<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.</p>

<p>A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.</p>

<p>Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]</p>

<p>“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.</p>

<p>From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.</p>

<p>The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]</p>

<p>Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.</p>

<p>A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.</p>

<p>Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]</p>

<p>Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.</p>

<p>“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.</p>

<p>Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]</p>

<p>Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.</p>

<p data-end="8307" data-start="8063">The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.</p>

<p data-end="8543" data-start="8312">“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”</p>

<p data-end="8915" data-start="8548">The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.</p>

<p>The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]</p>


Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

<p>A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.</p>

<p>The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.</p>

<p>Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.</p>

<p>The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.</p>

<p>The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" /></p>

<p>Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.</p>

<p>Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.</p>

<p>The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."</p>

<p>The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" /></p>

<p>Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.</p>

<p>The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.</p>


First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

<p>
<style type="text/css">
</style>
</p>

<p>A 60-apartment building nine storeys tall would be a rarity almost anywhere along this stretch of Moreton Bay, but that's exactly what's been lodged for a modest Deception Bay street better known for its single-storey weatherboard homes.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherlock-construction-homes">Sherlock Construction Homes</a> is seeking to push Deception Bay’s emerging medium-density housing profile higher, lodging plans for a nine-storey apartment building near the suburb’s shopping centre and foreshore.</p>

<p>Dubbed Grosvenor Apartments, the proposal at 14-20 Grosvenor Terrace would replace two detached homes with a new building designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mode">Mode Design</a>&nbsp;which would&nbsp;reach nearly 30 metres, well above the site’s mapped 21-metre building height.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches 9-storey tower for low-rise Deception Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86c21a25-5a97-4ca7-a361-80757137ea5b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Deception%20da%20front.png?VersionId=aXIujfvEhH33sLHOEjHFv9Ii6qxSvAF4" /></p>

<p>The apartment mix is weighted toward larger homes, with 14 three-bedroom apartments, 31 two-bedroom apartments and 15 one-bedroom apartments. Six apartment types are spread across the floors, ranging from 66 sqm one-bedroom units through to three-bedroom apartments of 116 sqm, most with private balconies or terraces.</p>

<p>Levels one through seven follow a consistent layout of six to eight apartments per floor arranged around a central lift and stair core, with the top floor, level eight, trading one apartment for a landscaped community breakout space rather than repeating the standard layout below.</p>

<p>Ground floor is dedicated to arrival and services, with a lobby, mailroom and manager's office, alongside 91 car spaces.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches 9-storey tower for low-rise Deception Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b098bde0-5fe1-4e6c-9601-e5446612e5fc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Deception%20podium.png?VersionId=A0hfENMNxSxkfh9Jl6D4WJ9XIraeOukA" /></p>

<p>Mode Design's brief describes a "serene coastal-inspired design blending soft curves, natural textures and light-filled spaces to reflect the relaxed Deception Bay lifestyle."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The material palette leans on white and grey render, timber-look aluminium screening and stacked-brick-look finishes, with hanging greenery and vine planting proposed across balcony edges and ground-level walls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Balconies feature asymmetrical geometries intended to vary the building's rhythm rather than repeat a single module up the tower, while lush planting is concentrated over the entry and level one balconies to soften the building's base.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches 9-storey tower for low-rise Deception Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c05c5693-3e00-42d0-b075-55c36094f4db" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Deception%20da%201.png?VersionId=cMKJgBsBaaVCd2dA5O22SOT38OT_.BPA" /></p>

<p>The design evolved following an April 2025 prelodgement meeting with council. At that stage, the project was conceived as a seven-storey building containing 45 apartments. The subsequently lodged scheme increases the development to nine storeys and 60 apartments while introducing one-bedroom residences to the mix.</p>

<p>Zone Planning argues the additional scale reflects the site's position within an area earmarked for increased residential intensity. The planning report points to the North Lakes-Redcliffe-Moreton Bay Rail corridor strategy, which identifies Deception Bay as a district-level activity centre and supports greater housing choice within urban neighbourhoods.</p>

<p>Market Square Deception Bay, Deception Bay Sports Centre, Deception Bay State School, public transport, community facilities and the Moreton Bay foreshore are all identified within approximately one kilometre of the site, while the property falls within a 400-metre walking catchment of Market Square.</p>

