<p>South East Queensland developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a>’s entry into the Gold Coast apartment market has progressed from pipeline to market, with its Chevron Island project Bronze on Chevron now formally available to purchase ahead of a planned 2029 completion.</p>

<p>The 119-apartment development on Mawarra Street marks the Brisbane-headquartered builder-developer’s first residential play in the Gold Coast, following its expansion south from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> comprises a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, with pricing starting from just over $1.5 million. The project is being delivered under Gardner Vaughan’s fully integrated model, with the group acting as both developer and builder, a structure it has consistently applied across its South East Queensland portfolio.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367182]</p>

<p>Architecture has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jeremy-ferrier-landscape-design">Jeremy Ferrier</a>. The building presents as a single-tower scheme, with a focus on maximising outlook across both the Surfers Paradise skyline and the Nerang River.</p>

<p>Apartments have been planned with open-plan living zones extending to generous balconies, a response to the site’s dual-aspect positioning between river and ocean. Interiors follow a restrained coastal palette, with two colour schemes offered, and an emphasis on natural light and cross-ventilation.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367181]</p>

<p>Resident amenity is concentrated across more than 1,250 sqm and includes a resort-style pool, gym, yoga lawn and rooftop entertaining areas. A function space with catering facilities forms part of the upper-level offering, alongside north- and south-facing outdoor areas.</p>

<p>Ground level will incorporate two retail tenancies, intended to extend the existing village character of the surrounding streets.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367200]</p>

<p>The project sits within walking distance of Thomas Drive’s established dining strip, while maintaining proximity to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Surfers Paradise</a> beach and broader Gold Coast amenity. The location, positioned on Chevron Island between the river and coastline, has increasingly attracted mid- to high-density development in recent years as the precinct evolves beyond its low-rise origins.</p>

<p>Gardner Vaughan’s move into the Gold Coast was first signalled in 2025, with the group identifying the region as a natural extension of its operations. Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge described the expansion as both “strategic and natural”, citing demand for well-designed apartments in lifestyle-driven markets.</p>

<p>Construction is expected to complete in early 2029.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]</p>


Joel Robinson

Gardner Vaughan brings Bronze on Chevron to market as Gold Coast debut

<p data-end="198" data-start="61">One of the penthouses at Lily Lane, the latest stage of Carrington Place by Ellipse Property, has set a new local apartment price record.</p>

<p data-end="350" data-start="200">The four-bedroom residence, purchased by a local downsizer, sold for $5.75 million—around 75 per cent higher than the previous record of $3.3 million.</p>

<p data-end="461" data-start="352">Over 40 per cent of the first release of apartments at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-lane-at-carrington-place-castle-hill-32-carrington-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Lily Lane</a> have already been snapped up just six weeks since it launched to the market.</p>

<p data-end="461" data-start="352">&nbsp;</p>

<p>Located at 32 Carrington Road, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a> and designed by award-winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ptw">PTW</a>, Lily Lane is directly opposite the Hills Showground Metro station. It offers a total 213 units over two 12-storey towers - a mix of 67 one-bedroom, 100 two-bedroom and 46 three-bedroom apartments - with a ground-floor retail offering.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368352]</p>

<p>Blake Schulze, National Director – Residential at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a>, says around 44 per cent of buyers are&nbsp;owner occupiers, with 35 per cent being investors and 21 per cent first homebuyers.</p>

<p>“Developments of this calibre are very rare in the Hills District, and Lily Lane’s sales success demonstrates the depth of demand for over-sized apartments that genuinely compete with freestanding homes," Schulze says.</p>

<p>"We are seeing particular demand from downsizers who want to remain in the area but transition into spacious, high-quality apartment living."</p>

<p>On the penthouse sale, it says it shows buyers&nbsp;are prepared to pay a premium for scale, quality, and direct access to the Metro.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368351]</p>

<p>One-bedroom apartments are sized from 50-72 sqm with prices starting at $745,000, while two-bedrooms are priced from $990,000 with sizes from 75 to 132 square metres. Three-bedroom floorplans are sized between 97 and 182 sqm,, with prices starting at $1,395,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The three remaining penthouses, spanning up to 262 sqm, are priced from $2.9 million.</p>

<p>Over 75 per cent of apartments include dedicated studies, multipurpose rooms or family rooms, with select layouts offering walk-in pantries and laundries. Apartments are appointed with premium Miele appliances including ovens, washing machines, dryers, gas cooktops and dishwashers, while larger residences also incorporate integrated Miele microwaves, Fisher &amp; Paykel integrated refrigerators and five-burner Miele cooktops.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=360285]</p>

<p>Lily Lane will be constructed by award-winning iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/decode">Decode Group</a>, with construction to commence in mid-2026 and expected to complete early 2029.</p>

<p>Carrington Place comprises more than 800 apartments and is being delivered across multiple stages, with completion expected in 2032. Integrated with neighbouring bushland, the project will feature over 20,000 sq, of outdoor recreational area, including a one-kilometre boardwalk to Fred Caterson Reserve.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Hills Showground Metro Station is just a two-minute walk away, offering fast connectivity to Sydney’s CBD, North Sydney, Chatswood, Macquarie Park and Norwest Business Park.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151821]</p>


Ellipse sets Castle Hill apartment record with $5.75 million Lily Lane penthouse sale

<p data-end="223" data-start="65">Fresh off completing its Delano Crows Nest development, Lindsay Bennelong has lodged plans for its next project, this time turning its attention to the beach.</p>

<p data-end="431" data-start="225">The developer, founded by Clarendon Homes founder Peter Campbell, is proposing a 37-apartment scheme at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-25-ashburner-street-manly-nsw-2095">17-25 Ashburner Street</a>, Manly, positioned between the southern end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/manly-nsw-2095">Manly</a> Beach and East Manly Cove.</p>

