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“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into.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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<html><body>
A Melbourne based investor has paid more than $4.25 million for a Toorak retail investment.
It is leased to the Toorak Newsagency and Bakers Delight on a sub 4% yield.  
Teska Carson’s Fergus Evans and Michael Ludski, who brokered the deal, said the result reflected the continuing strength of the retail strip market. 
“The retail strip market has traditionally been very popular amongst small investors and this sale underscores the ongoing strength of that market,’’ Evans said.  
“It’s also indicative of an increase in demand for this type of property as investors drift away from a somewhat troubled residential sector.’’
Located at 479 &amp; 479A Toorak Road, the property comprises a double fronted, two-level, 257 square metre building, which is divided into two tenancies (479 and 479A), on a 207 square metre site with frontage of nearly six metres to Toorak Road and Jackson Street carpark. 
The property was sold subject to leases to Bakers Delight and NewsXpress returning a total net income of $167,116 per annum. 
Ludski said the property presented an outstanding retail investment opportunity in one of Melbourne’s most coveted retail shopping strips.
The sale follows that of a similar strip property, also transacted by Teska Carson, at 481 Toorak Road, Toorak, in April which was purchased by a local investor with the final bid over a Hong Kong investor who had flown in just for the auction.
The buyer paid $8.7 million on a 4.1% yield.
Both of these sales were overshadowed by the sale of Village Walk, a double-storey mall at 485-505 Toorak Rd, which fetched a reported $80 million in an off-market sale to developer Bill McNee of Vicland Property Group.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Toorak Baker's Delight investment fetches $4.25 million

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The fall in sentiment this month is troubling as it comes against what should have been a supportive backdrop for confidence. The last month has seen a further 25bp interest rate cut from the RBA, the Federal government’s tax package pass through Parliament, more signs that the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets are stabilising and even some more improvement in the US-China trade dispute. Despite these positives, Australian consumer confidence has fallen to a two year low.
The main driver continues to be deepening concerns about the outlook for the Australian economy and prospects for family finances. The index components show the biggest decline in the sub-index tracking expectations for the ‘economy, next 12 months’ which slumped 12.3% to be down 16.4% since May to its lowest level in four years. Longer term expectations for the economy were also pared back sharply, the ‘economy, next 5 years’ sub-index falling 6.7%.
Deteriorating expectations for the economy outweighed any near term support from the prospect of lower interest rates and tax relief. The sub-index tracking consumers’ expectations for ‘finances, next 12 months’ also recorded a sharp 8% fall, moving back into net pessimistic territory for the first time since late 2017.
Consumer views around current conditions were better supported. The ‘finances vs a year ago’ sub-index lifted 3% to a five month high, although at 85.7, the sub-index remains at weak levels overall. Consumer attitudes towards spending also improved, the ‘time to buy a major household item’ sub-index rising 3.6% to the highest level since late last year. This will be of some relief given that consumer views around current conditions tend to be a better guide to current spending activity. However, that support could fade quickly if weaker expectations for near term prospects are realised.
Responses over the survey week show the Reserve Bank’s rate cut on July 2 had little or no impact on sentiment. Note that the bulk of the survey was completed prior to the government’s tax package passing into legislation on July 4, although this had been widely foreshadowed by media coverage earlier in the week. Indeed, the muted sentiment response to both interest rate cuts and tax relief may stem from the fact that both developments were widely anticipated. Notably, the sub-group detail showed no boost to sentiment amongst groups that stand to benefit most from policy easing: sentiment amongst mortgage holders declined 3.3% in the month and sentiment amongst middle income earners was down 5.5%.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/Westpac%20Consumer%20Sentiment%20Survey.jpg" alt="">
Other aspects of the sub-group detail point to some notable ‘sub-plots’. The initial impact of the surprise Federal election result in May looks to be fading with sentiment amongst “Coalition voters retracing over three quarters of the 7.5% jump in June. Sentiment also recorded a big 14% drop in regional NSW where drought conditions have intensified markedly in recent months. Sentiment amongst those with a trade qualification was also down a sharper 7.6% suggesting the residential construction downturn may be starting to weigh more heavily on some households.
Increasing concern about the economy is undermining consumers’ sense of job security. Confidence in the labour market continued to deteriorate sharply in July. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Unemployment Expectations Index recorded a 5.8% rise, following on from a similar rise last month and taking the index materially above its long run average for the first time since mid-2017 (recall that higher readings indicate that more consumers expect unemployment to rise in the year ahead). Expectations have shown a more marked deterioration in NSW, Vic and WA.
Housing-related sentiment continues to show a clearer positive response to lower interest rates with assessments of both ‘time to buy’ and house price expectations recording strong increases in July.
The ‘time to buy a dwelling’ index rose 5.4% 123.2, the first above trend reading in four and a half years. The index is up 19.5% on the same time last year. The biggest turnaround continues to come in Sydney and Melbourne where substantial price corrections have also improved affordability over the last two years.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of House Price Expectations Index posted another robust 8.9% increase following last month’s spectacular 22.7% gain. At 119.4, the Index is now at its highest level since May last year but still below the long run average read of 125. All states have recorded sharp rises over the last two months and net positive reads comfortably over the 100 mark. Just over 40% of consumers expect prices to be higher in a year’s time – that compares to less than 20% back in March.
The Reserve Bank Board next meets on August 6. We expect the Bank to leave the cash rate on hold at this particular meeting but see further easing coming later in the year. Having delivered back to back 25bp cuts in June and July, the Reserve Bank has signalled that it is prepared to ease further “if needed”. Updated forecasts released in the August Statement on Monetary Policy, due August 8, will give the best guide to how the RBA sees the case for further policy action. At this stage it seems likely that the Bank will make only minor changes to its growth and inflation forecasts, suggesting policy will be unchanged at the August meeting.
However, policy is set to be in play at every Board meeting between now and the end of the year. Westpac continues to expect a further 25bp rate cut, most likely coinciding with a downgrade to the Bank’s growth and inflation forecasts in November. The specific timing of this next move remains highly uncertain – labour market developments could easily shift it around and there are other factors at play, both overseas and domestically. The Bank will also be monitoring policy sensitive sectors such as housing and the consumer closely to gauge the impact of its easing to date. On that count, updates on consumer sentiment clearly show interest rate moves have shored up confidence in the housing market but have not prevented a wider deterioration in sentiment.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Sentiment falls 4.1% despite interest rate cuts and tax relief: Westpac