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

<p data-end="587" data-start="368">Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.</p>

<p data-end="778" data-start="589">The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.</p>

<p data-end="907" data-start="780"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.</p>

<p data-end="1052" data-start="909">The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.</p>

<p data-end="1311" data-start="1054">The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.</p>

<p data-end="1451" data-start="1313">The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.</p>

<p data-end="1676" data-start="1453">MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.</p>

<p data-end="1908" data-start="1678">Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.</p>

<p data-end="2142" data-start="1910">The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.</p>

<p data-end="2142" data-start="1910"><img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" /></p>

<p data-end="2308" data-start="2144">MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.</p>

<p data-end="2648" data-start="2310">"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.</p>

<p data-end="2797" data-start="2650">"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."</p>

<p data-end="2938" data-start="2799">The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.</p>

<p data-end="3216" data-start="2940">Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.</p>

<p data-end="3325" data-start="3218">Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.</p>

<p data-end="3442" data-start="3327">"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.</p>

<p data-end="3662" data-start="3444">"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."</p>

<p data-end="3818" data-start="3664">MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.</p>

<p data-end="4076" data-start="3820">"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.</p>

<p data-end="4375" data-start="4078">"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."</p>

<p data-end="4503" data-start="4377">Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.</p>

<p data-end="4741" data-start="4505">"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."</p>

<p data-end="4910" data-start="4743">The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.</p>

<p data-end="4951" data-start="4912">MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.</p>


First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

<main data-perf-region="main">
<p data-end="600" data-start="394">Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.</p>

<p data-end="733" data-start="602">But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.</p>

<p data-end="970" data-start="735">Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.</p>

<p data-end="970" data-start="735">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]</p>

<p data-end="1159" data-start="972">The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.</p>

<p data-end="1357" data-start="1161">It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.</p>

<p data-end="1664" data-start="1517">Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.</p>

<p data-end="1826" data-start="1666">Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.</p>

<p data-end="1826" data-start="1666">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]</p>

<p data-end="2045" data-start="1828">Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.</p>

<p data-end="2269" data-start="2047">"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.</p>

<p data-end="2430" data-start="2271">A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.</p>

<p data-end="2606" data-start="2432">It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.</p>

<p data-end="2724" data-start="2608">At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.</p>

<p data-end="2892" data-start="2726">Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.</p>

<p data-end="2892" data-start="2726">[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]</p>

<p data-end="3004" data-start="2894">Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.</p>

<p data-end="3214" data-start="3006">"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.</p>

<p data-end="3400" data-start="3216">More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.</p>

<p data-end="3670" data-start="3538">&nbsp;</p>

<p data-end="3670" data-start="3538">[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]</p>

