing the cost or, if the fences border public land, asking the council to go halves.
Roofing and eaves
Cracked or loose roof panels can cause leaking and water damage. Be on the lookout for rotting or water-damaged eaves, which can lead to rising damp and mould on both interior and exterior walls. Not only does that look ugly, it also makes your property smell terrible and can cause bigger problems than just being vacant.
Gutters
One of the most common winter household maintenance issues is clogged gutters, which can cause leaking and water damage. Make sure the gutters are free from leaves, twigs and other debris. This is a simple prevention and can be done on your own. However, climbing up ladders can be dangerous. If you’re not confident up a ladder employ a handyman.
Trees and shrubs
Prune loose or dead branches and check if there are any branches that have a dangerous overhang. With strong winds that are more common in winter, you don’t want a tree branch smashing through a window in the middle of the night (or any time, for that matter!).
Tiles and pavers
Check the condition of pavers and tiling for large cracks. If they seem dangerous, repair or replace them immediately because they may pose a legal risk if a tenant or one of their visitors trips and becomes injured.
Ventilation
Warm, humid rooms such as the bathroom and laundry are particularly susceptible to an outbreak of mould, especially in winter. The best way to defeat mould is to ensure there’s plenty of ventilation available. Make sure windows and doors can be opened easily and, if necessary, install an exhaust fan.
Good property management
A good property manager will always comment on any obvious signs of deterioration after routine inspections; however, it’s important to note that during these inspections, they will not be able to access all areas of the property such as the roof. So, particularly as we approach the colder months, I recommend you employ a building inspector to give you professional building advice regarding any emerging issues around your properties. Prevention is better than cure!
Melissa Opie, aka “The Property Lady”, is  a multi-award-winning buyers’ advocate, bestselling author and managing director at <a href="https://www.kpi.net.au/">Keyhole Property Investments</a>.  The team at KPI act for investors and owner-occupiers Melbourne wide from $400,000 to $5,000,000. You can follow <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/thepropertylady">“The Property Lady” on Twitter.</a>
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How to weather-proof your investment property in winter

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Since the 1800s, there has been a procession of younger family members joining long-established family businesses.
Traditionally, it has been sons following in their fathers’ footsteps.
But things started to change during the late 1970s and early 1980s, when you saw more daughters taking up the challenge, and also joining the family firm.
Enter Generation X
Gen Xers grew up in an era of two-income families — where mums worked and crèches became the norm. Divorce rates also began to rise; and the economy floundered after the 1987 crash.
As a result, Gen X emerged as independent, resourceful and largely self-sufficient, displaying a casual disdain for authority and structured work hours.
But more importantly, Gen X heralded the shift from manufacturing to a service-based economy. And it was the first generation to grow up with computers interwoven into their lifestyle.
Having lived through tough times during the early 1990s and seen their parents made redundant from long-held jobs, Gen X had little desire to be locked into just one firm and are willing to change jobs regularly, in order to further their careers.
Therefore, for all intents and purposes, the traditional family businesses (as we knew them) were slowly dying off.
But was that to be the end?
By the turn of the century, Gen Xers held fairly senior positions and were earning some seriously good money. Plus, a growing number of them were wanting to take charge of their own destiny.
Quite often that meant groups of them leaving major companies, to set up their own businesses. And this transition is what spawned the surge in suburban strata offices over the past 15 years, all around Australia.
Clearly, Gen Xers had the drive, the computer skills and the marketing know-how. But what they quickly found lacking was their depth of business experience, ready access to finance and a well-established corporate network.
Re-enter the parents
This is where their early-retired parents (through redundancies and retrenchments during the 1990s) suddenly became invaluable – but not so much for a cash input as you might initially think.
Rather they are able to open doors to business opportunities and provide an entry to banking connections. Plus they add much-needed credibility when making sales presentations to major companies.
Bottom line: What you've been seeing is dad (or .um) given a desk from which to run his or her own consultancy business in return for providing intellectual property and projecting an "air of experience" when required.
Quite an interesting new twist on the traditional family business structure.
It is one which will continue to underpinned the demand for smaller, strata-titled offices within most commercial property markets around Australia.
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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The reorganisation of the family business will boost demand for small strata-titled offices