<p data-end="431" data-start="225">Lindsay Bennelong called on local architecture firm Platform Architects to design the new building, given their success on The Finn, Lindsay Bennelong's current luxury apartment project on North Steyne.<span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:normal"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="background-color:#ffffff"><span style="text-decoration-thickness:initial"><span style="text-decoration-style:initial"><span style="text-decoration-color:initial"><i>&nbsp;</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p data-end="372" data-start="143">According to the Design Verification Statement by Bridie Gough of Platform Architects, the proposal “relates to the current context but also the desired future character of taller buildings suitable to the new planning controls.”</p>

<p data-end="722" data-start="374">The site has been identified as a Low to Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) location, given its position within 400 metres of the Manly Town Centre E1 Business Zone. The LMR controls are intended to unlock additional housing supply in well-located areas close to public transport, allowing developers to seek increased height limits to support greater density.</p>

<p data-end="884" data-start="724">“The proposal seeks to provide this increased level of housing whilst being respectful of some of the smaller scale buildings also nearby,” the statement reads.</p>

<p data-end="1207" data-start="886">Lindsay Bennelong Development Director Leigh Manser said the project has been carefully aligned with the intent of the LMR controls. The proposal will significantly increase housing yield on the site, replacing four houses and 10 apartments, comprising 25 bedrooms, with 37 new apartments delivering a total of 94 bedrooms.</p>

<p data-end="1487" data-start="1209">“Sydney is in a severe undersupply, and delivering more dwellings and more bedrooms than what currently exists is exactly what the LMR policy is designed to activate,” Manser said, noting that nine of the apartments will be allocated as affordable housing for frontline workers.</p>

<p data-end="1843" data-start="1489">“We have already commenced discussions with our community housing provider to determine the rental levels that frontline workers can realistically afford in this location,” he said. “These will need to sit well below the standard affordable housing benchmark of 20 per cent below market rent, and that has been factored into our feasibility and pricing.”</p>

<p><img alt="Manly" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad03000f-19f9-48b4-b27d-e85ca800a1da" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%208.41.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=a.txHwCZgbCInlQ6QXbIrI.umvW1T.r8" /></p>

<p data-end="1825" data-start="1664">The design of the building incorporates a wave-like indentation running through the façade, referencing the nearby coastline and anchoring the building within its local context.</p>

<p data-end="1825" data-start="1664">The&nbsp;Design Verification Statement says careful consideration has been given to the articulation of the building, ensuring the bulk is broken down to a more human scale through a defined four-storey podium."</p>

<p data-end="1825" data-start="1664">The scheme includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.</p>

<p data-end="2146" data-start="1962">“The design ensures a high level of amenity, with apartments offering generous private open space, many with expansive views, and all with comfortable proportions."</p>

<p data-end="2146" data-start="1962"><img alt="Bennelong" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6a7f2812-72a1-4959-84b0-997e8cd88aed" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%2010.15.50%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6iMxU3MkXmHVHAoNhYBjnqgka8CUZNbk" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lindsay-bennelong-developments">Lindsay Bennelong</a>&nbsp;is currently developing Finn Manly, just three full-floor luxury apartments on North Steyne. They recently welcomed residents to its 81-unit Delano Crows Nest development, a&nbsp;carefully scaled infill project designed to bridge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/crows-nest-nsw-2065">Crows Nest</a>’s lively village centre with its surrounding heritage streets.</p>

<p>Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ajc-architects">AJC Architects</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/delano-crows-nest-27-57-falcon-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Delano</a>&nbsp;is arranged across three low-rise buildings, incorporating a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments alongside a limited number of townhomes addressing Hayberry Lane. The architectural approach draws on the area’s Art Deco lineage, reinterpreted through contemporary detailing and framed by landscaped communal gardens.</p>

<p>The developer also has a development site in Maroubra.</p>


First look: Lindsay Bennelong's new Manly apartment development revealed

<p>Fifty-nine residences across 37 levels. No more than two per floor. With 80 per cent now sold, what remains at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-broadbeach-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline by Mosaic</a> is a short list.</p>

<p>Madeline was always conceived at a scale that sits outside the normal register of Gold Coast apartment living. The residences are half- and full-floor configurations, with the largest spanning more than 400 sqm, dimensions that place them closer to the penthouse end of the market regardless of where they sit in the building.</p>

<p>That scale is the organising principle of everything else: how the floorplans are laid out, how the materials read, how the connection between inside and outside works.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355941]</p>

<p>The interiors were developed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a>, the architecture practice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic</a> brought in as design partner for the first time on this project. The palette runs to natural stone, textured timbers, and soft metallics, materials chosen as much for their tactile quality as their appearance.</p>

<p>Light cleverly shifts across surfaces through the day, and the design is explicit about wanting that to be noticed. Full-height glazing runs across the primary living areas, and where the building faces east toward the ocean, those walls of glass are doing real work: framing a view corridor that the site's position directly opposite Broadbeach State School's playing fields keeps permanently open.</p>

<p>That outlook is the site's most consequential asset. In a suburb where new towers continue to rise, a protected view line is genuinely rare, and the Mary Avenue address secures it. Residents at Madeline will look out over open parkland rather than the rear of another building, a distinction that becomes more meaningful with each new development approved nearby.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355939]</p>

<p>The private outdoor spaces are sized to match the residences themselves. Terraces on the upper levels frame uninterrupted ocean panoramas, and the planning ensures that living areas extend into those outdoor zones rather than treating them as separate attachments. The flow between the two is part of the design intent, not an afterthought.</p>

<p>Inside, the finish specification reflects the same approach. Rich stone benchtops, warm timber joinery, bespoke hardware, each element specified to hold up over time rather than read as a moment in a particular trend cycle.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=3409]</p>

<p>Beyond the residences, the amenity offering extends that register. A lap pool and sun deck anchor the outdoor space, alongside a magnesium pool, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna.</p>

<p>A commercial-grade gymnasium, residents' lounge, library, and boardroom round out a programme that functions more like a private members club than a standard building amenity floor.</p>

<p>Construction has commenced under Mosaic's in-house building arm, with completion scheduled for late 2028.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150135]</p>