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>


Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

<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

<html><body>
<p>The results of a recent household income and wealth survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) are not necessarily what you’d expect according to CoreLogic research analyst Cameron Kusher.</p>
<p>He said, “The results state that higher income households are more likely to be over-indebted than lower income ones and determined those households that are over-indebted and those that are not.”</p>
<p>The 2015-16 household income and wealth survey results, which includes household debt and over-indebtedness considers a household to be over indebted if their debt is either three or more times their income, or 75% or more of the value of their assets.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.20%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><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/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.20%20am.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Mr Kusher said, “On these measures the ABS considers 21.6% of households to be over-indebted, 51.9% of households to be not over-indebted and 26.4% of households have no debt.”</p>
<p>According to the results, households with the lowest disposable income are the least likely to be over-indebted while the fourth quintile households are most likely to be over-indebted.</p>
<p>The end results, according to Mr Kusher, is that households with higher incomes are less likely to be debt free and are more likely to be over-indebted than lower income households.</p>
<p>He said, “Lower income households are more likely to be debt- free compared to higher income households which is reflective of many lower income households having paid off their debt.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.28%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><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/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.28%20am.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>“The data shows that 94.6% of households which are either not over- indebted (37.8%) or without debt (56.8%) have no persons in the labour force which is reflective of retirees or people that are in a position to choose not to work.”</p>
<p>Households with mortgage debt are more likely to be over- indebted than those households that either rent or own their home outright; only 3.5% of households that own without a mortgage are considered to be over-indebted compared to 47.0% of household with a mortgage and 9.1% of rental households.</p>
<p>Lone person households are likely to be those persons who are living debt free (45.9%), while single family households with a couple and dependent children (10.7%) are the least likely to be living debt free.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.36%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><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/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.36%20am.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Interestingly, the data indicates that group households are among those least likely to be over-indebted (16.2%) as well as being amongst the least likely to be without debt (20.8%).</p>
<p>Mr Kusher said, “This probably reflects the fact that university students and young professionals are most likely to live in group households while studying and prior to purchasing their own home.”</p>
<p>The data also shows that households that are over-indebted spend 24.2% of all goods and services expenditure on housing costs compared to not over-indebted households spending 16.8% of their expenditure on housing costs.</p>
<p>The report shows that on average, over-indebted households spend more than double ($150.54) each week on their mortgage repayments than households which are not over-indebted ($73.44).</p>
<p>Mr Kusher said, “Households with no mortgage debt, most of which are retiree households, are least likely to be over- indebted.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.47%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><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/2017/09/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-21%20at%2011.15.47%20am.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>“On the other hand, higher income households with a family that have outstanding mortgage debt are those most likely to be over-indebted.”</p>
<p>“While you could say that families of working age with higher incomes are better able to service their debt, interest rate hikes or reductions in the value of their assets could have a significant impact on their ability to service their debt.”</p>
<p>Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
</body></html>

ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

Almost three quarters of Australian households are indebted: Cameron Kusher

<html><body>
<p>GUEST OBSERVER</p>
<p>The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released their biennial survey of household income and wealth earlier this week.  </p>
<p>The release has a huge amount of valuable data but at least initially I thought it was pertinent to look at the dwelling tenure data.  </p>
<p>The information is provided from 1994-95 up until the latest release (2015-16).</p>
<p>The tenure data is premised upon who is currently residing in the property, this is important to understand because when we look at the proportion of residents who own without a mortgage for example this doesn’t necessarily represent the total number of dwellings owned outright.  The reason being that some of those properties that are occupied by renters may be owned outright by the person who is renting that property out.</p>
<p>Click to enlarge</p>
<p><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/22/2017-09-18-articleimage1.png" alt=""></p>
<p> <br>As at the 2015-16 release 30.4% of households were lived in by someone that owned that property outright.  </p>
<p>This figure was lower than the 31.4% in 2013-14 and as the above chart shows it has been steadily trending lower over recent years.</p>
<p>In fact, at the peak throughout the timeframe shown, 42.8% of households had no mortgage in 1995-96.  This is an interesting statistic when you consider than many people suggest that lower mortgage rates result in improved housing affordability.  </p>
<p>In June 1996 the standard variable mortgage rate was recorded at 9.75% compared to a mortgage rate of 5.4% in June 2016.  The ongoing decline in mortgage rates has pushed dwelling values higher and although it has made servicing mortgage debt easier it has not led to a greater proportion of the population living mortgage free.</p>
<p>Click to enlarge</p>
<p><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/22/2017-0918-articleimage2.png" alt=""></p>
<p> <br>With fewer households owning their home outright, there has been an increase in the proportion of households that live in a home that they own and still carry mortgage debt.  In 2015-16, 37.1% of households had mortgage debt which has increased from 35.8% in 2013-14.</p>
<p> At its low point over the period highlighted on the chart, 28.1% of households had mortgage debt in 1995-96.  Since 2003-04, there has consistently been a higher proportion of households with mortgage debt than those without.</p>
<p>Click to enlarge</p>
<p><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/22/2017-09-18-articleimage3.png" alt=""></p>
<p> <br>As the rates of outright home ownership have fallen there has been a rise in the proportion of households which are rented.  </p>
<p>Whereas outright home ownership has continued to fall and ownership with a mortgage has risen, it is interesting to note how the proportion of rental households has actually declined since the last survey.  </p>
<p>The latest data shows that in 2015-16, 30.3% of households nationally were rented compared to 31.0% in 2013-14.  Back in 1994-95 only 25.7% of households were rented.  </p>
<p>Click to enlarge</p>
<p><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/09/22/2017-09-18-articleimage4.png" alt=""></p>
<p> <br>As the prominence of renting has increased over time, the responsibility to provide rental accommodation has increasingly fallen on private citizens rather than the public sector.</p>
<p>At its peak in 1995-96, 6.0% of households were rental properties which were rented from state housing authorities, by 2015-16 this figure had fallen to just 3.5%.  This is an important consideration for governments when considering potential changes to investment policies such as negative gearing.</p>
<p>Governments are clearly not as involved in providing housing as they have been in the past, if private citizens or companies are going to be responsible for providing that housing it is likely they will require some incentives other than just the rental income, escpecially considering how low rental yields are across Australian cities.</p>
<p>The charts presented highlight how home ownership is continuing to decline which is leading to a greater proportion of the population either being in mortgage debt or renting.  </p>
<p>As the population ages this can create challenges especially if an increasing number of Australians are retiring but still carry mortgage debt.  It also highlights that simply building more homes is not necessarily a solution to increasing home ownership rates.  </p>
<p>As we’ve seen over recent years during a housing construction boom first home buyer levels have been at near record-lows and housing investment levels have hit all-time highs.  Arresting the decline in home ownership in Australia will be no easy feat however, the data indicates that simply building more housing won’t necessarily solve the problem particularly if it isn’t at a price point which is reachable for lower and middle income earners.  </p>
<p>We would expect that over the coming years, the rate of home ownership will continue to fall especially given we have seen dwelling values continue to climb since June 2016.</p>
<p><span>Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic. You can contact him </span><a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/" target="_blank">here</a><span>.</span></p>
</body></html>