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Boy band and teenage heartthrobs One Direction have taken Chapel Street by storm with their 1D pop-up shop as part of an increasing trend in Melbourne’s retail sector.
The band’s merchandise store was at 576 Chapel Street nearly four weeks since extending its lease by another week. It was due to close on Sunday.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/onedirection.jpg">
The shop was swarmed by a legion of teenage girls when it opened in a made-for-media event. Fans emptied the shelves of stock, which was then replenished. The shop was rarely empty, with teenagers congregating at the site to discuss the band.
Pop-up shops have come into increasing prominence recently as they pick up slack in a market hit by high vacancy rates.
Adrian Boutsakis, the Teska Carson agent who leased the property, says pop-up shops can be risky for owners but they do offer a way to fill gaps between long-term tenants.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/onedirection2.jpg">
“Some people try to lease pop-up shops for four to five days. For an owner it’s often not worth the risk for the money. If someone’s offering you $1,500 to $5,000 for a few days and they damage your property the cost will be $5,000 to $10,000”.
One Direction paid about $15,000 to $20,000 for the property, which Boutsakis is currently marketing at $330,000 a year.
Boutsakis is in the process of leasing the shop on a long-term basis.
“The tenants needed to push out the date to design the fit-out, etc. Normally in that time the owner would look at that as dead time which he factors into his costings. A short-term tenants alleviates that issue.”
In March CBRE released data showing pop-up shops had plugged rental gaps in Melbourne, which achieved historically low retail vacancy rates in 2011.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/onedirection3.jpg">
Four out of the 10 shop leased on Bridge Road, Richmond, in the second half of 2011 were taken up by pop-up shops, and Chapel Street was identified as a pop-up shop hotspot.
Boutsakis says the size of the One Direction shop makes it an oddity.
“Most pop-up shops don’t want 200-odd square metres. Generally pop-up shops want to pay about $1,500 a week for smaller shops.”
Boutsakis says short-term leases may not earn the agent fees and are sometimes done as a gesture of goodwill to the owner.
“One of the reasons we do short-term leasings is to keep clients happy. If it sits there vacant for a while owners can sometimes lose faith in their agent. Obviously we don’t want to lose clients to other agents.
“Often fees don’t play a part and it’s just to keep the owners happy. We leave it up to them, we don’t push them to do it.”
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One Direction had that one thing with Chapel Street pop-up shop

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Commercial property investors can earn rental yields as high as 11%, about double the yields from bank deposit products, if they are willing to bear the risk, according to research by Colliers International.
Primary yields in the bulky goods store sector range from 8.5% to 9.5%, and yields can be as high as 11% in secondary markets like the Gold Coast.
But Colliers head of national research Nerida Conisbee warns that this market is currently oversupplied due to a lot of development in the mid-2000s.
There are 112 bulky good centres in Australia covering more than 2 million square metres of retail space with an average size of 18,000 square metres, according to Colliers
In 2011 an additional 318,000 square metres of bulky good space was added to the market.
According to realcommercial.com.au, there are close to 100 bulky good stores up for sale on the Gold Coast, with 335 stores available for lease
Conisbee says the Gold Coast is seen as an even risker bulky goods investment because there are fewer tenants than other markets and higher vacancy rates.
“A longer-term hold might be OK,” she says.
Investors looking for less risky investments with strong yield potential should consider the neighbourhood regional shopping centre market, Conisbee says.
Prime yields in sub-regional and neighbourhood shopping centres start from around 7% and rise up to as 10% in the secondary market.
Conisbee suggest investors consider regional shopping centres under $5 million as well as suburban strata offices.
Those investors with shallower pockets might consider investing in a listed or unlisted retail trust to gain exposure to the sector.
Conisbee says smaller industrial assets are also doing particurlarly well in Melbourne and Brisbane, where there is an undersupply, with yields ranging from 7.75% to 8.5%
There are, she says, opportunities in strip retailing, but she says investors should tread carefully because of huge variation in quality and returns.
She says the most sought-after assets are Sydney and Melbourne offices and regional shopping centres – out of reach of smaller investors, though exposure is possible through buying shares in REITs and investing in unlisted trusts.
However, yields are lowest in these “sharpest investment categories” because of the strongest investor demand.
“This is because foreign investors are really looking and competing for these assets,” she says.
Other prime assets being sought by foreign investors and superfunds are Perth and Brisbane CBD offices.
The average yield in Sydney and Melbourne CBD offices ranges from 6.5% to 7%; from 7% to 7.75% in Brisbane and between 7.5% and 8% in Perth.
Outside of the sought-after CBD markets, prime yields range from 7.5% to 8.5% in CBD fringe locations like North Sydney, rising up to more than 10% in secondary locations in places like Chatswood and St Leonards.
Adelaide prime CBD fringe yields range from 6.5% to 7.25%, according to Colliers.
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Commercial property offers yields as high as 11% but comes with risk: Colliers