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Iririki Island, an island resort and casino near Vanuatu’s capital of Port Vila, has reportedly been sold.
<a href="https://property.jll.com.au/hotel-sale/port-vila/iririki-island-resort-casino-12025" target="_blank">The 28 hectare resort</a> is described as the jewel in the crown of Vanuatu and boasts the nation’s “premier” gambling den, according to selling agents Jones Lang LaSalle.
Its sale was reported by Nine Entertainment.
Meanwhile the local paper has reported Vanuatu government is talking with investors from Laos interested in setting up another casino in the country, with the capital of Port Vila and Luganville on Santo in the north excluded as locations because there was a need to boost growth and jobs on other Vanuatu islands. 
Iririki has 72 villas, five bars and restaurants and a day spa.
The Australian reported the JLL sales brochure didn't advise on a long-running legal fight with some of the owners of another 68 units on the island over a long list of issues including rent, body corporate fees and insurance.
Darren Pettiona, a former executive with funds management empire Van Eyk, co-owns it with his brother, Shane.
One of the unit owners is Melbourne man Raphael Sztrochlic.
“Anything that’s involved with Iririki is just a nightmare,” Sztrochlic told The Australian.
The dispute will be heard in Port Vila on June 11.
One of the issues centres on the proceeds of a $20 million insurance payout from QBE Insurance after 2015’s Cyclone Pam devastated the ­island
Pettiona has sold prior court hearings the resort was worth about $32 million.
In 2017 Melbourne's wealthy Zagame family put their Grand Hotel &amp; Casino resort in Vanuatu\up for sale with market expectations of around $25 million.
Built in 2003, the eight-level hotel overlooks the Port Vila Harbour and offers views towards Iririki Island.
It features 15 gaming tables, 136 slot machines, a VIP top-floor gaming room, a restaurant, conference rooms, four bars, a pool and spa.
The family's involvement in Vanuatu dates back to 2001 when they were part of the consortium of Victorian hoteliers that purchased the private island resort of Iririki.
Patriarch Victor Zagame established the family's hospitality business in 1971 with the opening of the Albion Charles Hotel in Northcote in Melbourne's north east.
Another of the key players in Vanuatu is Amax whose main businesses involves operating online gaming businesses in Vanuatu.
 