Home ownership rates continue to fall: Cameron Kusher

<html><body>
<p>Popular watering hole, The Clovelly Hotel, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has changed hands for $34 million in another high-profile deal involving pubs.</p>
<p>The deal comes close on the heels of another waterfront pub, the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay, fetching $70 million. It was snapped up by a Melbourne-based private equity firm backed by the wealthy Liberman family.</p>
<p>The Clovelly Hotel, popularly known as  ‘The Cloey’, overlooks Clovelly Beach and is home to celebrity chef Matt Moran.</p>
<p>In February 2017, MorSol – a joint venture between Matt Moran and Solotel Hotel Group – secured a long-term leasehold interest in the Clovelly Hotel.</p>
<p>The heritage-listed pub, built in 1859, was sold by Sam Arnaout’s Iris Group. Iris bought the hotel and tavern for $27.2 million in October 2014, The Australian reported.</p>
<p>The deal was negotiated by JLL’s John Musca and Colliers International’s Miron Solomons.</p>
<p>Occupying 1,708 sqm at the junction of Clovelly Road, the four-level pub has 15 pokies, a public bar, beer garden, gaming room and accommodation facilities.</p>
<p>It is believed to have sold on a yield of about 5 per cent, the Australian said citing sources.</p>
<p>The buyer is a little-known private local investor.</p>
<p>Matt Moran will continue to operate the pub.</p>
<p>A development application has since been lodged to increase the size and standard of the hotel’s short-stay options.</p>
<p>At present, it 14 hotel rooms with some offering sea views.</p>
<p>JLL’s Musca did not comment on the sale negotiations but added that the pub was keenly contested, with wide-ranging local, interstate and offshore interest.</p>
<p>“This was not surprising given the asset profile and the fact that residential property in the area is selling for nearly $28,000 sqm,” Musca said.</p>
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Sydney's Clovelly Hotel changes hands for $34 million as pub sales pick up