Madeline by Mosaic delivers penthouse-level living across every apartment

<p>Developer Fortezza Group is the latest to take its new apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-belvedere-5-7-church-street-nelson-bay-nsw-2315">The Belvedere in Nelson Bay</a>, to the NSW Government.</p>

<p>Fortezza, predominantly a South East Queensland developer, is the latest to apply for State Significant Development&nbsp; status through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority, a pathway becoming favoured by developers to speed up the approval process.</p>

<p>They are planning 57 two- and three-bedroom apartments across 5-7 Church Street and 42 Donald Street, near d'Albora Nelson Bay Marina. The diverse apartment mix has sizes from just over 80 sqm to the largest three-bedroom penthouses that reach nearly 200 sqm.</p>

<p><img alt="Fortezza" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="090360e1-66d7-43ad-b686-aba81f173bf2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-29%20at%2010.22.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=DMqF96eBZolqSAAAcugX0l66ueWng66m" /></p>

<p>Fortezza calls the project a "piece of Istria in Nelson Bay,"&nbsp;referring to the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, shared by Croatia (90%), Slovenia, and Italy, which is known for its Roman history, Venetian-style coastal towns and inland hilltop villages.</p>

<p>They say the The Belvedere is strategically positioned at the apex of Nelson Bay, offering unrivalled views of the ocean, the bay and captivating topography of the area.</p>

<p>"Our commitment to maintaining the integrity of every view and sight line has been relentless," Fortezza Group says.</p>

<p>"Through extensive modelling and analysis, we ensure that each apartment enjoys the natural beauty of Nelson Bay, regardless of future developments. Each design element is carefully curated to harmonise with our European heritage, drawing profound inspiration from the Roman architectural marvels in Istria. The arches, the cascades of greenery and the stonework that define our project pay homage to the structures that once exemplified Roman grandeur."</p>

<p>Residents will have access to a pool, communal green spaces, an office and a coffee shop.</p>


First look: Fortezza Group takes The Belvedere, Nelson Bay apartment development, to NSW Government

<p>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.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>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</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>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.<span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><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" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>​</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.</p>


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

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<p>Based on the CoreLogic May monthly rental review released today, while rents increased slightly by 0.1 percent in April, overall, capital city rental rates edged lower, falling 0.2percent over the past 12 months.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Rental rates are currently $490/week for houses and $467/week for units across combined capital cities;</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Five of the eight capital cities saw a modest rise in rents over the past twelve months, including Sydney (1.4 percent), Melbourne (1.7 percent), Adelaide (0.5 percent), Hobart (1.1 percent) and Canberra (2.5 percent); </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Perth (-8.9 percent) and Darwin (-12.6 percent) experienced large drops in rents &amp; have collectively pulled the combined capital average lower; </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Brisbane rents dropped by -0.6 percent.</span></p>
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<p><a href="/images/2016/05/11/2016-05-09--monthly-report-report.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/05/11/2016-05-09--monthly-report-report.jpg" alt=""></p>
<br><p>We anticipate that the weakness in the rental market will persist over the year and rents will continue to fall over the coming months. The annual change in rental rates continues to be at its slowest pace since before 1996.</p>
<p>At the same time last year, rental rates increased by 1.7 percent which indicates a sharp slowdown in rental growth over the past year.</p>
<p>Factors contributing to a slowing in rental growth include falling real wages, excess rental supply in certain areas and lower rates of population growth - all of which have impacted on demand for rental accommodation.</p>
<p>With dwelling approvals at recent record highs and construction activity set to peak over the next 24 months, accompanied by many new properties still to settle, we anticipate that the weak rental market conditions will persist with rental growth continuing to slow and, or, fall in most capital cities.</p>
<p>Based on current market conditions, landlords won’t be in a position to lift rental rates and may actually need to reduce rents in order to keep their tenants. We see renters as holding a stronger negotiation position and where they now have the potential to upgrade into higher grades of accommodation for a similar, or lower rents.</p>
<p>Canberra is the only capital city where the annual rental change is currently stronger than it was a year ago. Mr Kusher said this highlights the weakness in rental market conditions is being felt across all other capital city markets.</p>
<p>With rental rates increasing in some cities in April, rates in Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart are at record highs. In all remaining cities, rental rates are now below their highs with the declines recorded respectively in: -0.1 percent in Melbourne, -0.8 percent in Brisbane, -13.7 percent in Perth, -17.3 percent in Darwin and -5.4 percent in Canberra.</p>
<p>The results show that as rental changes outpace home value changes, gross rental yields have trended lower and have hit record lows of 3.3 percent for houses and 4.2 percent for units.</p>
<p>In our two largest capital cities, we’ve seen rental yields move to record lows of 3.1 percent for houses and 4.0 percent for units in Sydney and in Melbourne, rental yields are at a record low 2.9 percent for houses and 4.0 percent for units.</p>
<p>With home values continuing to grow and rental markets expected to soften further, don’t be surprised if we see a further compression of gross rental yields over the coming months.</p>
<p><em>Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/">here</a>.</em></p>
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ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

