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

Joel Robinson

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

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

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

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

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

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

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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

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

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EXPERT OBSERVER
<div>
The oil price is back to its highest level since March, rising another 4 per cent to $47.91/barrel (Brent crude) today amid lower inventories and further vaccine optimism.
<div id="post-body-5601314325818678673" class="post-body entry-content">
Energy, arguably the main sector of the US economy demonstrating some semblance of 'value', has been quietly powering higher over the past month. 
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hc5_hvhNFjs/X71O8v9p9RI/AAAAAAAA5eY/InlB6hpEv6Ex_vRR2sEUWanYQTJNka_7ACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h528/XLE.jpg" width="640" height="528" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="779">
US stocks more generally have been absolutely pumped, with price to sales ratios now ascending to even higher levels than the tech bubble peak of 2000. 
That's right, the price to sales ratio (ex-financials) is now at the highest level in stock market history at above 2.7x. 
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b2HK376Pcy4/X71PWc8RvII/AAAAAAAA5eg/AADHBpCfXBcLG-7cPSalB2X1Tq5Qz0AYQCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/US%2Btech.jpg" width="640" height="426" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="746">
The Dow Jones index took out a record 30,000 today, to some acclaim and modest fanfare.
Meanwhile, some of the wilder tech stocks out there could drop by two-thirds without troubling too many of the traditional metrics of valuation. 
Yet the US economy will need to face down some serious challenges as there is a changeover of President, with the 7-day average for COVID-19 cases now surpassing 175,000 and, for now at least, still trending higher. 
<div>What. A. Year!</div>
</div>
</div>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers and a best-selling author and blogger 
</body></html>

pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Oil prices up 33%, stocks ballooning: Pete Wargent

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
A significant day for bank stocks as it was announced that the responsible lending laws that have been in place since 2009 will likely be wound back.
All of the major lenders saw a significant jump in their stock prices.
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTwQDOHXWzI/X22oV2eALlI/AAAAAAAA4dc/iJYtUBHI0YoyTZiy7GeAMEiY0hqf6P3FgCNcBGAsYHQ/s815/WBC.jpg">
This will no doubt act to speed up the pace of loan approvals and bank lending, albeit probably not for 6-12 months, with less of the forensic poring over household expenditure for mortgage applications, which has at times made the lending process more akin to an audit than a credit approval.
Most likely there will be an easing of some of the existing HEM restrictions as the legislation is passed, and less scrutiny of household expenditure line items.
The responsibility will more so fall back on to borrowers to declare complete and accurate information, instead of looking for lenders or brokers to blame wherever a loan goes bad.
This may also increase the availability and capacity for some individuals to borrow, though it remains to be seen how much.
Offsetting this to some extent will be the introduction of the best interests duty for brokers, effective 1 January 2021.
The Reserve Bank had previously noted that lending had become excessively risk averse, and this move will slash approval times assuming it is legislated on a timely basis.
Symbolic shift
Moreover, the announced planned changes are symbolic, suggesting that the credit pendulum is now likely set to swing back in the other direction, after half a decade of tightening which reduced the total borrowing capacity of some borrowers by half.
The announcement will also foster more competition between banks, with one large lender immediately offering lower variable rates, including on investment loans.
There are still significant headwinds for the economy to be navigated, of course, but the combination of record low mortgage rates and the signaling of a simplified approval process should bring the housing market back to life in 2021.
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers and a best-selling author and blogger 
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Responsible lending laws to be wound back: Pete Wargent

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The national residential rental vacancy rate remained stable at 2.1 per cent over the month of November, SQM Research revealed Tuesday.  

The month of November ended with the total number of vacancies Australia-wide now at 78,879, with the vacancy rate slightly below the same time last year at 2.2 per cent.

Capital city vacancy rates remained stable over the month, with the exception of Sydney and Brisbane, which recorded a 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent decrease, respectively.

Sydney saw a minor decrease from 3.6 per cent in October to 3.5 per cent in November.

Melbourne’s vacancy rate – the highest in the nation – remained at 4.4 per cent in November. This time last year, Melbourne’s vacancy rate was at a low 2.2 per cent.