<html><body>
<p>Leading real estate fund manager EG has acquired the former Roche Products Australia facility in Sydney for $55 million, in a new addition to its Yield Plus Infrastructure Fund No. 2 portfolio.</p>
<p>The facility at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property-profile/100-south-creek-road-cromer-nsw-2099" target="_blank">100 South Creek Rd, Cromer</a> is 20 km north of the Sydney CBD.</p>
<p>It is close to the newly constructed $1 billion Northern Beaches Hospital, the $500 million B-line project for improved bus services to the CBD, and the recently announced Beaches Link Tunnel project. It is also near to the Dee Why Town Centre, which is undergoing refurbishment. </p>
<p>The property has a net lettable area of nearly 26,000 sqm and sits on a landholding of 74,670 sqm. </p>
<p>EG’s fund No. 2 was launched in 2016 and worth $750 million. It follows the success of its Yield Plus Infrastructure Fund No. 1 (YPI 1), which is known for its strategic acquisitions with future development upside, such as the recently developed Flour Mill of Summer Hill.</p>
<p>The fund also acquired a storage facility in Northcote in January for $13.45 million. </p>
<p>Its investment strategy includes assets along new or upgraded infrastructure around Australia.   </p>
<p>“The proximity to new and upgraded infrastructure enhances the long term value of the site,” said associate director Capital Transactions Sean Fleming. </p>
<p>“There’s significant potential to reposition the asset into a multi-tenanted business park in the heart of the northern beaches. It can capitalise on the high levels of demand for quality industrial accommodation.” </p>
<p>The vendor was Roche Products Australia and the deal was brokered by Charles Gonzalez of Cushman and Wakefield. </p>
</body></html>

Fund manager EG acquires former Roche Products site in Sydney's northern beaches for $55 million

<html><body>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.15999984741211px;">SQM Research reported that vacancy rates fell across most capital cities in the month of August 2017.</span></h3>
<div id="post-body-4819303965695860274" class="post-body entry-content">
<div> </div>
<div>The national vacancy rate of 2.2 per cent was marginally lower than the 2.3 per cent seen at the same time in the prior year. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Melbourne (1.7 per cent) and Hobart (0.4 per cent) in particular are seeing sharp increases in median asking rents, while the vacancy rate in Adelaide was down to just 1.6 per cent from 1.9 per cent a year earlier.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In fact, Hobart has the lowest vacancy rate on record for any capital city, and both rents and prices are exploding higher.  </div>
<br><div class="separator"><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/SQM1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div class="separator"><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/2017/09/21/SQM1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Vacancy rates ticked down from July in Brisbane (3.1 per cent) and Perth (4.6 per cent) in August.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The rental market Perth needs to improve for landlords - median asking rents are some 34 per cent lower than at their peak according to SQM's asking rents index. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Meanwhile Darwin has recorded seven consecutive declines in its vacancy rate, suggesting that the rental downturn may finally be over in the Northern Territory. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Smoothing the last 6 months of figures suggests that the rental market is not deteriorating significantly in most capital cities. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/SQM2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content"> </div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
<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/2017/09/21/SQM2.jpg" alt=""><br><div class="separator"> </div>
<span><br></span><span>Dwelling completions are expected to peak in early 2018, while immigration has picked up a notch.</span><br><span><br></span><span>SQM's Managing Director, Louis Christopher, noted:</span><br><div><strong> </strong></div>
<div>"We believe rents will likely rise at a faster pace 2018 than what has been recorded in 2017, thus far. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>We now have mounting concerns for significant rental shortages in 2019 in Sydney and Melbourne”.<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The delinquents</span><br><strong><span><em><br></em></span></strong>There is some correlation here with the performance in mortgage delinquencies.<br><br>Moody's reported that, by the month of May, 30 plus day delinquencies in Melbourne had declined to just 1.35 per cent, and in booming Hobart arrears had fallen very sharply to just 1.45 per cent.<br><br>In Sydney, the 30-plus delinquency rate was as low as 0.84 per cent, which is as low as we will ever see for Sydney as a city of more than 5 million persons, while the ACT had a reported delinquency rate of just 0.90 per cent.<br><br>On the other hand delinquency rates increased to 2.20 per cent in Adelaide, 2.66 per cent in Perth, and 2.82 per cent in Darwin.<br><br>And helping to tick 30-plus arrears slightly higher year-on-year from 1.50 per cent to 1.62 per cent, delinquencies were higher in the regional markets of all of the resources states and territories, including South Australia.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/MOODYS.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a><br><br><div class="separator"><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/2017/09/21/MOODYS.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br>Despite these increases, thanks to the Sydney and Melbourne weighting nationally delinquency rates remain well below the levels seen in 2011 and 2012 of 1.87 per cent and 1.81 per cent respectively.</div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">AllenWargent</span></a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">blogger</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s3"><em>His latest book is </em><a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank"><span class="s2"><em>Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</em></span></a><em>.</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</body></html>

pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

SQM sees rental shortages by 2019 

<html><body>
<p>Four times per year we get the unbridled pleasure of the official residential property price indexes.</p>
<div>Here, then, is a 60-second overview of the June 2017 quarter figures. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The total value of Australia's dwelling stock rose by +$631 billion or +10.4 per cent to $6.72 trillion in the 2017 financial year. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>That now represents a +53 per cent increase in dwelling stock value from the $4.4 trillion recorded at the end of 2011. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I'd take the data series back further, but since it only begins in Q3 of that calendar year, I can't.</div>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/A1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<div class="separator"><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/2017/09/21/A1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>The annual stock value gains were mainly driven by the two most populous states. New South Wales (+$336 billion) and Victoria (+$215 billion) accounted for some 87 per cent of the total increase. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/Aus%20Dwelling%20Stock.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div>
<br><div class="separator"><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/2017/09/21/Aus%20Dwelling%20Stock.jpg" alt=""></div>
</div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div>Detached houses have outperformed attached dwellings on average since 2003, reflecting rising land values and a relative scarcity of this dwelling type in the thriving, landlocked suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne.</div>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/A3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<div class="separator"><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/2017/09/21/A3.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div>Over the June 2017 quarter the attached dwellings index performed strongly, however, helped along by the +11.7 per cent year-on-year gain for attached dwellings in Sydney (with the harbour city retaining a healthy weighting for that dwelling type). </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">City by city</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>There were strong quarterly residential price index gains in June 2017 for Sydney (+2.3 per cent) and Melbourne (+3 per cent), with those two capital cities recording a twin +13.8 per cent annual increase. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Reserve Bank of Australia noted in its September Board Minutes released today that Sydney market conditions had eased in recent months, as reflected in softer auction clearance results and various other timelier measures. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Annual price growth in Hobart notched up a pacy +12.4 per cent - with more to come later in the year - while there was steadier price growth in Canberra, Adelaide, and Brisbane. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Perth and Darwin recorded further declines, but the pace of decline has slowed, and more timely measures suggest that conditions appear to be levelling out somewhat in these resources capitals. </div>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/Resi%20Price.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><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/2017/09/21/Resi%20Price.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p> </p>
<div>The mean dwelling price in Australia increased by $51,700 or +8.2 per cent in FY2017, to hit a record high of $679,100.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In New South Wales, the mean dwelling price rose to $903,700, possibly helped along by the sale of Sydney's most expensive house in the second quarter of the calendar year (the 'Elaine' estate in Point Piper, which transacted for a lazy $75 million or so - punchy). </div>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/A4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<div class="separator"><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/2017/09/21/A4.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div>Finally, the number of dwellings increased by +2 per cent or +190,500 over the financial year to 9,906,100.<br><br>That's now well ahead of the rate of the official population growth, as the supply response hits its straps. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>There was a substantial increase of +2.35 per cent in Queensland's dwelling stock in FY2017, or +45,500 additional dwellings, reflecting the high volume of apartment completions in inner city Brisbane and elsewhere. The state population probably gr<span>ew by <span>~</span>75,000 over th</span>e same period. </div>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/09/21/A5.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<div class="separator"><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/2017/09/21/A5.jpg" alt=""></div>
<p> </p>
<div>In absolute terms there was a robust uplift in the total dwelling stock of New South Wales (+50,900) and Victoria (+53,500), although in Victoria's case even this record rate of new dwelling construction is not keeping up with rollicking population growth.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The wrap</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>As always, the interesting stuff is in the detail, but the overview shows that Melbourne's housing market was still powering along in the second quarter of 2017, while Hobart will glide into top gear in the latter half of the calendar year. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">AllenWargent</span></a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">blogger</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s3"><em>His latest book is </em><a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank"><span class="s2"><em>Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</em></span></a><em>.</em></span></p>
</div>
</body></html>