Weekly rents have continued to fall over the past year: Cameron Kusher

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<p>Let’s look at the facts and decide where first of all we need to separate the investment property markets and the first home buyer markets from the family residence markets.</p>
<p>We also need to look at the current NSW Government mandate where they intend to merge councils to ensure that NSW keeps developing and driving residential construction to record levels never seen before. Premier Mike Baird is a smart man as he knows that the investor market has never been larger given the record stamp duty and land tax receipts. These are the new ‘rivers of gold’ that will in part fund this massive infrastructure spend.</p>
<p>According to Stockland chief executive ‘the Australian property sector is in the second quarter of what is often a seven – to – eight year housing cycle’. Now I have no problems with that and I agree given we all know what the intentions are of the NSW State government….it’s build – build – build to then generate tax – tax – tax.</p>
<p>We also now find ourselves in unchartered waters given we have never encountered a record low cash rate which could even go lower – another driver of the real estate market. Historically there have been two drivers to mortgage delinquency – increasing cash rates and unemployment. On that basis we can remove an increasing cash rate in the short term or quite possibly long term, although some are now warning property developers that they should be factoring in a price crunch.</p>
<p>Well that can’t happen given the property developers are concentrating on investors and the booming overseas market where 100 per cent of all ‘new’ developments can be sold to non – Australian residents.</p>
<p>Now the biggest conflict is Australia’s housing policy or better still our elected politicians who have no idea what they are talking about when they implement new policies – Federal treasurer Joe Hockey is the prime example.</p>
<p>Earlier this week he declared ‘that the crackdown on foreign investors illegally buying property in Australia could force down house prices.” Well for that to happen there would need to be thousands and thousands of properties flooding the market. Is he aware of something that we need to know?</p>
<p>This week Treasurer Joe Hockey announced new laws regulating property purchases by foreign investors and this clanger got my blood boiling. Mr Hockey said “foreign investment rules had not been significantly revised since their introduction 40 years ago.” Under the draft laws, penalties would be increased from $90,000 to $135,000 for serious breaches of residential real estate rules. Real estate agents, migration agents, lawyers and conveyancers who knowingly assist a foreign investor in breaching the rules will now be subject to both civil and criminal penalties.</p>
<p>Well Mr. Treasurer, all you need to do is enforce that all property buyers produce a tax file number and then you build your national Property Register and the Australian Taxation Office can record all transactions.</p>
<p>Now back to the “foreign investment rules had not significantly been revised since their introduction 40 years ago”. Back on 18 December 2008, the Australian Federal Government (for reasons only known to themselves) announced policy and administrative changes for foreign investors acquiring Australian real estate where they very kindly made it much easier from 2009 for foreign investors to acquire Australian real estate. This was a major announcement so I assume our esteemed treasurer completely overlooked this announcement when he went back over the past 40 years.</p>
<p>The existing requirement which allowed only 50 per cent of new dwellings to be sold to foreign persons in an ‘off – the – plan’ situation was changed to 100 per cent – on the proviso that developers market locally as well as overseas. Today we have overseas developers selling new developments exclusively overseas and they are not offered to Australian investors. Also a ‘new dwelling’ was defined as never previously occupied or sold. This now includes dwellings that were not sold by the developer but were rented out for no more than twelve months. I bet that has never been policed or followed up by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)?</p>
<p>They also implemented student visa holder residents in Australia are no longer subject to a $300,000 limit on the value of an established dwelling purchased as their principal place of residence. So students through their parents can buy waterfronts and the like? Temporary residents will not be required to notify FIRB of proposed acquisitions of an established dwelling for their own residence, any new dwellings and single blocks of residential land. Foreign – owned companies can now purchase established dwellings for the use of their Australian – based staff provided they sell or rent them if they are expected to remain vacant for more than six months.</p>
<p>And on and on it goes …….</p>
<p>So by now I am hoping that you are identifying the conflicting evidence that is coming out of Canberra. Why has the allowed foreign investor allocation for new dwellings been allowed to remain at 100 per cent where for 34 years it was set at 50 per cent?</p>
<p><a href="/expert-insights/why-todays-chinese-property-investment-is-just-the-beginning-andrew-taylor">Why today’s Chinese property investment is just the beginning.</a> The questions that need to be asked is just why did Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan make such significant changes to best suit foreign buyers? Why has the ratio been left at 100 per cent given the strength of the Australian property market? A strong argument that if you want to keep this at 100 per cent then remove both Sydney and Melbourne CBD’s from the overseas shopping trolley.</p>
<p>This week we learned that Nine Entertainment has sold its Sydney headquarters to Hong Kong based developer Euro Properties for $147.5 million. The selling agent CBRE’s Matthew Ramsay said 17 bids had been received from local and international investors and developers. Mr Ramsay said “that foreign investment in the Australian property market was at an all – time high, bolstered by a lower Australian dollar.” I’d say the lower dollar helps and the real reason is that the overseas developers can (thanks to the Australian Government) sell the entire development off – shore to investors.</p>
<p>Oh and I wouldn’t hold your breath if you were thinking of buying one of the 400 or so apartments when the Nine Entertainment development is offered for sale.</p>
<h5>MOSMAN – 2088</h5>
<p>• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 66</p>
<p>• Number of houses on the market last week – 47</p>
<p>• Number of houses on the market this week – 53</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 48</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market last week – 40</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market this week – 41</p>
<h5>CREMORNE – 2090</h5>
<p>• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 8</p>
<p>• Number of houses on the market last week – 2</p>
<p>• Number of houses on the market this week – 2</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 13</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market last week – 18</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market this week – 15</p>
<h5>NEUTRAL BAY – 2089</h5>
<p>• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 4</p>
<p>• Number of houses on the market last week – 2</p>
<p>•Number of houses on the market this week – 4</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market this time last year– 31</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market last week – 25</p>
<p>• Number of apartments on the market this week – 25</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><span>ROBERT SIMEON</span> is a director of </em><em><a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/" target="_blank" title="RWM" rel="nofollow">Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</a> </em><em>and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985. <br>He has also been writing real estate blog </em><em><a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Realty News" rel="nofollow">Virtual Realty News</a> </em><em>since 2000. </em></p>
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Why is property full of conflicting evidence? Robert Simeon

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<div>Markets played around with the idea of the easing cycle being over for a while.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Not any more, though, as the yield curve inverts once again.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Still only a low probability of a cut in September. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, another rate cut is fully priced in for December, with the implied yield on August 2016 contracts sagging as low as 1.61%.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/08/26/ASX.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/26/ASX.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Interest rates to fall: Pete Wargent