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iProsperity Group buys Vanuatu's casino-hotel resort Iririki Island

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Consumer confidence fell over the weekend, an ANZ survey has suggested.
It appears there is a view the latest cut to the cash rate by the Reserve Bank of Australia was a signal of worsening economic conditions.
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence index dipped 1.1% from the previous week, with respondents' perception of the economy - including the outlook for the next 12 months - retreating 3.6% and prospects about conditions in the next five years sliding 1.7%.
But the weekly measure of sentiment showed a 3.7% rise in how people felt about their financial condition compared to a year ago.
It was based on about 1,000 face-to-face interviews conducted on Saturdays and Sunday.
Consumer sentiment is still above the average of 114.4 points held since 2014 and the longer term average of 113.1 points since 1990. 
But three out of the five major components of the index fell last week:
<ul>
<li>The estimate of family finances compared with a year ago was up from +9.0 points to +13.0 points; </li>
<li>The estimate of family finances over the next year was up from +25.5 points to +27.1 points;</li>
<li>Economic conditions over the next 12 months was down from +7.2 points to +3.3 points;</li>
<li>Economic conditions over the next 5 years was down from +12.8 points to +10.9 points; </li>
<li>The measure of whether it was a good time to buy a major household item was down from +40.3 points to +33.8 points. </li>
</ul>
The measure of inflation expectations rose from 3.7% to 3.9%.
NAB's latest business survey also suggested that the business sector has lost significant momentum over the past year with the recent run of results also suggesting that the economy is unlikely to record a significant pickup in growth in Q2.
According to the survey, the weakening in momentum has been broad-based across the business sector over the past year, with all industries having weakened.
Retail also continues to show ongoing malaise, with reported business conditions at a level last seen in the GFC - while manufacturing has also shown steep declines.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/10/NAB%20Business%20Confidence%20June.JPG" alt="">
Alan Oster, NAB Groups Chief Economist said, “business confidence appears to have unwound its spike in May, which we think was driven by a short-term election bounce and increased optimism around a renewed interest rate easing cycle by the RBA."
“While business conditions increased slightly in the month, they remain well below average after trending lower for over a year now. The decrease in conditions has been relatively broad-based across states and industries – suggesting that there has been sector wide loss of momentum over the past year."
“Forward looking indicators suggest that there is unlikely to be a material improvement in conditions over the next few months with forward orders remaining very weak. This suggests the pipeline of demand is weak and is consistent with below average confidence,” Mr Oster concluded.
Sentiment also fell in <a href="/expert-insights/investing/sentiment-falls-4-1-despite-interest-rate-cuts-and-tax-relief-westpac">Westpac's Consumer Sentiment Survey</a>.
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Second RBA rate cut dampens consumer confidence: ANZ-Roy Morgan

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Queensland residential developer Villa World has agreed to be taken over by private equity-backed Avid Property.
Avid have offered a cash offer price of $2.34 per share in its revised proposal.
Born out of Investa Land, Avid Property Group is a diversified Australian property development business with a $3 billion portfolio of residential, industrial and commercial projects.
The board of directors of Villa World unanimously recommend that its shareholders vote in favour.
The $2.34 per share represented a 17.8% premium to the Villa World closing share price of $1.99 on 14 March 2019.
Since 1986, Villa World has created over 19,000 properties across Australia with more than 45,000 Australians calling a Villa World address their home.
The company has been operating as a listed entity for over 30 years.
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Avid Property to take over Villa World