Australia's mean dwelling price rises 8 percent to $679,100

<html><body>
<p>A Chinese investor has snapped up Melbourne's Cyclone House on Hardware Lane for $6.71 million.</p>
<p>The sale, auction by Allard Shelton Director Joseph Walton, attracted a crowed of over 120 people.</p>
<p>It was the first time in nearly half a century the 400 sqm, three-level property was offered to the market. It was listed with $5.5 million hopes late last month.</p>
<p>Held by the same family since 1972, the property underwent an extensive renovation and lavish fitout.</p>
<p>The vendors $6.05 million reserve price was bettered after the bidding opened at $5.2 million, with five competitive bidders.</p>
<p>The buyer was the first and last to bid.</p>
<p>Walton said they are pleased with the response to the campaign.</p>
<p>“The result has again drawn attention to the market’s strong appetite for A-grade investments in Melbourne, both locally and off-shore," he said.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12.16px;"> </span></p>
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Melbourne's Art Deco Cyclone House sold for $6.71 million

<html><body>
<p>Convenience stores could reinvent themselves by selling alcohol, takeaway meals and pharmaceuticals, according to a new report that looks into the Amazon challenge and other technology related disruptors.</p>
<p>The report, commissioned by the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores, says that the while the $8.3 billion convenience sector is facing disruption from the entry of Amazon and driverless and electric cars, it can position itself to cash in on changing consumer trends for "extreme convenience" and instant gratification.</p>
<p>The study was carried out by the Australian Centre for Retail Studies (ACRS) at Monash Business School.</p>
<p>It said convenience stores needed to become destinations for goods and services, rather than relying on impulse purchases when filling up fuel, partnering if needed with suppliers and partners to sell fresh food, take-home meals and provide home deliveries.</p>
<p>They should also aim to improve in-store experiences and use technology such as mobile phone apps, digital payments and beacons to make their locations even more convenient for traditional customers and to attract tech-savvy millennials.</p>
<p>"Previously, convenience stores used to be about desperation rather than destination," AACS chief executive Jeff Rogut told  The Australian Financial Review.</p>
<p>"With so many changes happening around things like driverless vehicles and electric vehicles, the bastion of selling petrol and hoping people will buy something else is a thing of the past," Rogut said.</p>
<p>He added that retailers needed to be agile as it was about “keeping the core and appealing to more, it's not about alienating our current customers”.</p>
<p>For the project, Convenience 2030, the ACRS interviewed convenience retail sector leaders and looked at trends in Australia and overseas, where 7-Eleven, for example, is making home deliveries in Japan for orders as low as 600 yen ($6.70) and selling heat-and-eat meals in the US, according to the AFR.</p>
<p>In Australia, Caltex has already entered into partnerships with fastfood companies such as Sumo Salad, Guzman Y Gomez and Boost Juice while also offering services such as laundry, parcel collection and meal kit deliveries.</p>
<p>Geelong-based Apco Group has opened 24-hour-a-day cafes and drive-through outlets in several locations in Victoria.</p>
<p>Oil giant BP too has plans to sell takeaway food, prepared meals and groceries in partnership with Woolworths, drawing on its alliances with Marks &amp; Spencer in Britain and Rewe in Germany, if its $1.8 billion acquisition of Woolworths fuel business is approved by the competition regulator.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, several convenience chains retailers were seeking alcohol selling licences after a Senate committee recommendation in March that convenience retailers be allowed to sell beer and wine.</p>
<p>Citing Japanese retailer Family Mart, Rogut said convenience retailers could have co-tenancies with pharmacy retailers such as Chemist Warehouse to provide handy locations with longer trading hours.</p>
<p>"Both could very successfully trade off each other's customers – it becomes more of a destination and enables pharmacies to open longer and improves security," he said.</p>
<p>Amazon could be more of an opportunity than a threat for the convenience sector, Rogut added, particularly if it launched its business-to-business service in Australia and enabled retailers to buy goods at cheaper prices than they currently did through wholesalers such a Metcash.</p>
<p>"That may be an opportunity for smaller operators to buy their products more efficiently and sell more competitively.” </p>
<p>The convenience sector grew 4.5 per cent in 2016, according to the AACS, outperforming the meagre 1.2 per cent growth in the $90 billion grocery sector, and Rogut expects similar rates of growth for the next few years.</p>
<p>"The industry is very optimistic and positive about the future," he said.</p>
</body></html>