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<div>It's set to be a monester week of data releases ahead, from tomorrow in particular, but before that a quick look at the weekend auction results.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<em>Core-Logic-RP Data</em> reported its preliminary auction stats which showed stronger initial results than one year ago in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sydney recorded another vigorous result of 78.1 per cent, which was stronger than the final result for last week of 76.2 per cent, but for the first time this year was below the preliminary clearance rate from one year ago at 79.9 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/08/31/RPD1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/08/31/RPD1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>Sydney's incredible run which has seen house prices rising at a pace of well over <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/residex-astonishing-sydney-boom" target="_blank">20 per cent per annum</a> has continued right the way through until the final week before the spring selling season.</div>
<br><div>The result of 78.1 per cent this week will doubtlesss lead to some premature extrapolation, but there are a few reasons why the Sydney market probably has a bit of a way to run yet before it runs out of puff.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Firstly while auction volumes have been tracking at the highest level we have seen, total listings are still moderate, and less than those of Melbourne and even Perth.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Secondly, in the inner- and middle-ring suburbs that matter, clearance rates are still tracking at exceptionally high levels.</div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span><span>According to <em>CoreLogic-RP Data</em> the Eastern Suburbs (87.6 per cent), North Sydney &amp; Hornsby (86.3 per cent) and the Inner West (85.1 per cent) had the strongest clearance rates, followed by Blacktown (84.6 per cent), City &amp; Inner South (82.8 per cent) and the Northern Beaches (81.5 per cent).</span></span></div>
<div><span><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span><span>Although these are only preliminary results, traditionally it is said that results above 80 per cent point towards a "boom time" property market.</span></span></div>
<div><span><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span><span>And thirdly, John McGrath ignited some debate earlier this year when he claimed that Sydney's inner suburbs will be "hot forever".</span></span></div>
<div><span><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span><span>While this obviously isn't set in stone, simple geometry tells you that within the inner 6km there are only 113 square kilometres of land for which there is huge demand. </span></span></div>
<div><span><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span><span>Nothing is certain, of course, but personally I wouldn't bet against it. </span></span></div>
<div><span><span> </span></span></div>
<div><span><span>It's precisely what has happened in prime central London over the last couple of decades. </span></span></div>
<div><span><span> </span></span></div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Inner suburbs hot for-evuh: Pete Wargent

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<div>Historically dwelling listings tend to begin to rise from the end of August.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, nationally dwelling stock on market levels remain 1.3% lower than a year ago.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>At the capital city level stock on market has declined over the past year in Hobart (-11%), Canberra (-8%), Melbourne (-5%), Brisbane (-3%), Adelaide (-2%) and Sydney (-1%).</div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, there have been significant increases in stock on market in the struggling markets of Perth (+18%) and Darwin (+15%).</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2015/09/02/201508-Table.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div><img src="/images/2015/09/02/201508-Table.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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Stock for sale virtually unchanged from last year: Pete Wargent

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<div>There has been a lot of misleading commentary about population growth dropping off a cliff, and so on.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It really isn't, but the composition of growth is sure changing.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I explained <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/students-to-drive-population" target="_blank">here</a> back in 2015 why international students would be the key driver of growth going forward.<br><br> It's a key reason why so many bloggers and analysts got their supply and demand ratios so muddled last year, particularly in Melbourne where <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/melbournes-population-explosion" target="_blank">population growth broke all known records in 2016</a>, but also in Sydney, and to a much lesser extent Brisbane. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The latest figures from the DIBP confirmed a walloping increase of 90,380 temporary visa holders over the year to September 2016, with a crunching increase in student visa holders of 45,070 over the year.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Remember many international students are expected to go to secure Australian residency through other visa classes.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>There was also a massive 51.4 per cent increase in temporary graduate visa holders, easily eclipsing the relatively small decline in skilled 457 visas (that form the basis of most doomsday scenarios).</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lK4sTHM0uYs/WHdgU0fcoSI/AAAAAAAAhM0/GyXPi2QtKwIIQYK41p-R605PYMtqVcG5QCLcB/s640/V1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<p><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lK4sTHM0uYs/WHdgU0fcoSI/AAAAAAAAhM0/GyXPi2QtKwIIQYK41p-R605PYMtqVcG5QCLcB/s1600/V1.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lK4sTHM0uYs/WHdgU0fcoSI/AAAAAAAAhM0/GyXPi2QtKwIIQYK41p-R605PYMtqVcG5QCLcB/s640/V1.jpg" width="640" height="240"></a></p>
<p>Source: DIBP</p>
<div>By far the greatest number of temporary visa holders were Kiwis on the visa subclass 444, increasing by 2.3 per cent to 677,030, dispelling the narrative that all Kiwis are heading home.<br><br> Total temporary entrants will rise towards 2.1 million by the end of 2017.</div>
<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzgXJuEpkk0/WHdgUqv7CTI/AAAAAAAAhMw/DC6WVITK2OUb1g5rEkB6izXpV9_sxBxDwCLcB/s640/V2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzgXJuEpkk0/WHdgUqv7CTI/AAAAAAAAhMw/DC6WVITK2OUb1g5rEkB6izXpV9_sxBxDwCLcB/s1600/V2.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzgXJuEpkk0/WHdgUqv7CTI/AAAAAAAAhMw/DC6WVITK2OUb1g5rEkB6izXpV9_sxBxDwCLcB/s640/V2.jpg" width="640" height="270"></a><br><br> Thanks to the visa subclass 444, some 34.5 per cent of temporary visa holders are New Zealanders.<br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfnlCybJ6ME/WHdgVEXjSuI/AAAAAAAAhM4/SpZNbB3_84gsYYaz5gmVwrT8KZm2wSIHwCLcB/s640/V3.jpg" target="_blank"> Click to enlarge</a><br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfnlCybJ6ME/WHdgVEXjSuI/AAAAAAAAhM4/SpZNbB3_84gsYYaz5gmVwrT8KZm2wSIHwCLcB/s1600/V3.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfnlCybJ6ME/WHdgVEXjSuI/AAAAAAAAhM4/SpZNbB3_84gsYYaz5gmVwrT8KZm2wSIHwCLcB/s640/V3.jpg" width="640" height="296"></a><br><br> However, the real growth sector is in student visas, particularly to Chinese and Indian students.</p>
<p><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7kZqDb9cgU/WHdgToxuj0I/AAAAAAAAhMs/WzCBZ5Otx-IThjZwfZ_c-6tQ9aCvGp_ewCLcB/s640/STUDENT.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<div><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7kZqDb9cgU/WHdgToxuj0I/AAAAAAAAhMs/WzCBZ5Otx-IThjZwfZ_c-6tQ9aCvGp_ewCLcB/s1600/STUDENT.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7kZqDb9cgU/WHdgToxuj0I/AAAAAAAAhMs/WzCBZ5Otx-IThjZwfZ_c-6tQ9aCvGp_ewCLcB/s640/STUDENT.jpg" width="640" height="298"></a></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Most international students head to institutions in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane - in that order.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As expected, the insatiable demand from international students will keep on keeping on, delivering a substantial boost for population growth in those three capital cities through 2016 and beyond.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</div>
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Students help temporary visa holders soar towards 2 million: Pete Wargent