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WA police are investigating another attempt by an international scam to sell Perth residential properties without their owners' consent.
The attempt was intercepted by vigilant real estate agents who were approached to sell the home in Applecross.
The most recent matter arose last month when an Applecross real estate agency was contacted by someone claiming to be the owner of a rental property and requesting an urgent statement.
The property manager contacted the owner on file and realised it was a scam.
Other attempts have been made at Belmont and Subiaco.
The government reported that in the Belmont scam, people hacked into a home owner’s laptop computer through a Trojan virus and retrieved information on the owner’s investment property. The real estate agent who was managing the property was then contacted in an attempt to have the rental income diverted to an overseas bank account.
Police are still investigating the fraudulent sale of a Karrinyup home in September 2010 and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/western-australia/absentee-investor-alert-nigerian-scammers-sell-%24410000-house-they-didnt-own/2011081751195">Balcatta house early last year</a> where the overseas owners were renting the properties.
Police have tracked the Karrinyup scam to Nigeria and say the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to them <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/perth-nigerian-scam-estate-agent-faces-disciplinary-action-for-lack-of-diligence-in-%24410000-sale/2012052854867">was transferred to a Chinese bank account.</a>
The WA Minister has congratulated the agents involved for their vigilance.
“Fraudsters have clearly been encouraged by the two previous successful scams in WA,” Commerce Minister Simon O'Brien said.
“These new attempts reiterate just how important it is that property and settlement agents apply rigorous scrutiny to all property transactions, particularly when they involve absentee owners and overseas vendors.”
The attempts follow the State Government’s move to strengthen industry codes of conduct late last year.

The new codes require agents to exercise greater care, skill and diligence when conducting identity checks on clients.

Consumer Protection has made identity verification training mandatory for all agents and WA Police conducts education seminars for the industry on this issue.

“Identity fraud and cyber crime is a continuing concern for authorities but awareness and vigilance are our best weapons to ensure fraud attempts are not rewarded,” Mr O’Brien said
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Vigilant Applecross Perth estate agency prevents another fraudulent house sale Nigerian scam

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There are now proportionally fewer properties to rent in the middle suburbs of Sydney than in suburbs closest to the Sydney CBD, according to April figures compiled by the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW). 
Despite the overall state vacancy rate lifting by 0.1 percentage points to 1.7% during April, the vacancy rate in the middle suburbs (10 to 25 kilometres from CBD) tightened 0.3 percentage points to 1.6%. 
The residential vacancy rate in the middle suburbs has been falling since the start of the year – in January it stood at 2.1% 
In comparison the vacancy rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 1.7% in the inner-city suburbs and in the outer suburbs (more than 25 kilometres from the CBD) over April.
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Despite a fall of 0.1 percentage points to 2.9%, Wollongong remains the NSW city with highest percentage of available rental properties. 
Vacancy rates in Newcastle remained unchanged at 1.6% while on the central coast, the percentage of available rental properties rose 0.1 percentage points to 2.3%. 
Regionally, vacancies fell sharply in the Riverina shire in the south-west from 4.4% in March to 3.1% April. 
The Coffs Harbour market also tightened noticeably from 4.9% to 4%, but the region still has the highest vacancy rate in the state. 
 
The shire of Murrumbidgee, 630 kilometres west of Sydney, which has a population of around 2,400, recorded the lowest vacancy rate of 1%.
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REINSW president Christian Payne describes the April data as a “mixed bag” proving the point that the “rental market varies significantly from one area to another”. 
However, he says the message underlying the mixed results is that “much more needs to be done to address the chronic shortage in rental accommodation. 
“Sydney, the nation’s global city, has a rental vacancy rate that hasn’t managed to claw its way above 2% at any time in the past 12 months. 
“This situation has very human consequences, with prospective tenants struggling to find accommodation in a timely and affordable manner. 
“What we need urgently is a commitment from government to work cooperatively at all levels on resolving this problem and getting investors back into the NSW property market,” he says.
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Fewer rental vacancies in Sydney middle suburbs than in the inner city: REINSW