The surplus of rental property is most acute in Melbourne and Sydney’s CBDs, with Melbourne’s vacancy rate standing at 9.1 per cent.

Sydney CBD vacancy rate peaked at 16.2 per cent in May 2020 but has declined to 9.5 per cent in November.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>City</td>
			<td>NOV 2019 Vacancies</td>
			<td>NOV 2019 Vacancy Rate</td>
			<td>OCT 2020 Vacancies</td>
			<td>OCT 2020 Vacancy Rate</td>
			<td>NOV 2020 Vacancies</td>
			<td>NOV 2020 Vacancy Rate</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sydney</td>
			<td>24,258</td>
			<td>3.4%</td>
			<td>26,455</td>
			<td>3.6%</td>
			<td>26,161</td>
			<td>3.5%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne</td>
			<td>12,963</td>
			<td>2.2%</td>
			<td>27,070</td>
			<td>4.4%</td>
			<td>26,946</td>
			<td>4.4%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brisbane</td>
			<td>8,629</td>
			<td>2.5%</td>
			<td>6,912</td>
			<td>2.0%</td>
			<td>6,455</td>
			<td>1.8%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Perth</td>
			<td>5,200</td>
			<td>2.5%</td>
			<td>1,936</td>
			<td>0.9%</td>
			<td>1,835</td>
			<td>0.9%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adelaide</td>
			<td>1,896</td>
			<td>1.0%</td>
			<td>1,501</td>
			<td>0.8%</td>
			<td>1,543</td>
			<td>0.8%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canberra</td>
			<td>756</td>
			<td>1.1%</td>
			<td>608</td>
			<td>0.9%</td>
			<td>601</td>
			<td>0.9%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Darwin</td>
			<td>981</td>
			<td>3.1%</td>
			<td>217</td>
			<td>0.7%</td>
			<td>233</td>
			<td>0.7%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hobart</td>
			<td>159</td>
			<td>0.5%</td>
			<td>204</td>
			<td>0.6%</td>
			<td>192</td>
			<td>0.6%</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>National</td>
			<td>75,947</td>
			<td>2.2%</td>
			<td>74,221</td>
			<td>2.1%</td>
			<td>72,879</td>
			<td>2.1%</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
Asking Rents

Over the month, capital city average asking rents increased 0.4 per cent for houses but decreased 0.2 per cent for units for the week ending December 12, to record asking rents of $540 per week for houses and $408 per week for units.

Most capital cities recorded increases in both house and unit asking rents.

Darwin recorded the highest increase of 6.7 per cent over the month for houses and 4.3 per cent in unit asking rents, followed by Hobart which recorded a 6.4 per cent increase in house rents and 3.3 per cent increase in unit rents.

Melbourne, however, recorded declines in both house and unit asking rents over the month of 0.1 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively.

Sydney and Canberra recorded rental increases in houses of 0.9 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively, but a decline in unit rents of 0.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/sqm-research-december-15.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="448" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sqm-research-december-15.jpg?itok=L5VVfE-V" width="580"></a>

"Rents for units in our two largest cities are still falling, though I note there appears to be a commencement of a reversal in the abundance of listings in the CBD’s of these two cities. They are still very elevated. But we could be starting to see some of the population moving back to the CBD and inner city locations”, SQM’s Louis Christopher said.
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The national residential rental vacancy rate remained stable at 2.1 per cent over the month of November, SQM Research revealed

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National rental vacancy rate remains stable: SQM Research

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A residential develop vacant site in the south eastern suburb of Hampton Park, suited for up to three townhouses, has come onto the market for private sale.
The property, at 104 Robjant Street, has a land area of 1,122 square metres, of which a total of 895 square metres is available for the potential development.
The property is being offered for private sale, with vacant possession by a deadline date of Thursday 4 June by agents Gray Johnson.
Their agent Rory White says that the property has been held for many years by the current vendor and regards the holding as surplus to their requirements.
“This is a good level allotment, within minutes of the Hampton Park shopping centre and it is zoned General Residential Schedule 1," Mr White said.
“Some concept plans have been prepared that envisage three larger sized two-storey town houses to be constructed on the site, although the future residential development use by the purchaser will be subject to the normal planning approvals."
The holding is expected to fetch upwards of $425,000.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Hampton Park development site listed for sale