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The Sydney CBD home of the BBQ King Restaurant has been listed for sale with price expectations of around $25 million.
The six storey heritage building at 76-78 Liverpool Street at the southern end of the CBD has undergone a full scale renovation since last trading for $6.3 million in 2010.
It followed updates in 1982 and 1999 to the building that dates back to 1906.
Some time in 1911 the building became occupied by the Government Printing Office.
Their occupation of the building was brief and machinery merchants Benson Bros Ltd and steel merchants Sanderson Bros &amp; Newbould Ltd.
It was used as a warehousing facility for businesses associated with nearby Darling Harbour Goods Yard and Wharves.
Now it comprises a basement, ground floor and four upper levels with 1,500 sqm of lettable area on its 350 sqm site.
It is split in to two retail spaces and four office levels.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/9/BBQ%20King%20Sydney%202.jpg" alt="">
The ground floor tenancy was designed and refurbished for BBQ King before they took the space three years ago.
BBQ King relocated to the Liverpool Street property in 2016, having first opened in Chinatown in 1983.
Savills Australia agents Jordan Lee and Andy Hu are marketing the property.
Jordan Lee says the southern precinct is a lively sector of the Sydney CBD with its mix or retail, office, residential, entertainment, educational and hotel uses.
“BBQ King is a famous dining destination that all locals know and love and its location at 76-78 Liverpool Street is strategically positioned to benefit from the master planned Barangaroo and Darling Harbour Live projects.
“The beautiful Heritage façade catches your eye and you can even see the chefs cooking in the kitchen” he said.
Hu said they expect interest from a range of buyers, both locally and offshore, looking for a safe haven investment.
He said the a popular tenancy such as BBQ King is "just the icing on the cake for a property such as this.”
 
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Savills list BBQ King Sydney building for around $25 million

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
Here’s a glimpse at what’s happening—and why—in the Australian commercial real estate market from the measurement perspective of asking price for rents. There are many experts who give advice on how to understand the current trends in commercial real estate.
Whether you’re planning to buy, sell or lease, these expert opinions are worth noting.
Experts focus on “prime”
Most of the published information about commercial real estate relates to the highly visible “prime” end of the market. Sometimes this can give a distorted view of the whole market.
We, at <a href="https://www.commercialpropertyguide.com.au/" target="_blank">Commercial Property Guide</a> reveal the data associated with the less examined small and medium size market. The value of commercial real estate is closely tied to the rent a property can command. This is much more relevant for commercial than residential real estate. A study of what landlords are asking for commercial rents over time can give an insight into the likely future.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/9/CPG%201.JPG" alt="">
National Market Overview 
The Australian market is made up of a relatively small number of significant markets. The three major markets are Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane which account for the lion’s share of the national commercial real estate industry. These metropolitan markets respond and react to many local events.
There are, however, national and international themes that can be seen to have a bigger influence on how they perform. Rarely do the three big metropolitan markets act in unison. Commercial real estate has been experiencing a cycle that has lasted 3 years between lows.
The national asking rent increases peaked in early 2017 at very high levels and have been trending down ever since. Exceptionally glum periods were at the end of 2018 and the time prior to the national election when rent increases dropped below zero. Sydney has had a number of peaks and troughs in the past few years.
These cycles have been about 10 to 14 months from peak to peak. While Sydney commercial real estate rent increases sailed through previous national elections unfazed, this time was different. Sydney office rents have risen since the election.
Melbourne and Brisbane are not synchronised with Sydney. Melbourne rent increases were in a slow and graceful decline. However there has been an upswing in lease prices since the middle of 2018. While Brisbane rents have managed only increases of 1% every three months at best.
Office asking rent increases have been in what stockbrokers would call a “trading range” for many years starting in January 2017 with a slow declining cycle peak in each of the three successive cycles.
The explanation could be the rapid surge in coworking office space flooding the lower end of the small office market. You don’t need to be a behavioural economist to know office landlords are hoping for an end to decreasing rents.
At the more granular level there is variation in asking prices for office rents between major cities and even suburbs within the same city. For example, different office rent increases do exist between adjacent Prahran and Cremorne in Melbourne. Retail rents are a much more interesting picture.
The Retail market was going down for quite some time, but since July 2018, retail rents have been continuing to increase. By comparison, the industrial property market has been travelling well and has enjoyed reasonably stable rent growth over the last 5 years.
However, there was a mysterious bout of Christmas fear that started in October and didn’t show signs of improvement until this January. There was a fresh round of Amazon Armageddon about warehouse demand stories that spooked the industrial landlords and their real estate agents.
The fear seems to have evaporated as quickly as it arrived.
 Property Value based on Rent Return
Commercial real estate properties are valued on the basis of the revenue they can generate. The change in rent not only affects what the tenant pays, but also the value of the landlord’s asset.
The consensus of industry experts is that a “tight market” is driving future rent growth for Melbourne and Sydney - caused in part by leasing decisions being brought forward to beat other property seekers to the best available leases. More experts have identified the affordability of the Brisbane market driving its leasing demand.
These opinions are worth considering.
SIMON ROSE is the CEO of <a href="https://www.commercialpropertyguide.com.au/for-sale/" target="_blank">Commercial Property Guide</a> an independent commercial property website that focuses on news, views and tips about commercial property and the industry.
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Accurate commercial property measurements are worth 1000 surveys: Commercial Property Guide