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<p>Come in spinner or should that be spinners?</p>
<p>In a property week that can only be described as unprecedented we have had the prime minister, treasurer and newly elected NSW premier all declare that they are going to tackle housing affordability.</p>
<p>Previously housing affordability was a bit like going to your doctor for the annual check-up where after your consultation you advise the doctor that you don’t need to see the results. For years and years, our elected politicians have refused point blank to accept any responsibility for being the actual cause of this problem.</p>
<p>The new premier is already stumbling and stuttering where she stated that the heart of the problem is supply so NSW must build more properties. We all know that, this is only a part of the problem, so then the remedies moved to negative gearing (a federal problem) which explains why the prime minister has been silent following his announcement that he too, will personally pursue the housing affordability issues in Australia.</p>
<p>Next, the premier stated that she needed to make sure that the state’s finances are in order before she considers changing stamp duty. I would refer the premier to her media release on December 15, 2016. “NSW has recorded the lowest unemployment rate of the nation for 18 consecutive months and has widened its lead over the next strongest state, the latest ABS data shows. Our unemployment rate is by far the lowest in the nation and demonstrates our economic strength.”</p>
<p>Of course, the premier may always wish to investigate just why in Sydney we presently have public transport considered to be amongst the worst in the world. Back in November 2012 a global survey of 27 of the most important cities in the world ranked Sydney as fourth – worst for public transport. To make matters worse the survey also identified that Sydneysiders pay more for public transport than anywhere else.</p>
<p>Despite that embarrassing finding where our public transport would be even worse since that survey NSW continues to attract more than 50 per cent of the residential investment spend in Australia. On top of that it was revealed this week that the Sydney median house price had climbed a further ten percent in 2016 to now sit at $1,123,991 – another new record.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/29/Investor-Lending.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/29/Investor-Lending.png" alt=""></p>
<p>Most people already know the answer to Australia’s housing affordability woes – look no further than the Henry Tax Review that was commissioned back in 2008 then published in 2010 only to be ignored by elected politicians because it was too hard and significantly threatened their parliamentary pensions. The report consisted of nine broad themes with point 8 stating – “Toward more affordable housing: substantially increase rent assistance, gradually move to a uniform land tax and remove transfer taxes (stamp duty), and gradually move to a neutral treatment of rental and owner – occupied housing.”</p>
<p>The Henry Tax Review has now come back with a vengeance and deservedly biting our politicians where it hurts. Although the real reason why NSW refuses to make changes to Stamp Duty is succinctly explained in the following graph.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/29/NSW-Stamp-Duty.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/01/29/NSW-Stamp-Duty.png" alt=""></p>
<p>In Australia, currently the Top 10 taxes deliver 90 per cent of Australia’s taxation revenues. Three of the state taxes are in the Top 10 taxes by revenue collected, although these three state taxes are at the bottom of the Top 10 and represent less than 11 per cent of all tax revenues.</p>
<p>Many simply say increase the taxes for foreign buyers, although there are major issues on that horizon when this week two major Chinese private providers of home price data stopped publishing figures so what’s happening to the home-grown Chinese property markets? The Chinese Index Academy stopped distributing monthly housing price data for 100 cities which was usually made available at the commencement of each month. The Academy told Reuters last Friday, it had suspended distribution indefinitely and then politely declined to provide a reason.</p>
<p>Coincidentally on New Year’s Eve the Chinese government issued a statement that effectively makes it much harder for Chinese investors to now get their money out of China. In an email I received on January 5 here are the key points.</p>
<ul>
<li>The individual annual foreign exchange purchase quota of $50,000 is unchanged.</li>
<li>Banks are “encouraged” to increase scrutiny of currency transfers.</li>
<li>Banks must report any overseas transfers by individuals of US$10,000 or more.</li>
<li>Starting in July 2017, banks and other financial institutions in China will have to report all domestic and overseas cash transactions of more than 50,000 yuan ($7,201), compared with the current amount of 200,000 yuan.</li>
<li>Beijing is signalling to banks, companies and individuals that it disapproves of foreign spending and investment, except for a few purposes that are explicitly defined by the government (e.g. buying foreign-made machinery to increase the efficiency of a Chinese factory).</li>
<li>Overseas property investment has been called out by at least one major Chinese bank as insufficient reason for transferring money abroad.</li>
</ul>
<p>With great interest, we shall watch very carefully how the Chinese buyers perform in 2017 especially as very little (actually nothing) has been written on these forced changes by the Chinese government.</p>
<p>Housing affordability will be major election issues at forthcoming state and federal elections and that could not happen to a nicer group of politicians who have been complicit by neglecting these issues for decades.</p>
<p>Oh and on Australia Day, 2014 Mosman had 68 houses on the market, 2015 it fell to 58, then in 2016 it fell to 45 and this week it’s 25.</p>
<p><em>ROBERT SIMEON is a director of </em><em><a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/" target="_blank" title="RWM" rel="nofollow">Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</a> </em><em>and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985. </em></p>
<p><em>He has also been writing real estate blog </em><em><a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Realty News" rel="nofollow">Virtual Realty News</a> </em><em>since 2000.</em></p>
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Politicians to battle housing affordability - an oxymoron? Robert Simeon