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With a 4.5% annual drop in house prices, Australia now ranks 44th in the world for house prices.
Overall global house prices were static in the first three months of 2012, the first time since late 2009 that annual price growth has slipped below 1%, according to the latest Knight Frank Global House Price Index.
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The index traces price movements across 53 countries. Australia was<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/australia-slips-to-32nd-place-while-asia-remains-strong-in-house-price-index-knight-frank/2011090151383" target="_blank"> 32nd in September last year</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/australia-ranks-28th-on-house-price-index-list/2011062050537" target="_parent">28th in June 2011</a>.
Australia peaked as the fourth-fastest-growing property market in the world after a 20% price jump in the year to March 2010.
Ireland (down 16.3%), Greece (down 9.8%) and Portugal (down 8.6%) were the worst international performers, with house prices down in 58% of the countries on the index.
There was 0.9% overall growth in the year to March 2012 as doubts over the Eurozone's future, along with the Asian governments' staunch efforts to cool their markets have taken their toll.
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The major price growth came in Southern American countries, with Brazil recording the strongest annual growth of 23.5%.
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Knight Frank suggested the Asian tiger now resembled something of a domestic cat as far as house prices are concerned, mainly due to government efforts to cool price inflation.
The region recorded average annual price growth exceed 16% in the first quarter of 2010, but two years later the figure was closer to 2%.
The region's growth still exceeds the global average, but the margins have shrunk considerably.
Nicholas Holt, Knight Frank's director of research in Asia, says: "The Chinese housing market has had a tough 12 months as developers and purchasers alike have had bank finance squeezed as a consequence of the ongoing cooling measures. Lending restrictions, new taxes, the curbing of multiple property purchases, and new regulations to restrict the inward flow of hot foreign money have had the desired effect."
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Australia slips to 44th from fourth in past two years in world house price growth rankings: Knight Frank

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The Sydney inner-city apartment market will remain undersupplied until 2019, pushing up rents and delivering rising returns for investors, while Melbourne landlords will struggle due to an oversupply of new apartments, according to BIS Shrapnel.
This is despite more apartments due to be completed in Sydney than in Melbourne between now and 2016.
The most recent apartment construction phase commenced in both cities from 2009-10 following an improved economic outlook and rising rents and yields, but construction was more pronounced in Melbourne, creating the current oversupply.
“The pipeline of construction in inner Melbourne points to record levels of supply, while activity in inner Sydney is also coming to recent highs,” says BIS Shrapnel senior manager Angie Zigomanis.
BIS Shrapnel is forecasting an undersupply of 2,500 apartments in Sydney in 2012.
This will fall over the next four years to an undersupply of 500 apartments as new apartments are completed but will then start rising again from 2017, reaching a shortfall of close to 2,000 apartments in 2018 and 2019.
The forecast is for about 2,000 rental apartments to be completed in inner Sydney in 2013-14 —similar to its 2003-04 peak but below the 1999-2000 peak of 2,500 apartments.
However, this will be insufficient to erode the pent-up rental demand in the inner-Sydney apartment market, and despite further high construction over the following two years, BIS Shrapnel anticipates a modest deficiency of apartments in inner Sydney will still be in place by 2016.
“This environment should continue to support rental growth in inner-Sydney apartments,” says Zigomanis.
“The continued tight rental market and rising rents are expected to support further investor demand and consequently price growth over the next two to three years, particularly if economic growth starts to recover and confidence returns.”
Sydney inner-city apartment rents are forecast to rise by around 5% to 6% per annum over 2012-13 and 2013-14 (compared with 6.7% between 2006 and 2012) before slowing in subsequent years as the deficiency eases with new supply coming on stream
Price growth is expected to be similar, says BIS Shrapnel.
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Source: BIS Shrapnel
Melbourne is forecast to have an undersupply of 1,800 apartments over the next two years but once projects in the pipeline are completed over the next two years the undersupply will more than halve by 2014 before tipping into oversupply by 2015.
In 2016, the surplus of inner-city Melbourne apartments is set to peak at over 2,500 before declining over the next two years and returning to a small undersupply by 2019.
The oversupply of Melbourne apartments is forecast to be driven by an annual rate of 2,800 rental apartment completions from 2013-14 to 2015-16 compared with just 1,800 completions in 2011-12.
Over the past decade Melbourne rental apartment completions have averaged 1,600 per year while tenant demand has remained at 1,500 apartments per year.
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“The record levels of new apartment supply in inner Melbourne over 2013-14 to 2015-16 will push the market into oversupply and vacancy rates will rise,” says Zigomanis.
“The high level of competing stock means that landlords will be unable to command the premiums that are traditionally available for new apartments, while owners of older established apartments will have to discount the asking rent on their apartments in order to compete,” he says.
The lower rents will translate into lower returns for potential investors.
Prices for inner-Melbourne apartments are forecast to remain flat while sales volumes fall until the excess supply is absorbed.
According to BIS Shrapnel, in many instances, owners will experience a decline in prices if they resell.
In its forecasts, BIS Shrapnel breaks down the inner-city population profile in Sydney and Melbourne into three categories:
<ul>
<li>Students, with the growth mainly coming from overseas students;</li>
<li>Young professionals, who are typically employed in white-collar occupations in the CBD or CBD fringe locations; and </li>
<li>Empty-nesters, such as older singles or couples without children living in the family home. </li>
</ul>
The first two groups, it says, largely create demand for apartments as tenants, while empty-nesters are typically owner-occupiers and will therefore occupy the apartment they have purchased. 
“Apartment rent demand from young professionals experienced a setback during the GFC as employment in the financial sector declined. While this rebounded briefly as the recovery came through, growth has again slowed in line with the economy,” says Zigomanis.
“Student demand has also weakened, although most of the reduction in overseas student numbers has taken place in the vocational education sector compared to the university sector, and with major university institutions located close to the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs, the softening in student demand has been less pronounced. As a result, tenant demand has softened.”
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Sydney inner-city apartments to deliver better returns than Melbourne until 2019: BIS Shrapnel