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A private investor has purchased a Toowong property in Brisbane’s inner suburbs for $1.46 million.
Exclusive marketing agent Will Carman of Savills negotiated the deal of the Toowong property, located at 104 Sherwood Road.
Set on 809 sqm, the property has an existing Development Approval in place.
The existing DA allows the property to be developed with a total approved floor area of 1,157 sqm over three storeys.
However, Executive of Commercial Sales Will Carman said the buyer has plans to obtain a new Development Approval to build six town homes over three levels.
Mr Carman said, “This move by the buyer shows the strength that we are seeing within the detached dwelling market, rather than units"
The sales campaign attracted a high level of interest, with 154 interested parties identified, and seven formal offers received.
The property is located approximately 4 km from the Brisbane CBD, close to the thriving local commercial and shopping precincts.
“Toowong is a highly sought after suburb within the Inner West, as it provides great access to retail amenity and the nearby university,” Mr Carman added.
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Savills successfully market Toowong property with development approval

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Four adjoining buildings on Oxford Street in Sydney's Paddington have been listed for sale.
Last traded for $3.98 million in 2014, the four street front shops and above office at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-paddington-502738310" target="_blank">30-36 Oxford Street</a> yield a fully leased gross income of $470,000 per annum.
They are currently leased to home goods store Utopia Goods, graphic designer Deuce Design, fashion accessory store Tradition Textiles and jewellery store South West Trader.
Tax consultant Drummond Tax currently utilise the upstairs offices.
The properties, with 16 metre frontage to Oxford Street sit on 700 sqm and have parking for eight cars at the rear of the property that is zoned B4 Mixed Use.
Oxford Agency Darlinghurst agents Ralph Garofano and Steffan Ippolito are marketing the properties.
The last single retail sale on Oxford Street came last month when <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-paddington-503128082" target="_blank">383 Oxford</a>, toward the north end of the retail strip, sold for $2 million.
The home of USA Nails was being sold for the first time in five decades.
There have been four sales of retail premises on Oxford Street this year.
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Four Oxford Street shops to be offered in one line

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A medical centre in Glen Waverley has sold for $7.28 million following a successful expressions of interest campaign.   Located at a corner site, Waverley Medical Centre at <a id="LPlnk678473" href="http://ecomms.raywhite.com/collect/click.aspx?u=jRYOrR8N39QzG/Nyy8oj1MsQ8lDBqOLe8eh/HF3O3pksMou+fnPAz2N/89mqXJTr69NDWrCLBjqFk7iFYF6pKaoxtpDH+DvH1lmHN0vCKM3ddWVeLvlPis+Ftt2jNJOSxmUxIJDiy4wwgiX77YnMoW4VBz3ihrhDFenXcLRRBQ8=&amp;rh=ff004e4b2f94755f85cb18f7ab4fbfe58e9dbfc1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">242-244 Springvale Road</a> has a 613 sqm building area and a 1,504 sqm land area 
The property was marketed and sold by Ray White Commercial Glen Waverley Managing Director Ryan Trickey and Commercial Sales Agent Ben Ainsworth. 
Mr Trickey said, “there was a huge amount of interest in this property with more than 120 enquiries during the campaign, with 20 per cent coming from interstate and 10 per cent international."   “The asset was snapped up by a private group seeking static investment with future potential and was sold by a family consolidating their assets." “With the redevelopment of the Glen to the tune of $500M, and more than 500 new dwellings coming into the area, there's much to look forward to for both commercial and retail traders,” Mr Trickey added. 
Mr Ainsworth said the location, limited supply of stock and the ongoing growth of Central Glen Waverley as a commercial and entertainment hub, made the asset really appealing.   “The established medical clinic has been operating for over 30 years and offered an initial return of $297,052 p.a. + outgoings + GST, with three per cent annual increases,” he said.
It’s Zoned GRZ8 with Design and Development Overlay allowing for up to four levels or 13.5 metres, subject to council approval.
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