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<p class="BodyCopy">Many factors play a part in growth property markets, but the biggest single element is infrastructure.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Good places to invest are places with excellent infrastructure, including the nuts-and-bolts elements such as schools, shops and public transport.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">And the markets most likely to grow in future are those where there’s big spending on new infrastructure - with transport facilities the most influential (although medical and educational infrastructure are also big).</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Sydney’s recent price boom was created by three key factors - the strongest economy in the nation, pent-up demand after a decade of under-performance, and big, big spending on infrastructure, especially road and rail links.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Sydney’s economy and its property markets turned around when there was a change of state government in 2011.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">After more than a decade of stagnation, with little spent on infrastructure, improved governance caused an upturn in the economy and big spending on new projects. Currently there are facilities worth tens of billions of dollars being built, including massive road and rail ventures.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Projects like these create economic activity and jobs, as well as improving accessibility.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">One of the factors underpinning the revival in the Tasmanian economy and the rise of the Hobart property market has been a significant rise in spending on infrastructure.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Similar to the NSW experience, the turnaround in Tasmania has evolved from a change in state government, with an emphasis on infrastructure improvements and encouragement of construction projects.</p>
<p class="Body">Prices and rents have grown in Hobart on the back of these changes and the Tasmanian capital is expected to be a price growth leader among the capital cities in 2017, boosted by its low prices, tight vacancies and relatively high rental yields.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Against that background it’s good news that road infrastructure, according to a new study, is forecast to be the No.1 growth industry sector in Australia this year.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Research firm IBISWorld sees road infrastructure building as the fastest-growing industry this year, with revenue growth tipped to rise 27.2% to a tick over $20 billion in FY2017 - ahead of the sugar manufacturing and oil/gas extraction sectors.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Several giant transport infrastructure projects are currently driving accelerated expansion in the road &amp; bridge construction industry. “Much of the current robust growth has been due to the early construction phases of the NorthConnex M1 to M2 link and WestConnex projects in Sydney,” it says. “These private-public funded projects are set to dominate the road construction landscape for several years.”</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Meanwhile, a report from commercial real estate consultancy Savills says that Australian cities which provide the most efficient transport infrastructure, on top of essential social infrastructure, will place themselves in the best position to deliver sound economic performance.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">They will become the preferred home for the best and most skilled workers and the hi-tech industries that employ them over the next decade.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">“And those cities will be at the centre of property development and investment opportunities as they grow to accommodate vastly increased populations”, it says.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Savills Australian Head of Research, Tony Crabb, says many academic studies have pointed to the preference among skilled workers for ‘liveability’ over financial rewards including a 2016 Savills UK study <em>What Workers Want</em>, which found workers wanted their life contained within a half-hour radius.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">“We expect skilled or knowledge workers to be doubly attracted to places where they can achieve both a high degree of liveability and financial rewards, but transport infrastructure is the critical element with work, rest and play accessible in 30 minutes by car, public transport, walking, or cycling, the key determinant,” he says.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">“Major transport infrastructure provides the backbone of investment opportunities and it is generally around such infrastructure that industries agglomerate, but light rail, tram, bus, cycling and street networks are equally important in delivering liveability.”</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Other facilities such as medical and educational infrastructure are also vitally important.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Crabb says that while Melbourne and Sydney are likely to attract a growing number of skilled workers with population forecasts of up to 10 million by 2050, two other cities - Adelaide and Perth – were nominated (along with Melbourne) by the London based Economist Intelligence Unit  among the world’s Top 10 most liveable.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Melbourne ranked No.1 on this list ahead of Vienna and Vancouver, with Adelaide No.6 and Perth No.7.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Melbourne and Victoria continue to lead the nation on population growth, with a 2.07% increase in FY2016, ahead of New South Wales with 1.39% and Queensland with 1.35%.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">But Melbourne has not delivered house price growth as high as Sydney’s over the past 3-4 years because it has not matched Sydney’s infrastructure spend or its overall economic performance.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Melbourne does, however, have some big-ticket projects in planning, including the Melbourne Metro Rail Project and the North East link road project. Both are expected to cost over $10 billion.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Brisbane has many factors in its favour but spending on infrastructure has largely ground to a halt and economic performance has been lukewarm.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">Part of the problem is a state government suffering from paralysis by analysis. It was reported recently that the Queensland Government has initiated 120 reviews and inquiries since winning office in January 2015, with the under Anna Palaszczuk dubbed the “do-nothing Premier”.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">What is starkly absent is clear decision-making and, in particular, much-needed spending on infrastructure.</p>
<p class="BodyCopy">This is hope that this will change. Brisbane is awaiting a start on eight significant projects, which entail investment totalling over $12 billion. They include inner-city rail projects, highway upgrades, big spending at Brisbane Airport and major tourism-focused inner-city developments such as the $3 billion Queens Wharf Casino and the $800 million Brisbane Quarter project.</p>
<p class="Body"> T<em>erry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a></em></p>
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