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<img src="/images/stories/11000.jpg">
The total number of square metres of showroom space property manager Centuria Property Funds has leased to bulky goods tenants including Harvey Norman, Fantastic Furniture, Pillow Talk and Carpet Call in both metropolitan and regional centres in Griffith in regional NSW and in the western Sydney suburb of Warwick Farm.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/58.jpg">
The number of staff from fund management company Tyndall Investments who will transfer across to the top floor of 420 George Street, the 28-floor tower on George Street in the Sydney CBD in August 2011. Tyndall will take the 1,220-square-metre floor to showcase its operations in Australia.   The six-year lease was negotiated by Chris Gilbert from Jones Lang LaSalle, representing the owners. The building is co-owned by Fortius Fund Management and Lend Lease’s APPFC retail fund.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/221.jpg"> 
The net price per square metre Corporate Water Solutions will pay to lease a 234-square-metre new, fully self-contained industrial/commercial units unit at 41/110 Bourke Road, in the Sydney suburb of Alexandria. The two-year lease plus a two-year option was negotiated by Peta Antoniou from Billicorp.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/236.jpg">
The number of square metres that solar panel producer Canadian Solar (Australia) will rent at a net price of $303 per square metre at Unit 3B, North RydeLink Business Park, 277-283 Lane Cove Road in Macquarie Park, in Sydney’s north west. The one-year lease agreement was negotiated by agent Monty Govender from Balmoral Partners.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Commercial leasing: Watch this space

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<img src="/images/stories/4052sqm.jpg"><div>The net lettable area that polymer-based innovations and systems company Rehau has at its disposal in the freestanding building at 396 Victoria Street, Wetherill Parkin Sydney. Rehau has committed to a four-year lease at $105 per square metres (net) negotiatedby CB Richard Ellis’ Greg Pike on behalf of FFCC Pty Ltd.</div>
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<img src="/images/stories/533sqm.jpg">
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<div>The warehouse space leased by Ford Land Company to nutritional supplementdistributor Reliv Australia at B2/22 Powers Road, in Seven Hills, Sydney at a netprice of $125 per square metre. The deal was negotiated by Andrew Miller from Jones LangLaSalle.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/3years.jpg"></div>
<div>The length of the lease signed by IT input device manufacturer Dexin Group (Australia) for a 300-square-metre warehouse at Unit 31, 192A Kingsgrove Road, Kingsgrove, Sydney. Colliers International agents Alex Jaafar and Jon Orsborn negotiated theagreement. Dexin will pay $150 per square metre gross for the space.</div>
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<img src="/images/stories/260.jpg">
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<div>The gross price per square metre Keith Lawson Plasterboard will pay to lease a 40-square-metre m unit at 57A Rhodes Street, Matraville, close to Port Botany in Sydney. A lease term of one year was negotiated by Marino Rodriguez, from Taylor Nicholas.</div>
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<img src="/images/stories/573.jpg">
The sales price achieved by Charter Hall Office REIT for NCR House at 8-20 Napier Street, North Sydney. The sale represents a market cap rate of 8.75% and a capital value of $5,390 per square metre. Settlement is expected in September 2011.  The net sale price is in line with the June 2011 book value of $57 million and represents a $6.1 million or 12% gain, on cost and a 10% internal rate of return per annum since acquisition of the property 10 years ago. The sale was brokered by Simon Fenn, senior director at CB Richard Ellis.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/377.jpg"> 
The initial yield achieved on a prominent sandstone building in Rose Park in Adelaide acquired at auction by a local owner-occupier for $1.325 million. The 550-square-metre site is at 62 Kensington Road and includes nine on-site car spaces as well as rear lane access. The single-level building has a gross lettable area of approximately 189 square metres. CB Richard Ellis’ Will Brown and Ben Younger steered the auction campaign on behalf of a local Adelaide investor who had owned the property for almost 20 years.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/445.jpg"> 
The price retail entrepreneur Brett Blundy’s investment company, <a target="_blank" title="Brett Blundy buys on Mornington Peninsula" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/brett-blundy-buys-mornington-peninsula-bulky-goods-centre/2011072650917">BB Retail Capital, paid for a bulky goods centre on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula</a> from Mirvac. The centre has 32,000 square metres of gross lettable area and is located at 29 Mornington Peninsula. The Savills valuation for Mirvac reflected a 9.75% cap rate. The Peninsula Lifestyle Centre is located on the corner of Nepean Highway and Bungower Road in Mornington, about 15 minutes south of the Frankston CBD.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/277.jpg"> 
The total area of office units 4 and 5 at 19 Trenerry Street, Weston in the ACT, bought by Racing and Sports Property Trust at auction. Racing and Sports Property trust spent $907,500 on the units, equating to $3,276 per square metre. One of the units is tenanted by Teachers Credit Union on a three-year lease, the other is vacant. The property was marketed by Michael Heather, associate director of CBD sales at Colliers International. 
 