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The debate is over; the big Donald has had the final say – if you cannot sell your property, don’t fire your real estate agent, fire him or her up!
This comes from Donald Trump (he used to sack agents who couldn’t sell his “beautiful” buildings) in his address to the Australasian Real Estate Agents conference on the Gold Coast earlier this week.
Now he pays 7% to 8% commissions and he believes this works a treat.
I don’t disagree, and on several occasions, when it came to selling my own home, paid a financial incentive to get a higher price.  Not every agent took the money, instead donating the balance to charity.
According to IBISWorld, 5,000 people lost their jobs in the real estate industry in Australia over the last five years.  Revenue in the industry has dropped by close to 10% since 2007.
As we wrote a few weeks back it is defying gravity to expect real estate agents to work on a 2.5% commission structure.
Virtually no other business on the planet works off such low sales margins.
Good advice DT, but really, “beautiful”?
According to ABARES, there are 94 major mineral and energy advanced developments taking place across Australia.  These total $173.5 billion and importantly, they are advanced – meaning approved, with most underway.
<ul>
<li>A breakdown of these projects is as follows:</li>
<li>35 energy projects – $116 billion total</li>
<li>35 mineral projects – $33.6 billion total</li>
<li>20 infrastructure projects – $19 billion total</li>
<li>4 mineral/energy processing projects – $5 billion total</li>
</ul>
Most are in Western Australia, with 39 projects totalling $109 billion, followed by Queensland with 28 projects for a combined $49 billion and New South Wales with $8.2 billion.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/we-must-get-residential-development-back-on-the-front-page-michael-matusik/2012052954891">Again, as discussed last week,</a> this isn’t a flash in the pan or fly-by-night operation, but major long-term developments.  These projects amount to some serious economic grunt and provide strong pillars of support.
I read something recently in the Economist to the effect that men are selfish layabouts.  Really?  I can only imagine the resounding guffaws from the fairer sex: “Tell us something we don’t already know,” they are yelling.
But you see – and I just love this bit – there’s apparently a reason for it.
An American study has found that …. wait for it … the amount of housework a man does depends on how much he dislikes it.  The more a male likes a task, the more of it he will do and vice-versa.
Not exactly revolutionary stuff; but it does give me incentive to confess a dirty little secret.  I do the clothes washing at my house – each weekend, dutifully sorting the whites from the darks.  It’s therapeutic, and well, everyone in the family agrees I’m just better at it.
But back to the study, the flip side of this finding is that the amount of housework that women do has nothing to do with how much they might like or dislike a task.  Women just get on with the job and do what has to be done.
Good-on-ya, girls!  We really didn’t need a study to tell us.  Where would we be without you?
And for all those males suffering from SLS (selfish layabout syndrome), you may now take solace from the fact that your condition is officially verified.  You are not alone.
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 target="_blank" href="https://www.matusik.com.au/"> Think Matusik</a>. Think Matusik brings together expert opinion and select property opportunities.
Michael will present a free webinar on tips on buying your first property as an investment on Tuesday, June 5 at 12.30pm.
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