The three key factors behind Sydney's price boom

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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">When Malcolm Turnbull addressed the National Press Club this week I was really hoping that he was going to announce some major policy critiquing for all matters pertaining to Australia’s ongoing housing affordability woes. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sadly, very little was offered where he clearly laid the blame at the states and territories which simply identified that very little would be happening to this space.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">We can then expect political huffing and puffing until November 2, 2019 which is when Australia must contest the next election. A very strong possibility that we will see a changing of the guard where negative gearing laws will be changed which will then probably coincide with a major property downturn. On that basis, it is clear to predict the game plan for the next two and a half years. Property investors will go -hard simply because they want to get in before the negative gearing rules are changed (should there be a change in government.)</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">There is no doubt that property prices will continue to rise in 2017 to the extent that we may well see the cumulative house prices reach 100 per cent gains in five years in some areas. The latest statistics from CoreLogic revealed this week, identified the January price rise results showed Melbourne up an additional 11.8 per cent and continues to run amok at 16 per cent. Since June 2012, the cumulative increase in house prices has been 70.5 per cent, CoreLogic reported.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Two things I was expecting announcements on this week were immigration and reducing the off – the – plan ratios to overseas buyers. CBA senior economist Michael Workman said, ‘’housing affordability is set to worsen without federal action. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Federal Government controls some of the significant demand factors for housing markets, namely population growth via migration and the spectrum of tax and foreign investment policies that significantly inflate demand for existing and new housing. Housing affordability can be improved, via stabilising growth in house prices and rents, by gradual reforms to both supply and demand issues.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In the present property environment, there is no need for off – the – plan sales to foreign buyers to remain at 100 per cent and this ratio is controlled by the Turnbull government.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/VRN-2.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge </a></p>
<p class="p2"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/VRN-2.png" alt=""></p>
<p>Despite the construction of thousands of new apartments, we are not seeing an easing of rents as was the expected case. Data analysis from the NSW Rental Bond Board identified that NSW has more tenants than ever before. No surprises to learn that the most expensive five suburbs are Manly, Waverly, Woollahra, Willoughby and Mosman.</p>
<p>We can therefore expect to see these areas hot – spotting with investors as they know these areas provide the best rental returns as well as capital appreciation. Investors will keep driving these markets simply because the federal government has tinkered with superannuation, and property markets are out-performing the share market.</p>
<p>Of course, we all know that this will change over time although the momentum is much stronger with our respective governments doing absolutely nothing aside from weekly lip service.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/VRN-Statistics.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p class="p2"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/VRN-Statistics.png" alt=""></p>
<p> With much being written about money laundering within the Australian property markets the appointed watchdog, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), is investigating more than $3 billion in suspicious transfers from Chinese property investors last year.</p>
<p>This was further backed – up late last year when the major Australian lenders ceased lending to foreign buyers amid concerns. I was then surprised to read this week that foreign investors are again on the surge where this time they are paying cash to settle the full amount of the purchase.</p>
<p>Now many will be asking the obvious questions as to where all these monies are originating from based on recent announcements that the Chinese government had shut down money transfers from China?</p>
<p>Well, allow me to lay your concerns to rest – the smartest thing that Joe Hockey did when he was treasurer was to hand all data collection on every property transfer in Australia over to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). You may have forgotten that some months later after reviewing the respective data an excited ATO announced that they were expanding their forensic property investigations back to 1985.</p>
<p>Just this week, I received a telephone call from one of the ATO investigators requesting purchaser contact information for a property we sold late last year. Nothing was said, I simply adhered to their request and provided the relevant information.</p>
<p>What this clearly tells us, is that every property transaction is scrutineered by the ATO and you can no longer beat the system.</p>
<p>With so many discussions on housing affordability this is one announcement that should please all those closely following the real estate movements. As each property settles all the data is then sent to the ATO for recording and investigation.</p>
<p>It has become very clear that everybody buying Australian real estate should know that each transaction is noted and investigated. And yes, they have the resources.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em>ROBERT SIMEON is a director of </em><a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/"><span class="s2"><em>Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</em></span></a><em> and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985. </em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em>He has also been writing real estate blog </em><a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/"><span class="s2"><em>Virtual Realty News</em></span></a><em> since 2000.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
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Why housing affordability is a political no – go zone: Robert Simeon

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<p>The most recent Statement on Monetary Policy (SOMP) suggested that several housing market indicators have eased.  </p>
<p>If the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is more relaxed, then that's generally good news for homeowners.</p>
<p>There have also been loads of macro and share market analysts calling the peak of 'the market', whatever that means, but then again they do that every year, so I don't pay any attention to those. </p>
<p>Certainly, the RBA's private sector credit growth figures show that housing credit is growing less quickly than it was. </p>
<p>That said, housing credit is still growing at a sprightly enough +6.4 percent, and recent months have shown that investors are well and truly on the march again. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></p>
<div id="post-body-1440311867462880964" class="post-body entry-content">
<div><a href="/images/2016/11/08/RBA2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><img src="/images/2016/11/08/RBA2.jpg" alt=""><br><br><div>Another issue with the theme of slowing credit growth is that the figures cannot easily account for debt relating to off-the-plan purchases which have yet to settle.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>And there are lots of these!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The figures to the end of June showed that there were more than 212,000 dwellings under construction, including about 150,000 units, apartments, and townhouses.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/11/08/RBA1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/11/08/RBA1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><div class="separator">Without knowing how many of these dwellings have been bought by non-residents and how many are off-the-plan purchases it's impossible to say what the impact on credit growth will be for certain, but it may be non-trivial.</div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">Of course, there are about 9.75 million dwellings in Australia it's certainly not the RBA's job to set monetary policy for every housing market sector in Australia. </div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">However, another sticking point for the 'easing' theory is that inner Sydney's housing markets aren't easing.</div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">A simple look through the weekend's auction results tells you that prices have jumped again in recent weeks.</div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">Having copped oodles of stick for reporting double digit price growth in Sydney, CoreLogic may yet prove to be ahead of the pack, and see the other data providers follow suit. </div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">The eastern suburbs market is insanely strong (Paddington, Surry Hills, Bondi), suburbs on the city fringe to the inner west are clearly smoking records when viewed through a hedonic pricing lens, and the harbour city's lower north shore is on fire. </div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">Meanwhile, the northern beaches are probably the hottest suburbs of the lot.</div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">I don't really have the time or inclination to follow the suburbs further out too closely, so can't really comment with any authority on that.</div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">The high volume of apartments under construction will have an impact eventually, although mostly these are pre-sold. </div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">I also note in passing that Sydney's median auction price last week was $1,337,000. </div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">It's never been higher.</div>
<br><div class="separator"><a href="/images/2016/11/08/RBA3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/11/08/RBA3.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
</div>
</div>
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