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<img src="/images/stories/48ha.jpg"> 
The size of Hunter Valley vineyard Windsor’s Edge <a target="_blank" title="Hunter Valley vineyard sells to Chinese investor" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/windsor-s-edge-vineyard-bought-by-chinese-investor/2011072450894">bought by a Chinese investor for $2.7 million</a>. The property sold through Cain Beckett at Jurd’s Real Estate. Windsor's Edge is a small family-operated resort with cellar door at Pokolbin in the centre of the Hunter Valley vineyards. The land is adjacent to the Vintage Resort golf development, on the corner of a major tourist route.
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Commercial hammer prices

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<img src="/images/stories/1187.jpg">
The gross rent per square metre that environmentally friendly bed and bath company Eco Downunder will pay to lease a 67-square-metre shop at 565 Military Road in Mosman from a private investor. The three-year lease term was negotiated by Tom Doran from Doran Commercial.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2305.jpg"> 
The amount of fully fitted-out office space that Bank of Queensland has leased over three levels at 144 Edward Street in the Brisbane CBD. The three-year deal, commencing in August 2011, was negotiated by David Goldfinch, Savills Queensland associate director of office leasing. The new lease coincides with the expiry of Bank of Queensland’s lease at 259 Queen Street. The price is undisclosed, but market sources say it is around the $550 per square metre mark. In April this year, AGL Energy paid $769 per square metre to lease 550 square metres of office space at the same address.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/435.jpg"> 
The gross rent that the Australian Institute of Management will pay to lease 744 square metres of office space at Childers Square, 14 Childers Street, in Canberra. The five-year deal was negotiated by Michael Ceacis, associate director of government services on behalf of the Amalgamated Property Group, and has a start date of September 1, 2011. Other tenants in the building include NAB, Bureau of Meteorology, Commonwealth Ombudsman, Legal Aid, and Sparke Helmore Lawyers.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/52sqm.jpg"> 
The size of an office that graphic designer Fluency and MW Creative have leased at 205/206 441 Elizabeth Street, in Surrey Hills, Sydney. The one-year lease term was negotiated by Kylie Doust from DB Property on behalf of Laoutaris Holdings.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/420.jpg"> 
The gross rent per square metre that education provider HBA Learning Centres will pay to lease a 96.1-square-metre office at 275 Alfred Street in North Sydney from Fivex Commercial Property. The two-year lease term was negotiated by Laura Hilder from Aspace Estate Agents.
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<img src="/images/stories/250-m.gif"><div>The sum total of investments to be made in the Perth and Melbourne CBD office markets by listed US developer Brookfield Office. Brookfield will acquire a 50% interest in the BankWest Tower. The building, which is 87% leased with BankWest as the anchor tenant, is located on the corner of St Georges Terrace and William Street in Perth CBD. Brookfield will also buy the 20-storey, 46,000-square-metre Southern Cross West office tower bordering Bourke and Little Collins streets in the Melbourne CBD. The BankWest Tower acquisition is subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/4point25m.gif"></div>
<div>The price paid for a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/commercial/fashion-royalty-boosts-queen-street-s-leasing-pedigree/2011062250571" title="Fashion royalty brings Queen Street pedigree" target="_blank">retail space on 84 Queen Street, Woollahra</a>. The property was sold by Ben Vaughan from Laing &amp; Simmons Woollahra in conjunction with John Knott from Richardson &amp; Wrench Commercial at auction. The shop, on one of Sydney’s most prestigious and tightly held shopping streets, was the home of antiques retailer Howell &amp; Howell for 30 years.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/1point2m.gif"></div>