Amazon could be boon in disguise for convenience retail: Study

<html><body>
<p>Peak Equities has purchased a  five-level, 5,420sqm office building in Camberwell Junction for $27.5 million.</p>
<p>The site of the Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) headquarters, <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-camberwell-502378602" target="_blank">250 Camberwell Road</a>, generates $2 million per annum in net passing income from API and ground-floor café operator Camberwell Food Group, with leasehold interest from Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation, resulting in a passing yield of 7.5 percent.</p>
<p>Colliers International’s Peter Bremner, Rob Joyes and Rachael Clohesy sold the property on behalf of Sydney-based investor and syndicator Bricktop Group through expressions of interest.</p>
<p>Mr Bremner said the long ground lease to Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation expires on September 30, 2075.</p>
<p>“The purchaser recognised the quality of the asset in the prime Camberwell location and was seeking a higher-yielding investment so, while acknowledging the leasehold structure, they will enjoy an attractive 7.5 per cent yield based on the six-year WALE,” he said.</p>
<p>“If the property was sold with a freehold title, it would most likely have resulted in a sub-six per cent yield.</p>
<p>Peak Equities managing director Tom Borsky said the location of the property, in a tight office market where demand was expected to grow far more quickly than supply, was the principal driver of the purchase.</p>
<p>“Furthermore, our company sees the ground lease structure as an opportunity, rather than an encumbrance,” he said.</p>
<p>“Following global trends, this form of property ownership is likely to become more commonplace.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bricktop Group purchased 250 Camberwell Road through Colliers International in 2013.</p>
<p>Bricktop’s managing director Michael Balkin saying now was a suitable time for the syndicate to realise its investment.</p>
<p> “We identified the inherent value in the leasehold interest when we acquired the property, something that we believed many parties did not understand at the time of the original sale,” he said.</p>
<p>“Accordingly, we were able to secure the purchase at an attractive price for our investors.”</p>
</body></html>

Peak Equities buys API’s Camberwell headquarters for $27.5 million

<html><body>
<p>A development site with approval for nearly 100 apartments in Sydney’s North Shore has been listed for sale through Savills.</p>
<p>The site at 2-8 Pymble Avenue and 2-4 Everton Street, Pymble comes with Development Approval for residential located within one of Sydney’s prestigious north shore suburbs.</p>
<p>According to Savills, the influx of residential development sites for sale throughout Sydney has surged in the past 12 months, but the Pymble site with 7,879 sqm area already comes in with all the approvals. </p>
<p>This site currently encompasses a consolidated single registered title of land containing three existing detached single and double storey dwellings. </p>
<p>The property is zoned R4 High Density Residential under the Ku-Ring-Gai LEP 2012 with a height limit ranging between 11.5 and 17.5 metres and a blended FSR of 1:1.</p>
<p>The site is DA approved for the construction of 98 oversized residential apartments and 1 x 100sq m ground floor neighbourhood shop together with basement parking for 156 vehicles. </p>
<p><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/2017/09/20/Pymble%20to%20CBD%20Marked%20Up%20Aerials2.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>The DA Approved Gross Floor Area is 8,547sqm* and the site is perfectly positioned at the top of a ridge to capitalise on the views back towards the Sydney CBD and the Blue Mountains.</p>
<p>It is close to public transport. </p>
<p>The marketing is being done by Neil Cooke, Stuart Cox and Johnathon Broome of Savills Australia.</p>
<p>“In 2017, the amount of DA approved sites for circa 100 apartments has completely dried up particularly in blue chip areas such as Pymble on Sydney’s North Shore,” said Neil Cooke.</p>
<p>He added that the Draft Construction Certificate has already been issued for the site, and it states that all Pre-CC Conditions of Consent have been satisfied, and confirms that only the payment of the standard contributions is required in order for the Construction Certificate to be immediately finalised.</p>
<p>Cox added that there was “excellent continuing demand for premium residential apartments” in this location as evidenced by the success of recent project campaigns released within Pymble and surrounding suburbs.  </p>
<p>The site is being offered through expressions of interest with the EOI closing on October 19.</p>
</body></html>

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Investing Insights

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

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News