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The price paid by Eltura Services for a food preparation facility at 6-8 Commercial Road, Marleston, in Adelaide’s inner west. The property includes cool rooms, freezer and commercial kitchen space plus storage area. The sale was negotiated by Colliers agent Justin Fried.
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<img src="/images/stories/2point125m.gif">
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<div>The amount of money coal mining executive <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/redfern-proving-magnetic-for-coal-execs/2011062250564" title="Redfern proves magnetic for coal execs" target="_self">Peter Bond from Linc Energy spent on the 125-year-old former Redfern post office</a>, at 113 Redfern Street, Sydney. Bond acquired what is now an office building as an investment property. The building sold through McGrath agents Paul Ephron and Ben Forsyth. It was recently sold by publicist Max Markson, who had used the heritage property as the base for his publicity business Markson Sparks. Markson had bought it from Sorin Dascalu &amp; Associates in 2006 for $1.9 million. The 480-square-metre building was built in 1882.</div>
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<div><img src="/images/stories/3m.gif"></div>
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The price achieved by CB Richard Ellis agent Rem Rafter for a 3,682-square-metre industrial property at 45 Wises Road, Maroochydore on the “difficult” Sunshine Coast on behalf of privately held Tichborne Pty Ltd. The company bought the property from the developer in 2000 for $1.6 million. Rafter says the deal has been struck at a yield of 8%. The property has been acquired by an unnamed Sunshine Coast investor in an off-market sale. The Australian Post currently leases a 1,100-square- metre warehouse on the block of land as a delivery centre and holds the lease until December 2012 at an annual net rental of $240,000 with a five-year option to renew.
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<img src="/images/stories/415.jpg">
The amount of space bicycle retailer 99 Bikes has leased at 1 Capital Place, Kawana Business Village in Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast for its latest store. The eight-year lease with a further seven-year option was secured at a rental of approximately $77,605 per annum gross in a deal negotiated by Hayley Donnelly of Savills Sunshine Coast. The brand 99 Bikes is 50% owned by Flight Centre. Capital Place was developed by the Pellicano Group and features total retail space of 6,000 square metres.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/385.jpg"> 
The price per square metre that community care group Anglicare Australia has paid to lease 760 square metres of office space in ACTEW House at 221 London Circuit, in the Canberra CBD. A five-year lease agreement was negotiated by Michael Ceacis, associate director of government services at Colliers on behalf of The Molonglo Group. The building has been the subject of a recent major refurbishment, including the facade.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/10years.jpg">
The length of the lease signed by Kmart Tyre &amp; Auto Service for 570 square metres of retail space at 2 Kembla Street, Fyshwick in the ACT. The deal was negotiated by Colliers agents Shelley Thomson and Peter Triantafillopoulos on behalf of Graham Rumble. Kmart Tyre &amp; Auto Service will pay $175 per square metre to lease the corner position in the industrial suburb nine kilometres southeast of the Canberra CBD. The retail space was previously tenanted by car manufacturer Subaru.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/450.jpg"> 
The gross per square metre price that Next Telecom will pay to lease a 297-square-metre office suite at 9 Help Street, Chatswood in Sydney. The telco has signed a three-year lease agreement with a three-year renewal option. The deal was negotiated by commercial agent Michael Vanstone from Hartigan Bolt on behalf of Centuria Property Funds. 
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